13th Floor Investments and Key International Reach an Agreement with Presbyterian Church Site to Move Forward with Construction
At 609 Brickell Avenue in Miami, a new 80-story project, created by Sieger Suarez Architects, and developers 13th Floor Investments and Key International is moving forward.
The congregation and the Miami-based developers have a “transaction and development agreement,” according to a memo filed with the Miami-Dade Clerk of Court on March 2nd. The developer’s right to purchase the property, their duty to build the project there in accordance with the agreement, and their duty to transfer ownership of the new church improvements to the church after substantial completion are all included in the terms of the agreement. Only a memo verifying the existence of the arrangement was recorded. Other details of the agreement have not been released.
13K-BP Brickell Owner LLC is identified as the developing firm, while Arnaud Karsenti is mentioned as the developer’s authorized signatory on the letter. The project’s goal is to utilize the land that is currently used for parking and a religious school building at the back of the property while maintaining the main church structure.
The agreement provides a number of advantages for the congregation and might be worth $240 million to the church. As part of the arrangement, the church will be granted access to 148 parking spaces, 90,000 square feet of space in the new structure, and a small park. In exchange, the church will receive $48 million in cash, 15% of condo sales estimated to be $125 million, and a portion of revenue from the restaurant on the ground level.
The iconic 1949-built First Miami Presbyterian Church, was named a historical landmark in 2003, will continue to stand. The church had previously struggled with money, including a $7 million tax obligation in 2018 as a result of selling part of its lands.
The document submitted to Miami-Dade County does not specify the specific terms and conditions of the sale. It does, however, confirm “the Developer’s Obligation to Construct the Project on the Property in Compliance with the Agreement.”
Miami’s Review Board Approves New Construction Development in Overtown- Block 19
Miami’s Urban Development Review Board has given the green light to Overtown Block 19, a 25-story mixed-use development slated at 1159 Northwest 1st Court in Overtown.
The approximately 275-foot-tall building, which was designed by Nichols Architects with Witkin Hults + Partners serving as the landscape architect, is being developed by RNG Overtown LLC in Morganville, New Jersey. It will have 606,942 square feet of space divided between two towers connected by a podium, including 413 multifamily units, about 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, and 505 parking spaces.
The property is surrounded by Northwest 11th Terrace, Northwest 1st Court, NW 12th Street, and NW 1st Avenue and is part of Block 19 of the Alice Baldwin Subdivision. Within the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (SEOPW CRA) section of the city, the site consists of unimproved land.
The land is a part of a 1.16-acre Transit Oriented Development District (TOD) that spans from 1129 to 1159 Northwest 1st Court and 105 to 113 Northwest 11th Terrace. It is located four blocks north of the Overtown/Lyric Theatre Metrorail Station and south of Interstate 395.
Aluminum and clear glass window walls, smooth off-white, green, and light blue painted stucco reinforced masonry walls, and cast-in-place concrete wall projections make up the outside facade of the structure. The building’s pedestal will have panels with wood patterns, aluminum and glass storefront systems, art murals, and horizontal aluminum louvers. The balcony slabs will have dark metal railing systems.
As it combines cultural arts, produces sustainable jobs, promotes the neighborhood as a destination for culture and entertainment, and enhances the quality of life for Overtown inhabitants, Overtown Block 19 complies with the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Redevelopment Plan.
Construction jobs, long-term jobs for on-site facility maintenance, and commercial use will all be created by the project, which also includes artwork by a local artist to activate the facade and raise cultural awareness in the neighborhood.
Award-Winning Chef Tom Aviv Opens First United States Restaurant in Miami-Branja
Branja, the first restaurant opened by award-winning chef and restaurateur Tom Aviv in the United States, has officially opened its doors. Located in Miami’s Upper Buena Vista and Banja serves food inspired by Aviv’s Israeli heritage in a retro, industrial environment.
Branja is a classic restaurant with 3,000 square feet of area that is divided between a sizable outside terrace and a cozy interior. Each night, the 12-seat Chef’s Table serves two omakase-style seatings for guests with a side of retro Miami. The Chef’s Table is housed in the famous bar from the Lenny Kravitz-designed Florida Room of the Delano Hotel.
The covered outdoor terrace features a bright stained-glass ceiling, terrazzo-topped tables, repurposed synagogue benches, a sizable artwork by Tel Aviv-based artist Paul Curran, while diners use silverware and pastel porcelain plates from the 1970’s.
With a strong focus on Israeli food and recipes, Branja’s menu draws inspiration from all over the world. Customers will find inventive interpretations on traditional dishes like the Falafish, a blend of juice fish and falafel, and Fishwarma, which is cooked with a spiced fish mixture that resembles traditional shawarma.
