Sexy Fish Miami Opens its Doors with a Grand Opening Celebration
Sexy Fish has finally opened and we had a front-row seat to the culinary experience. February 3rd marked the formal opening of the iconic London-based restaurant’s first United States location. From sophisticated decor to delectable cuisine, we have the details that will make you want to book a reservation now!
The brainchild behind the London-based restaurant, Richard Caring first opened the restaurant in 2015 in the affluent Mayfair district of London. The location and style draw in celebrities, notables, and stylish crowds alike. Caring also owns many of London’s most celebrated restaurants including, The Ivy, Scott’s, and 34 Mayfair. He has also played a hand in the development of the globally renowned private member’s club, Annabel’s.
The interior designers of Sexy Fish along with Martin Brudnizki Design Studio thoughtfully one of the most photogenic restaurants in Miami. Designed by SeaVisions, the large illuminated fish tank is the centerpiece of the restaurant spanning across the wall of the private dining room. Throughout you’ll see gorgeous artwork but Damien Hirst and 26 custom fish lamps created by Frank Gehry.
The menu itself is a masterpiece with classics inspired by Asia and Japan. The Chef Director Bjoern Weissgerber has created appetizing items that include Duck Salad, Smoked Tuna Belly, Black Cod, King Crab, Bone Marrow, and crispy Eringi Mushroom. Don’t miss the Sexy Gold Fish or Crispy Caviar that is marinated with gold-flake sea bass. There is also an extensive wine and champagne list with signature cocktails including Chocolate and Wine, Yuzu, and Elderflower.
The opening night included a private performance by Mary J. Blige with notables Dan Mikesell, Pepe Gonzalez, Kathryn Mikesell, and David Castillo. With ‘healing DJs, mermaid dancers, late-night entertainment, and thematic entertainment, the opening night was a success!
Reservations are booking quickly with a month out for the next reservation. To inquire about bookings and additional information, click here.
ROVR Development and Related Plan to Build 48 Story Tower in Downtown Miami- College Station
The Related Group is at it again with another tower proposed in downtown Miami. Along with the Miami Parking Authority, The Related Group, and ROVR Development are proposing to replace a downtown Miami parking garage with a 48-story development.
On Feb. 2, the Miami Off-Street Parking Board, or MPA, will vote on a 99-year lease and development agreement for the College Station Garage at 190 N.E. Third Street which is very close to Miami Dade College.
When the MPA received an unsolicited proposal for the property in July 2021, the process began. It solicited public bids for the property and received bids from College Station Partners LLC, a joint venture with The Related Group and ROVR Development, as well as Terra of Miami. On January 19, an MPA review committee gave College Station Partners’ bid a higher grade for the development.
The College Station project would include 1.88 million square feet of space and include 1,200 residences, 8,214 square feet of retail space, 33,865 square feet of public service space, 30,000 square feet of amenities, and 1,357 parking spots.
The completed facility would contain the same number of public parking spots as the present garage, which will be demolished. The MPA would own these spaces.
The developer stated that 20% of the units would be affordable housing for seniors earning up to 50% of the local median income, while the other 15% would be worker housing for those earning up to 140% of the area median income. Miami’s current median family income is $39,000.
According to the proposal, the public service space might be used for a fire station or an urgent care clinic to support the downtown’s fast-rising population, including a not-for-profit art’s center.
The units would range from 360 to 1,310 square feet in size. There would be 138 studio apartments, 636 one-bedroom apartments, 354 two-bedroom apartments, and 72 three-bedroom apartments.
The lease is expected to be signed in the first quarter of 2023, taking up to 60 months to construct. The application said that the developers would have to establish alternate parking arrangements for tenants of the adjoining Downtown Lofts I and II condos, which would use this garage for parking, during the construction time.
According to the lease’s proposed financial terms, College Station Partners would pay the MPA $500,000 upfront, about $2 million per year during construction to compensate for missed parking revenue and 10% of the project’s net cash flows for rent following completion. According to the developers, this would equate to a $1.27 billion economic gain to the MPA over the life of the 99-year lease, not including the value of the new public parking garage.
