Miami Metromall in Downtown Miami Offered For Sale As Potential 80 Story Tower
The Miami Metromall, or First on First (as the owners are now calling it), is offered for sale in Downtown Miami. The site boasts over 33,000 square feet of developable land after the current structure is demolished and is zoned for a tower up to 80 stories.
Located at 1 NE 1st Street, the property offers an attractive address as well as a super attractive location. Looking at the map, you can see that the site is extremely convenient to the Miami Metromover to travel throughout the Downtown area, Government Center to travel throughout the county, All Aboard Florida to travel to Orlando, countless local government offices and the world-renowned Downtown Miami Diamond District. WeWork is also opening a flagship co-working space just steps away in the historic Security Building. The only thing it doesn’t have is water frontage.
Given the fact that the area has 235,000 daily visitors, paired with recent land sale comparables of $600+ per square foot, this offering is very attractive. While there is no disclosed asking price, I could realistically see a win-win feasible deal for anything up to $23 million. If a developer were to pay $23 million, then build the maximum 774 units on the site, they would essentially incur a cost of $30,000 per unit on their land buy. That holds par with typical development costs for semi-luxury to luxury condos, but there is still the fun negotiation zone, so it looks like Downtown Miami has a viable opportunity!
What do you think? What would be best suited for this parcel?
If you would like more specifics, just let us know.
Inside One Thousand Museum by Zaha Hadid: A Construction Tour
Now that the vertical construction is nearly completed and the fully finished (albeit not furnished) model is open, we were invited for a hard hat tour of Zaha Hadid’s One Thousand Museum in Downtown Miami. After touring the finished model on level 17, which is a 4 bedroom plan that occupies half of the floor, we were also able to preview the views from the 50th floor. On this level, the apartments are 10,000+ square foot full-floor layouts but are still too much of a construction site to be able to preview the finishes.
The project is currently 60% sold, with remaining opportunities in the duplex town homes from $12 million, half floor residences with 4 bedrooms plus staff quarters for $5.5 million to $7.5 million, full-floor residences from $18 million and the penthouse, which has its own helipad for $49 million.
Check out our video to see the views and finishes for yourself!
One Of These Downtown Miami Sites Could Be The New Amazon HQ
Now that Miami has officially thrown its hat in the ring to be the new home of Amazon’s second headquarters, the competition is also heating up between potential development sites. Amazon’s Request for Proposals was very specific regarding the criteria they are looking for with regards to square footage, zoning and proximity to transportation.
Using a software called Zonar that has recently been adopted by the City of Miami to streamline the development process, it takes only a few hours to pinpoint potential development sites and maximize the space with Amazon’s criteria in mind.
Here is the full feasibility report with details on all 6 potential sites in the Downtown Miami area. Which do you think is the best fit?
Amazon Headquarters 2 Case Study on Scribd
Market Stat Monday: Almost $50 Million In Contracts Signed Post-Irma
It has been a few weeks now since the skies have cleared in Greater Downtown Miami after Hurricane Irma’s brush, and despite a little bit of flooding and debris, we were very lucky. Now that cleanup is under way, how have the condo sales fared?
Not too bad, if I must say. Despite having only two functional weeks in September, nearly $50 million in resale contracts were signed on 79 total units.
The least expensive listing to find a buyer was at the Loft II Downtown, where a 770 square foot one bedroom was listed for $175,000. Of the 79 units that went to contract, 50 of them were listed for under $500,000. We will find out the final sales prices once they close.
In the luxury segment, there were a total of 6 properties listed over $1 million that found buyers. Among them was the crown jewel penthouse #1 at Asia on Brickell Key. With nearly 5,000 interior square feet through three levels including a dramatic rooftop terrace with a private pool, the sellers had asked $8.5 million, or $1,715/square foot.