Other meals include the Tuktuk Kebab, made with Thai ingredients like tamarind glaze, and Krouv. On the sweeter side of the menu, Branja serves Halva Crack Pie made with tahini and Layali Beirout, a contemporary version of a Lebanese classic. Drinks like the vibrant Purple Rain, an allusion to the traditional Margarita created with tequila infused with za’atar and butterfly pea and garnished with salt and dry za’atar, complete the meal.
Despite having no official culinary training, Aviv, who was born and raised in Tel Aviv, won MasterChef Israel in 2016 and quickly rose to fame. He has opened a number of eateries in Israel and Morocco since winning.
Located at 5010 NE 2nd Avenue in Miami, Branja is open for dinner Tuesday – Saturday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Onda Residences in Bay Harbor Islands Tops Off Construction
In Miami’s Bay Harbor Islands neighborhood, the 8-story Onda Residences has topped off on construction by Ugo Colombo’s CMC Group and Valerio Morabito’s Morabito Properties.
The building, called Onda meaning ‘Wave’ wascreated by Bernardo Fort-Brescia of Arquitectonica. Carlo and Paolo Colombo of A++ Human Sustainable Architecture built the interiors, and award-winning landscape architect Enzo Enea of Enea Garden Design created the rich landscaping. The development’s general contractor is Coastal Construction.
Onda Residences is located 1135 103rd Street, and are made up of 41 immaculately finished units with floorplans that range from two to four bedrooms including den ranging from 1,809 to 3,535 square feet. Up to 5,073 square feet are devoted to four penthouse houses, two of which have rooftop swimming pools. Pricing for the luxury units start at $5 million.
Residence Features
Office/den
Private and semi-private high-speed elevators
Floor-to-ceiling impact-resistant sliding glass doors and windows
Roomy tiled terraces with private gardens
Open floor plans with up to 9-foot grand ceiling heights
Fully equipped Snaidero kitchens with top-of-the-line Miele appliances
Bathrooms with Italian marble and wood cabinetry
Exquisite Italian flooring throughout
Energy-efficient air conditioning and heating
With more than 300 linear feet of bay frontage and panoramic views of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Onda’s premium Bay Harbor Islands location is unrivaled. One of Onda’s most well-liked attractions is its private marina, which has 15 boat docks and is only accessible to homeowners. Together with immediate ocean access via Miami’s Haulover inlet, the property will also feature a water sports launch station with kayaks, paddle boards, and inflatables accessible for use.
Development Amenities
Rooftop pool deck and lounge area
State-of-the-art fitness facility with Technogym equipment
Yoga studio
Spa with massage treatment rooms
Changing areas
Steam bath and sauna rooms
Covered valet drop-off area
Personal parking spots
Electric vehicle charging stations
Bicycle storage
Home storage space
Cutting-edge security, and technology
Onda is estimated to be completed in Q4 of 2023 and 85% of its units have already been sold. If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at Onda Residences Bay Harbor Islands, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at (786)247-6332.
Approval Pending for Construction on 10 Story Residential Tower in Miami Beach
An application has been submitted for design review approval to build a new 10-story mixed-use building at 6940 Abbott Avenue, the location of a former BellSouth office and parking lot that is no longer in use in the North Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach. The application was filed by 6940 North Beach LLC, a joint venture between entities controlled by Rainer Viete, Jose Boschetti, and Eduardo Otaola.
The 130-foot-tall structure will feature 134,573 square feet of space, including 96 multi-family units, 21 of which would be co-living units, 2,192 square feet of ground floor retail, and 90 parking spaces. It was designed by Arquitectonica with Biscayne Engineering serving as the land surveyor and civil engineer.
Unit floor plans include studio, one, and two bedrooms. The regular size units would be between 550 and 1,250 square feet, while studio units (co-living) will be between 403 and 437 square feet. A cafe, fitness facility, pickle-ball court, and a lap pool will all be on the rooftop.
The traffic engineer is David Plummer & Associates, while the landscape architect is Christopher Cawley Landscape Architecture. The interior of the building will be thoroughly illuminated by natural light thanks to the use of grey glass windows and a glass railing. Mixing these materials will produce a striking, modern appearance that blends nicely with the nearby North Beach neighborhood. A stunning concrete frame with spherical motifs grouped in a bond-like pattern wraps around all elevations of the residential component of the building, emphasizing its distinctive form.
