1.3 Million Square Foot Development is in the Works for Aventura
In Aventura, developer Dan Kodsi is planning to build a large mixed-use building featuring residences, offices, and high-end residential shopping. Kodsi’s company paid $39.1 million for 9.6 acres on the northwest corner of Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast 213th Street that they plan on building this mixed-use property.
Not only is this site being used for this massive mixed-use project but other lots in the area are currently under contract. These lots include 10 acres surrounding the development site.
Kodsi hasn’t named partners in the project or for the additional sites but stated that the project would cost over $500 million. According to Kodsi, the total site now consists of land and tiny residential structures that Aventura-based Rieber Developments successfully rezoned to allow for 1.3 million square feet of mixed-use development.
Aventura commissioners approved the zoning amendment in June 2021, permitting a 693-unit high-rise residential building; a 120-key hotel; 67,743 square feet of workplaces; 161,270 square feet of retail; and a 120-bed assisted-living facility.
Kodsi has yet to determine whether he would adhere to these guidelines or revise the development plans. According to him, the basic concept is for multifamily, offices, some of which will be used for medical purposes, and high street retail, which will serve as an alternative to the neighboring Aventura Mall.
The retail side of this development will be similar to the Miami Worldcenter but not as large. Kodsi constructed the Paramount Miami Worldcenter and is now building the Legacy Hotel & Residences at Miami Worldcenter.
Mast Capital Unveils Plans for a 3 Tower Development in Brickell: Cipriani Residences Miami
Another development has just been announced and this one is massive. Coming in at 2.6 million square feet, plans for this 3 tower development in Brickell have been revealed: Cipriani Residences Miami. Developer, Mast Capital paid $103 million mark this transaction as one of the largest in Miami-Dade in 2021.
Mast Capital’s proposal for the site involves a master-planned development that will comprise of 400-unit condominium tower and two more high-rises totaling 850 premium apartment rentals, created in collaboration with Rockpoint Group.
The property located at 1420 S. Miami Ave, has been inactive for over 15 years following two failed development initiatives. This property is one of the last remaining raw pieces of land accessible in the vicinity to undertake a project of this magnitude.
Development Information:
One 80 story condo tower
Two multifamily towers (one at 50 stories and one at 60 stories)
1,250 residential units
400 condo units
850 rentals
1,650 parking spaces
Ground floor retail
For this specific project, Mast Capital has partnered with a private real estate equity firm, Rockpoint, which will be responsible for the multifamily component. Mast Capital will be utilizing MSD and CanAm for financing. Arquitectonica will be the architect for the proposed tower.
The developer is expecting a sellout of approximately $1 billion. The groundbreaking is anticipated for the end of 2022 with a top-off date in 2025.
Most Romantic and Unique Miami Restaurants to Book this Valentines Day
With Valentine’s Day falling on a Monday this year, you’re probably trying to decide what day to celebrate this year’s romantic occasion. While we can’t help you choose the day, we can help with dinner!
This year we have compiled some of the most unique and romantic restaurants that we love and that we think you’ll love too.
Sexy Fish
Sexy Fish’s menu is a work of art, featuring classics influenced by Asia and Japan. Bjoern Weissgerber, the Chef Director, has produced delectable dishes such as Duck Salad, Smoked Tuna Belly, Black Cod, King Crab, Bone Marrow, and crispy Eringi Mushroom. Don’t miss the Sexy Gold Fish or Crispy Caviar with gold-flake sea bass marinade. There is also a large wine and champagne selection, as well as unique cocktails such as Chocolate and Wine, Yuzu, and Elderflower.
Sexy Fish, designed by SeaVisions, exudes an aquatic ambiance with a big-lit fish tank that spans the wall of the private dining room and serves as the restaurant’s focus. Throughout, you’ll find stunning artwork by Damien Hirst as well as 26 bespoke fish lights designed by Frank Gehry. Click here to make reservations or browse the menu.
