900 Biscayne Bay Pools Close for Renovation

According to a notice that was sent earlier this week to all 900 Biscayne Bay residents, BOTH of the building’s pools will be closed from Monday, January 29th, to “sometime in October of this year”. The closure allows for work to commence on the “Pool Deck Restoration Project”, which was approved last year. Designed by ArquitectonicaGEO, the restoration project will include new lush landscaping, resurfacing, new furniture, the addition of a BBQ area, and an extension of the upper pool deck.

In the meantime, the condominium association has made arrangements with the Intercontinental Hotel, located next to Bayfront Park, for residents of 900 Biscayne Bay to use their pool. As to how this news will impact prices in the building, only time will tell.

3900 Alton Changes Name to Alton Bay

Sometimes all you need is a good rebrand in order to get the sales “juices” flowing…at least that may be the idea behind 3900 Alton‘s recent name change. Earlier today, two years after launching sales, the Facebook business page for 3900 Alton was renamed to Alton Bay. Additionally, their website http://www.3900Alton.com now forwards to http://www.altonbay.com/. No additional information has been provided. According to their Facebook page and website, the waterfront development will still include 78 residences at 3900 Alton Road.

Miami Luxury Real Estate Website Adds Bitcoin Currency Conversion for All Property Listings

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you already know that Bitcoin – the world’s most famous cryptocurrency – has been all the craze these past couple of months. Opponents of Bitcoin argue that it lacks mainstream adoption and that prices are fueled by nothing more than pure speculative hype. However, that seems to have changed in recent months as local and national headlines have been filled with examples of luxury real estate properties listed for sale in Bitcoin denominated currency. Supporters of Bitcoin argue this flurry of activity is the tell-tale sign that mainstream adoption is just around the corner. Miami luxury real estate website – MiamiCondoInvestments.com – has prepared itself in case the latter proves true. Buyers shopping for Miami luxury homes or condos can now convert in seconds prices denominated in U.S. Dollars to Bitcoin for all luxury real estate in Miami and Miami Beach that is listed for sale on its website.

Below, you can see screenshots of the three-step process in action for using the Bitcoin converter:

Step 1: Click the “Currency Conversion” drop-down located underneath the property’s List Price.

Step 2: Select “Bitcoin” from the drop-down menu.

Step 3: Watch the property’s List Price convert from U.S. Dollars to Bitcoin. (Although BTC is the generally accepted abbreviation for Bitcoin, XBT is commonly used for foreign exchange and futures trading.)

The currency conversion tool can also be used to convert a property’s list price from U.S. Dollars to Bitcoin along with any one of 160+ currencies or precious metals. MiamiCondoInvestments.com uses a third party service to provide daily spot rates.

Hilton Miami Downtown Updates Hotel with $35M Renovation

Hilton Miami Downtown – located on Biscayne Boulevard at the site of the former Omni International Mall – recently completed a $35M renovation, providing guests with a revamped experience featuring all the hallmarks of the Hilton Brand.

HBA Atlanta (Hirsch Bedner Associates) led the property’s design renovation, updating each of the hotel’s 527 rooms with a sleek look while meeting top-end technological expectations. The upgraded experience is aimed to please both leisure- and business-minded guests.

The hotel’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner restaurant, Brisa Bistro, was also redesigned and renovated. The restaurant, which is led by Executive Chef Didier Pouzier, includes a fusion of Caribbean, European and South American cuisines.

The Hilton Miami Downtown is aiming to provide guests the best hotel experience, while fitting in with the cultural renaissance that’s taking place in Downtown Miami. According to Alex Batista, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Hilton Miami Downtown, “The newly renovated Hilton Miami Downtown represents the area’s best – style, culture, convenience and value.”

The Miami DDA Launches Free Outdoor Movie Nights in Various Downtown Miami Locations

Tonight, the Miami DDA is launching Season One of DWNTOWN Movie Nights – a free outdoor cinematic experience for moviegoers that will continue every other Friday night through April 6th, each at a different Downtown Miami location.

