Toronto-based Blutrich Holdings, spearheaded by real estate mogul Gil Blutrich, is set to transform Downtown Miami’s skyline with their latest venture, Clear Residences. This ambitious project proposes a 60-story mixed-use building situated at 130 Southeast 1st Street, a prime location in the heart of the Central Business District.
Clear Residences is designed to be a nearly 690-foot-tall architectural marvel, encompassing approximately 666,432 square feet. The structure is planned by Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design, with landscape architecture by KEITH. The project aims to offer 549 residential units alongside 3,622 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. Furthermore, residents will enjoy nearly 40,000 square feet of amenities and a parking garage designed to hold 157 vehicles. The Miami Urban Development Review Board is expected to review the project proposal on May 15.
Currently, the site operates as a surface parking lot, covering about 23,750 square feet or 0.55 acres, bordered by SE 1st Street and SE 2nd Street, with SE 1st Avenue and SE 2nd Avenue flanking its sides.
The design of Clear Residences aims to blend seamlessly with the urban fabric of Downtown Miami while standing out with its modern architectural elements. The building is characterized by sleek, curved corners and a striking glass façade. A unique feature of the design is the building’s rooftop, which includes landscaped terraces that provide a stunning contrast to its linear structure, enhancing the visual appeal and reducing the massiveness of the tower.
The tower’s position within the city allows it to capture breathtaking views from Biscayne Bay towards the west, emphasizing its prominence in the city’s landscape. The architectural renderings reveal a structure that honors the area’s vibrancy while contributing to the skyline’s dynamic evolution.
Several detailed renderings showcase the building’s intricate fenestration and façade, which includes vertical columns wrapped in golden metal, wrap-around frameless glass guardrails, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The bronze aluminum cladding panels add a touch of elegance and modernity to the overall design.
Blutrich Holdings has requested several waivers to facilitate this project, including increased lot coverage and adjustments to building setbacks and frontage access. These requests are aligned with recent amendments to local zoning codes, aiming to accommodate the unique design and structural requirements of Clear Residences.
Clear Residences is poised to be a significant addition to Miami’s downtown area, offering luxury living combined with breathtaking designs and state-of-the-art amenities. As the review date approaches, all eyes will be on how this project will further shape the future of Miami’s urban landscape.
Record Breaking Waterfront Mansion Sold in Coconut Grove for $106.9 Million
Adrienne Arsht, a local philanthropist, set a Miami-Dade County record when she sold her waterfront property in Coconut Grove for $106.9 million.
The sale of the home represents a 29% decrease from the property’s initial $150 million asking price and this sale marks the first residential sale to exceed the $100 million threshold.
The 2 two-story homes sit on 3031 and 3115 Brickell Avenue and are frequently referred to as South Florida’s “embassy,” due to the many U.S. and international officials frequenting the home.
There are a total of 12 bedrooms and 13 and a half bathrooms in the 25,000-square-foot home. The 4-acre property has 400 feet of water frontage, is close to Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, and overlooks Biscayne Bay. The main house, known as Indian Spring, was built by Arsht in 1999.
It has a dining room that seats more than 20 people, a six-car garage with an office and apartment upstairs, a pool, and a tennis court. Indian Spring was designed by Jose Gelabert-Navia, a former dean of the University of Miami School of Architecture. Villa Serena, the other house, was constructed in 1913.
The property was developed by William Jennings Bryan, a former U.S. Secretary of State and a 3x presidential candidate. Arsht restored the waterfront mansion and it is now registered in the National Register of Historic Places.
According to records, she purchased the property in two transactions, paying $4 million for the land on which the contemporary house was built in 1996 and then $12 million for the ancient home in 2007.
Arsht, a native of Delaware, made a name for herself in Miami’s financial world and as an arts patron. She gave the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts a $30 million gift, earning it the moniker Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami’s Arts & Entertainment District. She has also served as TotalBank’s chair in the past.
The transaction surpasses the previous high in Miami-Dade, which was set this summer by the $93 million purchase of three homes in Golden Beach by the founder of the technology business InterSystems. Ragon intends to demolish the buildings and build a new house in their stead.
