Brickell’s Taj Mahal-Inspired Penthouse Under Contract
It is one of Brickell’s most unique and storied penthouses, nestled above The Palace Condominium and spanning over 5,800 square feet in 3 levels of Moroccan-inspired glamour. The Brickell Taj has had only 3 previous owners since it was built in 1981. That may soon change as a contract was accepted this week.
According to local legend, the penthouse was originally intended to be the Miami home of New York’s “Queen of Mean,” Leona Helmsley. Instead, the property was sold to a Saudi Sheik who spent 2 years with a team of 27 Moroccan craftsmen to finish the interior as an Arabian palace for his use while visiting the Magic City.
The property boasts 6 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms of hand-crafted wall designs and intricate tile mosaics with Turkish, Indian and Persian influences. A glass atrium offers amazing entertaining space with a 3,000 square foot terrace that spans the entire width of the building’s rooftop.
After nearly 20 years and very little use, the Sheik sold the palace atop The Palace to a developer and weapons collector, who has now received a contract from an unnamed buyer. The property had been on and off the market several times over the last 4 years without finding a buyer. In 2012 it hit the market with an asking price of $4,199,000 but was reduced to $2,295,000 at the time of sale… an excellent case in point of the fact that no matter how ornate or beautiful the property, spaces that are uniquely designed are notoriously more difficult to sell.
Photos courtesy of MLS
Brickell City Centre Reach Tower Is Officially Open
At long last, Brickell City Centre’s first residential tower has opened! Reach Tower has received its certificate of occupancy from the city and closings have begun. The closings just began this week and the first residence to hit the public records was apartment 2109. That closed on Monday, April 11, according to The Next Miami.
Sources with the development have indicated an average sales price of $650/square foot for the 390 residences, 335 of which are currently under contract. The first investors to commit to the development were offered lower prices in exchange for believing in the project when it was in the conceptual phase. Apartment 2109 is a 2 bedroom with 1,501 interior square feet that closed for $884,300, or $589/square foot.
At the time of this post, we have not yet seen any of the apartments come to the rental market although they are expected soon. Some investors have mentioned to our agents that they intend to list the rental units for $3500/month for one bedroom options and $4500/month for two bedroom options.
The apartments are being delivered finished and ready for furniture, so we will not have to wait for interiors to be built out before seeing new neighbors occupying the tower. If you would like a tour of the development for purchase or lease, we are happy to arrange it.
East Hotel Taking Reservations Starting May 9, Reach Tower 95% Sold As Brickell CityCentre Begins to Open
Just three days after the ribbon cutting and official opening of Three Brickell CityCentre, we have exciting news about the other phases of the opening. All three remaining components of the much-anticipated development will be opened within the next six months. Here is the timeline we are working with:
Hotel: The East Hotel is currently accepting reservations with availability beginning May 9, 2016. Rates for the first night begin at $279/night including complimentary wifi and continental breakfast for two according to the booking section of their website. Separate packages are available for business travelers, offering a complimentary welcome cocktail, dry cleaning credit, wifi and continental breakfast for one.
Residential: Sales remain strong at both residential towers, Reach and Rise. Reach is currently 95% sold and awaiting their certificate of occupancy to begin closings this month. For buyers who wish to move-in within the upcoming weeks, a few opportunities remain with pricing averaging at $650/square foot. Rise tower is not far behind, boasting 50% sold status and similar pricing. We expect to see Rise opening later this year.
Retail: The impressive list of tenants have already begun their interior build-out to prepare for the grand opening of the mall, which is expected to be in September of 2016. The mall will be anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue and Cinemex luxury movie theater with a gourmet dining component. Other retailers will include Apple with their largest store in Florida, Valentino, Chopard and Lululemon. Sources have been buzzing since 2014 about the addition of an Eataly location although representatives of Swire have been unable to confirm this claim. Here is a full list of retailers that has been released by Swire.
