Almi Reveals Plans and Renderings for Midtown Miami-Midtown 7 Residential Tower

Midtown 7 in Midtown Miami
Midtown 7 in Midtown Miami

In November 2021, Almi Developers announced plans for a residential tower in Midtown Miami, Midtown 7. The project is now moving forward with new construction plans filed as well as new renderings released.

AMLI Residential purchased the 1.85-acre site located at 3001 N.E. First Ave, Miami for $30.5 million. The site is approved for 389 residential units totaling 451,469 square feet. ALMI Residential is considered one of the largest apartment developers in the United States.

The recently submitted designs call for Midtown 7 to include 389 residential units, 28,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, and 501 parking spaces. It will rise 31 stories tall, or 350 feet and the zoning for Miami 21 requires 452 spaces but does allow reductions.

There will be four levels of the podium and three levels of parking. Although attractive garage screening is envisioned, the parking will not be concealed by the residential lining.

Midtown 7 Amenities

  • Concierge
  • Private Pool
  • Covered Parking
  • Secure Entrance
  • 24-Hour Security
  • Gym
  • Social area/ Entertainment room

The architect creating the revised plans is Arquitectonica. On September 21, there will be a hearing before the Urban Development Review Board.

Almi Residential Midtown 7 Miami

Sales Officially Launch for 21-Story Tower Shoma Bay Condos in North Bay Village

Shoma Bay Exterior
Shoma Bay Exterior

At a North Bay Village property it purchased earlier this year, Shoma Group is changing its plans from apartments to residential condos.

Shoma Group, led by Chairman Masoud Shojaee and President Stephanie Shojaee, is beginning sales of the Shoma Bay condos, with prices beginning in the $400,000s. ISG World, led by Craig Studnicky, was chosen by the Coral Gables-based developer to handle the units’ sales and marketing.

Shoma Bay will be a mixed-use development with 21 stories and 327 residences on a 2.8-acre plot of land.

In May, Shoma paid nearly $16 million for the property at 1850 79th Street Causeway with plans for a Publix-anchored residential and retail complex. The project, which includes a 36,000-square-foot Publix and around 6,300 square feet of retail space, including a rooftop lounge and a food hall called Shoma Bazaar, was approved by North Bay Village in March.

Condos are replacing rentals as South Florida’s rent growth finally starts to slow down. Similar adjustments have been made by other developers. A new rental skyscraper in downtown Miami was converted to a condo tower in July by Property Markets Group and Greybrook, and is currently known as The Elser Hotel & Residences.

The Shoma Bay will have apartments ranging in size from 360 square foot studios to roughly 1,500 square foot three bedroom condos. According to a spokeswoman, the average cost per square foot for all units is around $900.

Building completion could happen in the latter half of 2024, with construction set to start early next year. The interiors are being designed by Adriana Hoyos, with MSA Architects serving as the project architect.

There will include a lounge, bar, spa, gym, pool deck, library, and kids’ club among the amenities. A 2,600-square-foot co-working area and electric vehicle charging stations will also be included in the structure.

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

Shoma Bay Condos Parking Garage

New Research Shows Miami is on the Way to Being the Next Silicon Valley

Miami Becoming Silicon Valley
Miami Becoming Silicon Valley

According to recent research from Moody’s Analytics, a division of New York-based Moody’s Corporation, the expansion of Miami-Dade County’s finance and technology sectors significantly boosted the region’s office market throughout the pandemic leaving the potential for Miami to replace Silicon Valley.

Miami has the potential to develop into a prosperous tech center, according to Lu Chen, a senior economist at Moody’s and co-author of “The Growing Power of Tech on Miami’s Commercial Real Estate Market.”

Fintech companies have found The Magic City to be the most alluring. According to the survey, businesses from New York are increasingly choosing to relocate to Miami due to high taxes, building/office costs, as well as housing.

For instance, the report stated that the fintech business FundKite moved its headquarters from New York to Miami “because it has become a solid hub for the financial industry and has a lot of good expertise and manpower accessible.”

This continued pattern has allowed the office landlords in Miami-Dade County to raise rent demands faster than the national average, including in San Francisco, California.

According to the survey, incomes for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) workers in South Florida have not increased as much as asking rents in Miami-Dade.

The average salary for STEM workers nationwide increased by 6.8% in 2021 compared to the previous year. San Francisco saw a 1.9% increase in STEM earnings. Their increase in South Florida was only 0.9%.

