Gran Paraiso – the fourth and final tower of Related’s Paraiso District – has been completed. The 54-story condo development began closings on January 9th. To date, over 225 of the building’s 317 total units have closed (over 70 percent).
Gran Paraiso was designed by international architecture firm Arquitectonica with interiors and common areas designed by famed Italian designer Piero Lissoni. The non-penthouse residences at Gran Paraiso are comprised of one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom options ranging in size from 1,075 to 2,232 interior square feet plus balcony. Each and every unit at Gran Paraiso offers direct, sweeping views of the water.
Perhaps the most amazing thing about Gran Paraiso is the quantity and quality of its amenities. To be fair, it’s perhaps the most amazing thing about Gran Paraiso AND Paraiso Bay because the two towers share amenities. When Paraiso Bay was delivered last April, it was said that roughly only 40 percent of its overall amenities were completed. That figure was almost incomprehensible because the amenities that were delivered at the time seemed plenty when compared to projects of similar size. (Keep in mind, Paraiso Bay has only 346 total units while Gran Paraiso has just 317).
The amenities that were delivered last April included a large clubroom with billiards table and catering kitchen; private screening theater; wine cellar and tasting salon; a cigar lounge with private humidors; teen’s game room; children’s playroom; a fitness center (albeit a smaller, temporary one); and a three-acre-plus, resort-style amenities deck with a dramatic circular zero-entry pool, outdoor spa, poolside cabanas, and summer kitchen.
Now, with the completion of Gran Paraiso, comes the rest of the amenities, which include a much larger, state-of-the-art fitness center with TechnoGym fitness and cardio equipment; a spin room equipped with TechnoGym bikes; indoor sports facilities with three bowling lanes, two billiards tables, two foosball tables, and high-definition golf simulator; Hammam spa with separate men’s and women’s steam and sauna facilities; and tennis center with lighted tennis courts and multipurpose court. Of those recently-delivered amenities, perhaps the most anticipated has been the bowling lanes. My photographer photographed it a few weeks ago on the day of its official opening and the management office already had reservations booked for several weeks in advance.
When added all together, one could easily make the argument that the amenities shared by Gran Paraiso and Paraiso Bay are the best in town. Related Group has delivered something enjoyable for all ages in this amenities-packed wonderland.
Over the past year, I’ve had the distinct pleasure of touring upon completion each of Related’s four Paraiso buildings with Carlos Rosso, President of Related. “We have created a luxury private neighborhood in Edgewater that will transform the area like we have done in the past with South of Fifth and Downtown Miami; Related has been the first developer to move in and redefine a whole area,” said Rosso. In Paraiso District, Related has brought interior designers from all over the world, including United Studio from London for Paraiso Bay, Piero Lissoni from Milan for One Paraiso and Gran Paraiso, Karim Rashid from New York City for Paraiso Bayviews, and, finally, Meyer Davis also from New York City for Amara Beach Club.
adfdaa
A First Look at One Paraiso in Edgewater Miami
Three down, one to go! One Paraiso recently became the third of four towers in the Paraiso District to be completed by Related Group. Closings started at the beginning of last month. As of September 14th, when I toured One Paraiso with my photographer, the development had already closed well over 200 of its 279 total units. Gran Paraiso, which will be the fourth and final tower to be completed in the Paraiso District is expected to begin closings next month.
The common area spaces at One Paraiso, which were designed by famed interior designer Piero Lissoni, are impressive, to say the least. Known for his elegant and contemporary style, Lissoni uses minimalist design to create large, interconnected spaces using Earth tones to compliment and pull in the beautiful views from outside the building’s floor-to-ceiling glass windows. If there’s one reoccurring, consistent theme throughout One Paraiso, it is its VIEWS. As you will see in the photos below, from pretty much any common areas space in the building, you can see Biscayne Bay. Even the lobby at One Paraiso offers direct views of the water. And while that may not seem so unique or out of the ordinary, try to name at least two other condo developments in Miami that offer water views from its lobby (I can only name one other).
And when it comes to amenities, One Paraiso delivers in spades. The developer included a wide array of high-quality amenities, such as a ground-floor pool, poolside cabanas, and Jacuzzi; 10th-floor party room, business center, wine tasting salon, library, theater, and children’s playroom; 11th-floor fitness center and spa with plunge pool, saunas, steam rooms, and massage rooms; and sunset amenities deck with two additional pools, infinity-edge Jacuzzi, poolside cabanas, BBQ area, and tennis center with two lighted courts. (That’s a total of three pools to accommodate just 279 residences!!!) The tennis center, which was still a work in progress when I visited, is expected to be completed within the next month.
