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.
New Renderings Revealed for Baccarat Residences Miami
The newest pre-construction tower in downtown Miami, Baccarat Residences Miami, will soon adorn the Miami skyline with its stunning glass facade, and now the developers have released some very impressive renderings that show what the Baccarat brand truly represents.
Rising 75 stories located at 444 Brickell Avenue, the collection includes 324 residences that will begin on the 15th level. The top 3 floors will feature 8 penthouses with immaculate ocean and skyline views. In addition, there will also be 28 riverfront flats and duplexes of your choosing.
Units will range from 1,330 square feet to over 7,000 square feet, with each unit featuring integrated purified air and water filters, impact-resistant floor-to-ceiling glass doors, 8-foot deep private terraces, and 10-foot high ceilings. Kitchens will be top-of-the-line with high-end appliances, granite counters, and custom cabinetry.
Interior Designed by Meyer Davis Studio, the building design incorporated a mixture of 18th-century French and 1930s Art Deco. The developer includes the Related Group with the landscape architecture designed by Enzo Enea.
The elevated waterfront amenities deck will include an infinity pool with killer views of Miami and Biscayne Bay. Enjoy fine dining at the 10,000-square-foot restaurant that will be announced once construction continues. Additional amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center, spa, wine cellar, and tasting room.
DEVELOPMENT OVERVIEW
Privileged Brickell waterfront position, where the Miami River meets Biscayne Bay
A dazzling contemporary 75-story glass tower
Collection of 324 tower residences, 8 penthouses, and 28 riverfront flats and duplexes
Panoramic views of Biscayne Bay, the Miami River, and the Miami city lights and skyline from every residence
Artful service and amenities impeccably curated by Baccarat Hotels & Residences and expertly managed by SH Hotels & Resorts
Lushly landscaped waterfront promenade and private marina
Lushly landscaped secluded private entrance leading to the riverfront arrival court and elegant porte-cochere entrance
Exquisitely appointed entrance lobby with grand high ceilings leading directly to three banks of double private elevators to each residence
Permanent installation of curated museum-quality art collection throughout the building’s public spaces
Elevated 12th-level amenities resort deck loaded with a dramatic zero-entry heated saline swimming pool, outdoor spa, pool-side cabanas, summer kitchen area, and beautifully landscaped sun terrace
Glamorously designed Grand Salon, set as the ideal location for both intimate gatherings and grand celebrations
Luxurious Clubroom with bar and billiards, catering kitchen, and multimedia facilities
State-of-the-art fully equipped fitness center curated by Altitude
Fitness with cardio theater, spinning room, yoga, and meditation rooms, all overlooking the pool deck resort area
Hammam spa with men’s and women’s steam and sauna facilities, luxurious treatment rooms, and a spa shop
Private screening room with cutting-edge audiovisual equipment and theater-style seating
Game room with multimedia facilities and children’s playroom
Business Center with conference facilities and private workspaces
Gourmet market
Wine Cellar and Tasting Room
State-of-the-art Chef’s Kitchen and Private Dining room
Pet-friendly community with Pet Spa, Grooming, and Walk Service
Hair Salon & Barber Station
High-speed internet access in all public areas
Electric vehicle charging stations
Air-conditioned storage rooms
Bicycle storage spaces
BACCARAT GLOBAL MEMBER PRIVILEGES
Baccarat Owners Circle Services include private shopping, discounts on Baccarat crystal, discounted engraving and gilding, and priority status for custom production
Exclusive tour package to Baccarat France, available only to owners of Baccarat Residences
Invitations to Baccarat events worldwide
Preferred service and privileges at Maison’s Baccarat (Paris and Moscow), BBar (Tokyo), and Crystal Rooms worldwide
Hotel privileges in Baccarat Hotels and SH Hotels & Resorts worldwide
Baccarat Residences has an estimated completion date of 2026. If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing one of the units at Baccarat Residences Miami, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at (786)247-6332.
Renderings Revealed for Miami’s M Tower
In Downtown Miami, at 56 SW 1st St and 65 SW 2nd St, the 57-story M Tower is moving forward after construction plans were filed and renderings released by developers. The Miami Parking Authority and Downtown 1st Street LLC are collaborating on the creation of the M-Tower.
Last week, the developer filed the plans with the Urban Development Review board and those plans included some significant changes. The newly filed plans included a height increase from 49 stories to 57 stories.
The new plans also have an increase of 675 units, up from 404 apartments. There will also be 694 parking spaces in an 8-story podium connecting to a commercial space expanding 10,531 square feet.
Drive aisle, floor plans, and a parking reduction are among the zoning concessions that the developers are asking for.
Although an unlimited is permitted on the property, the Federal Aviation Administration would still have restrictions on the height.
Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates is listed as the architect. The next Urban Development Review Board meeting is scheduled for July 20th. If this new design is approved, construction would begin in Winter 2022.
Plans for 3 Tower Project at College Station Garage Location Moves Forward
In 2021, an unsolicited plan for a 3 tower project at the College Station Garage in Downtown Miami was submitted to the Miami Parking Authority (MPA). The proposal that has been submitted to the MPA during that time is now moving forward as of June 2022.
The brains behind the project include a partnership between Miami-based builders Related Group (Related) and ROVR Development (ROVR), as well as Terra Group (Terra) and Apollo Global Management (Apollo).
