Eco-Friendly Mixed-Use Building Proposed in Coral Gables
Along the well-known Miracle Mile district of Coral Gables, Terranova Corp. intends to construct what might be the first mixed-use carbon-neutral structure in South Florida.
The office and retail building will generate all of the energy required to run it on-site, according to the Miami Beach-based developer. Using photovoltaic glass to capture solar energy, battery systems to store it, and energy-efficient AC and elevator systems might be done.
The total square footage of the four-story structure at 93 Miracle Mile would be 36,482. The building would feature 26,167 square feet of area for shops and restaurants and the rest for offices. A rooftop terrace would also be present.
According to Chairman of Terranova, Stephen Bittel, “93 Miracle Mile will be a revolutionary project, not only as a platform to champion Coral Gable’s dignitaries as forward-thinking leaders in sustainable development but also a blueprint for other developers and city planners as we face a climate crisis around the world. The modern proposed structure respects the scale of Miracle Mile, and uses traditional stone materials on the exterior, while also incorporating the best environmental options for the future.”
The developer paid $6.8 million for the 10,164-square-foot site in 2021 through an associate. The 9,097 square foot retail facility that it currently has would be torn down.
The project’s design was created by Miami-based Arqutiectonica and is awaiting local permission. Onyx Solar, based in Spain, was chosen to supply the solar glass. The solar glass will help with insulating the building as well as generating solar energy. The rooftop design will create a trellis that helps support the suspended orchid garden.
Jeff Bezos’ Parents Buy Waterfront Mansion in Miami
Photo credit: Douglas Elliman
The parents of Jeff Bezos invested $34 million in a waterfront Coral Gables mansion with over 12,000 square feet. Records show that the estate was purchased by Jackie and Mike Bezos, the parents of Amazon’s founder, last week.
Through a Delaware-based limited liability company called Forgotten Fountain, the couple bought the property located at 9475 Journeys End Road in Coral Gables.
The sellers of the estate were the former CEO of PetMD, Raul Calvoz, and his wife Raquel Cordon. According to property records, the couple paid $8.5 million for the home in 2018.
According to the description, the house has undergone a complete renovation and now features six bedrooms and seven bathrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors throughout. The property sits on more than 2 acres and has 200 feet of water frontage.
In addition, the offering lists a chef’s kitchen with double ovens, views of the pool and ocean beyond, a quartz wet bar, a rock climbing wall, a gym, a wine cellar, and other luxury amenities. The residence also features 2 terraces over two floors.
A pool, a lounge area, an outdoor kitchen, and a dining area with a built-in grill are all located outside. The mansion is perfect for car enthusiasts with a 9-car garage as well as a backup generator.
With a net worth of around $144 billion, Jeff Bezos is currently the second-richest person in the world. The internet giant spent $165 million purchasing a Los Angeles property that was originally owned by music billionaire David Geffen, making it one of the biggest purchases of 2020.
Records also show that Bezos’ parents also purchased an adjacent property to the Coral Gables home for almost $40 million in an off-market deal.
Approval Received for 87 Condo Tower in Coral Gables
A 16-story condo development by Location Ventures has officially been given the green light by the Coral Gables City Commission this past Monday.
Location Ventures plans to construct an 87 condo tower on a 1.6-acre plot at 1505 Ponce De Leon Boulevard, as well as at 122 and 126 Menores Avenue. According to the meeting, the project would cost over $350 million and with only 87 condo units, the average price per unit would be north of $4 million.
The new condo would have 319 parking spaces, 10,500 square feet of retail space, and 87 homes in its almost 500,000 square feet. The fourth story would have an amenities deck. A full board room for private meetings, as well as a spa with a steam room and sauna, were among the features listed by Kapoor. Along Mendoza Avenue, there would also be a public dog park located outside the building.
The majority of the condos would have three or four bedrooms, with a few one- and two-bedroom apartments. According to Kapoor, prices would start in the mid $1 million level or roughly $1,000 per square foot.
The site is mostly unoccupied, however, there is a 1925 structure that is 5,736 square feet in size which Location Ventures consented to refurbish and restore that structure so that it might house restaurants.
The owner of Location Ventures, Rishi Kapoor, plans to partner with a high-end luxury brand to market and design the property but no luxury brand has been named in the agreement documents.
Location Ventures anticipates starting construction in late 2023 and starting sales this fall.
Award Winning and “America’s Favorite Chef” Thomas Keller is Opening a New Bistro in Coral Gables.