As of August 13, the typical STEM job nationwide paid $53,428 per year. STEM jobs in Florida typically pay $40,081 a year. In California, STEM salaries pay an average of $48,899 annually.

In contrast to the San Francisco Bay area and other well-established technology centers, South Florida has a very small proportion of the total number of tech jobs.

According to Chen, only 3% of jobs in South Florida are in the high-tech sector, compared to 23.5% in the San Francisco area.

Other challenges for Miami’s expanding technology sector, according to Moody’s, include the impact of climate change, South Florida’s transportation infrastructure, the underrepresentation of minorities in higher-level positions, and concerns about educational standards.

The San Francisco Bay area has significantly more prestigious universities that develop technology talent, according to the study on education. The report states that “Miami must attract more students interested in tech.”

However, the survey noted that there is cause for hope because there are regional initiatives like Computer Equity Miami that seek to increase accessibility to tech education for all of its citizens. Miami’s advantages also include a high concentration of banks and businesspeople.

South Florida ranks sixth in the nation for the proportion of all U.S. entrepreneurs. Moody’s attributed this ranking to the region’s 150 banks and 500,000 accredited investors, which offer a variety of choices for raising financing.

Miami is attracting a lot of interest from bitcoin businesses as a result of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and other local leaders placing significant bets on the technology.

Suarez’s efforts to establish Miami as a crypto hub, according to David Caputo, a commercial real estate data quality analyst for Moody’s, have aided in luring crypto businesses to that city, including Blockchain.com, which has reportedly facilitated more than $1 trillion in crypto transactions since its establishment in 2011.

According to Moody’s research, the future of cryptocurrencies may very well determine Miami’s status as a global tech hub. Although the value of cryptocurrencies has fallen recently, the report’s co-author Caputo claimed there isn’t much of a negative for Miami.


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.

Edgewater Tower Proposed by Aimco is Denied Approval

AIMCO-Edgewater New Construction
AIMCO-Edgewater New Construction

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.

Miami Condo Investments Celebrates its 15 Year Anniversary

Miami Condo Investments 15th Anniversary
Miami Condo Investments 15th Anniversary

On May 17th 2007, Lucas Lechuga launched one of the most successful condo websites in Miami. With just a desire to bring better user experience, real estate listings, and news, Lechuga has achieved just that and so much more!

Over the years, he was able to develop a way for users to search for their potential properties through alternative methods instead of the traditional zip code searches and he also found a way for consumers to access market statistics without ever having to make a call or enduring tedious research methods.

In 2017, for the 10 year anniversary of the website, the average users ranged from 40,000 unique visitors per month globally from 200 countries. Still pacing as the #1 Miami Condos Website, 2022 brings over 100,000 unique visitors per month globally just through Google.

Not only does Miami Condo Investments offer a unique real estate listing experience, but you can also enjoy new construction tower updates, real-time inventory data, condo ranking system, up-to-date condo tower photos, rentals, and a real estate blog posted daily.

We are also in the process of some new landing pages aiming to be even more user and mobile friendly, searching with specific criteria, and a new mobile app. We will update everyone once we get closer to a launch date.

As far as the team…During our last anniversary, our team included six agents and now our team is growing along with the website. We have reached 9 agents that assist buyers and sellers with all of their real estate needs. We also have 3 office admins, including assistants and marketing pros.

We are so grateful for all of the accomplishments that this website and our team has completed over the past 15 years and we can’t forget about our readers and clients. Thank you so much for allowing Miami Condo Investments to be your most knowledgable partner while navigating the real estate market. We look forward to serving you and Miami the next 15 years!

Sales for Waldorf Astoria Miami Hotel and Residences Reaches 84% Sold

Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Residences Miami
Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Residences Miami

Developers for the Waldorf Astoria Miami Hotel and Residences have just announced that sales have officially reached 84% prior to breaking ground on the construction site. This is of no surprise considering most the demand for new construction condos in Miami.

Sales were launched in March 2021, and they claim that the market has been so robust that 75 percent of the inventory has been sold in the first nine months.

The 100-story tower assembled to look like staggered glass boxes in downtown Miami is the result of a collaboration between PMG, Greybrook Realty Partners, and Hilton. Rising 1,048 feet tall, Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Residences Miami will be the tallest Miami tower and Miami’s first supertall skyscraper.

This luxury project will include 360 condo residences, 205-key hotel rooms operated by Waldorf Astoria. 