5th Annual Automotive Showcase to take Place in the Miami Design District
Miami Concours will host the 5th annual automotive showcase in February 2022 located in the Miami Design District. The showcase was designed to celebrate American supercars but this year, it will be honoring one of the most iconic supercar collectors in the country.
The automotive show will be honoring innovator and car manufacturer, James Glickenhaus by showcasing his personal collection of supercars including his new production cars. He will also be showcases his one-of-a-kind race car.
Miami Concours will also be displaying John Hennessy’s limited edition Hennessy Venom F5 Hypercar. With only 24 of these cars manufactured, the price tag reaches to $2.8 million and can go up to 250 mph.
The showcase will also feature 60 hand-selected post-war automobiles that are owned by some of the most exclusive and significant collectors in the country.
A red carpet will run from NE 39th Street to NE 41st Street stretching half a mile, showcasing all of the unique and exclusive cars that concours has to offer. The show will take place on Sunday, February 18th-20th, 2022 beginning at 11am. You can register your concours car here.
December 2021 Posts Best Sales Month in Miami-Dade Real Estate History
This year has been a record-breaking year for Miami-Dade County real estate. Quarter one, we saw median sales prices reach record numbers as well as the number of homes sold. In the second quarter for 2021, a new record was set for the most home ever sold in that quarter.
In the third quarter, records for highest condo prices sold. And now, Miami has had its best December sales month in history with total homes sales, highest annual total dollar volume, most condo transactions, and most single-family home sales.
According to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for quarter 4, there has been 49% more sales and 103% more dollar volume in 2021. Year 2021 ended with 39,394 existing total property sales, up 49.5 percent from the 26,345 transactions in 2020 and 31.1 percent from the previous annual high of 30,041 transactions in 2013. Miami’s sales in dollars totalled $30.3 billion in 2021, an increase of 103.4 percent year over year.
The total sales record actually broke in October 2021 (10 months) which is a record in itself. In just nine months in 2021, Miami broke its all-time yearly condo sales record, selling 23,689 units, an increase of 80.9 percent over the previous year. Miami set a new record for annual single-family home sales in 11 months, with 15,705 units sold, up 18.5 percent from 2020.
Total home sales in Miami-Dade County increased 14.8% year over year in December 2021, from 2,990 to 3,433. While single-family house sales in Miami fell 1.2 percent, from 1,372 to 1,356, existing condo sales in Miami rose 28.4%, from 1,618 to 2,077. It’s the 15th month in a row that condo prices have risen by double digits year over year.
Nine of the top ten best house sales months in Miami history occurred in the year 2021. The month of June 2021 (with 4,057 total transactions) is still the most active in Miami’s history. Since MIAMI began keeping statistics in 1993, December 2021 (with 3,433 sales) has been the sixth-best sales month overall.
Home sales in Miami are also up considerably from December 2019. Total home sales in Miami increased by 41.6 percent in December 2021 compared to December 2019, from 2,424 to 3,433. Single-family house sales in Miami are up 15.5 percent, while condo transactions are up 66.2 percent, compared to December 2019.
In December 2021, single-family luxury ($1 million and more) transactions in Miami increased 18.6% year over year to 262. Existing condo luxury ($1 million and over) sales in Miami increased by 100% year over year to 264 transactions.
Luxury single-family homes have a 3.2-month supply, while luxury condos have a 7.5-month supply. Month-over-month and year-over-year, luxury months of supply continues to decline for all property categories.
In December 2021, 535 single-family houses priced between $400K and $600K sold in Miami, up 25.6 percent year over year. Existing condo sales in Miami increased by 101.7 percent to 359 deals, with prices ranging from $400K to $600K.
Single-family median prices in Miami-Dade County grew 15.4% year over year in December 2021, rising from $454,900 to $525,000. The median price of a single-family home in Miami has grown for 121 months in a row, a stretch of 10.1 years. The typical price of an existing unit grew 29.3% year over year, from $274,500 to $355,000. In 123 of the last 127 months, condo median prices have risen.
In December 2021, Miami’s total monetary volume was $3.1 billion. The dollar volume of single-family homes climbed 27.7% year over year, from $1.31 billion to $1.67 billion. Year over year, condo dollar volume increased 68.5 percent, from $853 million to $1.4 billion.