Bouchon Bistro, the acclaimed French restaurant owned by Chef Thomas Keller, will debut in Coral Gables in the early months of 2023, according to the chef and his staff. Along with his upscale American eatery the Surf Club Restaurant in Surfside, it will be his second restaurant in Miami.
The French Laundry, Per Se, and the freshly starred Surf Club Restaurant are all three-star Michelin restaurants owned by the renowned chef. Chef de cuisine Thomas Castellon, a former employee of Keller’s the Surf Club Restaurant and TAK Room, will take over the kitchen at Buchon’s Miami branch.
Similar to the menus at the Bouchon restaurants in Yountville and Las Vegas, the menu in Miami will feature seasonal French cuisine in addition to traditional selections like steak frites, roast chicken, mussels, and escargot.
Around 160 people will be able to dine at Bouchon Coral Gables, which also has 30 outside seats and a separate private dining area. Longtime Bouchon colleague Adam D. Tihany of Tihany Design in New York City, who created both Bouchon locations, will design the area.
The restaurant will open in the La Palma building, a historic Mediterranean-style structure constructed in 1924 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, at 2101 Galiano Street in Coral Gables. The building was originally designed by architect H. George Fink.
According to Keller, “Since opening the Surf Club Restaurant four years ago, it has been a great privilege to re-establish relationships in South Florida. We were enamored with the rich history of the La Palma building and Coral Gables neighborhood and we look forward to introducing our classic French bistro to the community.”
Villa Valencia Condos in Coral Gables has Officially Completed Construction and Sells Out at 95%
Four years in the process, the Villa Valencia luxury condo development by Rishi Kapoor’s Location Ventures has officially completed construction.
With $100 million in closings so far, Villa Valencia, a 13-story, 39-unit project at 501 to 525 Valencia Avenue in Coral Gables, is 95% sold out. There are only three units available, one of which is under contract, a $14.9 million penthouse, and two others with an average price of $4 million each.
According to Kapoor, founder and CEO of Location Ventures, the project’s sales averaged $1,100 per square foot, setting a record for that neighborhood.
According to Kapoor, the majority of the buyers are locals from Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, and Coral Gables. In addition, 20% were from New York, 5% from California, and 4% from Illinois, with 2% from Latin America.
The plot was purchased by the developer for $16 million in 2018, and sales of Villa Valencia began the following year.
Kapoor recognized that labor shortages and delays on the project were made worse by the pandemic, but he claimed that setting building cost locks before the pandemic helped him keep costs under control.
Residences
Private foyer with elevator entry
10-foot ceilings in living spaces
10-foot exterior sliding doors
8-foot European wood interior doors with concealed hinges
Exquisite porcelain floors
Custom finished closets
Most residences have outdoor terraces with summer kitchens
Master bedroom suite with spacious bathroom and separate vanity area
Two assigned parking spaces per residence
EV-ready parking spaces available
Amenities
Entertainment space with billiards and golf simulator
Cucina featuring kitchen and full bar for entertaining that opens to the pool deck
Library with outdoor terrace overlooking the park
Grand building entrance with lobby lounge
Covered garden and valet waiting area
Tea room with kitchen and bar for entertaining
Executive room with video conferencing
10,000 SF onsite park and garden with shade trees
Dog park and dog run
High-Speed WIFI in all Common Areas
Bike Racks
Pool Deck featuring two summer kitchens, spacious sunbed relaxation areas
78-foot resort-style pool with lap lane and waterfall
State-of-the-art fitness facility with yoga, Pilates and weight training area
Spa and wellness center with treatment room, hammam / steam room, his-and-her sauna, and hydrotherapy plunge pools
The Coral Gables City Commission approved Location Ventures’ proposals earlier this week for a second, bigger condo development at 1505 Ponce de Leon Boulevard. The site will be sold by a Florida East Coast Realty subsidiary to Location Ventures, which has plans to construct a 16-story, 87-unit condo structure.
Location Ventures Proposes a 16 Story Condo Tower in Coral Gables
Coral Gables’ continued growth is being hinted at by Rishi Kapoor’s, Location Ventures’ proposal for a 16-story condominium. According to documents submitted to Coral Gables, Location Ventures plans to construct an 87 condo tower on a 1.6-acre plot at 1505 Ponce De Leon Boulevard, as well as at 122 and 126 Menores Avenue.
According to the minutes of the June meeting of the Coral Gables Planning & Zoning Board, the developer has a contract with the seller, who is a partner of Tibor Hollo’s Florida East Coast Realty, to purchase the land.
At its meeting on Tuesday, the municipal commission is anticipated to vote on the request. In the event that the proposal is authorized, commissioners will vote on it a second time at the next meeting.
