With plans for a 24-story tower in Brickell, a joint venture made up of two Mexican companies making their U.S. debut and a Miami-based partner is banking on Miami’s expanding apartment market.
Menesse International paid $23.5 million for the development site at 143 Southwest Ninth Street from a subsidiary of Miami-based Habitat Group.
According to property records, the current 5-story, 39-unit rental structure on the land was built in 1968 on 0.7 acres. According to a deed, Habitat Group paid $14.5 million for the location in 2018.
According to Andrew Rasken, managing director of Lucid Investment, the design calls for a Class A structure with 350 rental units, ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments, perched above an eight-story podium with around 180 parking spaces and ground-floor stores. The project, which was designed by Behar Font & Partners, will have all the facilities.
Menesse International, which plans, constructs, and consolidates projects, has built communities in Argentina and the Riviera Maya region of Mexico. It now has a portfolio of 22 projects with more than 1,200 sold units.
It is the group’s first cooperative endeavor in the country. It is also the newest project planned for the Brickell Financial District, where office building is being stimulated by a surge in residential construction and an infusion of new businesses.
Construction is expected to begin next year with an anticipated completion date in 2025.
CP Group and DRA Purchase Miami Tower for $163 Million
The famous Miami Tower was just purchased by CP Group and DRA Advisors for $163 million.
Since its completion in 1987, the 47-story office skyscraper by the late Pritzker-winning architect I.M. Pei has served as a landmark in Downtown Miami, illuminating Miami’s skyline with light displays.
The 636,000-square-foot skyscraper has 37 levels of offices, 10 floors of parking, an on-site Metromover station, and street-level retail space. It is situated at 100 SE 2nd Street, a block from the Miami River.
Leading hedge fund Citadel and its sister company Citadel Securities, a market maker, recently announced plans to move from Chicago to Brickell, Miami’s financial area. The company’s creator, millionaire Ken Griffin, paid $287 million for the office building 1221 Brickell and $363 million for a beachfront property on Brickell Bay Drive where he plans to erect an office skyscraper.
Miami Tower traded with a loss, as opposed to 1221 Brickell, which reported an 85% gain from its most recent sale in 2017. According to public documents, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas, the seller, paid $220 million for the property in 2016.
Losing a significant tenant contributed to Miami Tower’s depreciation. Last year, the law firm Carton Fields moved into the MiamiCentral building, leasing around 95,000 square feet. Currently, Miami Tower is only about 65 percent occupied, down from almost 100 percent in 2016.
According to a source, the property’s renovation by the new owners will probably cost more than $20 million.
The agreement is CP and DRA’s second joint venture in South Florida. For $320 million, New York-based DRA acquired CP’s majority ownership of the Boca Raton Innovation Campus office development. It continues to be the largest office trade in South Florida in terms of gross volume.
Location Ventures Proposes a 16 Story Condo 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.
70% Sold for Standard Residences
In November Rosso Development along with Standard International announced their collaboration on a development project in Midtown Miami, The Standard Residences. Now, the Standard has reached 70% sold in only 5 months.
Situated between the Design District and Wynwood, the Standard Residences will rise 12 stores and will feature 228 luxury hotel branded units curated by Urban Robot and Standard International. Arquitectonica is listed as the architect on the project.
The luxury units range from 432 to 965 square feet of living space with studio to two-bedroom floor plan options still available. Prices will range from $469,900 to $949,900
Price Breakdown
Studios starting at $469,900
1-bedroom starting at $699,900
1-Bedroom + Den starting at $809,900
2-bedrooms starting at $949,900
The units will feature cubby kitchens designed by Urban Robot, expansive 6′ deep terraces, and master baths with double showers. Unit owners will be able to rent their units for periods of up to 30 days with exclusive benefits to friends and family.
