City of Miami Beach Planning Board Approves Terra’s Redevelopment Plans for The Deauville Beach Resort
David Martin’s development firm Terra, in collaboration with the Meruelo family, has received a significant approval from the City of Miami Beach’s Planning Board to move forward with the redevelopment of the former Deauville Beach Resort. The unanimous decision allows the developers to proceed with their vision of transforming the site at 6701 Collins Avenue into an elegant mixed-use project featuring two condominium towers and a partially reconstructed Deauville Beach Resort.
The approved plan includes a branded 100-unit condominium tower and a 150-room hotel, designed by Foster + Partners, Shulman + Associates, and ODP. This reimagined development reflects a strategic reduction from the originally proposed 570 residential units, favoring a more community-oriented design while preserving the area’s character.
Unlike previous proposals, the new plan does not require a public referendum, expediting the potential approval process and paving the way for construction to commence in 2026.
The Deauville Beach Resort, originally built in 1957, was a beloved Miami Beach landmark known for its Mid-Century Modern design and for hosting legendary performances, including The Beatles’ iconic 1964 appearance. However, after years of neglect, the structure was deemed unsafe and ordered for demolition in 2022.
Several redevelopment attempts have failed in the past. Notably, billionaire Stephen Ross and his firm Related Companies proposed a $500 million Equinox-branded development designed by Frank Gehry, but the project was ultimately rejected by voters due to zoning concerns.
Now, with this latest approval, Terra and the Meruelo family’s vision for the reimagined Deauville Beach Resort is one step closer to reality, promising to revitalize North Beach and contribute to Miami Beach’s evolving architectural landscape.
With the City of Miami Beach’s Planning Board approval secured, Terra’s team will move forward with securing necessary permits and refining their design. If all goes according to plan, construction will break ground in 2026, setting the stage for a transformative addition to Miami Beach’s waterfront skyline.
The Fifth Miami Beach Sets a New Standard in Luxury Commercial Real Estate
We are thrilled to share some groundbreaking news from the world of real estate development. Sumaida + Khurana and Bizzi + Bilgili, two of the most esteemed real estate development firms on the global stage, have recently announced a significant financial milestone. They have successfully secured $47.25 million in construction financing from Cain International for an exciting new project: The Fifth Miami Beach.
This state-of-the-art Class A+ office building, located at 950 5th Street, is making history as the first commercial edifice to be erected in Miami’s South of Fifth neighborhood in two decades. The design mastermind behind this architectural marvel is none other than Alberto Campo Baeza, a name synonymous with innovation and excellence in architecture. Baeza, recently crowned with Spain’s National Prize for Architecture, has chosen The Fifth Miami Beach as his maiden commercial office project in the United States.
The Fifth Miami Beach isn’t just another addition to the skyline. It’s a redefinition of the modern office experience, blending striking design with a strong emphasis on health and wellness. The project, which broke ground recently, is slated for completion in 2025. Impressively, it has already pre-leased nearly 20% of its space.
Amit Khurana, Founding Partner of Sumaida + Khurana, describes The Fifth Miami Beach as a blend of “timeless design, quality of craftsmanship, and curated amenities,” all aimed at setting a new benchmark in commercial development. Meanwhile, Alessandro Pallaoro of Bizzi & Partners highlights Miami’s growing status as a hub for influential companies and the significance of this project in reinforcing the city’s position in the business world.
Sumaida + Khurana and Bizzi+Bilgili are powerhouses in their own right. The former is steered by Saif Sumaida and Amit Khurana, while the latter represents a joint venture between Bizzi & Partners and Bilgili’s private equity real estate arm, BLG Capital.
Global commercial real estate titan, Cushman & Wakefield, is at the forefront of office leasing efforts for this project, with Avenue Real Estate Partners handling the retail leasing. The building’s strategic location at the entrance to Miami Beach, at the corner of Michigan and Fifth Street, positions it perfectly within the rapidly evolving South of Fifth neighborhood, a hotspot for upscale dining, hotels, and residences.
The design team for The Fifth Miami Beach reads like a who’s who of the architectural world. Alberto Campo Baeza, Gabellini Sheppard Associates, Cube 3, and Miami-based Urban Robot Associates come together to create a building that is a visual feast. The building’s design is a stunning jewel box shape, characterized by a façade of white marble, transparent glass, and architectural concrete. It boasts ceiling heights of 14 feet and incorporates biophilic design elements like landscaped outdoor terraces and a triple-height atrium.