ZZ’s Sushi Bar
ZZ’s Sushi Bar menu includes classic tuna and salmon selections, as well as unique salads and Wagyu meat. ZZ’s also has the greatest assortment of Wagyu beef in the country. Don’t miss out on one of their most well-known specialty dishes, the Caviar Temaki.
The first level is bursting at the seams with bentwood banquettes, sculptural, handpainted finishes, and animal print rugs. Every surface is adorned with antique furniture and brass lights. The terrace is dubbed a “tiki bar on acid,” with wicker furniture and banana prints complementing the futuristic building.
Although ZZ’s is advertised as a member-only restaurant, there is an optional invite-only membership available, so as long as you can secure a reservation, you may enjoy all of the amenities that a member does! Click here to make reservations or browse the menu.
Carbone
Carbone has become a South Beach neighborhood mainstay in such a short time, thanks to its exceptional food, retro-style French décor, and landmark location. Raw-bar platters with stone crab claws, crab knuckle sandwiches, spicy rigatoni, or veal parmigiana are some of our favorite menu items.
The sumptuous Ken Fulk design, as well as the Captains dressed in Zac Posen tuxedos, guide clients through menu selections, and salads are produced tableside for the entire Carbone experience. The atmosphere continues with intimate tables, low lighting, and classic French and Italian music playing. Did we forget to say it’s Michelin-stared? To make a reservation or to browse the menu, click here.
Elcielo
Located in Brickell, Elcielo features modern yet classic Colombian dishes. Chef Juan Manual Barrientos uses an avant-garde approach to cooking the signature Latin dishes. Barrientos utilizes small and medium plates that feature avocado tempura, Colombian Arepas, Tuna Tartare, and Yuca Gnocchi.
The delectable food is served with breathtaking river views and stylish décor enhanced with flora, leather, and wood. Private dining experiences for couples or groups are provided in VIP lounges. The Experience menu will have more than 22 moments.
The Waterfront Terrace is great for special occasions and gatherings. Enjoy our a la carte food and beverages while listening to upbeat music, surrounded by palm trees and flora, the breeze, and river views. Check out the menu or make a reservation here.
Cote Miami
Executive Chef David Shim, a native of Seoul, South Korea, is responsible for the one-of-a-kind masterpieces at Cote Miami. Shim acquired expertise and recognition in New York City at Gramercy Tavern, Veritas, and L’Atelier de Jol Robuchon. Chef Shim’s specialty dishes include 45-day USDA dry-aged beef, delectable side dishes, stunning slices of Korean beef, and a Steak OmakaseTM experience. Other menu items include East/West Coast Oysters, Maine Lobster, caviar service, steak tartare, and Korean bacon.
COTE Miami has a 100-seat dining room with interactive smokeless state-of-the-art tabletop grills at each dining table, a dry-aging room, and two private dining rooms. The setting is intimate and pleasant, and the meals are incredibly innovative and awe-inspiring! Click here for their full menu or to make reservations.
Expansive Mixed Use Tower Planned for Downtown Miami
Miami-Dade planners are working hard on reviewing the pre-application for a large mixed-use project in Downtown Miami.
The property located at 1370 NE 2nd Ave is within the Metromover Subzone of the Rapid Transit Zone District. Within this zoning district, some rules apply which includes up to 1,535 units permitted as well as the 40% glazing requirements.
The tower is anticipated to rise 649 feet tall at 43 stories. Passing the district rules, the tower is proposed to have 1,441 residential units.
The tower will be designed by Rafael Viñoly architects but the city planners are asking for clarification on some of the design elements throughout the project.
The county has stated that the awnings, balconies, and weather protection elements need to be at least six inches from the curb face but the plans appear to encroach on the curb face. Specifically the parking garage for levels 2 through 12 are encroaching.
The open space and landscaping code also needs clarification.
Amenities for the tower will spread over 5 stories and include a state-of-the-art-gym, pool, office elements, and more.
There will be offices dedicated to the auditorium for the Miami-Dade County School Board which will spread over 100,000 square feet. Offices for Crescent Heights will also utilize 19,673 square feet of space.
The plans also show that there will be 9 levels of parking and an expansive ground floor designated for commercial space.
