At Last! Renovations Are Coming To 1814 Brickell Park
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Carter Facebook
After months of requesting and circulating a petition, the City of Miami Parks Department has agreed to the proposed changes to the park located at 1814 Brickell. We chimed in as well, as the current design was excellent in theory, but fell flat with the originally intended use.
Originally, the park was intended for “businesswomen in high heels” and “workers relaxing from the business district,” except those people never showed up. You can find them after work at happy hour, not strolling 5 blocks to sit in a park. Meanwhile, young children with their mothers and nannies are left with nowhere to play. As a member of the stroller brigade, this redesign makes me very, very happy!
In an onsite meeting this week, the Director of Parks met with a handful of interested Brickellians to go over the approved changes. They will be replacing the current playscape with a setup for 2-5 year old children and a swing set. To add more shade, they discussed adding a mature shade tree in the back corner of the play area and extending the foam flooring further out to add more play space. The project is set to take 6 months to complete, but will likely take a bit more time because we all know how construction timelines are fluid. There will only be about a month of the park being fully closed.
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Carter Facebook
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Carter Facebook
Charles Brickell Offered Apartments To Veterans In This Building
Brickell Apartments via www.miami-history.com
Happy Veteran’s Day to all of our servicemen! Since it is also Flashback Friday, let’s have a look back at some of our neighborhood heritage. These are the Brickell Apartments that were completed almost 100 years ago to the day.
Back then, Miami was going through a building boom similar to the one that we’re finishing up right now. Charles Brickell (the son of Mary Brickell) built this state-of-the-art building on the piece of Brickell where the Four Ambassador is today. Even back then, developers were jockeying to see who could build the most advanced and beautiful building around. The Brickell Apartments had 24 residences with 1-4 bedrooms. The layouts were considered very spacious at the time and each residence had a private bath, hot water, electric lights and a balcony. The building also had an electric elevator, something nearly unheard of at the time.
In 1918, Charles Brickell offered special reduced rates for the servicemen returning from World War I, so that they could live in comfort and splendor after their tours. The Miami Herald referred to the apartments as, “one of the most elaborate and modern buildings in Miami.” If you ask me, I agree that the servicemen should have been first in line to live there. Thank you to all of the men and women who have served our country!
For more information on the history of The Brickell Apartments and other buildings in the area, you can find a treasure trove here.
Brickell Apartments Advertisement from www.miami-history.com
UPDATED: SLS Brickell Rentals Becoming Available Starting At $1,900/Month
Closings are currently under way at SLS Brickell and the competition for qualified tenants is already picking up. We don’t yet have a solid date that the properties will be move-in ready as many were sold decorator-ready.
For those who are new to Miami real estate, decorator ready means that the condo is delivered without flooring, light fixtures, window treatments and the walls are delivered with primer, ready for the topcoat. These are all added after the closing takes place but before the first residents move in. The process of laying the floors and adding the fixtures typically takes around a month, depending upon scheduling and permitting.
As of today, there are three active rental listings in the building. They are all three 1 bedroom listings and range from $2,600-$2,950 per month. As closings continue, we certainly expect to see more inventory. There are also investors who are planning to offer units for as low as $1,900/month for 1 bedrooms or $2,600 for 2 bedrooms, according to the investor’s representative. These units will become available for showings starting next week, but move-in dates are based upon the closing and flooring schedule, so stay tuned.
If you would like to be notified when the apartments become available, please send us a message and we will be sure you are the first to know.
UPDATE: We heard back from the investor’s representative, who informed us that the closings are scheduled for late December and the properties will be available starting in January.
Paraiso Bay Tops Off In Patriotic Fashion
Just ahead of the big election, Paraiso Bay tops off dressed with an enormous American flag on the top. This is the first tower in the “Paraiso District” to top off, and was also the first to sell out. Construction began in the summer of 2014 and is expected to finish in 2017.
As Paraiso Bay is already sold out, opportunities are still available in the other towers that are also under construction. GranParaiso still has 11 apartments remaining between $770k for a 1 bedroom with a den up to $1.95M for a 4 bedroom condo with a den. They also have 4 penthouse units remaining between $2M-$3.4M. Paraiso Bayviews, the more economical of the buildings has opportunities between $615k to $630k for 2 bedroom apartments and penthouses between $641k-$1.55M. Along the bay there are also a row of “Bay Homes”. These are townhouse-style condos that feel more like a home. They are all 3-4 bedrooms and range between $1.9M-$2.25M.