Comparing September of 2017 to September of 2016, you will see that 2016 brought both a higher number of transactions as well as a higher volume of listings sold, but not enough to make it an overall better month considering that September 2017 was short due to people being distracted by the hurricane and Hurricane Matthew didn’t brush South Florida until October of last year. September of 2016 brought just over $60 million of listings sold, with 119 total transactions.
To celebrate the end of a successful yet stressful September, let’s check out some photos of that Asia Penthouse!
Aston Martin Residences Prepares For Groundbreaking
Aston Martin Residences is preparing for groundbreaking, according to The Next Miami. On August 10th, they filed a Notice of Commencement with the county, which is the first step toward actual dirt moving. The developer had previously said that they would begin construction of the site in the fall of 2017, although they just opened their $10 million sales center on the same site two months ago and they are still waiting for their application with the FAA to be approved at the proposed 816-foot building height.
Unit prices at Aston Martin Residences now range from $600,000 for a one bedroom condo to $50,000,000 for the penthouse.
Which Miami Condo Developments Are On Highest Ground?
The threat that climate change presents to Miami is as hot of a topic as it is a polarizing one. With increasingly frequent flooding due to storms and the moon/tide cycles, many of the locals have grown familiar with the low-lying hazards in the neighborhood. A summer storm wouldn’t be complete without the dramatic shot of a newscaster standing outside the Publix in Mary Brickell Village with water up to their knees, gawking at drivers who splash by, many of whom end up with water damage to their pricey rides. The intersection of Brickell and 13th Street is another spot that overflows quickly.
After the storm we went through last week that flooded the underground parking garages at Brickell City Centre plus all of Mary Brickell Village, forcing shops to close for a day and a half, I started to wonder which buildings in the area are on higher ground? Some may be surprised to learn that the Downtown area is not flat. There are small, but valuable hills that make certain buildings more secure from the floodwaters. I did a little bit of research and found this very interesting topographical map that is fully interactive and mapped the buildings in our area. The vast majority of the buildings sit between 0-3 feet above sea level, but here are the ones on higher ground…
Simpson Park Area
On the south end of the Brickell Financial District but on the north side of South Brickell is Simpson Park. It is situated on a small hill that crests at the intersection of SW 1st Avenue and I95 at 30 feet above sea level. Le Parc at Brickell is the highest condo development in our service area at 20 feet above sea level. Nearby, Infinity at Brickell also takes advantage of this hill at 10 feet above sea level, but it drops off quickly. SLS Brickell measured 3 feet above sea level.
Because of the contour of the elevation, Vue at Brickell and Axis at Brickell were all showing up as 7 feet above sea level, leaving Millecento and the rest of the surrounding buildings at 3 feet.
North Brickell
All of the other buildings in Brickell are between 0-3 feet except for one small incline at 5th Street that puts 500 Brickell’s East Tower on slightly higher ground (7 feet).
Downtown Miami
The wall of towering skyscrapers along Biscayne Boulevard in Downtown has been affectionately dubbed the “Biscayne Wall” in real estate and architecture groups for some time now, but there could be another reason for it. There is a small increase in altitude along Biscayne Boulevard, leaving Bayfront Park at 3 feet above sea level and all of the condo developments from 50 Biscayne to Marquis Residences at 7 feet above sea level. This includes Vizayne North and South, MarinaBlue, 900 Biscayne Bay, One Thousand Museum, and Ten Museum Park.
Just a bit farther inland, Centro, The Loft Downtown, The Loft 2 Downtown, and Paramount Miami Worldcenter are all also 7 feet above sea level.
Edgewater / Arts & Entertainment District / Midtown
As can likely be expected, none of the buildings in Edgewater are higher than 3 feet above sea level… but the grade increases relatively quickly as you go farther west (by Miami standards anyway). The Arts & Entertainment District’s new project, Canvas, is 7 feet above sea level, and industrial loft or live/work space fans will be pleased to hear that Parc Lofts and Filling Station Lofts are both built 10 feet above sea level.
Midtown fans will also be pleased to know that the entire neighborhood, including Midtown 2, Midtown 4, Midblock and the new Hyde at Midtown are all 10 feet above sea level.
