It looks like Walmart’s controversial plans for a new Midtown store have hit another snag. A couple of months back, they were forced to stop construction because their permit expired and then it was discovered that they didn’t have full chain of title on their site. Oops. Now, a city attorney was caught lying to the commissioner in order to influence a zoning decision. Yikes.
According to Grant Stern, the leader of the #NoWalmartInMidtown movement, the attorney lied about their involvement with the project and then emails uncovered from the IT department showed otherwise. When confronted, the attorney said that it was all just because a lobbyist was bothering them. There is already a big investigation going down at City Hall with the city attorney saying that this is all just a big misunderstanding even though the evidence indicates otherwise.
To be honest, I really hope Walmart isn’t able to complete their Midtown project. My personal thoughts on them as corporate citizens aside, they’re just not a fit for that location. The intersection of NE36th Street & North Miami Avenue just to the north of the build site has been named one of the ten worst intersections in South Florida. Could you imagine how the intersection will be after bringing in the traffic from Walmart shoppers and the trucks that will keep the store stocked?
It is a well-known fact that big box stores (especially Walmart) strip communities of their culture and force local shops to close their doors. The Walmart would affect the culture of not only Midtown, but also the neighboring areas of the Design District and Wynwood. It also just seems odd to have a Walmart within a mile of an Hermes store. No?
Friends of the Underline Host UnderLounge Event in Brickell
The Underline, Miami’s new 10 mile linear park that will be installed underneath the Metrorail tracks from Brickell to Dadeland South, is inviting everyone to a free festival at underneath the Brickell Station. The event is called The Underlounge and will take place Saturday, October 15 from noon-6pm.
There will be activities for all ages including face painting, the world’s longest mini-golf hole, interactive chalk art madala, pop-up dog park & pet costume contest, caricature artist, balloon animals, kids play, fitness classes, yoga, and of course – a DJ. I already have my dog’s camel costume ready to go.
The Underline is being designed by James Corner Field Operations, the same designer of the popular High Line in New York City. The $120 million project will be funded by donations from developers (including Swire’s $600,000 contribution), impact fees from developments built within 1,000 feet of the metrorail, private donations and was recently approved as an EB-5 project.
Construction is set to begin next fall on the Brickell segment. Initial funding for this segment was the first to be received and we are very much looking forward to utilizing this space!
The Bond On Brickell Resales and Rentals Hit the Market
Two months after receiving their TCO, the first resale listings and rental listings at The Bond On Brickell are available on the MLS. The listings include a handful of remaining inventory from the developer, some being sold finished and some decorator ready.
When we toured the building in August, we got a chance to check out some of the views and layouts. They seemed very much what I expected from a Rilea building. There weren’t any crazy attention-grabbing features like the crazy/creepy/cool LED displays at SLS Brickell, just very tasteful design with extremely high quality finishes. I was impressed with the suede and leather walls, the elegant simplicity of the common areas and the themed playroom. Being a new mom myself without a playroom in my building, I paid special attention to that part.
Prices of the apartments start at $319,000 for a studio, $469,900 for a one bedroom, $685,000 for a two bedroom, $1,200,000 for a three bedroom and $2,593,000 for the four bedroom plans. There are 19 available with 8 listings being resales and 11 are the last of the developer inventory.
For the rental options, there are 11 one bedroom plans available as of today. They range in price between $2,500-$3,300, depending upon whether the apartment has a den and view of the bay.
IconBrickell Condo Association Releases Scope and Dates of Pool Renovation
The condo association at IconBrickell sent out a newsletter today to all of the residents, detailing the scope and dates of the pool renovation that nobody is looking forward to. Apparently, the defects were discovered almost 5 years ago and they have been working all this time to find an efficient way to make the repairs.
According to the 2 page newsletter, the spa and fitness center will remain open but they confirmed the pool will remain closed until the fall of 2017. Surprisingly, the newsletter did not make mention of the special assessment that was was passed in June or a lawsuit for the defects. They did introduce the construction team and give a preview of the tiles that were chosen for the new pool. Why anyone would build a pool and not use non-slip tiles is beyond me, but here we are.
While all of the whispers have been circling about the massive repair, values in the building have already started to be affected. Rental prices are down about 10%. The problem is that the iconic pool is a big reason people choose to live at IconBrickell. People don’t really like living in a construction site, so the apartments there aren’t able to command the premium they once did.
Take as an example our listing of apartment 4104 in Tower 1. It has the double-height ceilings that people ask for in the building and a great view. Last year, we rented it for $2,600 and this year it has been sitting on the market since July… even with a reduction in price to $2,300.
In Tower 2, we have another rental listing, Unit 4103. It is the big 2 bed plus den plan that is one of the most popular in the building. The furnishings are gorgeous, and it also has the double height ceilings? It is also priced lower than the lease value of last year, but is sitting lonely since June.