There are currently no scheduled dates to review revised plans but if approved, the ground breaking would begin in 2023.
The South Beach Jazz Festival is Back for Another Year
The South Beach Jazz Festival is back for another year and we can’t be more excited! Scheduled for this weekend you can find some of the top jazz performers at venues throughout Miami Beach.
The show is set for January 7-9, 2022, and was designed to showcase the musical abilities of people with disabilities. According to the new President of Power Access, the non-profit organization that hosts the festival, “It is in our mission to provide opportunities for musicians with disabilities and so at least one musician in each group does have a disability,” states R. David New.
New himself became blind, deaf, and partially paralyzed due to a rare disease but later regained his ability to hear and walk. With his personal experiences, this festival is very close to him and he is happy to be able to continue the tradition for 2022.
The pre-festival show will take place at the Faena Theater on Thursday, Jan. 6th. The performers will include pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and singer Aymee Nuviola. Their recent 2020 album was nominated for a Grammy Award in the “Best Latin Jazz” category. The album is a tribute to their mothers as well as their home, Havana.
The opening act on Friday, January 7th is Grammy Award-winning Blind Boys of Alabama. Also performing is New Orleans saxophonist Donald Harrison and drummer Art Blakey’s famed Jazz Messengers. Also in attendance will be the University of Miami Jazz Quintet with Kaleen Barton.
The opening pre-festival and the Friday shows will be a ticketed event while the other shows are free.
As for COVID protocols, all performances are expected to be outside except the pre-festival show. According to R. David New, “We are taking every precaution possible to make our event safe and enjoyable for the entire community.” Social distancing and masks will be encouraged. To see a full list of performers as well as their locations, click here.
Wynwood’s First Mixed-Use Project with Over 1M Square Feet
L&L Holding Co. and Carpe Real Estate Partners are partnering for one of the largest mixed-use projects to rise in Wynwood. Working with the City of Miami Planning Department, the approval process is officially in the final stages.
Dubbed the name, The Wynwood Plaza, formerly 29N, will be sited on 95 NW 29th Street in the heart of Wynwood. The plan was originally brought in from Miami’s Urban Development Review Board in October where it was recommended for denial. The development team didn’t take no for an answer and continued to work on the board’s concerns over the project.
The concerns of the project included massing along 30th Street and the cross-block passage car access along NW 29th Street. The one-way vehicle passage was refined with a small footprint. One of the mitigations included the midblock access point would be limited to visitor cars managed by the valet.
The project, designed by Gensler, would feature two towers, one 12 and one 8 stories with 509 apartments. There would also be 266,000 square feet of offices, 32,000 square feet of commercial/retail spaces, 688 parking spaces, and 954 bike spaces.
The design itself will incorporate indoor and outdoor spaces that will benefit not only the residents but also the surrounding neighborhood. This design will include 25,000 square feet of a public plaza on the ground floor.
The groundbreaking for the project is scheduled for early this year with an anticipated completion date in 2024.
The Real Wolf of Wall Street Now Calls Miami Home
We can’t stress enough how hot Miami is right now! And we aren’t talking about the temperature. Notables, celebrities, and execs are moving to Magic City daily and another one just joined the ranks. Recently announced that the real ‘Wolf of Wall Street,’ Jordan Belfort is Miami’s newest resident.
Recently, Belfort eloped in Las Vegas with model and now wife, Cristina Invernizzi. Invernizzi is originally from Argentina and is listed as Belfort’s third wife. Belfort and Invernizzi are moving from Las Vegas.
So who is Jordan Belfort? You may have seen the 2013 The Wolf of Wall Street movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio portraying Jordan Belfort. But to dive deeper, Belfort was a former stockbroker who pleaded guilty to multiple crimes related to stock market manipulation and the running of a long-term scam involving penny stocks sending him to prison.
Belfort grew up in Queens, New York where he began selling at a young age. His friend any him would sell Italian water ice desserts out of inexpensive styrofoam coolers at a beach during the summer months where they would earn around $20,000 every summer. Belfort later went to American University where he studied biology and later went to dental school for a short period. In the 1980s Belfort founded Stratton Oakmont, an over-the-counter brokerage house and financial firm that did remarkably well until he was later caught.
