Spinning Pan Am Globe Installed at Miami “World”center
Since the Miami Museum of Science closed its South Miami Avenue building in 2015, the enormous 1934 Pan Am globe of the world that once welcomed guests to the museum. The massive and vibrant sphere has since undergone substantial restoration, and it has been placed in its new, permanent outdoor location at the massive Miami Worldcenter complex in the Park West neighborhood.
In South Florida, the globe is a significant historical item. The former Pan American station on Dinner Key, which is now Miami City Hall, is where the 31-foot-5-inch, 6,500-pound globe was began.
Since moving it to the Frost Museum’s new facility would have been too difficult, the Miami Worldcenter will start spending $700,000 starting in 2020 to restore and weatherproof the globe with its original “approximately 1934” era lines.
A representative of the Miami Worldcenter stated “The Pan-Am globe depicts the world at a critical point in history – prior to World War II and when Miami was first realizing its position as a gateway for tourism and transportation.”
“It was important to the museum to find a partner that would care for this historic piece and ensure that the community can continue to enjoy this local icon,” stated the President and CEO of the Frost Museum.
Once complete, the Miami Worldcenter will feature 27-acres of retail, restaurants, shopping venues, and entertainment destinations. Retail will include 300,000 square feet of space and 40+ businesses.
Some notable retailers have already signed leases for the Miami Worldcenter which include Bowlero, Lucid Motors, and Sephora. Two luxurious restaurants are also named as the new lease holders, Maple & Ash and Laurel Brasserie. Maple & Ash is a famous Chicago restaurant that has now expanded to Arizona and now Miami. Laurel Brasserie is Miami Chef’s Michael Beltrans creation, with an anticipated opening date this summer.
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.
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.
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.
Miami Officials Plan to Move Office Headquarters to Miami Freedom Park
Inter Miami CF’s new stadium may gain some new neighbors, including the City of Miami’s headquarters. Officials in Miami are looking at a contract to build the municipal administration offices at Miami Freedom Park, a large mixed-use redevelopment of a golf course near Miami International Airport. The MLS team’s stadium would be the site’s main attraction, but there would also be commercial development.
The plan to construct a new municipal administration headquarters has been in the works for more than five years.
City voters approved a referendum to lease the present municipal administrative headquarters in 2018. The current lease includes a 3.15-acre property along the Miami River at 444 S.W. Second Ave., to Lancelot Miami River LLC, a unit of Miami-based Adler Group. The developer intends to build a mixed-use development there.
The agreement also required Lancelot Miami River to construct a new municipal administrative facility of about 230,000 square feet with at least 610 parking spots. The city would fund the building with a special obligation bond, but Lancelot Miami River would be in charge of construction.
The city originally planned to build its administrative center on the 1.6-acre Lancelot Miami River property at 230 S.W. Third St. However, the agreement has not yet been formalized.
The City Commission then approved the lease and development agreement for Miami Freedom Park in April. A 25,000-seat soccer stadium, 1 million square feet of retail and commercial space, and 750 hotel rooms would be included in the project. The proprietors of Inter Miami would completely fund this project, and the location would require extensive environmental remediation.
This new building would take up around 1/4 of the commercial area at Miami Freedom Park.
The current designs for the municipal administrative building, according to David S. Adler, head of Adler Group, are for Miami Freedom Park. This would free up its 1.6-acre Miami River property to expand its mixed-use development.
In April, David Beckham won approval for a land lease for a Major League Soccer stadium in that same location.
Miami Condo Investments Celebrates its 15 Year 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!
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.
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.
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.