Office: Three Brickell CityCentre was officially opened on March 1 with a ceremonial ribbon cutting attended by Mayor Regalado along with executives from Swire Properties and Akerman. Akerman is the anchor tenant of the office component of the development with 290 attorneys on staff. The new space will allow them to grow by 10%. Two Brickell CityCentre is the second office tower that is currently awaiting their certificate of occupancy.
It is important to note that these are prospective dates, considering everything goes as planned with the weather, contractors and permit delivery. We will be sure to be on top of any changes. Should you be interested in space in the residential, retail or office components, we are here to help.
Brickell Flatiron Issues Groundbreaking Notices; Construction Begins in March
Fans of Ugo Colombo will be overjoyed to hear that groundbreaking notices have been delivered to the buyers of Brickell Flatiron, the long-awaited project at 10th Street & South Miami Avenue in Brickell. According to the notices, the official groundbreaking is scheduled for March 16, 2016 although preliminary site work will be commencing immediately.
Locals will recall that this groundbreaking has been quite long-awaited. Ugo Colombo’s CMC Group purchased the site in 2013 for $21 million. In January 2015, the popular neighborhood restaurant/nightclub was closed to make way for the development. Since the closing and demolition, not much has been said with regard to the actual construction start date. The site has been used as overflow parking for the neighboring shopping center and restaurants.
This groundbreaking is very much a triumph for the neighborhood as Ugo Colombo is one of the area’s most celebrated developers. His previous projects have been among the most successful developments in the city and tend to hold their value through market fluctuations better than some of the competing buildings due to their quality and unique design. Some of his previous projects include Santa Maria, Bristol Tower and the Epic Hotel and Residences in Brickell as well as the famed Grovernor House in Coconut Grove.
One of the aspects that we appreciate the most from Ugo Colombo’s developments is that they have a more lasting effect on the skyline. Buildings that he built 10 or 20 years ago still appear brand-new in the skyline and do not show their age even as newer buildings pop up around them. The average resale price of Mr. Colombo’s developments stands at $757/foot over the last year, compared to $506/foot for the same time period for all buildings developed by The Related Group.
Purchase opportunities are still available at Brickell Flatiron, in the range of $600/foot depending upon layout and floor location. Residences will be delivered in 2018 fully finished with Italian porcelain tile. Contact us for details about the available opportunities or to speak about your specific needs for a condo.
Week in Review: Brickell Backyard Section of The Underline Receives Large Donation, Auberge Reserves 50 Units in 5 Days and Other News
Brickell Backyard Section of The Underline Park
This week brought great news for supporters of The Underline, a new park that is being developed beneath the Metrorail lines from the Miami River down to Dadeland. Each station is individually funded and the Brickell Backyard section received a $75,000 donation this week from local developers.
The Underline will begin construction in the Brickell phase and continue down 10 miles of the rail tracks. They have also secured $5 million in grants and funding from developer impact fees, Miami Dade County and Florida Department of Transportation. Friends of the Underline CEO & founder, Meg Daly hopes to begin construction by the end of 2016.
Residents of Brickell have been increasingly vocal over recent years regarding their desire for more park space but have lost out due to the laws of economics. The Underline is a solution that meets the needs of everyone involved, as the area underneath the rail tracks is not able to be sold and developed, but is available for public use. Think: the opposite of New York’s High Line… Underline will be a welcome addition indeed. [The Real Deal]
Speaking of the laws of economics, The Next Miami is reporting that the location of Brickell’s Burger King could face the wrecking ball in favor of a 960 foot tower. It appears that plans have been submitted to the FAA requesting permission to build up to 960 feet above sea level on the site.
Before you cancel your reservations on your north-facing apartments at Brickell Heights and hoard a box of Whoppers, let’s take a look at all of the evidence. Yes, a tower could be built on the land and this will likely happen one day. No, the Burger King strip center is not the highest and best use of the lot (particularly after Brickell’s recent growth spurt). We do believe that a tower will be built on the corner, but the likelihood of it happening anytime soon is very low.