In December 2021, cash transactions accounted for 40.4 percent of Miami closed sales, up from 32.2 percent in December 2020. According to the most recent NAR statistics, cash sales account for about 23% of all house sales in the United States. Cash sales made up 49.1% of all existing condo sales in Miami and 27.1 percent of single-family home sales.
Do these Miami Restaurants have the Best Sandwiches in the US?
Who has the best sandwich in Miami? According to a consumer poll on Mashed.com, two of the best sandwiches in the United States are located right in our very own Miami. The sandwiches we are referring to include a cheesesteak sandwich from Batch Gastropub in Miami and a croqueta preparada from Sanguich de Miami located in Little Havana.
The Batch Gastropub creates a heavenly sandwich by brushing a smoke paprika aioli stacked with shaved ribeye that’s covered with white American cheese. The “cherry on top” is the sautéed hot cherry peppers and onions.
According to mashed.com, “The steak is juicy and exquisite, the bun is light, fresh, and a little crispy, and the pickled hot cherry peppers have just the right amount of heat to shine through all of the richness.”
The croqueta is in a whole other league with stacked high slices of ham and roasted pork topped with Swiss cheese. Extras include croquettes, mustard, and pickles.
“There’s a lot to appreciate about this sandwich, but the real stroke of genius is the choice to masterfully tuck a few croquettes in between all the unctuous meat, briny pickles, and melted cheese,” according to the review on this sandwich form Saquich de Miami.
Other restaurants that have made best food lists include Makoto in Bal Harbour and Itamae in Miami.
Expansive Mixed Use Tower Planned for Downtown Miami
Miami-Dade planners are working hard on reviewing the pre-application for a large mixed-use project in Downtown Miami.
The property located at 1370 NE 2nd Ave is within the Metromover Subzone of the Rapid Transit Zone District. Within this zoning district, some rules apply which includes up to 1,535 units permitted as well as the 40% glazing requirements.
The tower is anticipated to rise 649 feet tall at 43 stories. Passing the district rules, the tower is proposed to have 1,441 residential units.
The tower will be designed by Rafael Viñoly architects but the city planners are asking for clarification on some of the design elements throughout the project.
The county has stated that the awnings, balconies, and weather protection elements need to be at least six inches from the curb face but the plans appear to encroach on the curb face. Specifically the parking garage for levels 2 through 12 are encroaching.
The open space and landscaping code also needs clarification.
Amenities for the tower will spread over 5 stories and include a state-of-the-art-gym, pool, office elements, and more.
There will be offices dedicated to the auditorium for the Miami-Dade County School Board which will spread over 100,000 square feet. Offices for Crescent Heights will also utilize 19,673 square feet of space.
The plans also show that there will be 9 levels of parking and an expansive ground floor designated for commercial space.
There are currently no scheduled dates to review revised plans but if approved, the ground breaking would begin in 2023.
Moishe Mana Expands Portfolio to 3 Buildings for $25.4 Million in Miami
Miami’s biggest landlord, Moishe Mana, has bought three additional buildings to add to his forever expanding portfolio. As part of his aim to convert the Downtown Miami into an innovation and cultural centre, he plans to create, Mana Common. Moishe Mana has spent much of this year investing in commercial properties as well as residential properties in Miami that he has been making a big time profit on!
Mana paid a total of $25.4 million for the three properties at 100 North Miami Avenue, 173 Northeast First Street, and 124 Northeast Second Avenue. The buildings total 50,197 square feet, and are part of Mana’s portfolio of more than 60 properties in and surrounding Downtown Miami.
According to property records, the two-story, 18,535-square-foot structure at 100 North Miami Avenue was built on 0.2 acres in 1941. According to state corporate filings, the seller Flexini Investments is led by Mario Sapoznik. The two-story, 7,200-square-foot building at 124 Northeast Second Avenue, erected in 1922 on less than 0.1 acre, is two blocks west, according to property records. On 0.3 acres, it lies next to the two-story, 24,462-square-foot structure at 173 Northeast First Street. The two buildings were sold by SG & S, which was led by Ana White.
