Related Group Proposes 15 Story Residential Development on Biscayne Bay in North Miami

Icon Residences North Miami
Icon Residences Rendering

The Related Group has officially submitted plans for a new development located in North Miami, Icon Residences. The development is projected to cost around $150-million and rise 15-story project sited on a one-acre tract of land at 2305 NE 123 Street. The site currently is occupied by the two-story White House Inn, which was built in 1969, closed in 2014, and vacant.

Icon Residences will feature 54 luxury residences, each costing an eye-popping $4.6 million, to be built right at the Shepard Broad Causeway’s entrance, with views across Biscayne Bay to the towers of Sunny Isles Beach to the northeast and due east across Bay Harbor Islands to Bal Harbour – as well as the yards and windows of the single-family homes of Keystone Point just north across the canal. The site would also allow for 184 feet of water frontage.

The Related Group is requesting that the city increase the building height limit on the land from 35 feet to 169 feet, which is the identical height of the Majorca Bay tower located at 11930 N Bayshore Dr., just a few blocks over. The entire height of Icon Residences would be 184 feet, including the 15-foot mechanical plant near the rooftop swimming pool.

Between the White House Inn site and Majorca Bay, related and other entities are considering or preparing a future skyline of structures of similar height. The White House Inn site is presently limited to 35 feet of construction under North Miami’s 2017 Comprehensive Plan, whereas the bayfront land to the south is permitted to 115 feet.

The Keystone Homeowners Association, which covers the area of more than 900 properties, held a full community meeting on May 19 in the recently opened Wildcat Center at 1600 NE 126th St. to discuss their frustrations with this project.

Pedro Gassant, a Holland & Knight partner representing the Related Group, made his best case, claiming that the Icon project would eliminate the vagrancy and illicit dealings currently plaguing the site and bring in $1.7 million in tax revenue in the first year and $45 million over 20 years for the cash-strapped city.

A 184-foot structure, according to Eric Riel, an urban planner who has lived within 500 feet of the projected skyscraper, is incompatible with the single-family dwellings shown immediately across the canal.

The new North Miami Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for June 28th at 7pm at North Miami City Hall.

Edgewater Tower Proposed by Aimco is Denied Approval

AIMCO-Edgewater New Construction
AIMCO-Edgewater New Construction

After a city of Miami board refused to recommend approval of Aimco’s plans for a luxury rental tower in Edgewater, the developer is determined to revaluate the development plans and come up with a solution to get these plans moving forward.

After identifying a number of “serious concerns” with the design, members of the Miami Urban Development Review Board voted on Wednesday to reject plans for the proposed mixed-use development across from Aimco’s Hamilton on the Bay tower. Despite the board’s rejection, Aimco can still seek approval for the project.

The board was initially split on whether or not to recommend acceptance of the proposals with conditions, with three members voting in favor and three voting against. As a result, the developer can either withdraw its application and start the process all over again, or the board can vote to decline the recommendation, allowing the developer to submit amended plans to the planning director for final approval.

Aimco’s attorney, Tony Recio, a partner at Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman, said the developer is examining the board’s ideas and looks forward to “addressing their criticisms with the planning director” as the project moves further. Recio submitted the concept to the board of directors on Wednesday.

Though they praised the project’s overall design, board members expressed concerns about circulation on the ground level, including how residents and restaurant customers would access parking, apartments, and the restaurant, as well as loading and trash collection, landscaping, and an oversized mail room.

At 555, 560, 600, 610, 620, 630, and 640 Northeast 34th Street, Aimco, a publicly traded multifamily real estate investment company located in Denver, has proposed a 60-story, 241-unit tower. On more than an acre of land, the construction would include a new parking structure and 4,700 square feet of commercial space for a restaurant on the bottom level facing the water.

Aimco has made a significant investment in Edgewater. It paid over $90 million for the Hamilton on the Bay rental complex, which is currently undergoing substantial renovations, nearly two years ago. A nearby vacant lot and a modest rental building were included in the purchase.

Following the cancellation of its tenants’ leases at the Hamilton last year, Aimco purchased premises across the street, where the new project would be built.

New Interior Renderings Revealed for Casa Bella Residences Miami

Casa Bella Penthouse Duplex Balcony
Casa Bella Residences Lobby

Casa Bella Residences Miami is one of the newest pre-construction developments that will soon join the Miami skyline. At first, we only were able to see a small glimpse into the design of the project due to just a few exterior renderings being released.

Now, the developer has revealed interior shots of the project and they are a must-see. The newest interior renderings include the lobby, an upper lounge area, a restaurant, a gym, penthouse interiors, and much more.

Casa Bella Residences Rooftop Pool Deck

Casa Bella will feature 3 towers and 2 will rise 57 stories while 1 will rise 50. The first tower will feature 300 luxury units although 1,430 residential units have been approved for the site. The towers will have 1,629 parking spaces and will be connected by a podium.