The parcel of land at 10 SW 8th Street includes the Burger King on the east side all the way over to La Sandwicherie on the west side. The shopping center was last sold back in 2006 and no developer has been named for this proposed tower. Since shopkeepers in the strip center have been open about the fact that the building is being prepared for a sale, we sense that the proposal is simply a plan to increase the value of the lot in preparation for going to market. Whether or not the sale would happen quickly is another conversation altogether. For the foreseeable future, we will continue to enjoy our late-night La Sandwicherie subs in peace. [The Next Miami]
A little further north, Auberge Residences and Spa certainly had a large week. They released their first inventory on February 10 and successfully reserved 50 apartments in their first 5 days on the market! Given the feedback we have received, we hope that the lucky buyers who were able to secure a reservation hold onto their position when contracts are issued. Many people were disappointed to learn that certain floor plans have already been spoken for. Contracts are expected in late March. [The Next Miami]
While buyers were scurrying for opportunities in the Arts District, buyers of Miami Worldcenter have been scavenging for information regarding the revamped plans of their shopping center. This week finally brought additional details with renderings of the new open-air shopping concept that will replace the enclosed mall that was originally planned.
Some have praised Miami Worldcenter for their revised plans and some have begun to question the development. Have a look at the new renderings and let us know what you think… [Curbed Miami]
The Bond at Brickell Releases Final Inventory, Prepares for Completion
Miami-based Rilea Group is preparing to open their latest residential tower, The Bond on Brickell. This British-inspired luxury tower has 323 total apartments through 44 floors with layouts ranging from studios, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments along with exclusive lofts and penthouses.
One of the aspects we like the most about The Bond is the fact that Rilea had the foresight to purchase the air rights to the building directly east of the tower, preventing future development that would sacrifice the views of the residents in The Bond. The blocking of views has become an issue for many buildings in the neighborhood, most notably the Infinity at Brickell, whose bay views were blocked by the construction of SLS Brickell just one month after completing their initial sell-off.
Unlike most of the towers in Brickell, The Bond is one of the first to deliver the residences fully finished and ready for occupancy. Many previous buildings have delivered their apartments decorator ready, or still in need of flooring, lighting packages, paint and window treatments. The apartments at The Bond include porcelain flooring throughout, Bosch appliances and Nolte cabinetry.
The developer has released the final 11 opportunities in preparation for the opening of the tower. The remaining apartments are comprised of a mix of 796 square foot 1 bedroom units with a den up to 1,217 square foot 2 bedroom units with a den as well. Prices range from $496,900 to $689,900 depending upon size and view. Contact us for information about specific opportunities. The apartments will be ready for move-in upon closing in March.
Market Update: Brickell Condo Sales
Penthouse view from Nine at Mary Brickell Village – PH08
Many people have been debating recently on the state of Miami’s condo market, and sometimes it is difficult to tell whether they are overly optimistic, pessimistic, in denial or leading us on. Is the market declining? Are we in a bubble? Are we in for a crash? Here are a few notes that we have made about the Brickell condo market that will be of use to residents, buyers and sellers alike.
The statistics listed below are accurate at the time of publishing. For statistics updated daily, visit the building and neighborhood pages linked in this post.
Brickell Statistics
Average sales price/square foot (over previous 6 months): $554
Average marketing time for listings that ultimately sell (over previous 6 months): 134 days
Buildings that currently have the most available sales
Lowest Priced Sale: 540 Brickell Key Drive #1509
This apartment is a 470 square foot studio in Brickell Key II with partial bay & city views. It was originally built in 1991 and was listed for $219,900 then sold for $177,510 cash after 101 days on the market.