According to documents, Coral Gables-based Location Ventures intends for seven of the units to be live-work condos on the lower levels of the structure and the other 80 would be located on the upper levels. A 319-car garage, 10,500 square feet of retail space, 20,144 square feet of open space, and a public dog park would also be included in the project.
According to property records, the site is mostly empty save from a two-story, eight-unit apartment structure. According to the minutes of the planning & zoning board meeting, the historic structure, built in 1925, will be maintained and integrated into the project, maybe as retail space.
The finished 13-story, 39-unit Villa Valencia condominium at 515 Valencia Avenue is one of the company’s developments in Coral Gables. In 2018, Location Ventures had invested $16 million in the property.
The business spent $20 million buying a pair of commercial structures in Miami Beach at 1260 and 1234 Washington Avenue last year. Under Location Ventures’ Urban co-living brand, the 1260 Washington Avenue property will be refurbished, while the 1234 Washington Avenue building will be rehabilitated.
John Ruiz Plans to Build a University of Miami Stadium at Tropical Park in Miami-Dade
The University of Miami Hurricanes have been without a stadium since 2008 and have been traveling to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens in Coral Gables for all of their home games. It’s been such a struggle for fans and students alike that a University of Miami alumni has taken it upon himself to remedy the situation.
John H. Ruiz, billionaire attorney and founder of MSP Recovery recently announced the plans to build a new stadium located at the Coral Gables High School. According to local officials, Ruiz did not consult with Miami-Dade County Public Schools or the City of Coral Gables on the plan.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools still owns the property where the proposed stadium would be built. Once his plans were denied, Ruiz then announced a new spot of the Miami Hurricane’s stadium, Tropical Park in Westchester. According to Ruiz, “It’s gonna be at 4 Tropical Park — there are about 270 acres there. The design is over the top, it’s gorgeous, I’ve seen it already a couple of times.”
The design for the stadium includes 65,000 seats with space for graduate-level classrooms and extreme water fixtures throughout the property. The architect behind the plans includes HKS Architects.
Tropical Park is publicly owned land by Miami-Dade County. Ruiz doesn’t appear concerned about speaking with Miami-Dade County, “We’re gonna present the plans to the county, but the county is less important in my opinion because it has to go out to a vote to the constituents as a referendum. Obviously, we’re going to talk to the commissioners and the mayor, but ultimately it goes out to a vote to the general public.”
This isn’t the first sports venture that Ruiz has been a part of. In 2011, he leased a 90-acre baseball development at the City of Homestead. The city later filed a lawsuit to evict him from the development 2 years later after he didn’t pay the utilities, insurance, and taxes on the property.
A private-sector attorney, Jose Sanchez-Gronlier stated that he didn’t want one of the last green areas in Miami-Dade County to be demolished for a stadium. It is unclear how residents and local representatives will respond to the new development. Ruiz will meet with the county to present the Tropical Park stadium idea to the county next week.
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.
New 18-Story Residential Tower Proposed in Coral Gables
The brains behind the development, Armando Codina, said the concept behind this newly proposed tower came to him because he has been wanting to downsize while continuing to live in a high-end luxury apartment without a homeowner’s association.
Codina, Chairman for Codina Partners states that this new development will provide all of the comforts and high-end amenities as the big house he grew up in with his family.
He now seeks approval for this new development concept for the tower Regency Residences. Once complete, he plans on living in the penthouse.
The proposed site for Regency Residences is a 1.75-acre site located at 2601 Salzedo Street in Coral Gables. The property was involved in a land swap with an automotive dealership in April. According to the records, the property was acquired by an affiliate of Codina Partners in Coral Gables, C/LeJeune LLC.
The proposed tower is projected to rise 18 stories tall with 329,197 interior square feet. Included in the square feet is a 4,050 square foot restaurant, 389 parking spaces, and `176 residential units. According to Codina, the residential units may be more or less, depending on demand and floor plans. These units will be referred to as “sky homes.”
Codina originally planned for three condos on the four floors under his penthouse. His most recent statement included Codina possibly leasing each of the floors separately, which equates to 10,000 to 12,000 square feet.
Smaller units will feature 1,500 to 3,000 square feet with 2 to 4 bedroom options. Smaller apartments will be available for building staff.
According to Condina, there will be no short-term leases. Larger apartments will be leased annually or on a multi-annual basis. Long-term tenants who secure a unit early will have input in the design of the units.
Coral Gables Development Review Committee will meet on October 5th to review and consider plans for Regency Tower. Once approved, the start date for the project is expected to begin in early 2022.