As of January 19, 2022, the MPA has ranked the proposal from Related and ROVR as the top bid ahead of Terra and Apollo. Both partnerships are planning to create substantial mixed-use projects. The replacement of a 1,439-space garage, which was erected in 1973 and is 7 floors tall, will be subject to a 99-year land lease and development agreement, according to the MPA.
According to the developer, 15% of the residential units would be set aside as worker housing for people earning up to 140 percent of the area median income, and 20% of the apartments would be reserved as affordable housing for seniors earning up to 50% of the area median income. Units would range in size from 360 to 1,310 square feet, with an average unit size of 722 square feet. There would be 138 studios, 636 one-bedroom units, 354 two-bedroom units, and 72 three-bedroom units.
In addition to an urgent care facility and a nonprofit art center, the public area might function as a fire station. The lease is anticipated to be finalized by Related and ROVR in 2023, with construction taking place over a 60-month period. The developers would need to find other parking solutions for adjoining residential towers that have previously used the College Station Garage, assuming that this proposal is truly the winning bid. The MPA would retain control of the parking component.
Project Details
1,200 rental units
1,357 Miami Parking Authority parking spaces over 8 levels
Ground floor retail w/potential fire station, urgent care, and art center
The developers stated earlier this year that they anticipate starting construction in early 2023.
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.
Melo Group Tops Off on Downton 1st Tower
Downtown 1st, a 57-story mixed-use tower located in downtown Miami has officially topped off on construction just one year after its groundbreaking. Developed by the Melo Group, this tower is set to be the tallest that the developers have ever constructed.
According to Martin Melo, “After just a year from breaking ground, we are proud to top off. Downtown 1st is another project that showcases our compromise of enhancing Miami’s urban core and the continued activation of downtown Miami.”
Located at 30 SW 1st Street, Downtown 1st will spread over 743,073 square feet which will include 560 units (500,000 square of residential space), 12,930 square feet of office space, 2,925 square feet of ground floor retail and a 453 spot parking garage.
The units themselves will feature 1 to 3 bedroom layouts with penthouse options located on the top 2 floors of the tower. Units will range from 653 square feet to 1,200 square feet.
Amenities:
2 swimming pools
Landscape deck
Fitness center
Study rooms
Lounging areas
Spa
Completion of the tower is expected to be complete by the 4th quarter of 2022.
Melo has amassed a portfolio of over 6,000 condominium and apartment rental properties in the greater downtown Miami area since 2001. All construction and architecture are handled in-house by the fully integrated real estate development organization.
Sales Launch for Society Residences in Downtown Miami
In the heart of downtown Miami, sits a new construction site of an up-and-coming tower developed by PMG. Society Biscayne was originally announced as an apartment tower but recently the developer decided to transition the apartment tower into residential units due to the lack of inventory in Miami. Now the property is officially Society Residences.
The construction for the 704 unit tower is currently underway at their site located at 398 NE 5th St in Miami. Rising 47 stories (571 feet) tall, units will be presented as fully finished and fully furnished with luxury amenities and outstanding water views.
Visionaries
Developers: Property Markets Group (PMG) and Greybrook Partners
Architect: Sieger Suarez Architects
Interior design: Cotofana Designs
Building Features
47-story tower located in Downtown Miami
Designed by internationally renowned architecture firm Sieger Suarez Architects
Views of the Miami skyline, unobstructed views of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean
Modern Residential Lobby with 24/7 Concierge
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Features the Latest Smart Building Technology
Destination Controlled Elevator Dispatch
Smart Package Lockers
Custom Society Residences app, linking residents to concierge services and building amenities- Digital Key- Guest Access- Payments- Package Deliveries- Messages from Management
Dry Cleaning & Laundry Service Lockers
Access-controlled entry points throughout
Valet Parking
Amenities
Lobby with Cocktail Bar and Restaurant by Jaguar Sun®
Over 19,000 square foot double-height amenity deck overlooking Downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay
Curated art and green walls throughout all common areas
132-Foot Resort Style Pool with private lounge areas
16 ft Poolside Screening LED Wall
Lawn with Theater
Sky Entertainment Lounge & Grilling Terrace featuring eight grills
Fully-furnished studios, 1, 2, and 3-bedroom residences
9’2” ceiling height with floor-to-ceiling windows
Balconies with stunning views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami city skyline
Porcelain wood-grain tile flooring throughout
Built-in full-size washer and dryer(in select residences)
Ecobee smart thermostat
Smart keyless entry
Pre-wired for high-speed communications, multiple telephone lines, and cable
Custom kitchen cabinetry by Italian design house Italkraft
Quartz kitchen counters
Frigidaire stainless-steel appliances including microwave, dishwasher, freestanding range oven, and refrigerator
Frameless glass-enclosed showers
Custom Italian vanities by Italkraft
Modern matte black kitchen and bathroom fixtures
Fully built-out California-style closet
Pricing:
Studios from $600K
One bedroom from $800K
Two bedrooms from $1.4M
Three bedrooms from $1.4M
The building is still under construction but the TCO is anticipated to be received by the end of June.
If you or someone you know have any interest in purchasing at Society Residences, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at 786-247-6332.