Hopefully, the construction team that took almost 5 years to put together will work fast and do things the right way this time. Nobody is looking forward to the next year at IconBrickell except investors looking for a deal.
Aurora in Sunny Isles Offers Private Jet Service With Condo Purchase
In the race to offer the most over-the-top amenities and perks, the developers of Aurora in Sunny Isles have upped the ante by including a 1 year membership to JetSmarter with each condo purchase.
JetSmarter is a new service that offers seats in the empty leg of a chartered flight through a smartphone app and website. The level of service and amenities offered are the same as though the members chartered the flight themselves, thus users are flying private for a fraction of the cost. Flights are offered for free to members, with additional seats available for purchase at a discounted rate in case you may want to bring your friends. Membership dues are $10,000/year with a $5,000 initiation fee.
In the app, you can search by date, destination or aircraft type. Flights are offered around the world and custom charters are available. Aurora is a boutique community of 61 residences in Sunny Isles. Prices range between $900,000-$1,600,000. It is scheduled to begin construction by the end of the year and open in late 2018.
Check Out the LED Displays in the Motorcourt of SLS Brickell
When we went on our hard hat tour of SLS Brickell last month, our contact from the hotel mentioned an artistic LED display was going to be installed on the ceiling of the motorcourt. It seemed intriguing enough at the time, but I was anxious to go inside the building and didn’t pay much mind to the concept. Yesterday I noticed that the display is now live and it stopped me in my tracks!
On the ceiling there are circular LED displays scattered throughout and they each run a loop of a different scene. Sometimes the scenes are orchestrated together, sometimes they are completely different and sometimes they are all the same. I’m not sure whether this is a test run or if it will always vary, but the entire display is certainly attention-grabbing.
Some of the scenes are pretty and calming, some are inspirational and thought-provoking and some are downright creepy. How very Phillipe Starck. Here is a sample of one of the scenes. It features dancers dressed up like white goats and spelling out different phrases with their bodies. I found these costumes really creepy, but it still held my attention. What do you think?
A video posted by Miami Condo Investments (@miamicondoinvestments) on
Downtown Neighbors Alliance Meeting Scheduled for Thursday, September 15
The 2016 Downtown Neighbors Alliance General Meeting is being held this week on Thursday, September 15 at 5:30pm. It will take place in the Formal Room at 50 Biscayne.
District 2 Commissioner Ken Russell will be in attendance to discuss the state of Downtown Miami’s residential neighborhoods. This is a great opportunity to have your voice heard directly on matters concerning the residents of the downtown area.
Brightline’s First Locomotive Completes Track Testing
The First Brightline Locomotive from GoBrightline.com
The first of the Brightline locomotives has completed its track testing in Sacramento, according to an update on their website. It is an important milestone, running the diesel engine for the first time along with a host of other checks.
They tested the air braking system, software for all systems, the doors, fire detection system, audible warning devices, communication systems, interior and exterior lighting and the weight verifications. The entire test took three weeks to complete.
The trains will have ergonomic cab designs for the engineers as well as an integrated trainset system that will improve ride quality and make for a far quieter ride than a traditional train. Commuting between Miami and West Palm Beach is expected to take only one hour and complimentary wifi is available for the ride.
The locomotive is expected to be delivered to Florida later this year, with rail service commencing in the summer of 2017. The station in Downtown Miami is currently under construction and will include 200,000 square feet of retail, 290,000 square feet of office space, 800 residential apartments and a 95-story high rise.
The Brightline Locomotive Cab from GoBrightline.com
Brickell City Centre Expands its Weekly Farmer’s Market
Brickell City Centre has expanded its weekly farmer’s market in conjunction with the Green Market Co-Op. They are the organizers behind the popular Pinecrest Market, who may regard as the best farmer’s market in town.
The new and improved Brickell Market will include over 40 vendors including fresh, locally-grown produce, baked goods, artisan foods, plants, flowers, home and garden goods, health and beauty items, pet food, lunch spots and even a DJ. No event in Miami is complete without a DJ.
One of my personal favorite vendors is the Tree Hugging Hippie Soap guy. He makes his soaps himself in the Little River area and then sells them himself as well. There’s nothing like buying from someone who is really passionate about their craft and this guy is all about healthy soaps. They smell really nice and make your skin feel really nice too. I’m not a full blown tree hugging hippie, but I hope to see him there this week. He didn’t ask me to say that, I really need more soap.
Each Saturday fro 10am-4pm, the farmer’s market will be set up underneath the People Mover along 8th Street. Even the original Brickell City Centre farmer’s market was a hit, so this is really exciting! See you there!
Drone Footage of the One Thousand Museum Construction Site
Below is a drone video of the One Thousand Museum construction site as of this past Monday, September 5th, the date that the footage was shot. It showcases the breathtaking views that condos at One Thousand Museum will offer as well as provides a bird’s-eye view of the progress that has been made thus far to the tower.
