Developers for Lofty Brickell Acquire $170 Million Construction Loan

Lofty Brickell from the Miami River
Lofty Brickell from the Miami River

Newgard Development Group, the Miami-based real estate company led by Harvey Hernandez, recently acquired a $170 million construction loan for Lofty Brickell.

Lofty Brickell is a 44-story apartment tower that is a component of a three-building and marina project proposed by the Coconut Grove-based 3650 REIT. The 1.6-acre construction site located at 99 Southwest Seventh Street on the Miami River.

According to the press release, Lofty Brickell will contain a private marina, a members-only social club, and an NFT art collection for unit owners.

Similar to its sister tower, Gale Miami (which sold out less in less than a year) Lofty will feature 380 units of fully finished and furnished interiors that will be available for rent nightly, daily, and/or monthly. Residents will have the option of self-managing their units (VRBO or Airbnb) or using Lofty’s onsite management. 

Rising 44 stories, Lofty will feature studio, 1, and 2 bedroom floor plans with 485 to 930 square feet options. Pricing starts at $493k for a studio. There will also be available penthouses but the information hasn’t been released as of now.

Designed by internationally acclaimed Arquitectonica, interiors will be designed by a New York-based interior design company, Inc. New York. Developer Harvey Hernandez is also responsible for Brickell House and Centro towers. Hernandez purchased the Lofty lot for $50 million

Lofty will feature a number of wonderful amenities including a butler service, rooftop pool, car service, and a 5-star restaurant that hasn’t been disclosed. This tower will also include a private marina with available docks for boating.

Building Amenities

  • Exotic resort pool with pool-side cabanas
  • Bar and grill on pool deck 24/7
  • Co-working lounge Private meeting rooms
  • Event room with exclusive terrace
  • A fully-equipped, state-of-the-art fitness center with HD TVs and wireless audio Private Peloton studios Yoga lounge and terrace
  • LOFTY Rooftop Experience

Residence Features

  • Urban luxury residences with modern open layouts from 485SF—930SF Studio, one and two-bedroom units
  • All residences are delivered fully finished and furnished specially curated by INC
  • Panoramic Miami River, and Miami skyline views
  • Private balconies for every residence
  • Corner units offer wrap-around balconies
  • High ceilings ranging from 9’ to 11’
  • Owner closets in every residence
  • Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and sound attenuating impact-resistant laminated glass throughout
  • Advanced technology Smart Building wiring for HD TV,
  • Multiple telephone /data lines and ultra-high-speed internet access
  • Individually controlled energy-efficient central air conditioning and heating system

Kitchen

  • Imported European cabinets with premium hardware and drawer pulls
  • Top of the line appliance package including stainless steel refrigerator, oven, cook-top, microwave, dishwasher and sink disposal
  • Elegant imported stone countertops and backsplashes
  • Contemporary stainless steel under-mounted sink
  • High-arc gourmet faucet with integral sprayer

Master Bathroom

  • Imported European cabinets with premium hardware and drawer pulls
  • Elegant imported stone countertops and backsplashes
  • Custom-finished floors and walls in wet areas
  • Frameless glass shower enclosures Spacious, extra-depth soaking tubs
  • Premium European-style fixtures and accessories

Eighty percent of the tower’s units are under contract and Newgard anticipates starting construction in the fourth quarter of this year. When Newgard paid $50.5 million for the Brickell-area property in September, 3650 REIT also gave the developer a $55 million acquisition loan. The new construction loan was obtained by Lotus Capital Partners under the direction of Faisal Ashraf.

If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at Lofty Brickell, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at 786-247-6332.

Location Ventures Proposes a 16 Story Condo Tower in Coral Gables

Location Ventures Proposes New Tower in Coral Gables
Location Ventures Proposes New Tower in Coral Gables

Coral Gables’ continued growth is being hinted at by Rishi Kapoor’s, Location Ventures’ proposal for a 16-story condominium. According to documents submitted to Coral Gables, Location Ventures plans to construct an 87 condo tower on a 1.6-acre plot at 1505 Ponce De Leon Boulevard, as well as at 122 and 126 Menores Avenue.

According to the minutes of the June meeting of the Coral Gables Planning & Zoning Board, the developer has a contract with the seller, who is a partner of Tibor Hollo’s Florida East Coast Realty, to purchase the land.

At its meeting on Tuesday, the municipal commission is anticipated to vote on the request. In the event that the proposal is authorized, commissioners will vote on it a second time at the next meeting.

According to documents, Coral Gables-based Location Ventures intends for seven of the units to be live-work condos on the lower levels of the structure and the other 80 would be located on the upper levels. A 319-car garage, 10,500 square feet of retail space, 20,144 square feet of open space, and a public dog park would also be included in the project.