The Related Group is also planning a “Paraiso Beach Club” with a restaurant by Michael Schwartz as well as a park for the residents.
Max Strang Brings Us Waterfront Peace & Serenity At The Fairchild Coconut Grove
On a day when what we needed most was peaceful serenity, The Fairchild Coconut Grove delivered. We were treated to a preview of Max Strang’s creation of 26 waterfront residences just south of Mercy Hospital along the Biscayne Bay and it was just what everyone needed.
In a video interview with Mr. Strang, he details how his inspiration was “where the Biscayne Bay meets the jungle” and has created a serene and tranquil location with muted luxury and natural beauty that is just perfect for those who are searching to be near the hustle and bustle of the Downtown area, but prefer a quieter lifestyle at home.
The project has just 26 residences on 5 floors and 9 different layouts. The prices range from $1.4 million up to $4.6 million and the layouts range from 1,714 square foot plans with 2 bedrooms, a den and 2.5 baths up to 4,114 square foot plans with 4 bedrooms and 5.5 baths. Sales launched just a few weeks ago and four residences are currently under contract, from what we hear.
There has been a lot of commentary recently over the state of our condo market and whether or not bringing new projects to market at this time is a wise move. In most cases, I would agree that we need to fill up the projects that we already have before introducing new inventory, but The Fairchild is different. I anticipate that this project will be sold out and delivered on schedule because it has so many differentiating qualities that are actually desired by potential buyers.
Max Strang is a very renowned architect in the area with an amazing talent of building beautiful residences that incorporate well with their environment. Until now, he has mostly concentrated on single family homes with an impressive portfolio alongside an impressive list of awards. Fairchild Coconut Grove will be his first condominium development, and we are very excited to see it built.
Elysee Is Bringing Gas Stoves To Mainland Miami
In a market where developers are competing to show buyers whose building has the most bells and whistles, the developer of Elysee in Edgewater has realized that one of the best additions is also the simplest. They are including gas ranges in all of the 100 residences.
Gas ranges are a feature that ‘real’ buyers care about. We regularly have buyers and tenants specifically request a gas range in the kitchen, only to be surprised to hear that their only options are a handful of buildings on Miami Beach or a house. It has been said for years that installing gas lines for ranges is impossible in the newer buildings, but the reality is that it is just more expensive, the ranges themselves are more expensive and that cuts into the developers’ profit. In my opinion, it is a very valuable feature for Elysee.
Aside from the gas ranges, Elysee has a myriad of other enticing features. There will be top-notch security, two parking spaces per residence, pool, children’s play room, party room with grand piano, summer kitchen and BBQ terrace, grand dining room, library, and a membership to Luxury Attache. The membership gives residents access to a 24/7 full-service concierge no matter where they are.
The project is almost 50% sold with prices ranging from $1.5 million – $4.2 million for 3 – 5 bedroom residences.
Preview the SLS Brickell Penthouse Views Via Drone
The hotel component of SLS Brickell has been open for about a month now, Fi’lia has begun serving hungry Brickellians and closings of the residences are underway. The developer still has 3 penthouse units available for sale with amazing views. Here is a preview from our latest drone video:
You can see that there is in fact a rooftop swimming pool for the residents, and the upper penthouses also have their own private pools. The three penthouses remaining are:
PH5203: 2,274 square feet interior with 3 bedrooms, a den and 3.5 bathrooms. $1,762,900.
PH5003: This one is the same floor plan 2 floors lower for $1,698,900.
PH5005: This apartment has direct southeast views with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and 2,336 square feet. It is listed for $1,906,900.
If you’re interested in a smaller apartment, there are already resales available as well as options for yearly lease. I think that the building turned out beautifully, it is architecturally interesting during the day and the night and I am very excited to visit the restaurants and amenities. A win from Related Group! What do you think?
