New Japanese Steakhouse Coming to Brickell by Bad Bunny and David Grutman
Bad Bunny is partnering with David Grutman and his hospitality group, Groot Hospitality, to open a new Japanese steakhouse known as Gekko. Coming this July to Miami’s Brickell, Gekko will be located under the SLS Lux tower at 801 S. Miami Avenue where Katsuya is currently located.
Its menu will feature prime cuts and various Wagyu beef dishes with dashes of Korean BBQ spices. Guests may also expect sophisticated table-side culinary displays, such as flame-seared steak courses, as well as traditional Japanese fare including a full sushi menu and a six-seat omakase bar.
Gekko’s design will be created by The Rockwell Group, and will have “luxurious-yet-contemporary” graphic wall coverings, jewel tones, light and natural wood accents, and seating for 185 guests. On the very colorful and Instagrammable South Miami Avenue area, the location is located on the northwestern ground floor portion of the SLS Lux Brickell tower.
Gekko will join Grutman and Groot Hospitality’s ever-expanding Miami restaurant portfolio, which already includes Papi Steak, Komodo, and Key Club, as well as Swan and Strawberry Moon, his two restaurants with Pharrell Williams.
The Japanese word “Gekko” means “moonlight,” which is appropriate for a city known for its nightlife. It’s also a double entendre reference to Michael Douglas’ famous Wall Street character Gordon Gekko. “On the day we were deciding on a name, Bunny was smitten with ‘Gekko. That night, I watched a Carl Icahn documentary,” Grutman says. “It all came together, and we had it.”
540 Unit Tower Planned for Miami’s Art & Entertainment District
With plans for a 540-unit apartment skyscraper in Miami’s burgeoning Arts & Entertainment District, LCOR is making its South Florida development debut.
According to public documents, Pennsylvania-based, LCOR purchased 1.1 acres of land at 1775 Biscayne Boulevard from a corporation owned by Aventura orthopedic surgeon Barry Silverman and his wife, Judy Silverman. The location lies on the outskirts of Miami’s Edgewater district.
Webster Bank provided LCOR with a $33.4 million loan while Walker & Dunlop’s Keith Kurland and Michael Stepniewski represented them in the financing transaction.
According to the developer’s news release, LCOR has proposed a 40-story skyscraper with studios to two-bedroom apartments all equipped with stainless steel appliances, washers and dryers, and quartz countertops.
Amenities:
600 space garage
WiFi throughout the building
Gym
Rooftop pool deck
Outdoor patio
Grilling space
Tenant lounges
Co-working spaces
Conference spaces
Package retrieval services
14,000 square feet of ground-floor shops
The Silvermans initially planned a 53-story mixed-use skyscraper on the site with 444 residential apartments, 200 hotel keys, 45,600 square feet of commercial space, 64,500 square feet of office space, and a 546-parking garage through their V Downtown subsidiary. A Miami board approved the necessary exemptions for the construction in 2017, but the project was never completed.
LCOR’s first ground-up project in South Florida, according to the statement, but the business has been investing in the region and other Southeast regions for more than a decade.
According to its website, LCOR is a real estate developer, manager, and investor with a $9.5 billion portfolio of finished, under construction, and pre-development projects. The California State Teachers Retirement System, Ares Management, and PGIM are among its partners. LCOR’s CEO is Anthony Barsanti, and its senior vice president is Anthony Tortora.
Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2024 with completion in 2026.
Cavalli Tower Proposed at Champlain Tower South Site
DAMAC Properties recently announced that it has officially received approval to purchase land in the Surfside neighborhood of Miami in a $120 million deal. This land is none other than the site where the Champlain Tower South deadly collapse occurred just last year. DAMAC Properties intends on building a luxury branded tower on the site, Cavalli.
The site itself is located at 8777 Collins Ave Surfside featuring 1.8 acres and was sold to DAMAC through a court process and without any other competing bids on the property.
Prior to DAMAC taking an interest in the site, it was listed for $95.6 million. Sajwani offered the $120 million with the stipulation that he would obtain possession by the spring of 2022. One of the other stipulations was that Sajwani had to pay a $16 million deposit to make the contract valid.
Hussain Sajwani, Founder and Chairman of DAMAC Properties stated, “DAMAC Properties has long been eyeing development opportunities in Miami. We see the city, which is known for being a luxury and fashion centre, as a natural fit for our Company, which has an established reputation for its branded luxury offerings.”