The Elser Hotel & Residences Unveiled with Exclusive Party Hosted by PMG and Greybrook
A party celebrating the unveiling of the 49-story luxury condominium tower known as The Elser Hotel & Residences was held on Wednesday, August 3rd, by PMG and Greybrook.
The venue, located in the center of Downtown Miami with unhindered views of Biscayne Bay, offered visitors infinite champagne, a live band, and interactive entertainment. The PMG Residential sales team, comprised of Alejandra Castillo, Christian Tupper, Daiana Quiceno, Aura Aragon, and Karine Carvalho, as well as PMG Managing Partner Ryan Shear, made remarks.
The Elser Hotel and Residences are located in the same lively area and have the same sparkling views of Biscayne Bay that Elser Pier did in the early 1900s. Elser Pier’s prime location in Miami’s thriving downtown area contributed to its status as the city’s top convention and entertainment hub. Tourists and locals alike were drawn to the pier’s variety of venues and waterfront views. The legacy and extraordinary success of Elser Pier altered the future outlook for the corridor and created the foundation for the bustling bayfront metropolis we know today.
The Elser Residences Miami is a development of carefully designed studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom condos. Elser, located in Miami’s most alluring area, Downtown Miami, will provide a vibrant and rich community fuelled by culture, glitz, and wellness. Find a wealth of amenities for living, working, and playing. Units will be available this summer for move-in.
Facts and Features
49-story tower located in Downtown Miami
Developed by PMG and Greybrook Partners
Designed by internationally renowned architecture firm Sieger Suarez Architects
Approved for short-term rentals
On-site hospitality management
Views of the Miami skyline, unobstructed views of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean
Over 19,000 square foot double-height amenity deck overlooking Downtown Miami
and Biscayne Bay
132-Foot Resort Style Pool with private lounge areas
Two-Level Modern Gym & Fitness Studio
Co-working Lab
Valet Parking
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Latest Smart Building Technology
Only The Elser Hotel & Residences Miami would have a short-term rental program that was expertly run by a five-star operator among the current inventory in Miami. The structure would be open to unlimited day rentals.
Residences start at $600,000 or the equivalent in bitcoin, according to PMG Residential, the property’s exclusive sales team.
Developers File Coastline Review for a 30 Story Mixed Use Tower
In North Bay Village at 1755 Kennedy Causeway, B Developments under the LGE NBV, LLC submitted a request to Miami-Dade County for a coastline review. Arquitectonica was hired by the developer to create a mixed-use structure that would be 345 feet tall, 30 floors tall, and directly face Biscayne Bay.
Due to the property’s frontage on Biscayne Bay and its compliance with Article III, Section 33D of the Miami-Dade County Code of Ordinances, the application is necessary. The coastline setback and side setback are subject to variance requests from the developer. A structure with 30 floors must be 75 feet away from the main shoreline and 25 feet away from the side shorelines, according to the County Code’s setback requirements.
The property can’t be developed strictly in accordance with the criteria due to the tower’s height, the property’s size, and the lot’s proportions. To build in compliance with the site plans, the setback from the beach would have to be decreased to 25 feet, resulting in a 50-foot variance.
The developer is offering to construct a public bay walk behind the property along Biscayne Bay as leverage to get the variances allowed for the project because the County standards cannot be met. On the plus side, the proposal complies with the 2020 Island Walk Design Criteria as well as the North Bay Village Unified Land Development Code.
According to floor designs submitted in February 2022 to the North Bay Village Planning & Zoning Board, the distinctive two-story waterfront restaurant would occupy 19,455 square feet of area between the ground floor and mezzanine level. From the mezzanine level to floors 2 through 5, 8 and 9, the majority of the west podium would be occupied by offices. There are five storeys of parking on the podium’s remaining surface.
On the 6th and 7th floors are the residential amenity levels, which have a landscape deck with three pools, barbecue spaces, fire pits, kids’ splash pads, party lounges, residential lounges, game rooms, sky lobbys, and fitness centers. On the south and west sides of the sixth level, there will be a separate amenity deck that the office tenants can use.