Highest Priced Sale: 1643 Brickell Avenue #4401
For $6,550,000 the new owners of Santa Maria 4401 will enjoy direct bay and city views from this flow-through residence on the 44th floor. The apartment has 4 bedrooms, 6 1/2 baths, private elevator, his/hers master suite and staff quarters. Santa Maria was built in 1997 and this apartment was originally listed for $7,000,000 then sold for cash after 21 days on the market.
Living room with bay view in Santa Maria #4401 Photo credit: MLS
Stay tuned for our update of the preconstruction market!
Week in Review: How to Avoid the Federal Disclosure Law for Cash Purchases and Other News…
Rendering from Paramount Miami Worldcenter
Week of January 17-23, 2016.
The US Treasury announced this week that starting in March, title companies will be required to disclose the identities of buyers to government regulators for all cash purchases above $1 million in Miami’s residential real estate market. They are hoping to put a stop to illicit funds being laundered through the cash purchases, but effectively are also spooking legitimate buyers who simply do not wish to have their buying habits publicly disclosed.
Fear not, fancy condo shoppers. The ink is not even dry on the new order and The Real Deal has already compiled a list of 7 ways that the rule can be circumvented. [The Real Deal]
Last week, the developer of Miami Worldcenter announced that it is scrapping the plans for an enclosed mall just days after Macy’s announced multiple store closings due to slow sales. After this announcement Taubman and Forbes cancelled their contract with Worldcenter, causing a flurry of rumors and news stories stating that the project would be scrapped. It turns out that everyone jumped the gun. According to the developer and this Taubman release, the project is not scrapped. The contract just needs to be renegotiated to reflect the new building plans. [Zacks]
While everyone was up in arms about the potential drama at Miami Worldcenter, Brickell CityCentre released their updated list of all retailers, shops and restaurants that will be opening with the mall. The shops will begin individual build-out soon and is scheduled to open later in the year. [The Next Miami]
In possibly the least surprising news of the week, Car2Go finally announced that they are suspending service effective March 1. They say that the reason for the service-shuttering is low ridership and high state taxes, locals have not wasted time or minced words with their own theories. It seems they have been in trouble with their client base for some time due to poor handling of a PR incident involving a drunk driving accident, not offering service in many important areas of the community, poor customer service and unreliable service. We think it can be easily explained by simple economics… why pay more to drive yourself in a shared smart car with a complicated service when you can pay less and have an Uber car pick you up at your doorstep and drop you off wherever you want to go? The choice is simple. [Curbed]
Brickell Heights Construction Progress – Carlos Rosso’s Facebook
Related Group’s Brickell Heights has now reached the 35th floor of construction and less than 100 opportunities remain. To celebrate the development’s success, Related Group has opened their close-out incentives with hopes of selling the remaining 10% of apartments as quickly as possible.
Buyers can now secure their apartment with a lower deposit amount, having paid only 30% of the purchase price at closing time. The remaining 70% comes due at closing, rather than the previously required 50% deposit. All of the apartments will come fully finished with porcelain tile floors throughout and select apartments have price discounts.
Because of the way developers release their inventory in new projects, the remaining opportunities are scattered throughout the different floors and the different sizes offered. The last apartments are not the least attractive opportunities, they are the same as the mix of views and floor placement that were offered earlier in the sales cycle… just at a discount now because the developer is excited to finish up.
With the special incentives and discounts, the remaining apartments range in price from $409,900 for a 1 bedroom on the 33rd floor with a view of Brickell City Center (once offered for $481,900) up to a 2 bedroom with den on the northeast corner, also with a view of Brickell City Center for $589,900 (once priced at $706,900).
Brickell Heights is scheduled to open in early 2017 and is located just across the street from both Mary Brickell Village and Brickell City Centre (opening Fall 2016). Retailers for Brickell City Centre are slated to include Valentino, Chopard, Stuart Weitzman and anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue.
Contact us today to discuss the remaining inventory with information on prices, floor plans and deposit terms.
