MIAMI—In one of the most dramatic commercial real estate downturns in this cycle, a flurry of leases are breathing new life into 1221 Brickell. The office tower inked 14 leases totaling 50,000 square feet in 2012. Now, new retailers are bringing street-level activity to the heart of Miami's business and financial district.

Jones Lang LaSalle executive vice president Scott Strickland and senior vice president Grant Killingsworth manage leasing for 1221 Brickell. Equities Office Properties Trust owns the office tower.

Here's the backstory: Greenberg Traurig announced it would relocate in 2010, leaving 150,000 square feet of office space vacant. Since then, JLL has completed 28 lease transactions totaling approximately 140,000 square feet, nearly doubling the building's occupancy rate from 38% in 2010 to 70% today.