Miami Heat Point Guard Mario Chalmers Lists 5 Bedroom Condo at Marquis Residences for $4M

Mario Chalmers Lists 5 Bedroom condo at Marquis Residences for $4M

Yesterday the Los Angeles Times reported that Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers recently listed his 5 bedroom condo at Marquis Residences for $4M  The combined floor plan is situated on the 49th and 50th floors of the northeast corner of the building and offers a direct view of Biscayne Bay the Atlantic Ocean and Miami Beach skyline  Consisting of 5475 interior square feet the bi level condo includes 5 bedrooms 5 baths a game room wet bar state of the art kitchen and 2 laundry rooms  Also included in the sale are 4 assigned parking spaces

In March 2012 Chalmers purchased the luxury condo from hip hoprap artist Drake for $26M  Drake had purchased the side by side units in 2011 then later combined them

Marquis Residences is a luxury condo development located in Downtown Miami

Museum Park Opening Ceremony

Miami residents showing support and appreciation at Museum Park opening ceremony

After 14 years and around $40M, Museum Park officially opened this morning.  The people of Miami were in attendance to show their support and appreciation.  City of Miami Mayor, Tomas Regalado; City of Miami Commissioner, Marc Sarnoff; and Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Alberto Carvalho; each spoke at the opening ceremony which was marked by the arrival of the iconic United States Coast Guard Cutter Eagle.

Museum Park opening ceremony

As a long-time resident of Miami, the opening of Museum Park is almost surreal to me.  It had been talk for so long that it was hard to believe at times that it would actually ever happen.  However, the day has finally arrived and, I must say, the park is spectacular.  It is such a beautiful gift not only to the people of Miami but also their four-legged friends.  It is fair to say that prior to today’s park opening, much of Downtown Miami was a concrete jungle.  Now the children and dogs of Miami have a place to run around and play.  I personally do not have any children but am a proud owner of a Miniature Schnauzer named Lucky.  A few days ago while walking him at Museum Park, I asked Lucky how he enjoyed the new park.  His response says it all.

 

Below are other pictures I took from this morning’s Museum Park opening ceremony:

Museum Park

Museum Park

Lucky The Miniature Schnauzer

Spike The Miniature Schnauzer

Museum Park

Bye Bye Panorama Tower, Hello Panorama

Panorama condos coming soon

Monday afternoon, while stopping in at the post office located at 1101 Brickell Avenue, I noticed the vehicle shown above parked within a stone’s throw away from the Panorama Tower site.  What I immediately found odd is the absence of the word “tower” from the vehicular advertisement.  On the driver side, it states, “Brickell’s Loftiest Address is Coming Soon – Panorama” while on the backside of the vehicle it reads, “Look What’s Coming – Panorama”.  Perhaps Tibor has decided to make a last-minute change to the development name.  Either that or he couldn’t find a big enough vehicle to fit the name in its entirety.  If completed, Panorama is expected to be the tallest building in Miami.

First Look at the Newly Opened myBrickell

mybrickell-condos-1

Closings have officially begun at myBrickell.  I was able to tour the building earlier today with a client who closed this afternoon on a 2 bedroom unit.  For those who aren’t aware, myBrickell is the first newly built condo development in Brickell to begin closings since the condo boom and bust of yesteryear.  In a way, it represents the strength and resilience of the Miami condo market over the past five years.  MyBrickell, located at 31 SE 6 Street, is directly across the street from Brickell on the River South and immediately west of 500 Brickell.

Included in this blog post are a number of pictures I took this afternoon while touring the property.  Unfortunately, it was raining outside, so I wasn’t able to snap a good picture of the rooftop pool.  I am sure I will have more opportunities in the weeks ahead.

myBrickell kitchen

myBrickell living room

myBrickell view

master bedroom

master bedroom closet

myBrickell master bathroom

second bedroom

second bedroom

second bathroom

stackable washer and dryer

myBrickell fitness center

myBrickell fitness center

cardio

myBrickell rooftop pool

model unit at myBrickell

Please contact me if you have an interest in renting a 1 or 2 bedroom condo at myBrickell.  Within the next week, I will have a listing for each.