Towe Amenities:

  • Private bar/wine tasting room
  • Signature restaurant
  • Meeting and boardrooms
  • All-day dining brasserie
  • Waldorf Astoria Kids Club
  • Peacock Alley
  • True Waldorf service and concierge
  • 24-hour valet parking
  • Waldorf Astoria immersive resort-style pool with outdoor cafe and private cabanas
  • 24-hour doormen and lobby desk attendants
  • Live-in resident manager and 24-hour security
  • 24-hour concierge services as well as access to dedicated on-site professionals
  • Signature spa
  • A leading-edge fitness center with private training studios
  • Owners Lounge with high ceilings, billiard and entertainment room, and adjacent catering kitchen
  • Private residential pool deck with whirlpools and lounging areas
  • Frontdoor package and service delivery via signature Concierge Closet
  • Exclusive Waldorf Astoria Miami access and benefits, including preferred spa and restaurant rates and access to a la carte hotel services

Residence Features:

  • The latest “smart building” technology with a custom Waldorf Astoria Residences app linking residents to 24-hour concierge services and building amenities
  • 10-foot-high ceilings with floor-to-ceiling windows sporting stunning views of the city, Biscayne Bay, Miami Beach, and the Atlantic Ocean
  • All residential interiors designed by award-winning interior design firm BAMO
  • A contemporary lighting package including recessed lighting, dimmers, and lighting control
  • Includes integrated audio, video, and lighting systems
  • Fully built-out closets in all residences curated by BAMO
  • Flooring selections included with specifications recommended by BAMO
  • Built-in top-of-the-line in-unit washer and dryer
  • Valet parking included
  • Pre-wired for high-speed communications and data connection
  • Sub-Zero and Wolf appliance package with wine storage and integrated paneled microwave, dishwasher, built-in convection oven, and refrigerator/freezer
  • Kitchens featuring custom Italian cabinetry curated by BAMO
  • Dornbracht and Duravit bathroom fixtures and accessories
  • Master bathrooms with rainfall showers and custom Italian vanities

The building was designed by Carlos Ott and Sieger Suarez Architects. The design will resemble nine large, staggered/stacked glass cubes. The interiors of Waldorf Astoria Residences Miami were designed by BAMO.

According to the developers, the ground-breaking is expected to be this summer. Residences start at $1 million and the tower is expected to be complete in 2025.

Aston Martin Residences Miami Exceeds 90% in Sales Breaking Records in January and February 2022

Aston Martin Residences Miami Rendering
Aston Martin Residences Miami Rendering

Developers for Aston Martin Residences Miami recently announced that sales continue to climb and there seems to be no stopping the upward direction of unit prices. Sales for this new tower have surpassed 90%, beating its own records for both January and February 2022.

According to Alejandro Aljanati, CMO of G&G Business Developments, the business behind the project in partnership with premium brand Aston Martin, January and February 2022 combined completed over $100 million in sales. There are more under contract leaving less than 40 units available for much anticipated luxury tower.

According to Aljanati with the tower 90% sold, “This is called scarcity and rarity. There’s no inventory. The whole building is increasing prices. So even if you bought an apartment six months ago, you will make a very good profit.”

The tower’s penthouse, which is the only triplex penthouse in an Aston Martin structure, has boosted its asking price from $50 million to $59 million as a result of the increasing demand. The purchase still includes the extremely rare Aston Martin Vulcan.

Units range from studio to 4 bedroom floor plans with square footage beginning at 698. River and Panoramic units start at $750,000 and rise to $8+ million depending on the floor plan and unit location. As for the Sky and Penthouse residences, units begin at $14 million reaching well over $50 million.

Development Information

  • Developer: G&G Business Developments
  • General Construction: Coastal Construction
  • Architect and Design Team: Luis Revuelta of Miami and Bodas-Miani-Anger of Argentina

Residence Features

  • Private service entrance at basement level for all move-ins and personnel
  • Bulthaup custom cabinetry in kitchens
  • White marble floors throughout the entire unit and porcelain in all balconies
  • Quartz countertops in the kitchen. Piatra Grey (Ceasarstone) or similar
  • Gagganeau appliances in all residences: (sizes depends on units)
  • Duravit wall-mounted toilets in all units throughout the building and bidets in select units
  • All bathrooms feature marble floorings and walls (Thassos or similar
  • Hansgrohe faucets in secondary bathrooms and exclusive Axor model in master and powder bathrooms
  • Italian Bertolotto doors with AGB hardware in all units
  • Wood-paneled front doors to residence with programmable smartphone technologies such as NFC and Bluetooth
  • Floor soundproofing system installed throughout all units including all bathrooms
  • Walls dividing units with corridors will be 10″ wide with layers of Quiet Rock improving soundproofing
  • German Schuco hardware on sliding glass doors
  • ThyssenKrupp “Destination Dispatch” elevator system from main lobbies getting passengers to their destination in the shortest travel time and enabling access only to their own floor for enhanced security
  • High-speed elevators going up to 1200 feet per minute
  • High-speed internet and Wi-Fi hotspots in all common areas
  • Cast iron pipes and risers avoiding Waterflow noises

