A Review Of The Penthouse At Brickell City Centre’s Reach Tower

Reach Penthouse Brickell City Centre

Reach Penthouse Brickell City Centre

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…

Brickell City Centre Reach Penthouse View

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?

Reach Penthouse Brickell City Centre

To the West, you can see the city lights at night all the way to the Everglades.

Reach Penthouse Brickell City Centre Rooftop Pool

Reach Penthouse Brickell City Centre Rooftop Pool

The South view also offers more distant water views as the coastline tapers in through South Brickell, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables.

Reach Penthouse Brickell City Centre Rooftop Pool

Now, let’s go inside for some renderings vs real life fun!

The Kitchen/Living Room Layout and Finishes

Reach Penthouse Brickell City Centre Kitchen

Reach Penthouse Brickell City Centre Kitchen Finishes

Reach Penthouse Brickell City Centre Kitchen

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

Brickell City Centre Penthouse Reach Bathroom

Brickell City Centre Penthouse Master Bath

Brickell City Centre Penthouse Master Bath

Brickell City Centre Penthouse Master Bath

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!

Brickell City Centre Reach Penthouse

Brickell City Centre Reach Penthouse

Brickell City Centre Reach Penthouse

Brickell City Centre Reach Penthouse

Brickell City Centre Reach Penthouse

Brickell City Centre Reach Penthouse

Brickell City Centre Reach Penthouse

Brickell City Centre Reach Penthouse

Venetian Islands Waterfront Manse Trades For $9 Million Post-Irma

Venetian Islands Waterfront

Venetian Islands Waterfront

Despite our brush with Hurricane Irma last month, it seems that buyers have not been scared off from waterfront real estate. A charming Colonial-style 5,600 square foot waterfront home on Dilido Island has sold for $9 million, or $1,600/square foot ($540/ square foot if you are calculating the land value)..

The buyer, who hails from Ecuador, was represented by Dora Puig of Luxe Living Realty and is also the broker for the Miami Condo Investments Team. “People are paying premiums on land to live on the Venetian Islands,” she told the Miami Herald. “Even after the hurricane scare, deals are closing. People are not running away.”

The home was originally built in 1941 and has 4 bedrooms, each with a bay view, and 5 bathrooms. The 16,700 square foot lot has and infinity-edge pool and 132 linear feet of bay frontage with a boat lift.

This sale marks the most expensive single-family transaction since the storm passed. According to the Venetian Islands Market Statistics page, the average sales price per square foot on the islands over the last 6 months is $1,520/square foot.

16 Dilido Venetian Islands

16 Dilido Venetian Islands

16 Dilido Venetian Islands

Aston Martin Residences Prepares For Groundbreaking

Aston Martin preconstruction condos in Miami Florida

Aston Martin Residences Miami

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

Louver House Twilight

Louver House Twilight

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!

Louver House Miami Beach

Louver House Miami Beach

Louver House Miami Beach

Louver House Miami Beach

Louver House Miami Beach

Louver House Miami Beach

Louver House Miami Beach

Louver House Miami Beach

 

La Casa Reposada To Villa Leone: The Story Behind 2100 South Miami Avenue

La Casa Reposada South Brickell

Villa Leone Brickell

Along South Miami Avenue at 21st Street is a vacant lot the size of the entire block that is surrounded by a coral rock wall and majestic statues of lions covered by foliage. It is evident that there is an interesting story behind the land, although after thirty years of sitting vacant, new construction has commenced. For today’s Throwback Thursday, I want to share the story and then admire what is coming next.

According to the Miami History archives, the lot was originally purchased by a businessman for use as his family’s summer home in the 1935. The design was meant to emphasize the sun and fresh air of the area, and it was a grand home! The grounds included a rock garden with a fish pond, an island with a cypress bridge for access, a rose garden, reflection pool and a marble statue. The swimming pool was able to be electrically filled with either salt water or fresh water. Of course, the interior of the home was just as grandiose and designed for entertaining. The owner named it “La Casa Reposada,” since the family intended for it to be a haven of rest and tranquility.

La Casa Reposada South Brickell

La Casa Reposada Around 1955 From Miami History Archives

Shortly after his retirement in 1940, the owner died suddenly and his wife sold the property at an enormous loss, for just $50,000. The son of the owner recalls finding a listening device under one of the staircases, and presumed that the original owner had used it to eavesdrop on his guests in order to obtain the upper hand in business dealings. Savage!

After a few years, the family received an unsolicited offer for purchase from then Cuban President Carlos Prio Socarras, the last democratically elected president of Cuba. The son again recollects that the closing took forever. Prio’s representatives arrived at the house with suitcases filled with cash and it took from first thing in the morning until after lunchtime to count as armed guards stood by. Prio ended up spending much of the time he was exiled at La Casa Reposada before returning to Cuba in attempt to influence change.

From that point, the house changed hands several more times before being razed in the late 70’s or early 80’s. Aside from a cement-filled pool (that I had always assumed was the foundation of the previous structure) and the signature stone wall with lions, the property sat vacant for more than 30 years… until now.

Vertical construction has recently begun on a collection of 5 homes called “Villa Leone,” I imagine paying homage to the stone lions that looked over the property for the last 80 years. The homes have a contemporary design by Borges & Associates, who have been responsible for the designs of other popular buildings including Infinity at Brickell, The Carillon on Miami Beach and even the American Airlines Arena.

The designs maximize the buildable space, including underground garages and rooftop terraces with summer kitchens and pools. Sadly, it does not appear there is room on the lot to preserve the lions. Prices are available by request.

You can read more about the history of La Casa Reposada here.