Amenities:
35,000 square feet of amenities
10,000 square feet of retail space
Expansive lobby with lounge areas and a cafe
Rooftop restaurant
Bar
60-foot resort-style pool
Sweat room and fitness center
Indoor pickleball court
Yoga and stretch studios
Karaoke bar
Pet Spa
Party room
Carols Rosso, owner of Rosso Development has stated that this is his first major development since he left the Related Group. Rosso hinted at additional Standard-branded residential projects in the pipeline.
Standard International, currently operates 16 hotels in the United States and across the world and owns a waterfront hotel on the Venetian Islands in Miami Beach named the Standard Spa.
The sales gallery is still under construction and is expected to be completed in June 2022. Construction on the actual tower has already started and the expected completion date is in 2023.
Triple Tower Development Proposed by Hyatt and Gencom on the Miami River
Hyatt and Gencom have recently formed a partnership with the goal to redevelop downtown Miami’s Hyatt Regency into a 3 tower development site located directly on the Miami River. This development is expected to enhance access in and out of the city, and revitalize a major section of Miami’s riverfront.
The proposal calls for a privately funded makeover that includes a reinvented Hyatt Regency hotel with over 1,500 residential apartments, meeting space, and open-air public space along the Miami River.
Three skyscrapers are planned for the site. 682 multifamily apartments, a 615-room Hyatt Regency with over 100,000 square feet of conference space, and 264 serviced apartments will be housed in Towers 1 and 2, which will rise 61 stories.
Tower three, which is expected to have 860 residential units, will be one of South Florida’s highest structures dubbing it a supertall tower. According to a spokesperson of the joint venture, the supertall tower would be 1,049 feet tall, which is the highest height allowed by Miami’s zoning standards.
The towers will be above a podium structure with 190,000 square feet of Class A conference space, which is a 50 percent increase over the James L. Knight Center’s current capacity.
Tower Proposal
1,806 apartments
20,000 sq. ft. of co-working space
615 rooms under the Hyatt Regency hotel brand
190,000 sq. ft. of meeting space
12,000 sq. ft. of food and beverage/retail space
Restaurant and lounge located in a skybridge linking the two shorter towers just 700 ft high
50,000+ sq. ft. of public space
1,100 parking spaces
Rebuilt riverwalk spanning 480 feet
Covered pedestrian bridge connection to Metromover’s Knight Center Station
Arquitectonica is listed as the architect. Construction on the Hyatt Regency Miami property is planned to begin in 2025 if voters approve the project in November 2022.
Calta Group Purchases Hollywood Development Site for $9.5 Million
A new apartment development could be in the works in downtown Hollywood. The Calta Group recently purchased the site located at 2215-2239 Hollywood Blvd for $9.5 million.
The 1.6-acre site was sold by Hollywood Construction & Development LLC which is managed by Joseph Horn of Miami. The same company purchased the site just late year in May 2021 for $7.7 million.
Several retail and office buildings currently occupy the site and would need to be demolished once the project is approved. The Calta Group, which is led by Ignazio, Gaetano Caltagirone, and Igor Blatnik plans to develop an 8-story apartment tower. The tower itself would feature 180 units and 1,800 square feet of ground-floor retail space.
The original design was proposed in 2019 by Borges Architects + Associates who would remain the lead for the project.
Amenities:
Pool deck
Business center
Gym
The groundbreaking will be scheduled for the 4th quarter of 2022 but the Calta Group still needs to select a general contractor for the project.
The Calta Group continues to make headway in Hollywood with their total construction projects reaching $1.5 billion.
JMH Development to Build 7 Story Luxury Tower in Miami Beach
The long-awaited Miami Beach condo project by JMH Development can finally move forward after the lawsuit against the developer was dismissed. The lawsuit included the actual condo site where the plans for this new tower would be constructed.
The project has been put on hold for 5 years due to a dispute between the original partnership of Jason Halpern (Managing Partner for JMH Development) and companies owned by Dhruv Piplani. In 2017, Piplani filed suit again Halpren and accused them of selling the property without permission of the co-investors.
When originally purchased, the property was purchased for $7.75 million by 29 ICD LLC, managed by Gerard Longo, who is noted as a longtime business partner of Halpren.