The crowning glory is the rooftop space, offering panoramic views of the ocean and Miami Beach. The building is not just about aesthetics; it is also designed to meet LEED certification standards, emphasizing sustainability.
Miami Beach Polo World Cup Returns April 21st
The largest and most well-known Beach Polo competition in the world, the Beach Polo World Cup, will be held in Miami Beach from Friday, April 21st, through Sunday, April 23rd, 2023.
The top players in the world compete in high-goal polo matches every day, and there are also a number of upscale off-site events that combine polo, fashion, and luxury for the ultimate experience.
Almost 12,000 people are anticipated to attend the action-packed event over the course of the weekend at Collins Park on the pristine sands of South Beach, Miami. The sold-out, star-studded event this year will include more than 120 horses and 8 international teams with players from more than 10 different countries. In addition to the event week, there are daily activities, some of which are accessible to the public.
The equestrian spectacular includes a variety of luxurious programming in addition to the high stakes polo events.
Buy a ticket for the Polo Lounge to enjoy some shade. The spacious lounge, which has a view of the polo field, has a complete bar, access to game commentary, music, and food and beverage items for sale. Polo Lounge tickets start at $110.
The World Polo League Beach Polo World Cup provides individual VIP tickets ranging from $500–$650 for those looking to upgrade for the very best VIP experience. From $5,000 to $20,000 is the price range for VIP packages that include a table for 10 people inside the VIP tent overlooking the polo field.
While VIP tickets come with shady lounge areas, a full bar, and food, general admission is free to the public. Visit www.miamipolocup.com to view the whole calendar of events, get additional details, and buy tickets.
Life is Good for Rapper Future Who Recently Purchased a Waterfront Miami Beach Mansion for $“16.3 Million
Award-winning rapper, Future just purchased a stunning waterfront property on Allison Island for $16.3 million.
The singer-songwriter, whose real name is Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn, purchased the 7,250-square-foot, seven-bedroom residence at 6493 Allison Road in Miami Beach. The property was sold by Pascale and Laurent Ouazana. Laurent Ouazana was the CEO of Entoria, one of the biggest insurance brokers in France, and is currently a board member.
According to the listing, the Allison Island estate was originally listed at a $19.9 million asking price. The 2020-built property has a three-car garage, 75 feet of water frontage, staff quarters, a detached guest house, a pool, and cabanas.
This large house includes an elevator, a rooftop terrace, Ornare kitchen cabinetry, stunning dual closets, and a private courtyard entrance.
With more than 8,500 square feet, it includes a detached guest suite, media room, 3 car garage, and 6 bedrooms in addition to staff quarters. You can experience magnificent sunrises, ocean breezes, and close proximity to schools, country clubs, and in-demand Sunset Harbour & Bal Harbour businesses if you are located deep within this exclusive enclave of only 49 waterfront houses.
The property, which was a portion of a double lot, was purchased by the Ouazanas for $12.5 million in 2020. The pair paid $7.9 million for the other site at 6505 Allison Road, which was sold to developer Todd Michael Glaser and his associates Scott Robins and Jonathan Fryd. On the property, they intend to construct a 10,000-square-foot mid-century modern home.
Booba, a French rapper, paid $6.1 million to Komodo and Gekko investor Nick Smith in October for the mansion he owned in Miami Beach. Lil Wayne has recently listed his Allison Island home for $29.5 million.
JMH Development to Build 7 Story Luxury Tower in Miami Beach
The long-awaited Miami Beach condo project by JMH Development can finally move forward after the lawsuit against the developer was dismissed. The lawsuit included the actual condo site where the plans for this new tower would be constructed.
The project has been put on hold for 5 years due to a dispute between the original partnership of Jason Halpern (Managing Partner for JMH Development) and companies owned by Dhruv Piplani. In 2017, Piplani filed suit again Halpren and accused them of selling the property without permission of the co-investors.
When originally purchased, the property was purchased for $7.75 million by 29 ICD LLC, managed by Gerard Longo, who is noted as a longtime business partner of Halpren.
To add fuel to the fire, in 2020, Halpern filed for a $5.25 million mortgage foreclosure against the property. The original case was dismissed due to a breach of contract because PSB Indian Creek failed to make the $800,000 contribution toward the project in 2016.