According to property records, the site is mostly empty save from a two-story, eight-unit apartment structure. According to the minutes of the planning & zoning board meeting, the historic structure, built in 1925, will be maintained and integrated into the project, maybe as retail space.

The finished 13-story, 39-unit Villa Valencia condominium at 515 Valencia Avenue is one of the company’s developments in Coral Gables. In 2018, Location Ventures had invested $16 million in the property.

The business spent $20 million buying a pair of commercial structures in Miami Beach at 1260 and 1234 Washington Avenue last year. Under Location Ventures’ Urban co-living brand, the 1260 Washington Avenue property will be refurbished, while the 1234 Washington Avenue building will be rehabilitated.

Okan Group Officially Breaks Ground on 70 Story Okan Tower

Okan Tower Rendering
Okan Tower Groundbreaking 2022

On Friday, June 17, the community along with Miami notables gathered to witness the groundbreaking for Okan Tower, a new Downtown Miami megaplex with residences centered by a Hilton Hotel. The tulip-inspired design of Okan Tower, the largest Turkish investment in the United States, is a nod to the nation’s national flower.

This project will be Okan Group’s first development in the United States. Located at 555 North Miami Avenue, the 70-story Okan Tower, which will stand 902 feet tall, would rank among Miami’s highest structures. The tower has 64,000 square feet of “Class A” office space, 236 Short-Term Rental Residences powered by Hilton Hotels & Resorts, 163 Sky Residences with special owners-only facilities, and a 316-key Hilton Miami Bayfront Hotel with a full suite of amenities and entertainment spaces, etc.

The Okan Tower was created by the eminent architecture company Behar Font & Partners, whose stunning façade curves were influenced by the tulip, the Turkish flag flower.

The Okan Group manages a large portfolio of renowned mixed-use projects that have given the company a worldwide reputation in the construction, banking, textile, production, and tourism industries, among others.

Mayor of Miami Francis Suarez, former Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildrim, Turkish Ambassador to the United States Murat Mercan, Turkish Consulate of Miami Feyza Barutcu Altug, former Turkish Consul of Miami Burc Ceylan, Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales, Commissioner Ken Russell, and Fortune International CEO Edgardo Defortuna were among the dignitaries present for the groundbreaking

Amenities:

  • 24-hour reception and concierge
  • 70th-floor rooftop pool and sky deck with private cabanas
  • 12th-floor lap pool with clubroom and lounges
  • State-of-the-art health and fitness center with yoga studio, Peloton bikes, and fitness MIRROR.
  • Sauna, steam, and treatment rooms
  • Children’s sensory and playroom
  • Theater
  • Wine cellar
  • Owner’s lounge

The completion date for Okan Tower is set to be complete in 2026. If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at Okan Tower, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at (786)247-6332.

Okan Tower Rendering

New Development Revealed- Surf Row Residences

Surf Row Residences Ground View
Surf Row Residences Ground View

Surf Row Residences, a new ultra-luxury residential property located at 8800 Collins Avenue in Surfside, is being developed by Lineaire Group, Miami-based real estate development, and investment firm.

Featuring a collection of eight private beach homes designed by award-winning firm Rene Gonzalez Architects (RGA), the development offers refined interiors, the utmost privacy, and unparalleled indoor-outdoor living adjacent to the beach. Only a few residences have been released and sales are currently by invitation only.

Through the careful use of skylights, layered glass, and double-height ceilings, each villa emphasizes the indoor-outdoor link. Three- to five-bedroom residences with 3,500-5,600 square feet of internal space are available. Each residence will feature almost 2,000 square feet of private outdoor living space, including a rooftop with a plunge pool, a summer kitchen, and a large gazebo. Each property will also include a private garage and a front yard that is enclosed. Prices start at around $5 million for a single-family home.

“Surf Row Residences provides buyers with an incredible opportunity to own a one-of-a-kind, exclusive villa, that lives like a single-family home given the sprawling layouts and private outdoor space,” said Alejandro Bonet, Partner at Linéaire Group. “Today’s buyers are seeking a blend of suburban space without sacrificing location, and we believe this development offers an exciting sense of both community and privacy that meets those demands.”

The 0.65-acre development property is located between Collins Avenue and Harding Avenue on 88th Street’s northern frontage. The property was purchased from the previous owner for $7.3 million by an associate of Lineaire Group in August 2021.

The plot of land is listed as 8809 Harding Avenue in property records, but the change to a Collins Avenue address is thought much more acceptable for marketing purposes.