The development organization has also offered hurricane-proof impact windows, passive cooling systems, resilient planting, a study of the elevation of the property and the elevation of neighboring properties, and a recycling or salvage strategy for partial or complete deconstruction. To integrate the loading and parking driveways, they also ask for a waiver. The granting of this waiver will enable the project to be better designed while still adhering to the TC-C district’s development restrictions and without the requirement for variances. The project’s anticipated construction cost is approximately $14,692,224.
37 Story Tower Designed by Arquitectonica and Developed by 13th Floor Investments in Now Complete
Cascade, a 37-story multi-family building at 3050 Southwest 37th Avenue in Miami, is now complete. The building, designed by Arquitectonica and developed by a joint venture partnership between Miami-based real estate developers 13th Floor Investments and Adler Group, in collaboration with global investment manager Barings, contains 421 modern apartment homes ranging in size from 510 to 1,323 square feet.
The residential tower is the second to be completed within the 7-acre Link at Douglas master plan, which is bounded to the north by Peacock Avenue, to the east by Southwest 37th Avenue (Douglas Road), to the south by Shipping Avenue and South Dixie Highway, and to the west by Southwest 37th Court. The building’s general contractor was Civic Construction, and it received its Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) from Miami-Dade County on January 5.
The 37-story tower is located at the intersection of two of Miami’s most desirable neighborhoods, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, and is adjacent to the Douglas Road Metrorail Station, US-1, the city’s main thoroughfare, and The Underline, a 10-mile linear park, urban trail, and public art destination. Residents have direct access to the Metrorail system, bus lines, and the Miami and Coral Gables Trolleys, making commuting to Brickell, Downtown Miami, and the Health District a breeze.
The property’s interiors, designed by DesignAgency, feature teak wood and textured wall designs that contrast with matte black accents, creating effortless elegance without exclusivity. Earth tones can be found throughout, from the lobby lounge’s relaxed greenery and natural wood details to a lush garden display outlining the expansive amenity deck, providing serenity in each space.
Stone-wrapped kitchen islands, floor-to-ceiling windows, and in-unit washers and dryers are features of the residential units. Tall matte lacquer soft close cabinets, full tile backsplash, modern ENERGY STAR® appliances, porcelain tiled showers, front-lit vanity mirrors, and wood-look flooring are among the superior features and finishes. Select residences have inboard private balconies.
Cascade’s amenities include a resort-style pool with luxury lounge seating, cabanas, a poolside bar, an outdoor movie screen, and a game room with a foosball table, billiards, shuffleboard, and card tables, a basketball half-court, a yoga studio, grilling stations, outdoor dining areas, an indoor social lounge with comfortable seating, modern kitchen, media room, and a kids’ playroom, and an onsite dog run and wash.
The Link at Douglas master plan will include approximately 1,600 residential units, over 32,000 square feet of retail space, and a public plaza connecting to The Underline. Cascade’s sister property, CORE, a 22-story multifamily tower with 312 apartment residences and 6,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, opened in 2021.
One River Point Receives FAA Height Approval
The Federal Aviation Administration has given its certification for the One River Point towers in downtown Miami. The FAA allowed the towers to rise to a height of 788 feet above ground, or 797 feet above sea level, in a letter that was sent out on January 16.
The same property received FAA approval in 2014 for a construction height of 928 feet above ground (that approval expired in September 2018). The FAA then gave the towers additional certification in 2019.
Developers Edgardo Defortuna of Fortune International Group and Shahab Karmely of KAR Properties announced their collaboration to construct the buildings in November 2022.
The original developing company sold the property to the new partnership for $58.85 million.
According to records, Bank OZK gave the developers a $38 million loan for the 1.8-acre site at 24 Southwest Fourth Street in Miami. According to Defortuna, the loan is a line of credit to be utilized for the 386-unit luxury condominium’s development, sales, and marketing. After the unit plans are completed, sales should begin this year.
The developers will make a few changes while maintaining Rafael Violy’s original concept. An 85-foot waterfall, a three-story glass skybridge that floats in midair, and an exclusive members-only Adrian Zecha “Sky Club” on the 55th level with two restaurants, a cigar lounge, a wine cellar, and a screening room were all originally planned.
If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at One River Point, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at (786)247-6332.
Exclusive Wine Experience Opens in Miami
Maison Mura, a refined wine and spirits engaging experience, has opened in Downtown Miami at 333 SE 3rd Avenue. The owners and long-time friends Matthieu Yamoum, the former Wine Director of New York’s Baccarat Hotel, and Philippe Vasilescu, the former Brand Ambassador for the prestigious LOUIS XIII Cognac de Remy Martin, will serve and sell an extensive selection of premium wine and spirits, as well as a refined food menu.