According to Halpren, “In addition to Justice Masley’s ruling in favor of JMH Development across the board, the court awarded our client attorneys’ fees. This is a big win for our client, and demonstrates the egregious nature of the claims made against them.”
The project itself will be located at 2901 and 2911 Indian Creek Drive in Miami Beach. It is approved to rise up to 7 stories with 22 luxury condo units. The property itself will have to stay under 17,150 square feet and will also feature a rooftop pool, as well as a parking garage for 22 cars.
Tech Giant Sells Miami Beach Mansion for $26 Million
David Centner, a successful inventor, and technology entrepreneur recently sold his waterfront mansion in Miami Beach for $26 million. Centner is known for his development of the Highway Toll Administration, Erase.com, and now he and his wife head a private school located in Wynwood.
The home located at 5465 Pine Tree Drive is sited on 21,156 square feet with 125 linear feet of water frontage along the Intracoastal Waterway canal. The mansion was built to resemble an Italian Mediterranean home with a majority of the finishes hand-made in Italy, right down to the teal roof tiles.
The home features 10 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, 12-foot ceilings, marble floors, and hand-crafted solid wood cabinets imported from Milan. In addition, the home showcases a spacious home gym, theater room, 3 car garage, and a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom guesthouse.
The dine-in kitchen has seating for 28 and the outdoor is equally impressive with a 2,000 square foot pool, balcony, and an expansive dock.
The Centners built this home as a spec home through Inspirata Group which happens to be the buyers for the home as well (Nicholas and Susan Maounis, owners of the Inspirata Group).
At $26 million, the price equated to $2,364 per square foot.
Not only has Centner made headway in the tech world, but the family also runs Centner Development which is currently working on multiple real projects in Miami. The Centners currently own 2 condos in Miami and Miami Beach.
The Centners have recently sold a few of their properties including a Miami Beach mansion to Russell Weiner, the Rockstar Energy Drink Founder.
Another Fisher Island Condo Sold at $21 Million
After spending 5.5 years on significant renovations and imported furniture, Igor Olegovich Nesterenko, a businessman in the meatpacking industry from Moscow, sold his Fisher Island property for $21 million.
The unit located at the Palazzo Del Mare unit 7153, features 5 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, a terrace, a playroom, and a conference room spanning over 7,025 square feet. It also has a private 2-car garage on the parking level of the building and a private cabana near the pool.
Nesterenko spent the 5.5 years refurbishing the condo because Fisher Island only allows for roughly half of a year’s time for construction due to noise restrictions.
Furthermore, much of the furniture was purchased from abroad and was rather large and proved difficult to ship overseas. The bathtub in the master bedroom was fashioned from a solid block of Greek White Thassos marble and was carried into the apartment using a crane. The majority of the furniture was also brought by crane since it was too large for the elevator.
The 7,025-square-foot Unit 7153 located at Palazzo Del Mare was sold to Fana Fisher Palazzo 7153 LLC, managed by a trust in Bellevue, Washington purchased the condo for $21 million equals $2,989 price per square foot.
The trust is under the umbrella of the Fana Group of Cos., a real estate corporation located in Bellevue led by Chairman and CEO Firoz Lalji.
The apartment was designed by Augusto Busnelli of Milan, according to Flikshteyn. The previous owner spent around $10 million on upgrades. The property was last sold in 2011 for $8.3 million.
The Palazzo Del Mare was built in 2007 and with an expansive amenity package including a 9-hole golf course, 18 tennis courts, a marina and yacht center, a gourmet market, 8 restaurants, and Spa Internazionale. A Fisher Island Day School and a mile and a half of pristine beaches.
Fisher Island, America’s wealthiest zip code, is a 216-acre barrier island located across Government Cut from Miami Beach. Fisher Island condominiums are in a class of their own when it comes to ultra-exclusive living in South Florida.
The island, which can only be reached by ferry, boat, helicopter, or seaplane, provides unrivaled protection. All visitors to the island must first be checked by security at the Fisher Island port.
Sell of Star Island Waterfront Mansion Sets New Miami Record
Star Island has seen many record sales in the past year but a new sale has just topped them all. A mansion on Miami Beach’s Star Island sold for $75 million, setting a new record for any single-family home in Miami-Dade.