Residence Features

  • European kitchen with custom-designed wood cabinetry, imported marble countertops, and professional-grade appliances 
  • Large format coral stone flooring with natural wood inlay designs 
  • Floating staircases made with cantilevered solid wood slabs & glass panel railings 
  • Spa-inspired master bathroom furnished with a luxurious rain shower, oversized freestanding tub, and finished with imported fluted marble walls 
  • Skylights flood the interior with natural light via a central light shaft spanning all levels
  • Rooftop with summer kitchen and plunge pool 
  • Two-car indoor garages, plus one open-air parking space 
  • Latest smart home automation by Savant 
  • Top-of-the-line security system with exterior surveillance cameras
  • Private elevator 
  • Service/laundry room Upgrades
  • Kosher kitchen
  • Elevator lift for additional parking 
  • Interior surveillance package

The project is expected to begin construction in the spring of 2023 and with a completion date in 2024.

Surf Row Residences Rooftop View

Cavalli Tower Proposed at Champlain Tower South Site

DAMAC Properties Buys Surfside Site
DAMAC Properties Buys Surfside Site

DAMAC Properties recently announced that it has officially received approval to purchase land in the Surfside neighborhood of Miami in a $120 million deal. This land is none other than the site where the Champlain Tower South deadly collapse occurred just last year. DAMAC Properties intends on building a luxury branded tower on the site, Cavalli.

The site itself is located at 8777 Collins Ave Surfside featuring 1.8 acres and was sold to DAMAC through a court process and without any other competing bids on the property.

Prior to DAMAC taking an interest in the site, it was listed for $95.6 million. Sajwani offered the $120 million with the stipulation that he would obtain possession by the spring of 2022. One of the other stipulations was that Sajwani had to pay a $16 million deposit to make the contract valid.

Hussain Sajwani, Founder and Chairman of DAMAC Properties stated, “DAMAC Properties has long been eyeing development opportunities in Miami. We see the city, which is known for being a luxury and fashion centre, as a natural fit for our Company, which has an established reputation for its branded luxury offerings.”

While this is Sajwani’s first United States development, he has an extensive portfolio with establishments of his company in global cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Baghdad, and London. Sajwani has heavily invested in luxury fashion, real estate, hospitality, and manufacturing.

According to Sajwani, “Our global expansion into the United States marks a major milestone and demonstrates that DAMAC is a force to be reckoned with. This is an exciting time, and we have a lot in store.”

Surfside has been a hub for ultra-luxury condominium constructions in recent years, including the Four Seasons Private Residences, Fendi Chateau Residences, and Arte Surfside towers.

Two Roads Development Buys $150 Million Edgewater Site for a 3 Tower Project

Two Roads Development Proposes 3 Tower Development in Edgewater
Two Roads Development Proposes 3 Tower Development in Edgewater

Two Roads Development recently purchased a $150 million development site in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood, with the intent to build a 3-tower luxury condominium complex.

With the purchase of Biscayne 21, a 1960s-era condo with 191 units, Two Roads obtained the 3.5-acre beachfront lot located at 2121 North Bayshore Drive for $150 million.

Arquitectonica’s Bernardo Fort-Brescia will design the tower, which will contain branded apartments and luxury condo units.

Three Roads Development plans to build the 3 towers rising 60 stories tall or about 649 feet tall with up to 750 residential units and apartments.

The sellers which include 176 unit owners, were represented by an Avison Young team led by John Crotty and Michael Fay. More than two years ago, the unit owners came together and hired Avison Young to offer their property in bulk to Two Roads Development.

According to the Avison Young team, the unit owners were able “to negotiate for a multiple of more than three times what the sellers would have sold their individual units for on a one-off basis.”

Two Roads is a West Palm Beach and Miami-based developer that is known for its other towers including Elysee and Biscayne Beach.

First Rendering Revealed of New Supertall Tower by Major Food Group-Major Residences

Rendering for Major Residences Brickell
Rendering for Major Residences Brickell

JDS Development Group has partnered with Major Food Group to build one of the tallest residential towers in Brickell. Today, the developer has released the first official rendering along with some construction updates.

The project (now renamed 888 Brickell by Dolce & Gabbana) will be located at 888 Brickell Avenue with 259 branded units. Rising 82 stories or 1,049 feet tall and just over 1 million square feet in, this will be Major Food Groups’ first residential project.

Studio Sofield is the architect designing the tower, lobby, and units. Ken Fulk Inc. will be responsible for the club, food, and beverage spaces.

With Major Food Group expansion in South Florida with Carbone, ZZ’s, and many more, you can expect to have 2 to 3 Major Food Group restaurants and bars.

Major Food Group has more than 30 restaurants, clubs, and hotels in the United States and overseas. This project is currently being reviewed by Miami-Dade planners for approval.

There are currently 8 supertall towers planned for Miami including:

Construction Update for Una Residences

Una Residences Miami
Una Residences Miami

Construction at one of the newest Brickell towers, Una Residences Miami has gone vertical. Recently, a tower crane was seen being installed to begin the actual construction of the tower.

Since the project began construction in 2022, the developers began with one of the most extensive projects of the construction, the underground parking garage. At 100,000 square feet, the garage is considered one of the most expensive and deepest garages in Miami with the ability to house 236 cars. The garage itself is 3 stores below sea level.

