Comments on: Ten Recent Multi-Million Dollar Condo Closings in Miami-Dade County (Past 6 Months)

By: Wild Bill

Wild Bill — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:35:02 +0000

The MacArthur Causeway has some new IP CCTV cameras overlooking the passenger cruise terminals. They are mounted on new F.D.O.T. poles. Very impressive stuff. Makes the area look like a military port.
They should put these barriers on the causeway to keep the weekend riff raft out of Miami Beach.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNPsVSA4WPs&feature=related

By: southbeachsand

southbeachsand — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:42:47 +0000

Parrot Jungle was a brilliantly executed idea.

By: AJ

AJ — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:14:46 +0000

I wish this tunnel thing never gets built.
I was always advocating to remove the container port to Jacksonville or Port Everglades and leave the port exclusively for cruise ships. Every major city moved its cargo terminals and operations out of the city center (for eg. Brooklyn Red hook terminals and Manhattans Hudson River terminals). In any case with the new terror threat that is going to come from a port shipping terminal, it is not wise to have a port smack in the middle of any major city.

By: Wild Bill

Wild Bill — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:23:19 +0000

The machine to build the port tunnel has not even been built yet. The tunnel will be flooded in a major hurricane. I would love to see the entrance elevations.

By: Kramer

Kramer — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:22:51 +0000

With regard to the tunnel – the city is missing a huge opportunity to correct an almost fatal flaw in the original alignment of 395. The six lane roadway cuts directly down the middle of Watson Island with Parrot Jungle on one side and the Childrens museum on the other side, splitting it into two pieces. Of course Parrot Jungle will not survive financially and the Childrens Museum is misplaced and an eyesore as it blocks some great views of downtown as u travel west on 395. Watson Island – if made as one contiguous piece of land not dissected down the middle by a six lane highway could then be turned into – as Maurice Ferre suggested a few years back – our version of Tivoli gardens in Copenhagen. So why not – as long as your digging up the ground near there for the tunnel, Re- Align 395 as it comes off of the bridge and re-route it to the north hugging the waterway – thus leaving Watson Island one huge contiguous jewel of a property with astonishing views and a park like atmosphere where people can enjoy watching the cruise ships come and go and a breathtaking view of the Downtown Miami skyline.

By: Drew

Drew — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:36:41 +0000

Just take the Venetian.

5th/Alton is a bottleneck because 395 ends right there. For the tunnel, traffic should flow pretty well, with the possible exception of 395 @ Biscayne where there are fewer lanes I believe. But after that 395 opens up and I doubt the truck traffic will cause problems.

Regardless, if the City of Miami wants to fulfill its grand plans for Biscayne Blvd, a diversion of the port trucks is a necessity. But considering the MIA North Terminal is now opening, $2bn over budget and 14 yrs from conception, this mounumental tunnel project will end up costing $5bn and should be ready by 2040.

By: AJ

AJ — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:51:20 +0000

Drew, I understand. Downtown will benefit immensely due to this traffic diversion. But don’t you think that Miami citizens heading to SOBE and viceversa will have to compete for road space on MacArthur causeway with 18 wheelers and container trucks between Watson Island and I95?
Already the 5th and Alton will create one bottleneck at the mouth of SOBE and this will do the same at the mouth of Mainland Miami. Maybe it is not going to be as bad as I think it will be. But I am worried nevertheless. Right now it takes me under 10 minutes to get from Pace Park to Flamingo/Lummus/South Pointe Parks in SOBE. How long will this luxury last is my question.

By: JL

JL — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:34:07 +0000

“15 million condo”

Where do you see a 15 mill condo?

By: Christopher@housingfear.blogspot.com

Christopher@housingfear.blogspot.com — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:06:25 +0000

Lucas,

How much commision did you get for selling a 15 million condo?

Did you seriously make 6% or $900,000? Even if you only made 3% that would be $450,000 dollars for selling one condo.

wow!

By: Hugo P

Hugo P — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:10:14 +0000

Lucas.. glad to see that you are doing more posts, but are you planning on doing an update on the closing rates?

That should start some good discussions…