The 16,619-square-foot mansion located at 8 Star Island Drive was sold by Dr. Lourdes R. Sanjenis, an internist in Miami. In 2013, Sanjenis inherited the home from Modesto M. Mora, who originally built the home in 1993.
Sitting on 1.84 acres, the home features 9 bedrooms, 8 full bathrooms, and 3 half bathroom. The mansion showcases over 20,000 square feet of luxury. Throughout the home, touches of Mediterranean and Caribbean architecture is evident.
Amenities include a beautiful pool overlooking the gorgeous manicured yard and an expansive dock with Port of Miami and Miami skyline views. The property also features an elevator and a commercial generator.
Star Island is a man-made island located in Miami Beach along Biscayne Bay. Made up of just a few dozen homes, Star Island is one of the most coveted and exclusive island in South Florida. Star Island is within close proximity to Hibiscus Island, the Venetian Islands, and Palm Island. Each waterfront lot offers at least 40,000 square feet of unobstructed water views and frontage.
Star Island can be accessed through one bridge with a guard house entrance. A large number of celebrities live or have owned on Star Island. Some notable include Gloria Estefan, P. Diddy, Lea Black from the Real Housewives of Miami, and Jennifer Lopez.
The buyer for the Star Island mansion record sale has yet to be disclosed.
Cincinnati businessman, Josh Lehman recently sold his Miami Beach Mansion for $17.5 million. The waterfront mansion located on Hibiscus Island was sold 6 months after Lehman first purchased for a profit.
The buyer listed as Top Hibiscus LLC, an entity managed by Jose Carlos Pontes. Pontes is the head of Grupo Marquise a Brazilian-based construction company.
The mansion last sold for $15.5 million in May 2021 closing at a $2,850 per square foot. The current price closes close to $3,219 per square foot. The property was purchased with cash.
The property itself located at 160 S. Hibiscus Drive in Miami Beach features 5 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms totaling 5,427 square feet of living space. Upon entering, you immediately notice the tall ceilings, floating staircase, and the floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that lead to the exquisite back yard.
The waterfront mansion also features an Ornare custom kitchen, bar, spacious master suite with marble bath and Mia Cucina his/her closets. The exterior is complete with a rooftop deck, infinity edged pool with views of Biscayne Bay, outdoor bbq, and a 2 car garage.
The property was built earlier this year and the architect behind the modern design is Reinaldo Borges with interiors by Tara Nia Design. The home purchase also included a furniture package. The property also features a long dock for up to 38 foot boats.
Pontes, the purchaser of this property also sold another mansion that was located on Hibiscus Island in July 2021. That property located 150 S. Hibiscus was sold for $26.5 million.
W South Beach Penthouse Sold to Entertainment Electronics Moguel
Jeff Walker, the President of Alliance Entertainment, an entertainment electronics company, recently purchased an upper Penthouse at the W South Beach for $9.25 million equating to nearly $4,000 per square foot.
Alliance Entertainment is located in Sunrise Florida and sells electronics (DVDs, Blu-rays, and video games) directly to retailers.
The property located at 2201 Collins Avenue, Unit 2006 in Miami Beach features 2,408 square feet of living space that spans over two levels with cascading glass balconies and two private rooftop terraces overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Miami Skyline.
The unit also features 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and is fully furnished. The kitchen boasts high-end stainless-steel appliances, quartz counters, and custom-made cabinetry. Just off one of the private terraces is the private plunge pool, grill, and lounge area.
According to county records, the seller was listed as SoBe W Estates and purchased the home in 2011 for $6.1 million.
The W South Beach is a 20-story condo-hotel development that was completed in 2009. The tower was developed by TriStar Capital, Related Urban Development, and Starwood Properties. The tower features 511 condo-hotel units that range from studio to four-bedroom floor plan options. There are also a few rare penthouses.
W South Beach offers luxury hotel amenities for all residents and guests including two pools with food and beverage services, private cabanas, and a full-service concierge. Other amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, tennis court, rooftop basketball court, business center, and much more!
Walker isn’t the first executive to live at W South Beach! This tower is known to house big-name developers, architects, and execs. During the construction of One Thousand Museum, Zaha Hadid purchased three combined units. The former Roadhouse Grill CEO also owned a penthouse in 2019 at the W South Beach.