BuildingPlans Description
473,252 square feet project
201 residential units
32,654 square feet of amenities
19,455 square feet for a 2-story restaurant with a waterfront terrace
1,860 square feet of office space
408 parking space in a parking structure podium
The landscape architect is listed as Arquitectonica and the civil engineer as Kimbley-Horn.
Residential units would start on the 10th level and range in size from 670 to 2255 square feet, including 104 one-bedroom, 83 two-bedroom, 8 three-bedroom, and 6 four-bedroom units.
Another Former Miami Heat Player Sells Miami Mansion
We have been seeing a lot of Miami Heat basketball players, as well as former players, sell their Miami homes. Now we can add former center, Meyers Leonard to the list with his recent sale of a Bay Point waterfront home for $10.89 million.
Leonard and his wife, Elle purchase the home in February of this year for $7.78 million. The property is located at 741 Buttonwood Lane features 6,819 square feet of living space sited on 0.43 acres on an interior lot in a canal with direct access to Biscayne Bay.
The modern waterfront with vine-covered loggias surrounding the exterior showcases 7 bedrooms with 8.5 bathrooms. The estate was built in 1996 and was renovated in 2018 to feature high ceilings, Italian cabinetry by Italkraft, oak hardwood floor throughout, and stainless steel appliances. Outdoors, you will find a 2 car garage, entertainment area with custom seating, and a heated pool/spa. The new owners will also enjoy the aluminum deck with a boat lift.
Eduardo Marquez and his wife Gabriela are listed as the buyers for this property. Marquez is the President of Lucky Player Vodka (located in Miami). The mortgage for the buyers was provided by Citibank for $6 million.
Meyers Leonard, originally from Virginia, played high school basketball for 2 years then was drafted into the NBA in 2012. He was a first-round draft pick but 11th overall. He was traded from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Miami Heat in 2020 where he assisted the Heat to reach the NBA Finals for that year. In 2021, he re-signed another contract with Miami but ended up injuring his shoulder in January 2021.
In a recent Instagram post, Leonard stated on his future of the NBA, “I’m simply not healthy enough to play.” He also stated that he is looking forward to 2022 and what is in store for his career and family.
Miami Heat Player PJ Tucker Rents $22,000 Waterfront Home in Coral Gables
Anthony Leon “P. J.” Tucker Jr., NBA Star Forward for the Miami Heat recently rented a waterfront property located in Coral Gables.
The rental located at 25 Arvida Parkway, was last listed for $22,000 monthly. The waterfront home is located in the gated community of Gables Estates that sides to Biscayne Bay.
The property was built in 1968 and sits on 0.68 acres with 100 feet of Biscayne Bay water frontage. The open concept mid-century home features 7,343 square feet of living space with 5 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. Marble floors span throughout opening to floor-to-ceiling windows.
What makes this home so spectacular is the 2 grand living rooms, a formal dining room, and the spacious chef’s kitchen. The home also features a 3 car garage, a deck, pool, dock with a boat lift. The seawall has also been recently replaced. According to the listing, there is an application fee of $35,000 as well as acceptance by the community club.
The estimated worth of the home is listed at $30 million.
Tucker began playing ball in college for the Texas Longhorns. Some major accomplishments include his 2008 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP and his Israeli Super League. This year, Tucker also won an NBA Championship with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Other notables that reside in the community include rapper and songwriter, Pharrell, healthcare billionaire, Mike Fernandez, and another Miami Heat Player, Alonzo Mourning.
Modera Biscayne Bay Construction Nears Completion with Resident Occupancy Beginning in August 2021
Modera Biscayne Bay in Edgewater is a 28 story tower that has neared completion. Construction originally began in 2019 but was delayed due to the pandemic. The tower topped off construction in May and began pre-leasing shortly after.
According to the developer, Modera has leased 45% of its units within the first month of pre-leasing. Starting in August, the new residents can begin to move in.