Final Thoughts
If you would like to play with the interactive map on your own, you can do so here. Do the findings make you feel better or worse about our situation?
Dramatic Four Story Marquis Penthouse With Rooftop Pool Seeks $13.9 Million
If you’re interested in trophy properties that are high in the sky, prepare yourself. The dramatic upper penthouse at Marquis Residences came back to the market yesterday with a $5 million price cut and every inch is awe-worthy.
Spanning over 8,000 square feet through the 64th-67th floors, the custom-designed property boasts 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths and 3 half baths. As you exit the private elevator, you are greeted by a waterfall in the foyer. Once inside, illuminated stairs flow through the four levels of splendor, up to the 67th floor private rooftop pool.
Only three other available Downtown Miami area condos dare to approach the level of grandeur seen in this Marquis penthouse. Just two buildings south of Marquis, Zaha Hadid’s One Thousand Museum has listed a 10,000 square foot residence for $20.7 million that is currently under construction and should be delivered in 2019. Down in Brickell, three combined penthouse units covering 8,800 square feet at the Four Seasons Residences are listed for $25 million and just next door is Carlos Ott’s Echo Brickell. It isn’t currently marketed on the MLS, but the nearly completed development will feature a duplex penthouse custom designed by Carlos Ott himself is seeking $42 million and is expected to be delivered by early next year.
Marquis PH6401 was purchased in 2010 by an American businessman for $4.2 million. The owner worked his way up from the ground level at his father’s defense logistics company that he had started with just 3 people over 30 years ago. After taking over the CEO seat in 2003, he continued to grow the company until it was ultimately sold to Honeywell for $230 million, according to a profile in the Alexandria Times. Judging from the listing photos below, it seems he has just as much design sense as he has business sense, because this place is truly amazing.
What do you think?
Stunning Industrial Chic Loft Near Downtown Lists For $4.95 Million
Are you the type who likes to regularly hold parties for 200 of your closest friends? If so, this is the loft for you! The industrial-chic masterpiece with 22 foot high ceilings, exposed brick walls, dark oak hardwood floors and skyline views near Downtown Miami just hit the market for $4.95 million.
With over 7,100 interior square feet, top of the line open kitchen by Thurston Kitchen Design from Aspen with huge island/bar, Subzero fridge, TWO large wine coolers, double Wolfe ovens and separate living quarters, this loft is fit for a celebrity or an avid art collector. The space is a combination of units 501 and 402 in the 6 story Parc Lofts near the Art District and Downtown Miami and has been completely outfitted for a fabulous entertainer.
The seller is being represented by our very own Dora Puig, and we can’t stop crushing on the photos! What do you think?
Fifteen Group Sells Downtown Miami Development Site For $37.25 Million
Fifteen Group has announced its sale of the FedEx building at 200 South Miami Avenue in Downtown Miami. They purchased the property in 2014 for $19 million and have now sold it for $37.25 million, according to their news release.
“This transaction is an excellent example of what Fifteen Group has been doing for years – acquiring undervalued assets and creating value through aggressive asset management,” said Justin Toal, Chief Investment Officer and Senior Principal at Fifteen Group in the news release. “In this case we were able to negotiate a long-term extension with FedEx at an attractive rent and subsequently offer an excellent product to the investment market. This is a highly desirable, urban core location with in-place entitlements for a high-density project. In the interim, the new owner has an investment grade tenant.”
The site is zoned for up to 2 million square feet and 1,395 units if the new owners choose to redevelop it. Otherwise, they have a long-term investment grade tenant. FedEx recently renewed their lease until 2029. Beginning in 2019, they will pay $14.82/square foot for the 110,000 square foot facility with 2.5% increases each year.
The Real Deal reported in May that a call for offers had been issued on the property and the expectation was that it could sell for as much as $40 million. You will recognize the site as the FedEx center just north of the I95 ramp to Downtown Miami. What do you think would be nice to build there?
