Auberge Miami Cancels Reservations; Returns Deposits
Auberge Miami at night
Despite maintaining that the project is “on hold” and not “cancelled”, Related Group is cancelling the reservations and refunding deposits to the pre-construction buyers in Auberge Miami. Last April, the first of the three planned towers was reported to be 20% in reservation, contracts were to be delivered shortly and groundbreaking was scheduled for early 2017. When the sales screeched to a roaring halt, the project was officially put on hold until at least 2018.
“We are selling, and as soon as we get to our (desired) presales we will start construction. The sales center is open,” Related’s condo division president, Carlos Rosso told us in August as they delayed the project. Now that the reservations are cancelled and the deposits returned, I take that to mean that they are no longer selling. The developer’s website for the project has also gone dark and their social media accounts have been quiet since November.
It is possible that the formal cancellation has taken place so that Related can later sell the apartments at a higher price. The buyers we had in the project were given an amazing price, which is one of the reasons we are so disappointed to hear of the cancellation. When completed, Auberge was supposed to have 1,400 units in 3 towers on a 2.8 acre build site at 14th Street and Biscayne Boulevard. The first tower was the only one to open sales and had units priced between $350,000 to $3.9 million.
This isn’t the only project in the works that is “on hold.” Related’s other mega project, One Brickell is also on hold indefinitely. The website is down and the leases in the existing office building have been renewed without the kickout clauses that are used when a new tower is moving forward. If built, One Brickell will bring three new towers to the corner of 5th Street and Brickell Avenue. The first would be a 75 story hotel and condo tower, then a 57 story residential tower and an 82 story third tower that will likely be residential as well. Prices were reported to begin at $700,000 but sales did not officially start.
Elysee Reveals “Les Grandes Maisons” Collection & New Renderings
Redering courtesy of Two Roads Development
It’s a good sign for Edgewater’s Elysee! The site work is underway, the seawall is being reinstalled, the sales are steaming along, and the developers have released their “Les Grandes Maisons” collection.
Builders typically wait until further into the sales cycle to release the larger, higher and more expensive apartments, but the time is now for Elysee. They have unveiled a collection of the larger, limited edition, full-floor residences on floors 46-56 of the 57 story tower. With the telescoping design, the building is able to offer deeper balconies and 3,891 square foot 5 bedroom plans with a sky-high vantage point. Les Grandes Maisons will bring together the atmosphere and proportions of an estate-like home, penthouse level upgrades and a suite of integrated health and wellness enhancements. The health and wellness enhancements include an aromatherapy infuser integrated into the HVAC system of each residence that continually cleanses the air and dispenses high-quality customizable fragrances; LEED-Certified Wellness Habitat interior paint with antibacterial, anti-mold and odor-eliminating properties; and a pre-installed water filtration system that effectively eliminates impurities.
Owners of Les Grandes Maisons also have the option to have their residences designed by Parisian designer Jean-Louis Deniot, one of the world’s preeminent talents in interior design. Prices for Elysee’s Les Grandes Maisons start at $2.8 million. Tres chic!
All residences will include floor-to-ceiling glass windows and sliding doors, private elevators and foyers, 10- to 12-foot ceiling heights, designer finishes and fixtures, premium appliances, top-of-the-line Italian cabinetry, as well as two expansive east/west-facing terraces with wide open sunrise and sunset views.
Building amenities will include two resort style pools, a health club featuring a fitness center, yoga studio and spa with sauna, steam and shower facilities and private massage rooms, a children’s playroom and a blow-dry bar. Residents will also have access to an exclusive Owners Sky Lounge which will encompass the tower’s entire 30th floor and feature a Great Room, Grand Salon entertainment area with a full bar and piano lounge, Grand Dining Room with seating for up to 30 guests, wine room, chef’s kitchen, library, private theater and gaming room. Elysee owners will also have the enviable advantage of Elysee Attaché – a premium concierge service that will be available to residents 24/7 for travel arrangements, dinner reservations, concert and event tickets, gift deliveries, and more. The project is currently 44% sold and expects to break ground shortly.
Trey Songz Is Losing His Miami Condo To Foreclosure Over $1,700
It looks like Mr. Steal Your Girl needs to take a break and concentrate on becoming Mr. Pay Your Bills, because Trey Songz is about to make a big real estate mistake. After trying unsuccessfully to sell his Brickell Key condo, he has stopped paying the maintenance and is now faced with a foreclosure lawsuit from the private island’s master association over $1,700.
Court records show that the association placed a lien on the property in January, demanding payment of the monthly dues dating back to October of 2016. Apparently, the crooner and pop icon failed to make his $584.48 monthly payment to the association since October 1, and is now being slapped with late fees and 18% interest. After he failed to respond to their demand, the association has upped the ante and filed for foreclosure. If he still fails to pay, they will take possession of the condo he purchased in 2010 for $437,000 and recently had listed for $795,000. The property has since been removed from the market, but you can see the photos here.
This turn of events also makes me wonder the fate of his new condo at the brand-new Brickell Heights, which is scheduled to open May 1. The developer has not disclosed the purchase price of his new place, but buyers in the development are required to pay half of the final purchase price as a deposit during construction. If he fails to close in May, he will lose that money, which I imagine to be at least $750,000 (the penthouses were sold around $1.5 million).
What do you think is going on here? Could it be that one of the highest paid singers in the country cannot pay a $1,700 bill, or is he pulling a fast one on the condo association?
Where Do Tennis Stars Live In Miami?
Here we are at the Finals Weekend of the 2017 Miami Open! This week we have highlighted the new developments and existing buildings that offer amenities for tennis fans, but where do the tennis pros themselves choose to live? You would be surprised to know how many tennis stars have condos in Miami!
We have covered Andy Murray‘s attempts to sell his 45th floor apartment at Jade Residences at Brickell Bay. To be honest, I’m not sure what’s going on with this apartment. The price volleys up and down on a monthly basis, but nobody buys. It all started in November of 2015 when he listed the property for sale at just under $3 million. Someone placed a contract on the property, but it fell apart and the property went back to market for $2.7 million in October of 2016. That’s when the seesaw started. In November of 2016, the price went down to $2.59 million, then back to $2.69 million a few days later. In January of 2017, there was another reduction to $2.64 million, then down to $2.5 million in February. Two weeks later, the price was raised to $2.65 million and is still at that point. It is an interesting marketing strategy to say the least. I feel like that if they would stop the pricing games and have the property re-photographed, it would sell. We have apartment 4107 on the market in the same building and have experienced a lot of traffic. We hope to sell it very soon, but I digress.
Probably the largest concentration of tennis stars will be in Edgewater at The Paraiso District. The project is top of the line when it comes to tennis with five hard-courts, the same as those at the Miami Open Masters, Gram Slam, US Open and Australian Open. Hard-courts are preferred by avid players looking to practice their fast game. Spanish former No. 1 professional tennis player Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and No. 6 French player Gael Monfils have already purchased their homes at the project and it has also been a favorite of Venus Williams, who made a surprise appearance at the opening of the sales gallery back in 2014.
Andre Agassi and Caroline Wozniacki have also chosen to live on Fisher Island for its club’s expansive and globally ranked tennis facilities including a pro-shop and eighteen courts from grass to hard-courts to clay courts. Residents at Palazzo Del Sol, the latest luxury residential addition to the island, will have full access to the same club.