Change is on the Horizon for Guests and Residents of Marquis Residences

Marquis hotel acquisition announcement letter

A few weeks ago, it was reported that Africa-Israel USA, the developer of Marquis, had sold the lower 15 floors of the luxury high-rise to CGI Merchant Group (CGI), a Miami-based investment and asset management firm, for $37.5M.  The sale included the Casa Moderna Hotel and Spa, Amuse Restaurant and Lounge, 5,700 square foot retail space, parking garage, and the 14 townhomes that are situated around the pool.

Above, you will find the official notice from the Marquis Condominium Association advising building residents of CGI’s acquisition.  It states:

The Miami Marquis Condominium Association and KW Property Management is proud to announce the sale of the hotel portion of the Marquis Residences. 

CGI Merchant Group, a Miami-based investment and asset management firm, has acquired the lower 15 floors of the Marquis tower including the first floor “gallery” space, parking garage, spa and 14 townhomes.

CGI is planning to transform and re-brand the hotel, joining in partnership with an internationally renowned, 5 star hotelier, soon to be announced.

Plans call for extensive renovation and upgrades to include converting the townhomes into full-floor hotel suites as well as major improvements to the pool deck and gym amenities.  Hotel renovations will include additional luxurious suites and a vibrant new restaurant and event space.

An elegant entrance to the front of the property accommodating the hotel and “gallery” space directly off Biscayne Blvd. will also be included as part of the upgrade.

The Marquis Condominium Board has worked diligently alongside CGI to support the sale while strengthening the relationship by negotiating to have a Condo Board Member represent condo owners at the master level.  This opportunity provides direct feedback from the membership while promoting transparency for all parties involved.

The Marquis Condominium Association welcomes the long overdue improvements and amenity upgrades and looks forward to a long-term partnership with the CGI Merchant Group.

More information will be announced within the next couple of weeks.  CGI is planning a “Meet and Greet” to detail the improvements and answer questions from the residents.

Regards,

Marquis Condominium Association

My guess is that one of the first questions asked by residents during CGI’s upcoming “Meet and Greet” will pertain to valet parking.  Currently, valet parking is free for resident guests.  Will the transition to new ownership mean an end to this long-time practice?  Also, how long will it take for improvements to be completed?  Sounds like the pool and gym may be closed for a long period of time.

I hate to ruin surprises, but “rumor” has it that the hotel will be operated by “Me by Meliá”, which is a luxury hotel brand of Meliá Hotels International with its roots in Spain.  I have also heard that The Darby, a popular restaurant and lounge from New York City, will open its first Miami location at Marquis.

On a side note, I was told earlier today that moving forward only owners will be permitted to have a pet at Marquis Residences.  Sorry renters, but you are out of luck…once again!

Best Deal in Brickell! Fully Furnished 1 Bedroom Penthouse on the 44th Floor – $310,000

Latitude on the River unit 4408

Update: Price has been reduced to $310,000.  Includes furniture.

Earlier today, I got another new listing signed.  This time a beautifully furnished 1 bedroom penthouse with 12-foot ceilings and ceramic tiled floors throughout.  The 783 square foot condo is located on the 44th floor of Latitude on the River and offers amazing views of Biscayne Bay and the Brickell skyline to the south.  The unit comes with one assigned parking space located on the 6th floor of the parking garage. That is extremely rare since almost all 1 bedroom units in the building come with one valet-only space.  The kitchen comes equipped with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and white Italian cabinetry.  The unit includes a large walk-in closet in the bedroom along with a second spacious closet in the hallway.  It is important to note that this unit completely clears the Latitude One office building situated just in front of Latitude on the River.  Most of the south facing units do not.

Latitude on the River 4408

Latitude on the River is located at 185 SW 7 St, just two short blocks away from the upcoming mixed-use development called Brickell City Centre.  The nine acre development will include an array of luxury shops and restaurants as well as a number of entertainment options.  Phase one completion of the one billion dollar development is scheduled for next year.

The maintenance fee for this condo is $554.39 per month.  Based on recent rental comparables, this furnished unit should easily rent for $2,000 per month on an annual basis.  Renting the unit on a short-term basis would also be an option since Latitude on the River allows rentals with a 3 month minimum.  Latitude is also a pet friendly building permitting up to 2 dogs with a maximum weight limit of 70 pounds.

Additional pictures of the penthouse, along with the floor plan and pictures of the building amenities, can be found in the slideshow below.  Please contact me if you or someone you know has an interest in scheduling an appointment to view this beautiful condo in person.  I am also available to answer any questions you may have.  I can be reached via email at [email protected] or on my cell at 786-247-6332.

