A Review Of The Penthouse At Brickell City Centre’s Reach Tower
If you’ve ever dreamed of living in a palace in the sky, but also dreamed of living on top of an elegant shopping district, but also dreamed of living in a condo that was perfect for entertaining AND perfect for family, then we’ve got just the thing for you. Swire has released the newly finished upper penthouse at Reach Tower above Brickell City Centre and it does not disappoint.
Before we go to the review and photos, here are the specs: Penthouse 4203
4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 powder rooms, 2 family rooms, 4 terraces, service quarters, rooftop pool & summer kitchen
Interior Size: 4,346 square feet
Exterior Size: 1,823 square feet
Price: $6,650,000
The Views
Starting with the views since many people in the $5 million-plus price range automatically ask for waterfront options, let me show you why I consider high floors in the city to be a better option…
If you’re in a waterfront condo, the blue water is pretty, but what will you look at after the sun goes down? Nothing. With the high floor city view, you still see the beautiful blue water of the Biscayne Bay AND the Atlantic Ocean, plus the glittering city lights at night. Gorgeous.
Speaking of water views and glittering city lights, how about you enjoy them from your private rooftop pool? Or maybe throw together a little al fresco dinner party in your summer kitchen?
To the West, you can see the city lights at night all the way to the Everglades.
The South view also offers more distant water views as the coastline tapers in through South Brickell, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables.
Now, let’s go inside for some renderings vs real life fun!
The Kitchen/Living Room Layout and Finishes
Ok, so we can see that the renderings were based on a different penthouse, but the finishes look 100% on-point, and LOOK AT THAT SPACE! I can’t even begin to think of the number of different events you could host here. Of course, if you’re a homebody like me, you could also just chill on a different sofa every night of the week and cook some crazy recipes in that kitchen.
I’m not sure what to say about that kitchen. If it were mine, I’d have platters of hors d’oeuvres filling that marble countertop for my friends and every kitchen gadget offered so that I could cook more. Heaven.
The Bathrooms
Here we are again with a rendering that was based off of another penthouse, but with on-point finishes. I love the teak shower floor. It gives a no-slip yet luxurious spa feel. Also, the backlit mirrors are typically demonstrated in sales centers and renderings, but are actually an upgrade that you don’t find out about until later. Not here. Swire delivered what they demonstrated.
The Floor Plan
Swire and Arquitectonica clearly did their homework on versatility with this layout. The way the floor plan is laid out; with the master bedroom in the front and the other bedrooms in the back, separated by the family room, it’s almost like there is a guest house.
I can see it already… a family gathering and the adults want to have adult conversations but the kids want to run crazy and do kid things. The kids can go to the family room and party with the nanny while the adults have wine and peace.
Or, it could be that the owner wants to give their guests an additional sense of privacy…. they have their own living room with a balcony.
Another thing I would like to point out is the amount of storage space! There are closets everywhere you turn AND a walk-in pantry! This is not something that is common in our marketplace.
Finally, I really appreciate the fact that they thought to separate the laundry room from the staff quarters. I always find it a bit oppressive to see the housekeeper’s bed pushed up next to the washing machine. This is 2017, not Downton Abbey. At the same time, the service quarters is not included in the bedroom and bathroom count, as they sometimes are. In this apartment, you get 4 full bedrooms, 3 full baths PLUS a bedroom and bathroom for the nanny/housekeeper who keeps your life straight.
All-in-all, I’m giving this penthouse a rave review. See below for additional photos and let us know if you would like a tour for yourself!
ECHO Brickell Closings Have Begun
instagram.com/echobrickell
Starting today, Brickell is getting a lot more luxurious. Property Markets Group is beginning closings on the newest ultra-luxury building in the greater downtown area, ECHO Brickell. The sleek tower was designed by Carlos Ott and offers the ultimate of luxury lifestyle.
Each residence comes with 9-14 foot ceilings, terraces that are 8 feet deep with summer kitchens, paneled Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances and a Bosch built-in espresso machine. The units will be delivered with marble floors indoors and out and there is a 50,000 saltwater fish tank in the lobby. Security is paramount in the building as well. Rather than fobs, residents are able to activate the elevator via biometric security.
Remaining purchase opportunities range from $1.8 million for a southeast-facing 2 bedroom on the 14th floor up to $6.5 million for a 3 bedroom lower penthouse. The $42 million opulent and dramatic Carlos Ott Penthouse is also still available for $42 million.
Contact us at [email protected] if you would like a tour of the finished project.
Louver House Is Over Half Closed; New Pics
Nearly two months to the day after they received their certificate of occupancy, South of Fifth’s Louver House has closed over half of their sales. The boutique development has closed 7 of only 12 units just steps from the beach in Miami Beach’s family friendly and super walkable South of Fifth neighborhood.
The project was designed by award-winning Miami architect, Rene Gonzalez, who sought to incorporate the residents’ desire for privacy with their love of the outdoors. The building’s signature architectural detail, the louvers, serve to offer beauty, privacy, shade and fresh air. They also offer a beach concierge for the residents.