The majority of his properties are older low- to mid-rise buildings with small businesses including clothes boutiques, pawn shops, and cafes.
Mana intends to repair or redevelop his properties to establish Mana Common, a campus-like space aimed at integrating Latin American and American digital companies. Despite the fact that Mana has started work on several of his properties after years of land acquisition, he has run across some roadblocks recently.
Mana had commissioned engineering inspections prior to beginning repairs, which revealed the buildings had “significant structural issues.” Mana Common’s representative declined to provide an update on the buildings. Some of the buildings that he has started repairs include the Nikola Tesla Innovation Hub, a fashion mall, the Flagler Studios, and another building on East Flagler Street.
Miami Developer Plans to Rebuild The Wharf in a $185 Million Project
On the site of the iconic downtown Miami’s The Wharf along the Miami River, a Miami developer is teaming up with Driftwood Capital to build a $185 million Dream Hotel and entertainment complex.
The Riverside Wharf project will consist of two 10-story buildings, one of which will house the 165-room Dream Miami hotel. According to a press release, it will also contain a restaurant, nightclub, and entertainment establishments, including an expanded and updated version of the Wharf. Some additional amenities will be built including a deep-water yacht port, and a public riverwalk.
A 16,000-square-foot restaurant, a 12,000-square-foot event hall, a 30,000-square-foot nightclub/rooftop dayclub, and 600 feet of river frontage are all planned for the 200,000-square-foot project.
Garcia’s Fish Market may also set up shop on the property as a pop-up market. Its commercial fishing activity used to be located on the property.
In 2016, voters in Miami approved a deal that awarded MV Real Estate Holdings, led by Alex Mantecon and Guillermo Vadell, a long-term lease on half of the land. The other half is also owned by MV Real Estate Holdings and is located in an Opportunity Zone.
The 1.5-acre Miami River property at 114 Southwest North River Drive was developed by MV Real Estate Holdings and its partner, Coral Gables-based Driftwood Capital. Nitin Motwani, the managing partner of Merrimac Ventures and the developer of the Miami Worldcenter, is also a general partner in the project, according to Mantecon.
According to Mantecon of MV Real Estate Holdings, the developers plan to seek project permissions from the Miami River Commission in January and then go before the Miami City Commission. Cube3 architects’ John Cardello is designing it, with landscaping by Savino-Miller Design Studio.
Once approved, construction is planned to begin in 2022 with a completion date in 2025.
Developers for Legacy Hotel & Residences Receives Third Largest Construction Loan Ever in Florida
Developer Dan Kodsi’s Royal Palm Companies recently received a $340 million construction loan for Legacy Hotel & Residences. New York-based real estate lending joint venture Silverstein Capital Partners, provided the loan for a condo-hotel construction tower that will be located in Downtown Miami at Miami Worldcenter.
According to a press release, the financing is the third-largest construction loan ever made in Florida, behind two others for projects in Miami-Dade. The other two loans were for the building of The Estates at Acqualina in Sunny Isles Beach ($558 million) and Five Park in Miami Beach ($345 million).
Legacy Hotel & Residences began selling in late 2019 and despite the pandemic, it is already entirely pre-sold, with $160 million in sales.
The luxury tower located at 942 Northeast First Avenue, will rise 50 stories at 668 feet tall making it the second tallest tower at Miami Worldcener. This mixed-use development will feature 312 residential units, 262 luxury hotel rooms, a business center, medical office, retail space, and rooftop atrium.
The residences will include studio to 2 bedroom floor plans with 368 to 964 square feet options. The units will be fully finished and furnished. One of the unique things about Legacy is that residents will be able to rent their units without any restrictions. This includes utilizing a short-term rental company, whether its the Legacy’s rental program, Airbnb, or VRBO.
Not only is this loan one of the largest construction loans in Florida but this is also Silverstein Capital Partner’s first South Florida loan. Larry Silverstein of Silverstein Properties is an affiliate of the financial group and also led the development of the World Trade Center after 9/11.
Kobi Karp Architects, Design Agency, and ID & Design International designed the structure.
The ground-breaking for Legacy Hotel & Residences occurred in August 2021 and is expected to reach top-off in 2024.