Latitude on the River unit 4408 from Lucas Lechuga

New Renderings Released for Nine at Mary Brickell Village

Nine at Mary Brickell Village kitchen rendering

Two new renderings for Nine at Mary Brickell Village were released earlier today: one of the kitchen (shown above) and one of the bathroom (shown below).  One key difference between Nine at Mary Brickell Village and most other preconstruction condo developments in Miami is that each unit at Nine at Mary Brickell Village will be delivered move-in ready.  Units will come with imported porcelain tile flooring in a wood grain finish, as shown in the rendering above, and solar window shades.  The kitchens will feature white lacquer European-cabinetry and quartz countertops with full-height backsplashes.  Also found in the kitchens will be high-performance, ENERGY STAR stainless steel appliances such as a 25 cubic foot side-by-side refrigerator and drop-in oven with glass cook-top. It is important to note, however, that not all units at Nine at Mary Brickell Village will include an island kitchen as shown in the rendering above.

The bathrooms at Nine at Mary Brickell Village will feature quartz countertops with under-mount sinks, chrome-finish hardware, over-sized deep-soaking tubs and/or semi-frameless glass-enclosed showers with soothing rainfall showerheads.

Completion is estimated for Summer 2014.

Nine at Mary Brickell Village bathroom rendering

 

Skyrise Miami Video and Brochure

Skyrise Miami

All appears to be moving forward with the proposed 1000 feet tall observation tower in Downtown Miami called SkyRise Miami.  In fact, the Facebook page for the development is giving away a weekend trip to Miami to help “celebrate the SkyRise Miami Groundbreaking Ceremony, currently set for mid-2014”.  Furthermore, their website, which recently launched, now includes a promotional video and brochure, which I have included below.  According to their marketing materials, the targeted opening date for SkyRise Miami is mid-2017.  The development is projected to cost $400M and will add approximately 7,100 jobs during the development phase and an additional 17,000 jobs once opened.  SkyRise Miami will include three observation decks, a restaurant, nightclub, SkyHigh Club, ballroom, meeting room, and interactive exhibit.  It will also include three thrill rides: SkyRise Flying Theatre, SkyPlunge Miami, and SkyRise Drop.  Be prepared to lose your lunch on those last two rides. SkyRise Miami is expected to attract 3.2 million visitors per year, which would make it the fifth largest attraction in Florida behind Disney World, Universal Orlando, Seaworld, and Busch Gardens.  If you aren’t excited about SkyRise Miami, you better check your pulse.  It is going to send Miami to heights unknown, literally and figuratively.

SkyRise Miami facts

 

Filling Stations Lofts to Open Q1 2014

Filling Station Lofts Miami

The opening of Filling Station Lofts is right around the corner.  I was told earlier today that the building is expected to open as early as February, but a March opening is more likely.  Filling Station Lofts, located catty-corner from Parc Lofts at 1650 North Miami Avenue, was originally developed by The Intrepid Real Estate Company and designed by Bermello, Ajamil & Partners.  After the successful sell-out of Parc Lofts, Intrepid hoped to ride the wave with its follow-up launch of Filling Station Lofts.  Unit prices ranged from $300,000 to $2.7M.  Development began in 2006 but construction was later stalled as a result of the global financial crisis.  Intrepid eventually lost the site and partially completed building to foreclosure in January 2012.  A little over a year later, in February 2013, the site and partially completed building were acquired by an investment company by the name of NR Investments.  Since that time, with $15.5M in financing under their belt, NR Investments has been busy completing the once stalled project.

Under new ownership, however, plans for Filling Station Lofts have changed.  Units will no longer be sold individually.  Instead, the owners will lease the units and maintain the building as an all-rental development.  I expect there to be great interest from prospective tenants to rent at Filling Station Lofts due to the uniqueness of the property.  Besides Parc Lofts and Wynwood Lofts, you will not find another true industrial loft development in Miami.  The fact that not one single unit is available for rent at Parc Lofts or Wynwood Lofts should serve as evidence that there is pent up demand for this type of product.  As mentioned in a previous blog post, there is currently a waiting list to rent at Parc Lofts.

Filling Station Lofts will be comprised of 81 industrial lofts each with 18-foot ceilings.  No word yet on what rental prices will be but expect them to be released sometime in January.