Each and every unit at One Paraiso offers a direct view of the water. The building’s 279 condo residences are comprised of one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans plus penthouses. The non-penthouse residences have 9-foot high ceilings while the penthouse residences have 10-foot high ceilings. The developer is completely sold out of inventory for One Paraiso, but a number of resales have hit the market in recent weeks. As of the writing, there are 23 units listed for sale ranging in price from $708 to $1,260 per square foot and 27 units listed for rent ranging in price from $2.41 to $4.24 per square foot.
Although no developer inventory remains for One Paraiso, there are a number of excellent options (including penthouses) that still remain at Gran Paraiso. Contact me for details!
A First Look at Paraiso Bayviews Designed by Karim Rashid
Three weeks ago, I was given an exclusive tour of the recently completed Paraiso Bayviews by Related Group’s very own Carlos Rosso. Closings for the building started last month. According to Rosso, Related Group was able to close over 100 units in the first week alone…an outstanding start considering that Paraiso Bayviews has just 386 total units.
The interiors at Paraiso Bayviews were designed by prolific designer Karim Rashid. If the name sounds familiar, you may recognize it because he also designed the interiors at MyBrickell. Known for using bright shades of pink, yellow, orange, green, and purple, his designs are difficult to miss. From the lobby to the fitness center to the hallway wallpaper and everything in between, Rashid’s signature look is apparent throughout the building.
Paraiso Bayviews has 386 condo residences comprised of one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans plus penthouses. The building’s amenities include a rooftop terrace with pool, hot tub, and BBQ area along with a 5th-floor amenities level with sunset pool, tennis court, handball court, BBQ area, children’s playroom, billiard’s room, state-of-the-art fitness center, theater, spa, clubroom, valet, and full-service concierge. In addition, residents of Paraiso Bayviews have access to the Paraiso Beach Club. Of the four towers comprising Paraiso District (Paraiso Bay, Paraiso Bayviews, One Paraiso, and Gran Paraiso), Paraiso Bayviews is the only one that has a rooftop pool deck.
entrance to rooftop pool deck
rooftop pool deck[/caption]
views from rooftop pool deck
theater
theater
fitness center
fitness center
children’s playroom
sunset pool deck
spa
tennis court
handball court
clubroom
clubroom
clubroom
clubroom
mailroom
Given that Paraiso Bayviews is located behind the other three towers comprising Paraiso District, I was expecting the views from it to be terrible. However, to my delight, the views were quite good; you have views of the water in between the towers and there’s enough of a setback where you don’t feel like you’re living in a fishbowl.
At the time of this writing, there are 13 units listed for resale ranging in price from $530 to $852 per square foot and 38 units listed for rent ranging in price from $2.32 to $3.67 per square foot. Most of the units at Paraiso Bayviews come with carpeted floors, but I was told that a good percentage of the owners purchased the flooring upgrade (as seen in the photos below).
view from kitchen
Paraiso Bayviews kitchen
views from Paraiso Bayviews
Paraiso Bayviews bedroom
A First Look at Aria on the Bay in Miami’s Edgewater Neighborhood
Last week, the Miami Condo Investments Team was invited to tour Edgewater Miami‘s recently completed, 53-story condo tower Aria on the Bay. You may recall mention of Aria on the Bay from past articles of ours covering preconstruction purchases made by MLB star Giancarlo Stanton, who selected a 5-bedroom penthouse unit with rooftop pool and summer kitchen, and recording artist/music producer Timbaland, who purchased two East-facing 3-bedroom units for a combined indoor and outdoor total area of 6,000 square feet. Aria on the Bay was developed by The Melo Group and designed by Arquitectonica. Closings for the project began just a few weeks ago.
Aria on the Bay is located at 488 NE 18th Street. The location is no doubt one of the building’s most notable features, situated across the street from the 8-acre Margaret Pace Park, which provides public access to greenery, walking trails, a gated dog park, tennis courts, and outdoor fitness equipment. Such a wide-open grassy expanse is a rarity in greater downtown Miami, and most certainly is a highlight for dog owners and families. It also makes for nice Eastern views even on the lower floors of Aria, overlooking the park and then onward to Biscayne Bay.
I’m a girl who loves to make a dramatic entrance, so the Aria grand lobby and entryway staircase were some of my favorite design features in the building. Ascending the staircase, I was greeted by a beautiful chandelier, reminiscent of twinkling string lights attached to a nest of delicate tree branches. Upon joining the rest of the MCI Team, the upper-lobby 24-hour concierge pointed us in the direction of the elevators, which whisked us away to several floors of amenities. Nature was very clearly the central theme connecting all the common areas of the building, as we noticed an earthiness in both textures and hues, a grassy moss-like carpeting, and even chairs resembling open flower blossoms. The delicate tree-branch light fixtures were repeated in the great room and social areas, which were surprisingly spacious and bright. We walked the pool deck, which featured sunrise and sunset pools, a Jacuzzi, and sundeck, all with spectacular views of the marina and Venetian Causeway to the right, open bay to the left, and Miami Beach skyline in the distance.
