Casa Bella by B&B Italia One Step Closer to Breaking Ground
Casa Bella Residences by B&B Italia is a new construction luxury condo tower located in the Art & Entertainment District of Downtown Miami, Florida.
One of the newest pre-construction projects that will soon be a part of the Miami skyline is Casa Bella Residences Miami. Progress on the project is moving forward, including permits being submitted and new renderings being released.
On June 23, the developers submitted the demolition permit for the development. The current 3-story structure features 249,978 square feet which would be completely demolished. This building was mostly used for office purposes. The estimated cost for this demolition would be approximately $800,000.
The demolition work is being done by The BG Group.
In coordination with the filing for demolition permits, developers have also started converting reservations into contracts with more than 60% of the units already reserved.
Casa Bella will feature 3 towers and 2 will rise 57 stories while 1 will rise 50. The first tower will feature 300 luxury units although 1,430 residential units have been approved for the site. The towers will have 1,629 parking spaces and will be connected by a podium.
Tower 1 at Casa Bella will feature 1 to 5-bedroom floor plans with only 6 units per floor. Interiors will be designed by Pierro Lissoni with landscape architecture by Enzo Ena. The double-height lobby will also be designed by Lissoni and will feature a mixture of sophistication and modern designs with a permanent collection of museum-quality art located throughout.
Unit Features
306 luxury condos including an exquisite penthouse collection of 24 penthouses
Residences offer 1, 2, 3, and 4-bedroom layouts with 10’ ceilings
Penthouses offer 2, 3 + Den, and 5-bedroom layouts with 11-12-foot ceilings
Units range in size from 711 to 5,890 square feet
All residences feature 2 private elevators and a foyer, which is unique in Miami
Biometric access-controlled elevators
Floor-to-ceiling impact-resistant windows
Modern European-style kitchens and bathrooms designed by Piero Lissoni featuring Italian cabinetry by ItalKraft
Premium black glass appliance packages with integrated 36” Sub-Zero refrigerators/freezers, integrated paneled dishwasher, built-in Wolf convection oven, and speed oven, and oversized stainless-steel radius sink with faucet drawer
Master bathrooms, designed by Piero Lissoni, boast frameless glass-enclosed showers, oversized tubs, imported porcelain flooring/wet walls, backlit vanity mirrors, and separate water closets
Two penthouses feature private rooftop terraces complete with private summer kitchens and spa tubs
Select units offer powder rooms
Spacious private terraces with spectacular water and city views
Casa Bella offers an extraordinary opportunity to have your residence curated by B&B Italia, Italy’s leading furniture brand
Tower Amenities
2 full floors of private amenities
State-of-the-art wellness and fitness center offering on-demand services
Yoga room
Spinning room
Salon with manicure/pedicure stations
Adult entertainment lounge
Game room
Kid’s playroom with smartboard and educational games
Residents’ party room
Wine room
Movie theater
Museum-quality curated art collection
High-tech business center with conference room
Co-workspace
Pet spa
Expansive pool deck situated on the 11th floor overlooking Biscayne Bay
78’ lap pool
Outdoor spa
Poolside bar and café
Poolside cabanas and lounge areas
Towel service
Sun-care kiosk
Open-air lawn perfect for yoga
Lush gardens were designed by acclaimed landscape architect Enzo Enea
Pickleball court
BBQ with outdoor dining area
Ground-level restaurant open to the public
56th-floor Sky Terrace boasts a rooftop pool and observatory (650 feet) with a high-tech telescope
24-hour valet parking
24-hour security
24-hour maintenance staff
Multilingual team on site
On-demand concierge services are available including housekeeping, grocery shopping, “while you’re away” butler services, dry cleaning, childcare, pet care, courier services, translation service, and more
Residents enjoy a 1-year complimentary membership at the Grand Bay Beach Club in Key Biscayne
Construction for the development is estimated for winter 2023 with an anticipated completion date of 2025. If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at Casa Bella, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at (786)247-6332.