Both have extensive and complementary experience in the fine wine and spirits industry and have been working on this project for over 2 years to bring this bespoke experience to Miami.
According to Vasilescu, “At Maison MURA, we love what we do and are excited to offer our guests in Miami a comprehensive wine list and menu that is thoughtful and provides a tailored and memorable experience whatever the occasion is! We will always strive to offer a truly personalized service and consistently propose the finest expertise available to all of our clients.”
Although open to all, Maison MURA also has a membership limited to 150 clients who get priority access to exclusive events, tastings with the world’s top winemakers, and invitations to special events and experiences not only in Miami but all over the world.
Other benefits include early access to pre-sold and “en primeur” wines that are nearly impossible to obtain, priority reservations of the private room for hosting events, and priority storage of any wines and spirits purchased through the shop at their upcoming warehouse. Membership can only be obtained through Matthieu or Philippe. The concept is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Colliers International’s Ryan Brodsky and Jonathan Carter represented Maison MURA, while Koniver Stern’s Lyle Stern and Kerry Newman represented the landlord in the 2,500 SF lease at Met Square 333 SE 3rd Avenue.
NuVerse Advisors Hedge Fund Relocates to Miami
NuVerse Advisors LLC, a hedge fund located in New York City is relocating to Hallandale Beach.
According to Jaime Moreinis, senior project manager for NuVerse Advisors, the company officially launched its new headquarters this week in a 4,044-square-foot space on the 20th floor of the Optima Onyx Tower at 1010 S. Federal Highway in Hallandale Beach. Additionally, he said, it has reduced its New York presence to a single modest office in the Carnegie Hall Tower.
According to Moreinis, “NuVerse is expanding its presence in South Florida to service its growing international clientele looking to build and add to its multifunctional talent that consists of individuals with many decades of financial services experience.”
In 2001, NuVerse was formed by managing partner Elias Saal, along with Dov Schlein and Stephen Saali. The financial markets data provider Wallmine.com reports that the company is managing $591.64 million in assets. Twelve individuals are currently employed there, according to Moreinis. In addition to its location in New York, NuVerse also maintains a location in Lugano, Switzerland.
According to Moreinis, the business had a smaller branch seal relocated to the neighborhood before it opened in Optima Onyx tower.
More than half of NuVerse’s workforce will operate out of the Hallandale Beach location, which is now larger.
Since the pandemic, the South Florida region has had a greater influx of high-income households, which has boosted the local economy and led to rising rents, brokers and developers have told the Business Journal. New-to-market businesses have been setting up offices in the area as a result of the influx of CEOs and educated workers into the area. Even some companies moved their headquarters.
Aria Development and Merrimac Ventures Buy Miami Worldcenter Site for $17.5 Million for Proposed Condo Building
After purchasing a redevelopment site for $17.5 million, Aria Development Group and Merrimac Ventures have proposed a new Miami Worldcenter condominium building.
According to records, the joint venture paid the labor union $11 million to take over the former Miami headquarters of the International Longshoremen’s Association at 33-55 Northwest Sixth Street. According to a press statement, Aria and Merrimac also paid $6.5 million to acquire a neighboring unoccupied 1.2-acre site from a partner of Miami Worldcenter developers Art Falcone and Nitin Motwani.
The project calls for a 32-story skyscraper with about 600 fully furnished residential units with no limitations on short-term rentals with pricing starting at $395,000.
The final construction plot that was up for grabs in the Miami Worldcenter district was purchased by Fort Lauderdale-based Merrimac, led by Nitin and Dev Motwani, and Miami-based Aria, led by principal David Arditi, according to Mattingly.
Merrimac and The Related Group partnered earlier this year to pay $12 million for another Miami Worldcenter development plot at 601 North Miami Avenue, The Crosby, a 33-story, 450-unit condo tower that will also be accommodating to short-term rentals.
Miami Worldcenter, a $4 billion master-planned mixed-use city, is luring titans of the real estate sector to make investments in the area. For a property at 697 North Miami Avenue that was previously permitted for a 40-story, 429-unit skyscraper, a business connected to WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann received $108 million in construction financing in February. Neumann also owns the Caoba apartment complex, which is a nearby residence.
A.5-acre development site on Northwest 10th Street and North Miami Avenue was purchased by San Antonio-based Lynd Living in August for $30 million. Although a 650-unit apartment building is permitted on the plot, Lynd hasn’t made its official plans public.
One acre at 1016 Northeast Second Avenue, where the New York-based developer intends to construct a two-tower residential complex, was purchased by Naftali Group for $40.5 million a month later.