A Look at the Largest Non-Penthouse Floor Plan at Marinablue

Marinablue 2 bedroom condo for sale in Downtown Miami

Marinablue condo for sale in Downtown Miami

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.

Marinablue 2 bedroom condo Miami

view of Downtown Miami skyline from Marinablue 5405

kitchen in Marinablue 5405

largest non-penthouse floor plan at Marinablue condos

master bedroom view of Downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay

master bathroom Marinablue 5405

second bedroom Marinablue 5405

second bathroom Marinablue 5405

half bathroom Marinablue 5405

view of Biscayne Bay and Port of Miami from Marinablue

view of Downtown Miami skyline day

Marinablue unit 5405 floor plan

Live the Luxury Loft Life: Inside The Ritz Carlton Residences Miami Beach’s Loft Residences

loft condo at Ritz Carlton Residences Miami Beach

loft condo at Ritz-Carlton Miami Beach

One of the most ambitious redevelopment projects I have seen is preparing to open in a few months, The Ritz Carlton Residences Miami Beach. For those who aren’t familiar, the project is a redevelopment of the Miami Heart Institute, which was shuttered in 2004 after it was purchased by Mt. Sinai.

For years, nobody knew what would become of this eyesore on a great waterfront lot. Due to building regulations, the structure could not be torn down and rebuilt at the same size. In order to keep the height and size of the structure, all they could do is redevelop the existing structure. It took until 2012 when Lionheart Capital stepped in to propose a new Ritz Carlton designed by famed Italian architect, Piero Lissoni. Why not, right?

Well, here we are in 2017, the project is getting ready to open within the next few months, and 70% of the 126 residences have been spoken for. There are still 4 remaining loft residences with double height ceilings and increased feeling of privacy, let’s have a look at these plans…

Loft 220

3 Bedroom | 3.5 Bath | Den
3,342 square feet
$2,827,000

This plan is a corner apartment that has southern exposure with a private plunge pool and summer kitchen. One of my favorite aspects of this plan is the bedroom and den upstairs, making it a great guest suite.

Loft 224

3 Bedroom | 3.5 Bath | Den
3,778 square feet
$3,964,000

This is the last remaining loft with a direct view of Lake Surprise. It also has a private elevator and all of the bedrooms are upstairs, leaving the downstairs perfect for entertaining.


Loft 218

3 Bedroom | 3.5 Bath | Den
3,292 square feet
$2,925,000

Another of the lofts with southern exposure, Loft 218 also has the plunge pool and summer kitchen on the terrace and guest quarters upstairs.

Loft 217

4 Bedroom | 4.5 Bath
4,033 square feet
$3,065,000

This is the last available four bedroom option, although the fourth bedroom could also be converted into a study. It also has a junior master suite upstairs and extra space on the terrace.

 

Brickell City Centre’s Rise Penthouse Has Sold For $5.75 Million

Brickell City Centre Penthouse Condos

Even before the offering was able to be made to the public, an undisclosed buyer has snatched up the upper penthouse at Brickell City Centre’s Rise tower. This is an amazing sign, in a time when the news media continually injects fear and dread into our real estate market. Although the number of buyers are undeniably less plentiful, the buyers who are looking into Miami purchases are very serious about getting what they want and after you see the floor plan, it won’t be a surprise that this gem sold before it hit the market.

The duplex penthouse boasts approximately 4,500 square feet of interior space plus roughly 4,500 square feet of outdoor space. There are 4 bedrooms including a junior master suite plus service quarters and a den. There are 3 balconies, two on the first level and one on the second level off of the master suite. Each level has a terrace overlooking Brickell and the Biscayne Bay. On the first floor, the terrace includes a summer kitchen and a private swimming pool. A private jacuzzi overlooking the city is located on the terrace off of the master suite.

This comes on the heels of another recent noteworthy sale, when a South African buyer purchased a waterfront teardown for $10 million. We have learned that the buyer of the Brickell City Centre Penthouse is not a foreign investor, just a very private American with very good taste. The final sale price was $5.75 million.

Allison Ortiz from Fortune International’s in-house sales team was the one to put the deal together. She is someone who has worked with the Miami Condo Investments team for many years, even back when Brickell City Centre was just a spark in Stephen Owens’ eye. We have been fortunate to have her as an asset for our clients at Brickell City Centre, Infinity at Brickell and also Met1 in Downtown. The earlier projects have since sold out fully, but she always goes the extra mile for our buyers and the clients we have worked in those buildings have all been extremely pleased with their purchases. Congratulations to Allison on a job well done and congratulations to the buyer on a beautiful property!

Brickell City Centre Penthouse Condos

Brickell City Centre Penthouse Condos 02

Brickell City Centre Penthouse Condos 01

Brickell City Centre Penthouse Condos 03

Brickell City Centre Rise Tower Penthouse by Sarah Elles Boggs on Scribd

Gorgeous Spec Home at 6440 North Bay Road Reduces Price to $26,950,000

6440 N Bay Road Miami Beach_U01_22

After a brief hiatus, the newly constructed spec home at 6440 North Bay Road has returned to the market with a $2 million price chop, asking $26,950,000. The home has 15,519 interior square feet with 7 bedrooms and 9 baths.

The tropical-zen inspired home blends contemporary interiors with the outdoors and features sliding glass walls throughout much of the space. There is an office, gym with outdoor yoga area, a theater and a separate 2 bedroom guest wing with a private staircase and dedicated terrace and living area.

Outdoors, there is a separate cabana with retractable canvas awning surrounded by tall, mature landscaping and infinity-edge pool. The lot features 100 feet of bay frontage with a wooden dock.

The North Bay Road home was developed by Peter Fine’s To Better Days Development, that is based in New York. Have a look at the MLS photos below..

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