Along with its expansive sun deck and lounge area, Aria on the Bay amenities include an enormous great room with social areas, pool table, and flatscreens, children’s pool, hot tub overlooking Biscayne Bay, state-of-the-art gym and yoga studio, outdoor fire pit, BBQ, private spa and treatment rooms, game room and library, theatre room, teen lounge, kids’ playroom, and business center.
The 648 residences at Aria on the Bay are comprised of one-, two, and three bedroom floor plans ranging in size from 777 to over 2,364 square feet of living space plus balcony. Approximately half of the units in the building feature private elevator access, and all units feature 9-foot ceilings, water and city views, Italkraft kitchens and bathrooms, and Bosch appliances. We were amazed to see that some units have 11-foot deep balconies!
As for remaining inventory, the building is 90 percent sold, leaving 50 developer units still available. One-bedroom condo pricing starts at $437,900. Two-bedroom condos start at $590,900 (including a penthouse for $891,900), and three-bedroom condos start at $689,900. My personal favorite floor plan was the Model A 3-bedroom + den / 4 bath unit on the southeast corner, featuring private elevator entrance, 2,365 square feet of interior, and 516-610 square feet of balcony, of which there are only 3 options remaining: Unit 1512 asking $1,591,900, Unit 2312 asking $1,631,900, and Unit 3012 asking $1,667,900. All units come finished with 32-inch porcelain tile floors. Along with offering surprisingly affordable prices for brand new construction in greater downtown Miami, Aria on the Bay is also a Fannie Mae approved building, meaning that well-qualified buyers can obtain financing with as little as 5% down up to $453,000.
For more information on available units at Aria on the Bay for sale or for rent, contact [email protected] or 305-428-3860.
Aria on the Bay Closings Set to Begin Next Week
After three years of construction, closings are set to begin next week for units at Aria on the Bay. The 53-story development received its Temporary Certificate of Occupancy last week. According to in-house sales reps, ten percent of the units at Aria on the Bay remain unsold, with prices for one- to three-bedroom residences ranging from $422,900 to $1,682,900. All units feature porcelain tiled flooring throughout, Italkraft kitchen cabinets, Bosch stainless steel appliances, and 9-foot high ceilings with floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
Aria on the Bay is located in Edgewater Miami at 1770 North Bayshore Drive. It was developed by Melo Group, designed by Arquitectonica, and will include 648 residential units.
A First Look Inside the Recently Completed Paraiso Bay
One cannot help but be awestruck by the rapid transformation taking place throughout Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood. Compared to just five years ago, it has grown tremendously in terms of development and density. With the pending completion of Related Group’s Paraiso District, Edgewater is about to get a whole lot bigger.
Paraiso District is Related Group’s largest residential development outside of New York City. The private, gated complex is situated on a close to five acre site with 500 feet of water frontage. It also includes a beach club (appropriately named Paraiso Beach Club), which is exclusive to Paraiso residents, as well as a waterfront restaurant by James Beard Award-winning Chef Michael Schwartz called Amara at Paraiso. In terms of density, however, Paraiso District, with less than 1,400 total units, will be smaller than Related’s second largest residential development – Icon Brickell.
Earlier this month, closings began for units at Paraiso Bay – the first of four towers comprising Edgewater’s Paraiso District. The other three towers – Paraiso Bayviews, GranParaiso, and One Paraiso – will all be completed and delivered by year-end.
A few weeks ago, I met up once again with Related’s President of Condominium Division Carlos Rosso – this time for a grand tour of the Paraiso District grounds and recently completed Paraiso Bay. Paraiso Bay is a 55-story tower designed by Arquitectonica. It has 346 total units, each offering direct, unobstructed views of Biscayne Bay. Paraiso Bay has a laundry list of amenities which include: clubroom with billiards, catering kitchen, and multimedia facilities; state-of-the-art fitness center; full-service spa with men’s and women’s steam and sauna facilities; private screening room with state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment and theater-style seating; wine cellar and tasting salon; children’s playroom; teen’s game room; resort deck with circular, zero-entry heated pool, outdoor spa, poolside cabanas, and summer kitchen area; tennis center with 2 lighted tennis courts and multipurpose court; beach club; 24-hour concierge; and 24-hour valet parking. Additionally, residents of Paraiso Bay and GranParaiso will share a 2-lane bowling alley and full-service bar below their shared resort deck. At the time of my tour, I was told that just 25 percent of the amenities had been delivered. Keep that in mind when viewing the photos below…75 percent of the amenities are still in the works!