Tonight’s movie, Moana, will play behind the American Airlines Arena on Parcel B. On-site, there will be several food options available from local food trucks as well as a premium bar serving happy hour cocktails. Happy hour will begin at 5pm with showtime at 7pm. There will also be prize giveaway at each screening event.

Below is a list of the scheduled screenings and locations. Movies and showtimes are subject to change, so be sure to check the Miami DDA website periodically for the most up-to-date information.

Gary Cohen & BH3 Hit the Mark with Privé at Island Estates (Photo Tour)

There are plenty of developments that miss the mark when it comes to bringing a 2-dimensional rendering to real life. That’s why it’s so refreshing when a newly completed development exceeds expectations, as was the case earlier today as I toured Privé at Island Estates.

Privé is an 8-acre development located on its own private island at 5000 and 5500 Island Estates Drive in Aventura, Florida. Designed by award-winning architecture firm Sieger Suarez, Prive is comprised of two twin towers, each rising 16 stories and with 74 residential units…and the floor plans are huge! The non-penthouse units range in size from 2,585 square feet to more than 9,000 square feet, each with 10-foot high ceilings and 10-foot deep terraces with summer kitchens, while the penthouse residences range in size from 4,238 to 16,104 square feet, each with 15-foot high ceilings and a private rooftop terrace with summer kitchen and a full-size pool. All of the units are flow-through residences with terraces on each side and water views from every room.

As the development’s name implies, privacy is a key selling point for Privé, as is security. As I made my way to the building this morning, I passed three separate security checkpoints, along with a number of roving and permanent security guards. If you’re someone of celebrity status and/or who values their privacy, going for stroll or jog around the island is no problem.

Privé offers over 70,000 square feet of indoor amenities, which include:

• 10,000 square foot, two-story Spa and Fitness Center (in each tower) with Men’s and Women’s sauna and steam rooms, massage treatments rooms, aerobic and cardiovascular equipment, weight facility, and fitness studio
• Private Dining Room
• Social Room with billiards, board games, and HD television
• Teen Social Lounge
• Outdoor Dining Terraces
• Wine Room, Cigar Lounge, and Business Center
• Library
• Toddler’s Playroom

Additionally, Privé residents can enjoy a slew of outdoor amenities, which include:

• Full-service Valet
• Five-star Concierge
• 24-hour Security (roving and permanent)
• Poolside Cafe
• Beach-entry Pool
• North-South Lap Pool with towel, sunblock, and water service
• Outdoor Jacuzzis
• Private Marina with boat slips available for purchase
• Lighted Tennis Court
• Jogging Trail around the island
• Private Jetty for guest boat landing and fishing
• Nature Path
• Private Beach & Beach Club (subject to DERM approval and all other applicable government agencies)
• Pet Grooming Arena
• Car Washing Station
• Kids’ Playground

According to a developer rep, Prive enjoyed $20M in NEW sales in the month of December alone. Judging from what I saw earlier today, I don’t doubt it one bit. If you’re in the market for a large residence and have $2M to $8M to spend, I highly suggest that you check out this development.

Closings in the North Tower began on December 7th. South Tower closings are expected to begin this month. There are around 35 developer units remaining at Prive, which range in price from $2.3M to $8.3M, averaging around $950 per square foot (a fraction of what you’d find at a comparable development on the beach but with way more privacy and exclusivity). Email us at [email protected] or call us at 305-428-3860 to schedule a tour.

The Venetian Causeway Upgraded One of Miami’s Most Used Bike Routes

The Venetian Causeway, which is home to one of Miami’s most popular bike route, has upgraded the experience for cyclists by unveiling green bike lanes. The high emphasis green bike lane project began in December with plans to have it completed in the coming months.