Rising 28 stories, Modera Biscayne Bay is located at 2150 N. Bayshore Drive in Edgewater. Modera is set at a prime location near shopping, dining, and entertainment. According to Mill Creek Residential, the project will include a new walking connection from Bayshore Drive to 22nd Street underneath Modera.
Mill Creek Residential is the developer for this project and Corwil Architects is responsible for the design.
The mixed-use tower features 296 apartments, 11,000 square feet of retail space, and an 8-story parking garage with 425 spaces.
Building Amenities:
ROOFTOP HOTEL-INSPIRED POOL
27TH FLOOR BAY VIEW OUTDOOR TERRACE
CLUBROOM WITH DEMONSTRATION KITCHEN, GAME AREA, PRIVATE LIVING AND DINING AREAS FOR ENTERTAINING, AND SEPARATE CATERING KITCHEN
CLUB-QUALITY FITNESS CENTERYOGA/PILATES STUDIO WITH VIRTUAL FITNESS CLASSES ON DEMAND
UNOBSTRUCTED VIEWS OF THE OCEAN IN THE LOUNGE
OUTDOOR GRILLING AREA
INTERNET LOUNGE AND PRIVATE OFFICES
CONFERENCE ROOM
GOURMET COFFEE BAR
24-HOUR SELF-SERVICE PACKAGE LOCKERS
ADDITIONAL STORAGE
BIKE STORAGE
PARKING GARAGE
PET SPA
Residence Features
1-, AND 2- AND 3-BEDROOM APARTMENT HOMES (DEN AND PENTHOUSE ALSO AVAILABLE)
QUARTZ COUNTERS WITH TILE BACKSPLASHES IN THE KITCHEN
STAINLESS STEEL ENERGY STAR APPLIANCES
TILE FLOORING
FULL-SIZE WASHER AND DRYERKEY FOB ENTRY SYSTEM
BAY VIEW BALCONIES
WIFI PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTATS
WALK-IN CLOSETS WITH MASTER CLOSET LUXE UPGRADES
WINE STORAGE
BUILT-IN SHELVING AND DESK AREAS
MOVABLE ISLANDS
15-FOOT CEILINGS
DOUBLE VANITIES
For more information on Modera Biscayne Bay or any other towers in Edgewater, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at lucas@miamicondoinvestments.com or by phone at (786)247-6332.
Genting Group to Lease Submerged Land for Development of 50-slip Mega-yacht Marina
It looks like the Malaysia-based Genting Group is on their way towards developing a 50-slip mega-yacht marina on the former Miami Herald site, according to The Real Deal. In 2011, Genting bought the former Miami Herald site for $236 million, which also included an additional $185 million for the nearby Omni retail and hotel complex. While their ultimate goal has always been to build a casino, opposition to those efforts has shifted their focus to first developing a mega-yacht marina. The proposal shows that the marina could accommodate 50- to 175-foot long vessels.
The Miami City Commission recently cleared the way for the marina development, as they agreed to accept a deed for the submerged land in Biscayne Bay, which would then be leased for the marina development. Genting’s subsidiary Resorts World Miami LLC., is negotiating to lease the submerged land which is currently owned by the city of Miami and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
Besides the marina, Resorts World Miami is also planning to include two residential towers, a hotel, and retail shops with 800-foot long walkway along Biscayne Bay. No word yet as to when they plan to begin development.
County Considering Network of ‘Water Buses’ Around Biscayne Bay
Photo via Flickr/Phillip Pessar.
In their wacky-tobackie dysfunctional ways, South Florida’s politicians are getting serious about looking for answers to our worsening traffic issues in Miami. The latest ideas being floated (floated!) are aquatic, per yesterday’s county commission meeting, when commissioners got a preview of their probe into possible water transportation solutions. As Miami Today reports, it’s an idea that people have yacked about for years, but finally the county is getting serious, with various types of water taxis, and even ‘water buses’ being considered. They are pouring over old water transport studies for ideas, and looking for possible locations for docks and connectivity to other transit, as well as ideal sized vessels, and whether the solution would be a city or county-run service.