Casa Bella Penthouse Duplex Balcony

Tower 1 at Casa Bella will feature 1 to 5-bedroom floor plans with only 6 units per floor. Interiors will be designed by Pierro Lissoni with landscape architecture by Enzo Ena. The double-height lobby will also be designed by Lissoni and will feature a mixture of sophistication and modern designs with a permanent collection of museum-quality art located throughout. 

Unit Features

  • 306 luxury condos including an exquisite penthouse collection of 24 penthouses
  • Residences offer 1, 2, 3, and 4-bedroom layouts with 10’ ceilings
  • Penthouses offer 2, 3 + Den, and 5-bedroom layouts with 11-12-foot ceilings
  • Units range in size from 711 to 5,890 square feet
  • All residences feature 2 private elevators and a foyer, which is unique in Miami
  • Biometric access-controlled elevators
  • Floor-to-ceiling impact-resistant windows
  • Modern European-style kitchens and bathrooms designed by Piero Lissoni featuring Italian cabinetry by ItalKraft
  • Premium black glass appliance packages with integrated 36” Sub-Zero refrigerators/freezers, integrated paneled dishwasher, built-in Wolf convection oven, and speed oven, and oversized stainless-steel radius sink with faucet drawer
  • Master bathrooms, designed by Piero Lissoni, boast frameless glass-enclosed showers, oversized tubs, imported porcelain flooring/wet walls, backlit vanity mirrors, and separate water closets
  • Two penthouses feature private rooftop terraces complete with private summer kitchens and spa tubs
  • Select units offer powder rooms
  • Spacious private terraces with spectacular water and city views
  • Casa Bella offers an extraordinary opportunity to have your residence curated by B&B Italia, Italy’s leading furniture brand

Tower Amenities

  • 2 full floors of private amenities
  • State-of-the-art wellness and fitness center offering on-demand services
  • Yoga room
  • Spinning room
  • Salon with manicure/pedicure stations
  • Adult entertainment lounge
  • Game room
  • Kid’s playroom with smartboard and educational games
  • Residents’ party room
  • Wine room
  • Movie theater
  • Museum-quality curated art collection
  • High-tech business center with conference room
  • Co-workspace
  • Pet spa
  • Expansive pool deck situated on the 11th floor overlooking Biscayne Bay
  • 78’ lap pool
  • Outdoor spa
  • Poolside bar and café
  • Poolside cabanas and lounge areas
  • Towel service
  • Sun-care kiosk
  • Open-air lawn perfect for yoga
  • Lush gardens were designed by acclaimed landscape architect Enzo Enea
  • Pickleball court
  • BBQ with outdoor dining area
  • Ground-level restaurant open to the public
  • 56th-floor Sky Terrace boasts rooftop pool and observatory (650 feet) with a high-tech telescope
  • 24-hour valet parking
  • 24-hour security
  • 24-hour maintenance staff
  • Multilingual team on site
  • On-demand concierge services are available including housekeeping, grocery shopping, “while you’re away” butler services, dry cleaning, childcare, pet care, courier services, translation service, and more
  • Residents enjoy a 1-year complimentary membership at the Grand Bay Beach Club in Key Biscayne
Casa Bella Residences Penthouse Duplex Living Room

The location of this tower places residences near the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and the Miami International University of Art and Design. The Omni Station Bus Loop is also 1 block away.

In May, Casa Bella sold 60% of its inventory in just 5 months. Currently, international buyers are representing around 50% of new construction developments while earlier in the year, they were only representing 20%.

Construction for the development is estimated for winter 2022 with an anticipated completion date of 2025. If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at Casa Bella, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at (786)247-6332.

Casa Bella Residences 11th Floor Yoga Lawn

YotelPad Has Officially Opened to Guests

YotelPad Rendering
YotelPad Miami in Downtown Miami

As of yesterday, YotelPad has officially opened to guests for the first time since construction has been completed. Sales for the tower began in late 2020 and the development sold out within 15 months after breaking ground.

Developed in a joint venture between Aria Development Group and AQARAT, YotelPad Miami is located at 227 NE Second Street in downtown Miami. The tower include 231 residential units while the hotel features 222 hotel rooms.

Condo units that range from 417 SF studios to 708 SF two-bedrooms. These units are located on floors 15 through 30. There are also 222 hotel units branded by the Yotel Britsh chain that occupy the lower levels of the tower. 

Although the units have sold out even without a parking garage, prices for the condo units ranged from $450,000 to $500,000 and the developers have confirmed that more than half of the buyers were from China, Mexico, and Columbia.

The units will also feature high-end appliances including an Electrolux washer and dryer, Grohe and Toto bath fixtures, Smart thermostats, Smart Lock System, and custom furniture packages.