To add fuel to the fire, in 2020, Halpern filed for a $5.25 million mortgage foreclosure against the property. The original case was dismissed due to a breach of contract because PSB Indian Creek failed to make the $800,000 contribution toward the project in 2016.
According to Halpren, “In addition to Justice Masley’s ruling in favor of JMH Development across the board, the court awarded our client attorneys’ fees. This is a big win for our client, and demonstrates the egregious nature of the claims made against them.”
The project itself will be located at 2901 and 2911 Indian Creek Drive in Miami Beach. It is approved to rise up to 7 stories with 22 luxury condo units. The property itself will have to stay under 17,150 square feet and will also feature a rooftop pool, as well as a parking garage for 22 cars.
As More Companies Migrate to South Florida-Miami Commercial Real Estate Booms
As more companies migrate to south Florida, we are seeing more office spaces renting out, new mixed-use construction and now more than ever, new mixed-use projects. More recently, RAL Tricap Wynwood LLC has proposed a mixed-use twin tower project in the Wynwood Arts District.
Located at Northwest Fifth Avenue and 27th Street, these two 8 story buildings are proposed to have over 250,000 square feet of office and retail space. Dubbed the names, Wyn on 5th North and WYN on 5th South, this twin developments was review by the city in March 2022 and the developers are just waiting on final approvals.
Wyn on 5th North will feature 106,414 square feet of office plus 6,961 square feet of retail and 268 parking space with available bike spaces. Wyn on 5th South will showcase 139,254 square feet of offices, 16,000 square feet of retail, and 377 parking spaces. Each garage will be enclosed and will feature a roof deck.
The project was envisioned to encompass work and play into one creative space. The developer is looking to advertise to local and national companies who wish to be at the beginning stages of the Miami’s financial and tech scene.
According to the attorney, Steve Wernick, “Together, the buildings create a landmark arrival and visual gateway into the Wynwood Arts District from NW 5th Avenue, and significant public realm improvements that will enhance the connectivity and pedestrian experience of Wynwood – extending 24/7 activity to the Fifth Avenue corridor.”
The project itself will be designed Arquitectónica. Although the board recommended approval they still had some commend concerning the design, which were called “two decorated boxes.” They wish to see buildings that resembled more of what the Wynwood Design District is and what the area is all about. Another recommendation included the artwork on the exterior of the building to encompass the vibe of Wynwood.
Can the Metaverse Change the Miami Real Estate Market?
“Metaverse” is a massive buzzword in the realms of technology, business, and finance right now, and like all buzzwords, its definition is hazy, debated, and molded by the objectives of those who use it. Now, the Metaverse is being debated whether it can be a real estate game-changer.
One Miami commercial group is trying to make their listings more attractive by utilizing the Metaverse. Currently, Inhouse Commercial is partnering with the Metaverse Group to create a virtual copy of the two buildings that they have for sale in Miami Beach.
The properties are located at 930 and 960 Alton Road, and whoever purchases the properties, will receive the digital copies of the buildings in the Metaverse. The total asking price for the package is $25 million.
The property is owned by the former Miami Beach Mayor, Phillip Levine. It has been on the market since early 2021. Although the property has received multiple offers, the company stated that they believe they could lure in a big tech company with the Metaverse addition.
Metaverse Group, a significant virtual real estate owner and developer, has so far only created representations of the virtual property. According to Matt Zanardo, the firm’s consulting head, it will wait until Inhouse finds a buyer to completely build it out and choose the metaverse where it will reside.
According to Inhouse’s owner, “Companies and brands in our line of business were entering the metaverse, and we saw there was probably going to be a need for a connection to the real world.”
Recently, a number of organizations and brands have entered the metaverse recent months, and the feasibility of the virtual real estate industry has yet to be shown.
If the company succeeds with this deal, this will be the first-ever commercial/metaverse purchase and will forever change how commercial properties are presented to developers as well as other potential buyers.
Aston Martin Residences Miami Exceeds 90% in Sales Breaking Records in January and February 2022
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.