“We’re excited to finally present Louver House because it has all the key elements buyers are looking for in today’s luxury residential real estate market,” says Camilo Miguel Jr., CEO of Mast Capital, the developer. “To us, luxury is about amazing finishes, expansive spaces and the ability to enjoy a sense of privacy. This building offers a unique lifestyle that places residents in one of Miami Beach’s most exciting neighborhoods, but because of its small scale, also serves as an exclusive, family-friendly enclave.”
Remaining opportunities are listed for between $2.575 million up to $3.1 million for purchase and $11,000-$13,000 per month for rent. The remaining four residences are all floor plans with 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. The square footage ranges between 2,000-2,500 square feet.
Giancarlo Stanton Tours His Nearly Completed Miami Penthouse
photo: _nicolasbarbara/instagram
Calling Giancarlo Stanton the legitimate home run king may be premature, but there’s no reason for him not to plan ahead; after all, they say every king must have his castle. In May, it was reported that Stanton contracted to purchase a 7,800 square foot, tri-level penthouse at Aria on the Bay – a 53-story, luxury condo development located in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood. Earlier today, Stanton toured the building, stopping briefly for a photo with Aria on the Bay’s sales and development team. The photo was taken on the rooftop of his nearly completely penthouse, which will come equipped with an outdoor pool and summer kitchen.
Aria on the Bay is slated to be delivered early next year. Scroll down for a digital rendering of Stanton’s outdoor terrace.
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.
Mast Capital’s Louver House Closings Have Begun In South of Fifth
Mast Capital’s first Miami Beach condo project has successfully opened, with closings beginning this past week. Louver House brings 12 luxury apartments to Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood, while paying homage to the history of Meridian Avenue.
The project was designed by award-winning Miami architect, Rene Gonzalez, who sought to incorporate the residents’ desire for privacy with their love of the outdoors. The building’s signature architectural detail, the louvers, serve to offer beauty, privacy, shade and fresh air.
“We’re excited to finally present Louver House because it has all the key elements buyers are looking for in today’s luxury residential real estate market,” says Camilo Miguel Jr., CEO of Mast Capital. “To us, luxury is about amazing finishes, expansive spaces and the ability to enjoy a sense of privacy. This building offers a unique lifestyle that places residents in one of Miami Beach’s most exciting neighborhoods, but because of its small scale, also serves as an exclusive, family-friendly enclave.”
Although the closings began this past week, the official opening celebration will be held on August 24th, highlighting the rooftop deck overlooking South of Fifth and the Art Deco District. Three purchase opportunities remain, each one a three bedroom priced between $2.575 million to $3.4 million. We are excited to tour this week and be able to compare renderings to real life!
Biscayne Beach’s Ultimate “Sandcastle In The Sky” Asks $9.5 Million
While doing their pre-construction sales, the developer of Biscayne Beach used the tagline, ‘Sandcastles in the Sky,’ and now they have released the details of the ultimate one. Penthouse 7 sprawls over 7,500 square feet of interior space with soaring ceilings, tons of natural light and views of practically all of South Florida.
It has 4 bedroom, a den, 5 full bathrooms and 2 powder rooms. In the master bath, there is a private sauna and the rooftop boasts a private pool. The developer is offering it decorator-ready for $9,453,900. Have a look at the photo preview and let us know what you think!
A Look at the Largest Non-Penthouse Floor Plan at Marinablue
They don’t build ’em like they used to is a phrase often said these days when comparing today’s condo floor plans to those of yesteryear. Nowadays, a 2 bedroom floor plan encompasses 1,000 to 1,300 interior square feet, up to 1,500 if it includes a den. Back in the Golden Age of Real Estate development (circa 1980s), it wasn’t uncommon to find a 2 bedroom floor plan with upwards of 1,800 interior square feet (e.g. Villa Regina #T105 built in 1982). While gone are those days, let’s rejoice in the fact that present-day developers, while albeit trying to maximize every square inch they can, still tend to sprinkle in a few larger floor plans throughout the building to appease the “throw-back Thursday” crowd. Take unit 5405 at Marinablue for example. It is one of just 21 unique, over-sized 2 bedroom floor plans in the building. In fact, it is the largest and the only one of its kind that exists in entire building. Per developer floor plan, unit 5405 is a 2 bedroom + den/2.5 bath unit with a whopping 1,784 interior square feet. It also has 223 square feet of balcony, 10-foot high ceilings with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, Biscayne Bay, and Downtown Miami skyline. Below are the property photos for those who would like to have a look-see. It recently hit the market for $789,000.
Record-Breaking Sale at Jade at Brickell Bay
After dozens of showings and nearly six months on the market, I’m pleased to announce that Jade at Brickell Bay #4107 has sold for $1.85M, the highest priced sale ever for a 3 bedroom condo in the building (excluding penthouses and bay lofts). The record-breaking sale amounts to $869 per square foot. To put this sales price into perspective, last month, tennis sensation Andy Murray sold his 4 bedroom condo, located on 45th floor of Jade at Brickell Bay, for $703 per foot.
Unit 4107, a flow-through residence with 2,130 interior square feet, was recently updated with new tiled flooring in the living areas and balconies, new kitchen counter top, refaced kitchen cabinets, soffit lighting in the living room, and motorized shades on all windows. The sellers purchased the property in 2012 for $1.39M.