Today Marks One Year Since the Deadly Champlain South Tower Collapse
Photo credit: NPR Illinois
Today marks one official year since the deadly Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside, Florida. Since that time, this tragic event has reached so many across Florida as well as the United States. Not only has it reached many families and friends, but it has caused a need for change within local governments, condo safety, and protocol.
On June 24, 2021, around 1 am, residents began noticing the Champlain Towers South shaking, and within just a few seconds, the building partially collapsed destroying 55 units as well as taking countless lives. During the first signs of the collapse, Rescue crews began racing to the scene to search for survivors.
*The deadly collapse resulted in 98 lives lost. As of May, it was announced that the payout to the survivors has resulted in a $1.02 billion split amongst the families.
In October 2021, the site was put up for sale to cover legal fees, expenses, and other fees associated with the collapse. The site was listed for $95.6 million. Right after the property was listed, billionaire real estate developer Hussain Sajwani offered $120 million with the stipulation that he would obtain possession by the spring of 2022 to begin construction on a luxury high-rise.
In May 2022, Sajwani (DAMAC Properties), announced his plans to build a luxury tower, Cavalli Tower. This tower will resemble the Cavalli Tower that DAMAC is currently building which will be completed in 2025. The units would begin at $4.5 million once complete.
During the same time in May, Legislation that prohibits associations from waiving reserve requirements mandates 30-year inspections of condo structures three floors or taller, or 25 years if within three miles of the shore, and mandates reserve studies including structural components were passed by Florida lawmakers. Associations will have to undergo another recertification procedure ten years after the initial inspections. Condominium boards and their members may also be held accountable under the law for non-compliance.
June 23, 2022-One of the last steps before the litigation due to the collapse is over the impending sale to DAMAC. Judge Michael Hanzman approved the $1.02 billion class-action settlement and the condominium termination in court on Thursday (a technical process required for Damac to close on the land). The year-long process to settle the lawsuit was discussed by the judge, the lawyers, the survivors, and those who lost loved ones.
Okan Group Officially Breaks Ground on 70 Story Okan Tower
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.
Related Group Proposes 15 Story Residential Development on Biscayne Bay in North Miami
The Related Group has officially submitted plans for a new development located in North Miami, Icon Residences. The development is projected to cost around $150-million and rise 15-story project sited on a one-acre tract of land at 2305 NE 123 Street. The site currently is occupied by the two-story White House Inn, which was built in 1969, closed in 2014, and vacant.
Icon Residences will feature 54 luxury residences, each costing an eye-popping $4.6 million, to be built right at the Shepard Broad Causeway’s entrance, with views across Biscayne Bay to the towers of Sunny Isles Beach to the northeast and due east across Bay Harbor Islands to Bal Harbour – as well as the yards and windows of the single-family homes of Keystone Point just north across the canal. The site would also allow for 184 feet of water frontage.
The Related Group is requesting that the city increase the building height limit on the land from 35 feet to 169 feet, which is the identical height of the Majorca Bay tower located at 11930 N Bayshore Dr., just a few blocks over. The entire height of Icon Residences would be 184 feet, including the 15-foot mechanical plant near the rooftop swimming pool.
Between the White House Inn site and Majorca Bay, related and other entities are considering or preparing a future skyline of structures of similar height. The White House Inn site is presently limited to 35 feet of construction under North Miami’s 2017 Comprehensive Plan, whereas the bayfront land to the south is permitted to 115 feet.
The Keystone Homeowners Association, which covers the area of more than 900 properties, held a full community meeting on May 19 in the recently opened Wildcat Center at 1600 NE 126th St. to discuss their frustrations with this project.
Pedro Gassant, a Holland & Knight partner representing the Related Group, made his best case, claiming that the Icon project would eliminate the vagrancy and illicit dealings currently plaguing the site and bring in $1.7 million in tax revenue in the first year and $45 million over 20 years for the cash-strapped city.
A 184-foot structure, according to Eric Riel, an urban planner who has lived within 500 feet of the projected skyscraper, is incompatible with the single-family dwellings shown immediately across the canal.
The new North Miami Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for June 28th at 7pm at North Miami City Hall.
Renderings Revealed for Miami Freedom Park
With all of the news surrounding the FIFA World Cup and Miami bid, another great announcement was made for the Miami Freedom Park with new renderings and development plans showcasing the major project.
According to the developers, the newest renderings were revised after the first meeting with the Miami Review Board and this newest proposal includes not only exterior renderings but site sections, area enhancements, and updated design visions.
The revised proposal shows the plan will include a 600,000 sq. ft. retail and soccer village, 25,000 seat stadium, 750 hotel rooms, 400,000 sq. ft. office, and 5,100 parking spaces.
Some of the enhancements noted in the revised proposal include new pedestrian access points, crosswalk connections, and pedestrian path improvements.
The hearing to discuss the project was scheduled to be reviewed last week with Miami’s Urban Development Review Board. One of the conclusions for the review included the vote to move the Miami Commissioners offices into the new administrative buildings at Miami Freedom Park.
Arquitectonica is listed as the architect for the project. Although the project is located at the end of one of the Miami International Airport runways, it will be in compliance with the Federal Aviation Association height restrictions.
One of the biggest concerns for the Miami Freedom Park is that building the 1+ million square feet of commercial space will affect the surrounding neighborhoods and will clog area streets.
Miami Selected to Host the World Cup in 2026
The long-awaited list of cities and sites for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, was released on Thursday by FIFA, the world soccer governing body. Miami and Hard Rock Stadium has made the cut and we can’t be more excited!
Along with Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, and New York/New Jersey; Miami was one of 11 U.S. cities to make the list.
The televised announcement was watched on giant screens by a boisterous gathering of fans and elected officials at the famed soccer tavern Fritz & Franz Bierhaus in Coral Gables, which has historically been a hotspot for soccer watch parties in Miami. The notable in attendance included Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Mayor Francis Suarez, and Rolando Aedo, and the Chief Operating Officer of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Tommy Mulroy, a long-time local soccer promoter and former Miami Toros and Fort Lauderdale Strikers player, has been waiting for this moment for years and was ecstatic on Thursday after being a member of the failed Miami bid in 1994. “This is a long time coming. We fit every criteria. It’s a bicycle kick every criteria for us. It’s time and we’re going to do a great job. In 1994 people here didn’t know what a World Cup was. I had to convince people they would sell tickets. Even now, people think it’s another Super Bowl coming, but it’s so much bigger. I anticipate we’ll have five games and each game will bring a whole new group of tourists,” states Mulroy.
Sixty games are anticipated to be held in the United States, with ten games each in Canada and Mexico. Canada’s games will be held in Vancouver and Toronto, while Mexico’s will be held in Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Mexico City, where two World Cup finals were held at Azteca Stadium.
Each bid committee in the United States has been urged to prepare for up to six games, but they won’t know how many until 2023. Members of the Miami committee will meet with FIFA officials in New York City early next week, but no schedule or other specifics will be finalized until after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which will take place in November and December of this year.
According to Mayor Suarez, “The U.S. hasn’t had a World Cup since 1994, and in those 30 years, Miami has become a dynamic, global city. All the people who live here from all over the world will be rooting for their teams. A lot of hard work was done by a lot of people to make this happen. I feel like I played a game, I am all sweaty.”
FIFA used a complicated point system to evaluate the proposed sites, which included stadium (35%), airport/transport/mobility (13%), estimated revenue from tickets/hospitality packages (10%), estimated revenue from media/marketing rights (10%), predicted organizing costs (10%), proposed international broadcast center (7%), accommodations (6%), team/referee facilities (6%), and proposed FIFA Fan Fest locations (6%). (3 percent).
Hard Rock Stadium is well known for holding international sporting events such as the Miami Open tennis tournament and the Miami Grand Prix Formula One race.
The World Cup schedule will probably come out in 2023 with the actual team selections occurring in 2025. The tournament is set to begin on June 11, 2026, with the final scheduled for July 12. Each location would likely host five to six games, with a knockout round matchup thrown in for good measure.
The tickets will more than likely go on sale in 2024 and the estimated costs for all round is around $300.
Edgewater Tower Proposed by Aimco is Denied Approval
After a city of Miami board refused to recommend approval of Aimco’s plans for a luxury rental tower in Edgewater, the developer is determined to revaluate the development plans and come up with a solution to get these plans moving forward.
After identifying a number of “serious concerns” with the design, members of the Miami Urban Development Review Board voted on Wednesday to reject plans for the proposed mixed-use development across from Aimco’s Hamilton on the Bay tower. Despite the board’s rejection, Aimco can still seek approval for the project.
The board was initially split on whether or not to recommend acceptance of the proposals with conditions, with three members voting in favor and three voting against. As a result, the developer can either withdraw its application and start the process all over again, or the board can vote to decline the recommendation, allowing the developer to submit amended plans to the planning director for final approval.
Aimco’s attorney, Tony Recio, a partner at Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman, said the developer is examining the board’s ideas and looks forward to “addressing their criticisms with the planning director” as the project moves further. Recio submitted the concept to the board of directors on Wednesday.
Though they praised the project’s overall design, board members expressed concerns about circulation on the ground level, including how residents and restaurant customers would access parking, apartments, and the restaurant, as well as loading and trash collection, landscaping, and an oversized mail room.
At 555, 560, 600, 610, 620, 630, and 640 Northeast 34th Street, Aimco, a publicly traded multifamily real estate investment company located in Denver, has proposed a 60-story, 241-unit tower. On more than an acre of land, the construction would include a new parking structure and 4,700 square feet of commercial space for a restaurant on the bottom level facing the water.
Aimco has made a significant investment in Edgewater. It paid over $90 million for the Hamilton on the Bay rental complex, which is currently undergoing substantial renovations, nearly two years ago. A nearby vacant lot and a modest rental building were included in the purchase.
Following the cancellation of its tenants’ leases at the Hamilton last year, Aimco purchased premises across the street, where the new project would be built.
New Development Revealed- Surf Row Residences
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.
$110k Loss for Singer Trey Songz After Selling his Miami Condo
In 2017, singer and songwriter, Trey Songz purchased a condo in Miami’s Brickell Heights East for $1.09 million. In January 2022, Songz listed the unit for $1.2 million and ended up selling the unit in March for $980k to an undisclosed buyer.
The property itself features 2 bedrooms, and 3 bathrooms, with over 1,356 square feet. With 12-foot ceilings, floor to ceiling heigh impact glass windows, and a modern kitchen that opens to the living room.
These specific units showcase elegant entry foyers, wrap-around terraces, and custom bathrooms with designer porcelain tile. The bathroom rooms also feature porcelain tile and custom vanities.
Amenities for Brickell Heights East
Equinox Fitness Club & Spa with high-performance fitness programs
3,500 square foot SoulCycle studio
24-hour concierge
24-hour valet parking
Rooftop pool
9th-floor pool terrace with swimming and lap pools
Screening room
Two beautifully designed entertainment rooms available for private events
Kids’ playroom
WiFi access in all amenity areas
Songz previously purchased a unit in the same building in 2010 for $473k and sold it for $710k right before purchasing the second unit.
Trey Songz, whose real name is Tremaine Aldon Neverson, is an American songwriter, singer, record producer, and actor. Songz released his first album in 2005 with Atlantic Records, I Gotta Make It. One of Songz’s highest charting songs to date is Bottoms Up which featured Nicki Minaj. Songz has released a total of 8 albums.