DEAL ALERT: Lovely Venetian Islands Waterfront Home Has $2M Reduction
Earlier today a little birdie peeked into our email tip line and suggested that there was a house at 1370 S Venetian Way on San Marco Island that was going through a series of price reductions with an “especially eager” seller. I thought to myself, “this is going to be fun.” I jumped over to the MLS to see what could possibly be wrong with the house that would make a total of $2 million in price reductions necessary. What I found was an especially lovely house and nothing to make fun of. Heck, if I’d love to live here if I had $5.865M.
The house hit the market back in August for $8.9M and has had steady reductions ever since. It is now priced alongside the average closed sales price for similar waterfront properties on the Venetian Islands, which is $5.865M over the last 3 months. Built in 2001, the current owners have outfitted the property with tasteful updates and seemingly kept the property up well. They opted for things like hurricane impact windows throughout over the typical more flashy upgrades we typically see in Miami. Good call.
Situated on a southern-exposure waterfront lot with 60 feet of frontage to the Biscayne Bay, the views from the pool, patio, balcony and rooftop sundeck are beautiful day and night. You would be able to see the Port of Miami, Downtown Miami lights and skyline and the underlit MacArthur Causeway at night. The interior is 4,033 square feet with 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and a guest house. As of today, the listing price is $5,865,000 and from the tip we received, I imagine there is more room to negotiate. I’m at a loss. I don’t know why this house has no buyer. Do you have suggestions? Have a look at the MLS photos and drone video below and let us know. You can also compare it to other luxury houses in the neighborhood by viewing our collection of luxury homes for sale in Miami, Florida.
Panorama Tower Offers Their Retail Space For Lease
The tower is still rising into our skyline, but Tibor Hollo’s retail space in Panorama Tower is now available for lease. The spaces are located on Brickell Bay Drive, not quite a main thoroughfare through Brickell, but a popular workaround for people who are looking to avoid the traffic on Brickell Avenue and South Miami Avenue.
There are currently four spaces available, asking $65/square foot with a $17/square foot common charge. Here is the breakdown of each space:
Ground Floor – 9,520 square feet. This space will be made available in late 2017 and works out to $51,500/month at asking price. Since it is such a huge space, I see a restaurant as being the best fit.
Second Floor – 9,561 square feet. This one is currently available according to the marketing material. It includes a lobby-level entrance, so would likely be a good fit for some sort of exclusive club. Remember the Miami City Club from a few years back? This space won’t offer the same views that the Miami City Club once boasted from the top of the Wachovia Tower, but whoever the ultimate tenant is could do something interesting with the buildout to make it enticing. The asking price here is $51,750/month.
Second Floor – 1,048 square feet. For $5,675/month, I see this as being a good fit for a salon or boutique of sorts. We represented a client a few years back who took a similar amount of space for a boutique and has made a very nice name for themselves since. Perfect size for a boutique. It could also be a smaller cigar bar that is a nice place for businessmen who work in the nearby buildings to talk shop over a glass of scotch before heading home for the day.
Second Floor – 2,767 square feet. At $15,000/month, this will likely end up as a restaurant, real estate office or a new gym concept.
We have seen leases in similar locations over the recent months in the range of $45/square foot. It will be interesting to see how Brickell City Centre’s opening affects the retail prices over the coming months. While Brickell City Centre was under construction, we experienced very few available spaces for retail clients that were not restaurants or lounges. Now that the buildings are opening up, we’re seeing many new signs go up, which is refreshing. What do you think would be a good fit for this space? Do you think the prices are on point, or do they need to be negotiated a bit?
Brickell City Centre Opens With Surprise Pitbull Concert
AT LAST! After four years of anticipation, Brickell City Centre has opened its doors! To celebrate, Swire and Saks Fifth Avenue hosted a pre-opening party with a “surprise concert from an award-winning recording artist.” It was Miami’s own Mr. 305, Pittbull! Inside Saks, there were tours, light bites and cocktails with performance artists around every corner. On Thursday morning, there will be a ribbon cutting and formal opening with the mayor and Steve Owens in attendance.
While the majority of the stores are not yet open, Swire is pushing for new openings each week until the end of the year. Of course, a lot of the timeline is dependent upon the city’s permitting and inspection timeline. In the meantime, special events are being hosted in order to sample what our new shopping venue has to offer. Here is the lineup for the opening weekend:
