David Martin of Terra Group Acquires Prime 15.5 Acre Previous Miami Herald Site in Downtown Miami for $1.225 Billion from the Genting Group
Terms have been agreed upon for the purchase of a 15.5-acre development property on Biscayne Bay in Downtown Miami by SmartCity Miami LLC, an investment company led by Miami-based Terra and its CEO, David Martin. Genting Group will sell the property to the organization for $1.225 billion (USD). The closing is scheduled for later this year.
The property, which is located at 1431 N Bayshore Drive in Miami, has 800 linear feet of direct Biscayne Bay frontage and highly aggressive zoning in one of the city’s most vibrant and connected neighborhoods. A notable mixed-use commercial, retail, residential, hospitality, and entertainment destination could be developed on the location.
The buyer of the property is a longtime Miami resident, Miamian David Martin, CEO of a Miami-based development firm, Terra Group.
According to Martin, “This is a prized piece of real estate in the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic and fastest-growing cities, and we are honored to have been selected as the property’s next owner. At Terra, we have a long history of enhancing communities and transforming neighborhoods through careful planning, beautiful design, and a focus on connectivity and resiliency. Our development on Biscayne Bay will continue this tradition. “
Martin continues, “The scale and location of this site offers the opportunity to do something spectacular, something that all Miamians can take pride in, and we will deliver nothing short of that. For now, our team is focused on understanding the full potential of the property and the surrounding area. Our vision will evolve as we learn more. Over time, we will arrive at a plan that elevates Downtown Miami, improves access to the waterfront, and is welcomed by our community.”
The rare riverfront location in the Omni District was valued at just about $1.5 billion. The 15.5-acre development site, known as BayCity Miami, now hosts ArtMiami’s Art Wynwood show in February as well as CONTEXT Art Miami every year during Miami Art Week. The Miami Herald’s main office had stood on the land and was destroyed in 2014.
The Resorts World operator Genting Group, which owns 10 acres of land west of Biscayne Boulevard, will continue to be involved in the Omni neighborhood. Genting Group is one of the biggest resort, entertainment, and gambling organizations in the world.
The property, which spans many lots and once housed the Miami Herald’s headquarters, is zoned RTZ for mixed-use in Miami-Dade and is in the Metromover subzone (Rapid Transit Zone). The land has limitless buildable square footage, no setbacks, a height limited only by the FAA standards (649 feet), and a potential density of more than 8,000 units according to South Florida’s most benevolent zoning designation. The RTZ zoning offers builders a sizable, incredibly flexible building envelope as well as the chance to create a unique waterfront development on the site.
By comparison, Miami Worldcenter is 27 acres.
13th Floor Investments and Key International Reach an Agreement with Presbyterian Church Site to Move Forward with Construction
At 609 Brickell Avenue in Miami, a new 80-story project, created by Sieger Suarez Architects, and developers 13th Floor Investments and Key International is moving forward.
The congregation and the Miami-based developers have a “transaction and development agreement,” according to a memo filed with the Miami-Dade Clerk of Court on March 2nd. The developer’s right to purchase the property, their duty to build the project there in accordance with the agreement, and their duty to transfer ownership of the new church improvements to the church after substantial completion are all included in the terms of the agreement. Only a memo verifying the existence of the arrangement was recorded. Other details of the agreement have not been released.
13K-BP Brickell Owner LLC is identified as the developing firm, while Arnaud Karsenti is mentioned as the developer’s authorized signatory on the letter. The project’s goal is to utilize the land that is currently used for parking and a religious school building at the back of the property while maintaining the main church structure.
The agreement provides a number of advantages for the congregation and might be worth $240 million to the church. As part of the arrangement, the church will be granted access to 148 parking spaces, 90,000 square feet of space in the new structure, and a small park. In exchange, the church will receive $48 million in cash, 15% of condo sales estimated to be $125 million, and a portion of revenue from the restaurant on the ground level.
The iconic 1949-built First Miami Presbyterian Church, was named a historical landmark in 2003, will continue to stand. The church had previously struggled with money, including a $7 million tax obligation in 2018 as a result of selling part of its lands.
The document submitted to Miami-Dade County does not specify the specific terms and conditions of the sale. It does, however, confirm “the Developer’s Obligation to Construct the Project on the Property in Compliance with the Agreement.”
Construction Update for Namdar Towers in Downtown Miami
Namdar Towers are one step closer to breaking ground after receiving approval for a foundation permit on February 28. The permit will cover site and soil improvements, piles, and excavation with an estimated cost of $1.5 million. Permits that still require approval are for the tree and demolition permits.
In October, the Namdar Towers project was submitted to the UDRB. Miami’s Building Department is currently reviewing permits for development and demolition.
A 41-story structure with 680 units and a 43-story building with 714 units would make up the proposed Namdar Towers, which would have combined square footage of more than 1.2 million.
This project is planned in 2 phases, the 41-story tower will be part of phase 1 while the 43-story tower will be part of phase 2.
Development Information:
1,394 units
Pools
Fitness center
Bowling rooms
Golf simulators
Co-working space
7,984 sq. ft. of commercial space
336 parking spaces in a five-level garage
1,395 bicycle racks
The architect is identified as Behar Font with John Moriarty listed as the contractor.
According to its website, Namdar is a family-owned development company that was established in 1979. Ephraim Namdar, who has previously been named in media sources as the company’s founder and CEO, is in charge of running the LLC that bought the Miami property.
If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at Namdar, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at (786)247-6332.
Miami Worldcenter Completes Construction on 255,000 Square Feet of Retail Space
The Miami Worldcenter’s “Jewel Box,” which has a contemporary design and is enclosed in floor-to-ceiling glass, is situated at the intersection of the 7th Street Promenade and World Paseo open-air retail pedestrian streets, directly west of the development’s upcoming CitizenM boutique hotel and north of the finished luxury apartment tower Bezel Miami.
Approximately 255,000 square feet of retail space have now been finished at Miami Worldcenter with the completion of F-East as tenants actively finish out their spaces.
Another 80,000 square feet of lifestyle-focused retail space has been constructed by Miami Worldcenter’s developers. Block F-East, a standalone structure that is part of the $4 billion mixed-use complex in the center of Downtown Miami, is one of the last retail components of the 27-acre project to be completed.
Sephora, lululemon, Savage x Fenty, Ray-Ban, Posman Books, and Lucid Motors are among the impressive list of recently opened and upcoming tenants at Miami Worldcenter. Other dining and entertainment options include Bowlero, Sports & Social, Michelin-starred Chef Michael Beltran’s Brasserie Laurel, El Vecino, and Chicago’s Maple & Ash and Etta restaurants.
The 300,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and entertainment space at Miami Worldcenter, one of the largest private urban real estate developments in Florida, will be complemented by a variety of residential, business, and hospitality applications.
Miami Worldcenter Associates, directed by Principal Art Falcone and Managing Partner Nitin Motwani, and CIM Group are the project’s master developers.
Three finished residential towers—the PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter, Caoba, and Bezel Miami—can now be found in Miami Worldcenter. The 351-room CitizenM hotel is now finished with construction and is scheduled to debut at Miami Worldcenter in the first quarter of 2023.
In addition, work is being done on phase one of the 52-story Miami World Towers, which will include 550 apartment units, Legacy Hotel & Residences, a mixed-use building with 310 branded residences atop a hotel and 50,000 square feet of medical office space, and Caoba’s second phase, which will include a nearby 40-story tower with 420 apartments.
There are several planned projects, including The Crosby, a 450-unit turn-key condominium by Related Group and Merrimac Ventures, and 600 Miami Worldcenter, a 579-unit fully furnished condominium by Aria Development Group and Merrimac Ventures, a mixed-use residential and commercial development by Abbhi Capital, a residential development by the New York-based Naftali Group, and a three-tower mixed-use project by The Witkoff Group that will have up to 2,000
World Square, a 20,000-square-foot outdoor public plaza and park, will complement Miami Worldcenter’s shopping streets. With its abundance of open space, shade trees, and spacious, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks lined with food, entertainment, and retail concepts, World Square is intended to act as the hub of the development.
A $5 million public art project at Miami Worldcenter, organized by the Miami-based curatorial collective PRIMARY and renowned art dealer Jeffrey Deitch, would turn the 27-acre “city within a citystreets “‘s and buildings into a permanent outdoor art museum. Large-scale murals, paintings, and sculptures produced by internationally renowned artists such as Nina Chanel Abney, Woody De Othello, Viktor El-Saieh, Nick Cave, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Hernan Bas, Serge Toussaint, Zadok Ben-David, and Franz Ackermann will be included in the program once it is finished.
Ten city blocks make up Miami Worldcenter, which is next to Museum Park, which is home to the Frost Museum of Science and Pérez Art Museum Miami, as well as the FTX Arena, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, and Wolfson Campus of Miami Dade College. Miami Worldcenter is the largest and best-connected transit-oriented development in Florida thanks to its proximity to Brightline’s MiamiCentral station, which provides direct train service to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando and access to Tri-Rail, the Metromover, and the Metrorail.
Renderings Revealed for Namdar Towers
Earlier this month, developer Namdar submitted comprehensive development plans to the city planners for its twin-tower project that will be located in downtown Miami.
A 41-story structure with 680 units and a 43-story building with 714 units would make up the proposed Namdar Towers, which would have a combined square footage of more than 1.2 million.
This project is planned in 2 phases, the 41-story tower will be part of phase 1 while the 43-story tower will be part of phase 2.
Development Information:
1,394 units
Pools
Fitness center
Bowling rooms
Golf simulators
Co-working space
7,984 sq. ft. of commercial space
336 parking spaces in a five-level garage
1,395 bicycle racks
The architect is identified as Behar Font. Permitting for construction and demolition is already in progress.
According to its website, Namdar is a family-owned development company that was established in 1979. Ephraim Namdar, who has previously been named in media sources as the company’s founder and CEO, is in charge of running the LLC that bought the Miami property.
Miami Worldcenter Welcomes Sports & Social-New Bar by Live! Hospitality and Entertainment
Miami Worldcenter and Live! Hospitality & Entertainment has a deal to bring its widely regarded Sports & Social concept to the $4 billion, 27-acre mixed-use development that is reshaping Downtown Miami.
Live! Entertainment’s premier dining, entertainment, sports viewing, and social concept is called Sports & Social. One of the biggest restaurant and entertainment concept creators and operators in the US is Hospitality & Entertainment. The company’s main goal is to build iconic venues near prestigious sports arenas, world-class resort casinos, and popular entertainment and lifestyle areas around the nation.
The Sports & Social Miami Worldcenter location will occupy about 20,000 square feet in the development’s glass-encased “Jewel Box” retail building and will feature an open-air third level and a rooftop restaurant overlooking the World Square public park and plaza. It will be situated just steps from Miami’s FTX Arena.
The establishment will provide sophisticated food and drink options, including made-from-scratch gameday favorites, handmade cocktails, and specialty drinks, like its iconic Crush selection, and a variety of beers from popular local and national beers. A number of special food-related events will be held at Sports & Social, including a brunch experience you won’t want to miss on Saturdays and Sundays that will feature its renowned #brunchtails table drinks and menu favorites like avocado toast, savory breakfast skillets, and its signature Chicken & Bliss.
Sports & Social in addition to offering some of the top sporting events in the area, Miami will host a range of live music performances and unique events throughout the week. With cutting-edge technology throughout, the venue will include a striking 53-foot LED display as its focal point, which will simultaneously stream different athletic events and games.
Additionally, visitors can take part in a variety of games like shuffleboard, Beirut, skeeball, foosball, pop-a-shot, and arcade games. Each location of Sports & Social is uniquely designed with careful attention to every detail by some of the highest profile firms in the world including ICRAVE, Jeffrey Beers International, and Knauer Incorporated. ICRAVE, a highly regarded and award-winning strategy, design, and development company, is creating Sports & Social at Miami Worldcenter. ICRAVE, a Miami- and New York-based company, has been in charge of designing Sports & Social’s nationwide expansion.
Three residential towers, Paramount Miami Worldcenter, Caoba, and Bezel Miami, as well as about 175,000 square feet of retail space, were among the phases of the project that were already finished. A 351-room citizenM hotel and an additional 125,000 square feet of retail space are slated to debut at Miami Worldcenter before the end of the year.
The Legacy Hotel & Residences, a 50-story mixed-use tower with 310 branded residences atop a hotel and 50,000 square feet of medical office space, as well as the second phase of Caoba, which will encompass an adjacent 40-story tower with 420 apartments, are also under construction. The 52-story Miami World Towers, which will have 550 apartment units, is also under construction.
The Witkoff Group’s three-tower mixed-use project, which will include up to 2,000 residential units as well as 550,000 square feet of office space and an additional 50,000 square feet of retail, is one of the planned developments. The Crosby, a 450-unit turn-key condominium by Related Group and Merrimac Ventures, two “supertall” residential towers by New York-based Naftali Group, and The Crosby are a few other projects that are in the works
‘Sports & Social’ will add to Miami Worldcenter’s alluring list of recently revealed tenants, which also includes Sephora, Bowlero, and Lucid Motors as well as two food and beverage concepts, Brasserie Laurel and El Vecino, that will soon open under the direction of Michelin-starred Chef Michael Beltran. Around 110,000 square feet of leased retail space are shared by these seven businesses and the newest tenant of the property in Downtown Miami.
Co-Owner of E11even Nightclub and Partner at Titan Capital Acquired Land at Miami Worldcenter
For $30 million, Lynd Living acquired a Miami Worldcenter development site from a business run by Marc Roberts, co-owner of the E11even nightclub, and Ira Saferstein, a partner at Titan Capital.
The $4 billion master-planned mixed-use project spanning 27 acres in the Park West neighborhood of downtown Miami has added the San Antonio-based company as the newest multifamily developer to the group of apartment builders.
According to public documents, a Lynd associate purchased the roughly 0.5-acre parcel of land at Northwest 10th Street and North Miami Avenue and secured a $22.7 million financing through TIG Romspen US Master Mortgage. According to a news statement, Kevin O’Grady and Justin Neelis from Concord Summit Capital handled the finance and Lynd has hired the company to find a construction loan. Additionally, Concord Summit mediated the sale.
IRR Parkwest Investments, led by Roberts and Saferstein, was sold by the Miami-based legal firm Adams Gallinar, which was represented by attorneys Michael Gallinar and Jason Camps.
A 650-unit apartment building is permitted on the site of the development. A residential tower is being planned, according to David Lynd, CEO of Lynd. “For the time being, we are keeping it quiet. We’ll release more information as we prepare to enter the market.
According to records, the vacant property was a component of a 1-acre assemblage that IRR purchased in 2020 for $26.7 million. The remaining property is still owned by Roberts and Saferstein. Roberts, a former boxing promoter, joined master developers Art Falcone and Nitin Motwani as an early investor in the Miami Worldcenter project in the early 2000s.
In March, the Miami Worldcenter development property at 1016 Northeast Second Avenue was purchased for $40.5 million by the New York-based Naftali Group and Chicago-based Akara Partners. The CEO of Naftali, Miki Naftali, is constructing two residential towers, but the company hasn’t said whether the structures would house condos or apartments.
Adam Neumann, a co-founder of WeWork, received $108 million in construction financing in February for a new apartment building on a bare lot at Miami Worldcenter. It shares a boundary with Caoba, a 40-story apartment complex at 698 Northeast First Avenue. Both the development site and Caoba’s ownership organization were purchased by Neumann.
Miami River Dream Hotel Officially Approved by Voters
Voters in Miami approved a new 100-year lease for the builders of a proposed mixed-use project on the Miami River with the Dream Hotel as its anchor in a low turnout election.
The restaurant and entertainment complex Wharf Miami is currently located on a 1.5-acre city-owned site at 114 Southwest North River Drive. MV Real Estate Holdings, led by Alex Mantecon and Guillermo Vadell, and its partner Driftwood Capital, led by Carlos Rodriguez Jr., can now move forward with their plans to transform the location.
A majority of 34,745 voters approved the referendum, allowing the Miami City Commission to forgo competitive bidding and negotiate the lease with MV and Driftwood.
Voters had approved a deal in 2016 providing Riverside Wharf a 30-year lease with the possibility of two additional 10-year lease terms. MV agreed to construct a 30,000-square-foot entertainment center in exchange for paying the city a minimum of $195,000 in rent each year and spending at least $7 million to rehabilitate public space, including a new riverwalk in front of the construction.
Under the Dream brand, the joint venture plans to construct a $185 million mixed-use development anchored by a 165-key hotel. The 200,000 square-foot Riverside Wharf project, designed by John Cardello of Cube3 architects, would also have 16,000 square feet of eateries, a 12,000 square-foot event hall, a 30,000 square-foot nightclub, a rooftop day club, and 600 feet of river frontage. The new building would house Wharf Miami as a tenant.
MV and Driftwood agreed to pay 50 percent more rent than the city was expected to receive in a previous development proposal that was approved by Miami voters in 2016 in exchange for the new lease and development rights. They also agreed to raise the minimum amount of private investment from $7 million to $30 million.
According to campaign finance disclosures, the developers invested $311,000 in advertising, phone banks, and other voter turnout initiatives. The Riverside Wharf political action committee inundated voters’ mailboxes with pamphlets touting the project in the weeks running up to Tuesday’s primary election.
According to the mailers, Riverside Wharf will generate 600 new jobs and is a “state-of-the-art sea level rise program for future generations.” Before election day, there was not much opposition to the idea.
Because MV and Driftwood drastically altered the scope and size of the development that voters initially approved six years ago, the project—which never got off the ground—needed another referendum.
A New Speakeasy Bar to Open in Downtown Miami-Freddys
Freddys, a speakeasy-themed bar, will debut on August 25 in the heart of downtown Miami and is located right within the InterContinental Miami hotel.
Take the escalator up to the lobby, then search for a plain white door leading to the Chopin ballroom towards the rear of the building. You will be given instructions on how many times to tap (think morse code) and how to accomplish it after receiving your desired reservation.
According to the website, “Our host will permit entrance to those with the correct knock.”
You’ll discover a romantically lit treasure box with soft chairs, elaborate Oriental rugs, and a candlelit bar behind the embellished curtains. Here, you may order drinks that evoke the Prohibition era and are created with herbs, house-made bitters, and freshly squeezed juices.
Due to Freddy’s limited seating capacity of 12 people, reservations are required only for seatings at 5 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 10 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.
This quiet, inconspicuous lounge is perfect for the gram. There’s also a coat rack brimming with flapper-inspired accessories located at the entryway to dress like you’re in the actual era.
Freddy’s is located at 100 Chopin Plaza at the InterContinental Miami. For more information, click here.
The Elser Hotel & Residences Unveiled with Exclusive Party Hosted by PMG and Greybrook
A party celebrating the unveiling of the 49-story luxury condominium tower known as The Elser Hotel & Residences was held on Wednesday, August 3rd, by PMG and Greybrook.
The venue, located in the center of Downtown Miami with unhindered views of Biscayne Bay, offered visitors infinite champagne, a live band, and interactive entertainment. The PMG Residential sales team, comprised of Alejandra Castillo, Christian Tupper, Daiana Quiceno, Aura Aragon, and Karine Carvalho, as well as PMG Managing Partner Ryan Shear, made remarks.
The Elser Hotel and Residences are located in the same lively area and have the same sparkling views of Biscayne Bay that Elser Pier did in the early 1900s. Elser Pier’s prime location in Miami’s thriving downtown area contributed to its status as the city’s top convention and entertainment hub. Tourists and locals alike were drawn to the pier’s variety of venues and waterfront views. The legacy and extraordinary success of Elser Pier altered the future outlook for the corridor and created the foundation for the bustling bayfront metropolis we know today.
The Elser Residences Miami is a development of carefully designed studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom condos. Elser, located in Miami’s most alluring area, Downtown Miami, will provide a vibrant and rich community fuelled by culture, glitz, and wellness. Find a wealth of amenities for living, working, and playing. Units will be available this summer for move-in.
Facts and Features
49-story tower located in Downtown Miami
Developed by PMG and Greybrook Partners
Designed by internationally renowned architecture firm Sieger Suarez Architects
Approved for short-term rentals
On-site hospitality management
Views of the Miami skyline, unobstructed views of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean
Over 19,000 square foot double-height amenity deck overlooking Downtown Miami
and Biscayne Bay
132-Foot Resort Style Pool with private lounge areas
Two-Level Modern Gym & Fitness Studio
Co-working Lab
Valet Parking
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Latest Smart Building Technology
Only The Elser Hotel & Residences Miami would have a short-term rental program that was expertly run by a five-star operator among the current inventory in Miami. The structure would be open to unlimited day rentals.
Residences start at $600,000 or the equivalent in bitcoin, according to PMG Residential, the property’s exclusive sales team.