Tower Amenities:

  • Elevated deck with pool, hot tub, and bar
  • Full-service restaurant and bar with outdoor paseo
  • Organic matcha bar
  • State-of-the-art fitness center
  • Private meeting rooms with co-working space
  • Valet parking
  • TransitScreen displays all your mobility options,
    in real-time
  • Private residential lobby with destination dispatch elevators
  • 24-hour security and concierge
  • Secure storage unit for each residence
  • Enclosed bicycle storage
  • Skytop Lounge featuring a game area and chef’s kitchen
  • Digital package concierge

Stantec is the architect behind Yotelpad. Each unit offers carefully cultivated floorplans with integrated living and dining areas.  The fully-finished interiors feature contemporary flooring with floor-to-ceiling glass windows with a European kitchen and baths showcase custom cabinetry with stone finishes as well as Smeg Designer Italian appliances. 

540 Unit Tower Planned for Miami’s Art & Entertainment District

1775 Biscayne Boulevard Miami
1775 Biscayne Boulevard Miami

With plans for a 540-unit apartment skyscraper in Miami’s burgeoning Arts & Entertainment District, LCOR is making its South Florida development debut.

According to public documents, Pennsylvania-based, LCOR purchased 1.1 acres of land at 1775 Biscayne Boulevard from a corporation owned by Aventura orthopedic surgeon Barry Silverman and his wife, Judy Silverman. The location lies on the outskirts of Miami’s Edgewater district.

Webster Bank provided LCOR with a $33.4 million loan while Walker & Dunlop’s Keith Kurland and Michael Stepniewski represented them in the financing transaction.

According to the developer’s news release, LCOR has proposed a 40-story skyscraper with studios to two-bedroom apartments all equipped with stainless steel appliances, washers and dryers, and quartz countertops.

Amenities:

  • 600 space garage
  • WiFi throughout the building
  • Gym
  • Rooftop pool deck
  • Outdoor patio
  • Grilling space
  • Tenant lounges
  • Co-working spaces
  • Conference spaces
  • Package retrieval services
  • 14,000 square feet of ground-floor shops

The Silvermans initially planned a 53-story mixed-use skyscraper on the site with 444 residential apartments, 200 hotel keys, 45,600 square feet of commercial space, 64,500 square feet of office space, and a 546-parking garage through their V Downtown subsidiary. A Miami board approved the necessary exemptions for the construction in 2017, but the project was never completed.

LCOR’s first ground-up project in South Florida, according to the statement, but the business has been investing in the region and other Southeast regions for more than a decade.

According to its website, LCOR is a real estate developer, manager, and investor with a $9.5 billion portfolio of finished, under construction, and pre-development projects. The California State Teachers Retirement System, Ares Management, and PGIM are among its partners. LCOR’s CEO is Anthony Barsanti, and its senior vice president is Anthony Tortora.

Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2024 with completion in 2026.

Renderings and Sales Launched for Major Residences Miami

Major Residences Miami Ground View
Major Residences Miami Ground View
Major Residences Miami Rooftop Aerial

Major news for the infamous hospitality group, Major Food Group! Major Residences (renamed 888 Residences), the 1,049-foot-tall skyscraper, is setting a new benchmark from the minute tourists approach the site. Major ushers in lifestyle-driven hospitality and great home architecture for Miami as a combined vision of four industry heavyweights, MFG, JDS, Studio Sofield, and Ken Fulk.

Major Residences Miami Pool Deck

According to the group, “This is the tallest, the most brilliantly designed, the best-in-class hospitality experience, with the best club, in the best city in the world.”

Major Residences Miami Terrace

Major Residences will be located at 888 Brickell Avenue in Miami and will have 259 unique luxury apartments ranging from 1 to 4 bedrooms designed by Studio Sofield and set to open in early 2026, with sales for the project commencing July 2022. Each of the Major units will be designed as a hybrid plan, with a “lockout” function that allows for smooth conversions between a private residence, suite, and/or guest room.

Amenities:

  • Access to the exclusive Major Club
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Leisure
    • Wellness
    • Fitness
    • Pool deck
    • Terrazzo-clad sun deck
    • Private cabanas
    • Poolside service w/ a Major Food Group restaurant
  • 115,000 square feet of facilities

The Food & Beverage program will contain trademark Major Food Group brands and wholly new ideas developed by longstanding partner Ken Fulk, unique to Major Residences Miami.

Major Residences Miami Kitchen Rendering

The tower, designed by William Sofield, has a beautiful façade of ivory travertine and high-gloss steel columns, giving it a defined, graphic look and distinguishing it from the surrounding structures.

Major Residences Miami Lobby Entrance

The Porte-cochere, in a significant architectural gesture of skill and quality, greets with Gatsby-level enthusiasm via gold leaf trims, massive slabs of travertine, and white-glove service, setting the tone for the building’s mood.