Gran Paraiso Construction Video Showcases Jaw-dropping Views from Paraiso District
Construction of Related’s Paraiso District is in the home stretch. Along with Amara at Paraiso – a Michael Schwartz restaurant which opened last week along Biscayne Bay – Paraiso District is comprised of four luxury, high-rise towers, each scheduled to open later this year: Paraiso Bay, which is nearly finished with delivery expected this quarter; One Paraiso – expected to begin closings in Spring of this year; Paraiso Bayviews – expected to begin delivering units this Summer; and Gran Paraiso, which is very close to topping off and is aiming to begin closings this Fall.
The drone video below showcases the jaw-dropping views that one can expect from the condos at Paraiso District:
Paraiso Bay is completely sold out; all that remains at One Paraiso is a single penthouse which is asking $2.1M; Paraiso Bayviews has limited inventory starting at $579K; and Gran Paraiso has 1 to 4 bedroom options available starting at $800K.
Edgewater Penthouse Accepts Only Bitcoin
Have you jumped on the Bitcoin Bandwagon yet? If not, you cannot buy this penthouse!
That’s right, the seller of the Penthouse 2206 at Edgewater’s Platinum Condominium does not want your financed offer, or your cash offer for that matter. They accept ONLY Bitcoin and are asking $33 for the 1 bedroom unit. According to our handy currency conversion tool, this amounts to $542,000 USD.
While I commend the seller for their attempt at profiting from the buzzword of the hour, there are some fundamental flaws in their strategy.
FLAW 1: Alienating Potential Buyers Who Would Pay Cash
Whenever you are offering something for sale, you want that item to be available to as many people as possible. This is the reason Realtors are always saying to remove the clutter and personal items from your home before you put it on the market. In order to achieve maximum profit, you want the potential buyers to be able to see themselves living in the apartment and making it their home (or to see a solid profit in an investment). If you ONLY accept Bitcoin, you alienate all of those who would pay cash or get a mortgage.
FLAW 2: The Price
If you convert the price of $33 Bitcoin to US Dollars, it comes out to $542,000 (as of today). Even the biggest two bedroom in the building isn’t offered for that much! Check here to see the other available apartments in the building. They’re priced nowhere close to this unit. In fact, over the last 6 months the only two 1 bedroom apartments to sell both went for HALF of the asking price at PH 2206. Even the two bedroom apartments that sold traded for more than $100,000 less than this listing.
This is a hyped-up attempt to get away with overpricing an OK apartment.
FLAW 3: These Photos
Ah, these photos. If you’re going to post a listing that is overpriced by double, at least give us some photos that attempt to justify the price. Let’s go through them…
This one is great if you want to see a blurry depiction of what the view was like in 2014. Since then, at least 3 towers have been constructed within the frame.
The gym is nice enough, but the image could be sharper.
Same with the pool.
There are lockers and a sauna.
This photo was also taken in 2014. You can see IconBay in the background, but not the other towers that have been built around.
This photo is so blurry, you can’t even make out the name of the building behind the front desk.
The kitchen is nice enough.
Apparently there is a rule in this apartment that prohibits hanging photos or wall decorations by tenants.
So, there’s a washer/dryer in the apartment. I’m not sure this photo is a testament to how spacious the laundry area is, but at least you know it’s there, right?
\
All-in-all, I think this listing should serve as a huge warning to bitcoin buyers. This seller is clearly trying to pull one over on the market and profit from the hype. BUYER BEWARE!
The boutique ultra-luxury building will be home to just 100 residences with only 1 or 2 homes per floor. Each home has both a sunrise view over the bay and a sunset view over the horizon. From the upper floors, even the Everglades are visible!
On the 30th floor is a luxurious sky lounge for the residents with each room designed to maximize a different time of day. Each residence also includes a membership to Luxury Attaché, an around-the-clock and around-the-world lifestyle concierge.
Prices range from $1.5 million to $10 million for the residences and up to $14 million for residences in the “Les Grandes Maisons” collection.
entrance to rooftop pool deck
rooftop pool deck[/caption]
views from rooftop pool deck
theater
theater
fitness center
fitness center
children’s playroom
sunset pool deck
spa
tennis court
handball court
clubroom
clubroom
clubroom
clubroom
mailroom
view from kitchen
Paraiso Bayviews kitchen
views from Paraiso Bayviews
Paraiso Bayviews bedroom
\