The slip-resistant lanes were created to promote a “share the road” mentality, so that drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians could all have an enjoyable experience. Originally, the lanes were only planned to cover the Miami Beach city limit stretch but the county later agreed to allocate additional funds so that each 2.5-mile stretch could be covered.

The lanes head both east and west, so riders can enjoy the new bike lanes heading into and out of Miami Beach. Additionally, if you are riding east and heading for South Beach, you’ll now be able to find 65 long-term parking spots in the 17th Street garage. Miami Beach unveiled these spots last week with an option to park overnight if needed.

With the new green bike lanes providing cyclists with a safer biking experience, the Venetian Causeway should remain one of Miamians favorite bike routes for many more years to come.

Michelin-Starred Restaurant Azabu Opens Friday in Miami Beach

Originally set to open October of 2017, Azabu Miami Beach will finally debut this Friday, January 19th inside the Mariott Stanton South Beach. The considerable postponement of the restaurant’s opening is attributed to Hurricane Irma, which rocked South Florida in early September. Azabu’s original concept was launched in New York by Japanese global hospitality group, Plan Do See, and according to the Miami New Times, the group’s continued desire to expand the brand led them to open its next location right here in South Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood.

Headed up by the Tokyo-trained Chef Masatsugu “Masa” Kubo and mixologist Davide Borgia, Azabu will feature a hidden sushi counter, a formal dining room, and a cocktail bar featuring sake and whiskeys of both international and local brands. Many of the restaurant’s dishes will be cooked on a robata (a Japanese charcoal grill) and served in an izakaya dining style. This means guests will be able to order a variety of small, shareable plates served when ready, as opposed to all at once. The menu will include delicious plates like the miyazaki Wagyu tataki with a truffle ponzu and the king crab with crab miso, and tasty desserts such as the jelly-based Japanese raindrop cake.

For those seeking a more intimate setting, Azabu will have an 11-seat bar accessible only through the kitchen, where an omakase-style dining experience will include both local and imported seafood, regularly flown in from Japan.

The moment we’ve all been waiting for is here. AZABU Miami’s doors officially open to the public on Friday, January 19th.

A post shared by Azabu Miami Beach (@azabumiami) on Jan 17, 2018 at 6:30am PST

Property Markets Group Unveils X Miami Murals by Sammy Slabbinck

Earlier today, Property Markets Group unveiled on their Instagram account the final artwork that will be mounted on the garage of their soon-to-be-completed rental project called X Miami. X Miami, formerly known as Vice Miami, will be located at 234 NE 3rd St in Downtown Miami. The tower will have 464 micro units ranging in size from 500 square feet, for a junior one-bedroom apartment, to 1,400 square feet for a 3 bedroom unit.

The monolithic murals will be prominently displayed on the east, south, and west sides of the garage. Eventually, once PMG’s 300 Biscayne is built, the mural on the east side of the garage (facing Biscayne Boulevard) will be blocked. PMG commissioned Belgian artist Sammy Slabbinck to create the murals. Slabbinck is known for his surreal compositions.

Here’s how the X Miami garage will look when the @sammyslabbinck works are mounted, forming a new fixture on the Downtown cityscape.

A post shared by @ propertymarketsgroup on Jan 16, 2018 at 1:21pm PST

Bitcoin-denominated Penthouse Switches to U.S. Dollars

Well, that didn’t last long! The Bitcoin-denominated penthouse at Platinum Condominium has switched its denomination to U.S. Dollars. With Bitcoin’s recent plunge in value and high-risk volatility, this should come as no surprise. As of today’s trading, Bitcoin had lost 50 percent of its peak value set just last month.

The asking price of the penthouse is now quoted as $525,000. Had it remained listed in bitcoins, the price would be roughly equivalent to $355,000…$170,000 less than its current asking price but still $40,000 more than what the seller paid! The owner of the penthouse purchased it for $315,000 about one year ago.

Perhaps Bitcoin had its shining moment but, today, it’s all about the Benjamins baby!