Since his sentencing and prison sentence, Belfort has profited off of 2 memoirs that discuss his life during the Stratton Oakmont era, as well as a self-help book on persuasion and influence.
More recently, Belfort has been participating and becoming fully engulfed in the Miami scene. During Art Basel week, he released his very first NFT. The NFT portrays Belfort partying on a yacht surrounded by models, helicopters, and helicopters flying overhead. One of the fascinating depictions includes the yacht being surrounded by FBI agents. David Yarrow is the photographer for the piece.
Another announcement includes Belfort’s announcement for his very own tequila coming to a shelf near you, Mezcel Santo Inferno. We can’t wait to see what else The Wolf has in store for Miami!
Top Tech Giants That Made the Move to Miami in 2021
A slew of new technology executives and investors have relocated or acquired houses in Miami during 2021. This is of no surprise with the growing tech industry, cryptocurrency evolution, and just better benefits/housing opportunities for companies/execs emerging in the Miami area.
Here are the top 10 big tech execs that have made their way to Miami in 2021:
Co-founder of Paypal, Peter Thiel recently purchased 2 Miami mansions for a total of $18 million in Miami Beach. Thiel is also the co-founder of Founders Fund who recently leased office space in Wynwood.
General partner for Bling Capital, Benjamin Ling purchased a mansion on Palm Island for $28 million.
CEO of Goody, Edward Lando purchased a $15.1 million mansion on the Venetian Islands. Not only did he purchase on the Venetian Islands but he did purchase a Miami Beach home in April for $3.3 million.
CEO of PKWARE, Spencer Kupferman purchased a waterfront mansion in Bay Harbor Islands for $12.75 million in September.
Former CEO of Paypal, Bill Harris relocated to Wynwood where he launched Nirvana Technology in 2021.
CEO of SeedInvest, Ryan Feit moved to Miami shortly after he opened an office for this company in Miami.
Co-Founder of Oracle, Larry Ellison bought a mansion in North Palm Beach after Oracle downsized and relocated to South Florida.
CEO of Teal, David Fano moved his corporate headquarters from New York to Miami in February 2021.
Co-Founder of Spectrum Labs, Justin Davis moved to South Florida after Spectrum’s headquarters moved from San Francisco to Miami even though they are still allowing their company’s employees to work remotely.
TechCrunch Founder, Jack Arrington purchased a home in Coral Gables for $16 million in the Old Cutler Bay neighborhood.
Miami is not only the ideal location for techies but for the Month of November, Miami was considered one of the most popular U.S. destinations to relocate to. This is the fourth month in a row that Miami is leading the nation and you can bet, that it will continue to be the go-to city.
Melo Group Purchases Entire City Block in Edgewater to Build a Four Tower Development
Melo Group has recently purchased an entire 3.04-acre city block for $105 million in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood with the intention of establishing a huge development.
The entire block extends from Biscayne Boulevard to Northeast Second Avenue between Northeast 17th Street and Northeast 17th Terrace with the primary address as 1700 Biscayne Blvd.
The sellers of the land are Biscayne Arts LLC, Biscayne Arts Plaza LLC, Brickell North Investments, and Miami Proarts II but the press release stated that the land is managed by James Goldstein in Fort Lauderdale. They have owned the property for decades and the current block features 2 office buildings, parking lots, and a Burger King.
The Melo Group plans to develop four 60 story towers with condos, apartments, and retail space with the condo units totaling 1,520 residential units. The property was purchased for $105 million at $69,000 per buildable unit.
According to a representative of the Melo Group, “the Biscayne Place sale marks the highest price per square foot for any non-waterfront property in Miami’s Arts & Entertainment District and the second-highest in Edgewater.”
The Melo Group has built more than 6,000 condos in the city throughout the last 20 years with a majority of its projects located in Edgewater as well as the Arts & Entertainment District. If this property moves forward, this will be the largest development that the Melo Group has built in Miami.