Major Residences Miami is estimated to be completed summer of 2026. If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at Major Residences Miami, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at (786)247-6332.

Major Residences Miami Tower View

First Rendering Revealed of New Supertall Tower by Major Food Group-Major Residences

Rendering for Major Residences Brickell
Rendering for Major Residences Brickell

JDS Development Group has partnered with Major Food Group to build one of the tallest residential towers in Brickell. Today, the developer has released the first official rendering along with some construction updates.

The project (now renamed 888) will be located at 888 Brickell Avenue with 259 branded units. Rising 82 stories or 1,049 feet tall and just over 1 million square feet in, this will be Major Food Groups’ first residential project.

Studio Sofield is the architect designing the tower, lobby, and units. Ken Fulk Inc. will be responsible for the club, food, and beverage spaces.

With Major Food Group expansion in South Florida with Carbone, ZZ’s, and many more, you can expect to have 2 to 3 Major Food Group restaurants and bars.

Major Food Group has more than 30 restaurants, clubs, and hotels in the United States and overseas. This project is currently being reviewed by Miami-Dade planners for approval.

There are currently 8 supertall towers planned for Miami including:

First Look: Bentley Residences Scale Model and Sales Center Revealed

Bentley Residences Miami Sales Center
Bentley Residences Miami Scale Model

Today our team got the privilege of being the first to tour the new Bentley Residences Miami Sales Center and the one word that keeps playing through our heads is stunning. This sales center is so unique and every detail is so intricate that we cannot even begin to describe what we saw and heard…but I am going to try.

For starters, the exterior of the sales center is insane (in a good way). When you approach the building, you immediately notice the rust-colored Bentley statue. The outside of the building appears to be all glass reflecting the statue creating a diamond-like effect. The massive Bentley logo is located right outside the entrance.

Once you enter the gallery of the building, you immediately notice the inlaid lighting on the granite floors wrapping around but upward towards the ceiling creating a unique lighting experience. The lounge features comfortable seating and beautiful hardwood floors, and just around the corner is a sky blue Bentley.

Bentley Residences Miami Bentley Car

During our tour, the scale model arrived at the sales center and we got to see the assembly of the model.

A model residence is just after the scale model. Once you enter, you immediately notice the 4 car garage that each residence will offer. After you exit your private elevator to your foyer, an expansive window overlooks your private pool. The open floor plan showcases a custom kitchen, attractive sitting area, and automatically retracting balcony doors. The innovative doors lead to an expansive terrace with a summer kitchen and access to your private pool.

More About Bentley Residences

Bentley Residences will be located at 18401 Collins Avenue and will be considered the world’s first Bentley-branded residential building. The tower will rise 60 stories and feature what only the Bentley brand can offer.

Featuring 216 fully finished units, each condo will showcase open indoor-outdoor floorplans, an in-unit garage with a car elevator, a private balcony, a sauna, floor to ceilings windows, and a pool. These units begin at $4.2 million.

Bentley Residences Amenities

  • State-of-the-art fitness center
  • Pool with cabanas
  • Spa
  • Restaurant
  • Whiskey bar
  • Cigar lounge
  • Cinema
  • Landscaped gardens
  • Dezervator car elevator

Construction is set to begin in 2023 with completion in 2026. If you or someone you know have any interest in purchasing at Bentley Residences, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at 786-247-6332.

Cornerstone Group Begins Planning Phase for New Development in Miami-Dade County

New Development by Cornerstone Group
New Development by Cornerstone Group

Royal Pointe Associates, controlled by executives from the Miami-based Cornerstone Group, submitted a pre-application to county officials for the 5.5-acre property at 11350 Dunbar Drive, which encompasses the majority of the block along Lincoln Boulevard and Booker T. Washington Boulevard. It has a deal with Miami-based Anvil Community Development for the unoccupied site.

Anvil Community submitted plans in 2019 to develop the land with 102 units, but construction has yet to begin. Because the land is in a federal opportunity zone, investors can benefit from large tax breaks.

The project would contain 102 units in four 3-story structures, according to Cornerstone Group’s plan. A clubhouse and 174 surface parking places would be provided. The only thing that would be missing from the development is a pool.

The units would range from 714 to 1,259 sq. ft as 30 one-bedroom units, 60 two-bedroom units, and 12 three-bedroom units.

Before filing official applications, developers submitted pre-applications to gain comments from county employees. The project was designed by Miami-based Burgos Lanza Architects & Planners.

Cornerstone Group sold 27 housing buildings in South Florida to Blackstone in January for a total of $575.7 million. Given the steep rise in rents in Miami-Dade, there is a strong need for additional affordable housing, and Cornerstone Group has the resources to develop it.