With the parking garage located under the building, the developers were able to increase the height of the lobby and include 20-foot tall glass windows that will overlook the pool deck.

UNA Residences Miami will rise 47-stories located at 175 SE 25th Road. Designers include Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (designers of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia) are partnering with Enzo Enea. Developers include the OKO Group and Cain International.

UNA Residences will feature floor-to-ceiling glass surfaces on every floor ‘reflecting the Miami sunshine,’ 10′ 8″ foot ceilings in every residence, and the most spectacular views of Biscayne Bay and the Rickenbacker causeway. Prices for these remarkable units range from $942,000 to $6,643,000.

BUILDING FEATURES

  • 135 luxury condominium residences
  • Iconic 45-story waterfront condominium
  • 2 to 5 bedroom residences ranging from 1,100 to 4,786 sq ft
  • Unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean, Biscayne Bay, and the city skyline
  • High-efficiency and noise-reducing floor-to-ceiling exterior glass
  • Three levels of underground parking

RESIDENCE FEATURES

  • Private elevator entries into each residence
  • Expansive terraces with effortless “lift-and-glide” floor-to-ceiling doors and glass balcony railings
  • 10’8″ ceiling heights, above Miami standard
  • Chef’s kitchens with Gaggenau ovens, electric induction cooktops, microwaves, dishwashers, and refrigerators/freezers
  • Master suites with separate his and hers closets and bathrooms
  • Utility rooms with full-sized washers and dryers
  • Flow-through residences with east-to-west ocean and city exposures on the top floors
  • Two penthouses, each with a private pool and 11’7″ to 12’4″ ceilings

AMENITIES

  • Bayfront pool
  • Outdoor lap pool
  • Family pool
  • Jacuzzi
  • Catering kitchen
  • Kids’ splash-pad area
  • Owners’ lounge
  • Private dining/party room
  • Movie theater
  • Kids’ playroom
  • Outdoor lounge
  • Baywalk access
  • State-of-the-art fitness center, with yoga and personal training areas, plus his and hers dressing rooms
  • Private marina
  • Spa with steam room and sauna, as well as indoor and outdoor private massage treatment rooms overlooking the bay
  • Dedicated beauty suite for private hairstyling, manicure, and pedicure appointments
  • Beautifully landscaped outdoor terraces
  • Dog-walk area
  • Private air-conditioned storage areas

SERVICES

  • 24-hour concierge service
  • Combination of valet service and self-parking
  • Package room

UNA Residences Miami is estimated to be completed summer of 2022. If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at Una Residences, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at (786)247-6332.

First Look: Bentley Residences Scale Model and Sales Center Revealed

Bentley Residences Miami Sales Center
Bentley Residences Miami Scale Model

Today our team got the privilege of being the first to tour the new Bentley Residences Miami Sales Center and the one word that keeps playing through our heads is stunning. This sales center is so unique and every detail is so intricate that we cannot even begin to describe what we saw and heard…but I am going to try.

For starters, the exterior of the sales center is insane (in a good way). When you approach the building, you immediately notice the rust-colored Bentley statue. The outside of the building appears to be all glass reflecting the statue creating a diamond-like effect. The massive Bentley logo is located right outside the entrance.

Once you enter the gallery of the building, you immediately notice the inlaid lighting on the granite floors wrapping around but upward towards the ceiling creating a unique lighting experience. The lounge features comfortable seating and beautiful hardwood floors, and just around the corner is a sky blue Bentley.

Bentley Residences Miami Bentley Car

During our tour, the scale model arrived at the sales center and we got to see the assembly of the model.

A model residence is just after the scale model. Once you enter, you immediately notice the 4 car garage that each residence will offer. After you exit your private elevator to your foyer, an expansive window overlooks your private pool. The open floor plan showcases a custom kitchen, attractive sitting area, and automatically retracting balcony doors. The innovative doors lead to an expansive terrace with a summer kitchen and access to your private pool.

More About Bentley Residences

Bentley Residences will be located at 18401 Collins Avenue and will be considered the world’s first Bentley-branded residential building. The tower will rise 60 stories and feature what only the Bentley brand can offer.

Featuring 216 fully finished units, each condo will showcase open indoor-outdoor floorplans, an in-unit garage with a car elevator, a private balcony, a sauna, floor to ceilings windows, and a pool. These units begin at $4.2 million.

Bentley Residences Amenities

  • State-of-the-art fitness center
  • Pool with cabanas
  • Spa
  • Restaurant
  • Whiskey bar
  • Cigar lounge
  • Cinema
  • Landscaped gardens
  • Dezervator car elevator

Construction is set to begin in 2023 with completion in 2026. If you or someone you know have any interest in purchasing at Bentley Residences, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at 786-247-6332.