Amenities

  • Full-service building with concierge and hospitality-inspired services
  • Super Yacht Marina facilities
  • “The Aston Martin Club” membership
  • Rooftop infinity pool located on 55th floor
  • Fitness Spa and Fitness Center with Meditation
    Room and Treatments Suites
  • Private Steam, Sauna, and Locker Facilities
  • Pet-friendly building
  • Building designed with a helipad on the rooftop
  • 24-hour valet and covered garage self-parking
  • Valet charging stations for electric cars
  • Valet Butler
  • Additional bicycle and private storage spaces
  • 10 destination controlled super hi-speed elevators
    and separate dedicated service elevators
  • Digital connection to concierge and all building
    amenities from every residence
  • State-of-the-art Business Center and Conference Rooms
  • Art Gallery and Art Lobby on 53rd floor
  • Private Residence Movie Theatre, Event Space,
    Kids Playroom, Teen Center, and Game Rooms
  • Virtual Golf
  • Beauty Salon with blow-dry station, pedicure chair,
    manicure table, and wash stations

Construction for Aston Martin Residences Miami is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.  If you or someone you know have any interest in purchasing at Aston Martin Residences, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at 786-247-6332.

Plans for Twin Condo Towers at the Turnberry Yacht Club Proposed

Turnberry Isle Condo Proposed in Aventura
Twin Condo Towers Proposed in Aventura

Jeffrey Soffer, CEO of YCM Acquisition LLC, has submitted a site plan to build on a section of the 18.4-acre site located at 19500 and 19735 N.E. 36th Street in Aventura. The current site is comprised of 7.6 acres of buildable land and 10.8 acres of submerged land.

Currently on the site is a marina, a 50-room hotel, a clubhouse, a spa, and tennis courts. The two proposed condos would replace the hotel, eight tennis courts, and a portion of the parking lot that is currently on the site.

The twin towers would be labeled as towers north and south and would rise 24 stories tall. The north tower would equal 398,000 square feet in the first phase of the project, with 145 condominiums, 10 service apartments, and 320 parking spots.

The residential units would range from 1,730 square feet for the two-bedroom floor plan to 4,990 square feet for the three-bedroom floor plan.

The service apartments would be smaller and range from 367 to 638 square feet. These suites would only be for guests of owners and can be purchased by the owners.

Each condominium would have its own pool, exercise facility, and social areas. Two additional tennis courts would also be built in the south tower.

Soffer is making a name for himself in Aventura, first with the Turnberry Ocean Club and a building north in Tequesta and now with this new development.

No dates have been submitted for the review of the proposal. Arquitectonica is the architect for these twin towers.

New York Developer Secures $108M Construction Loan for a 42 Story

Caoba Phase 2 New Construction Tower at Miami Worldcenter
Caoba Phase 2 New Construction Tower at Miami Worldcenter

New York developer has secured a $108 million construction loan to construct an apartment building at the 27-acre Miami Worldcenter development in downtown Miami. The site covers approximately 20,980 square feet and is located at 697 N. Miami Avenue.

The New York developer under the name Block G Phase 2 LLC, which is managed by Mark Lapidus received the mortgage from Los Angeles Cim Real Estate Credit. Lapidus is the former WeWork CEO.

This property will be part of the current tower at Caoba apartments and will be designated as the second phase of this current tower. The new tower will be connected to the amenity deck of Caoba, which was originally opened in 2019.

The tower was originally approved in 2018 and was reactivated again in September 2021.

Construction is already underway and this second phase will feature 420 units rising 42 stories. The square footage for this property includes a project of 473,330 square feet which will include 4,103 square feet of retail.

The renderings show that the tower will not a parking garage but will share the amenity pool deck. It will also be a bit smaller in height and width but should remain very similar to the current design of Caoba. The cost of the project is estimated to be $82,833,750.

Coastal Construction and AECOM Tishman, is listed as the general contractor. The project is projected to be completed in late 2022 or early 2023.