While this is Sajwani’s first United States development, he has an extensive portfolio with establishments of his company in global cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Baghdad, and London. Sajwani has heavily invested in luxury fashion, real estate, hospitality, and manufacturing.
According to Sajwani, “Our global expansion into the United States marks a major milestone and demonstrates that DAMAC is a force to be reckoned with. This is an exciting time, and we have a lot in store.”
Brick & Timber Collective Recently Purchased a Wynwood Mixed-Use Property for $9 Million
Brick & Timber Collective just increased their Wynwood portfolio with an off-market $9 million purchase of a newly finished mixed-use property.
The developer and real estate asset manager from San Francisco purchased a 3-story office and retail property at 2724 and 2734 Northwest First Avenue.
The mixed-use property is located across the street from Wynd 27 and Wynd 28. Kushner Companies and Block Capital Group are developing the site, with 152 apartments, 79,500 square feet of office, and retail space.
The building was purchased for $900 per square foot by Brick & Timber Collective, managed by partners Jesse Feldman and Glenn Gilmore. The property is leased to a bay area tech business that finished a 10,000 square feet makeover was finished one month ago.
According to public records, the seller, a subsidiary of Miami-based Fortis Design-Build, paid $1.8 million for the two properties in 2018.
The structure, designed by Florida International University Dean of Architecture Jason Chandler, has ground-floor retail, second-floor office space, and a rooftop deck that may be expanded, according to Polinsky.
This isn’t the first Wynwood project Brick & Timber Collective has been involved in. The company purchased a Wynwood Annex Class A office building in February for $49 million but plans on buying more properties in Wynwood in the future.
Brick & Timber Collective specializes in leasing office space to technology startups, and has been exploring Miami, notably Wynwood, for more than a year. “We were scanning the rest of the country to see which market would profit from the tech industry in the same manner that San Francisco has and we landed in Miami and Wynwood. There is a significant migratory change in progress.”
Renderings and Sales Launched for Major Residences Miami
Major news for the infamous hospitality group, Major Food Group! Major Residences (renamed 888 Residences), the 1,049-foot-tall skyscraper, is setting a new benchmark from the minute tourists approach the site. Major ushers in lifestyle-driven hospitality and great home architecture for Miami as a combined vision of four industry heavyweights, MFG, JDS, Studio Sofield, and Ken Fulk.
According to the group, “This is the tallest, the most brilliantly designed, the best-in-class hospitality experience, with the best club, in the best city in the world.”
Major Residences will be located at 888 Brickell Avenue in Miami and will have 259 unique luxury apartments ranging from 1 to 4 bedrooms designed by Studio Sofield and set to open in early 2026, with sales for the project commencing July 2022. Each of the Major units will be designed as a hybrid plan, with a “lockout” function that allows for smooth conversions between a private residence, suite, and/or guest room.
Amenities:
Access to the exclusive Major Club
Entertainment
Sports
Leisure
Wellness
Fitness
Pool deck
Terrazzo-clad sun deck
Private cabanas
Poolside service w/ a Major Food Group restaurant
115,000 square feet of facilities
The Food & Beverage program will contain trademark Major Food Group brands and wholly new ideas developed by longstanding partner Ken Fulk, unique to Major Residences Miami.
The tower, designed by William Sofield, has a beautiful façade of ivory travertine and high-gloss steel columns, giving it a defined, graphic look and distinguishing it from the surrounding structures.
The Porte-cochere, in a significant architectural gesture of skill and quality, greets with Gatsby-level enthusiasm via gold leaf trims, massive slabs of travertine, and white-glove service, setting the tone for the building’s mood.
Major Residences Miami is estimated to be completed summer of 2026. If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at Major Residences Miami, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at lucas@miamicondoinvestments.com or by phone at (786)247-6332.
Two Roads Development Buys $150 Million Edgewater Site for a 3 Tower Project
Two Roads Development recently purchased a $150 million development site in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood, with the intent to build a 3-tower luxury condominium complex.
With the purchase of Biscayne 21, a 1960s-era condo with 191 units, Two Roads obtained the 3.5-acre beachfront lot located at 2121 North Bayshore Drive for $150 million.
Arquitectonica’s Bernardo Fort-Brescia will design the tower, which will contain branded apartments and luxury condo units.
Three Roads Development plans to build the 3 towers rising 60 stories tall or about 649 feet tall with up to 750 residential units and apartments.
The sellers which include 176 unit owners, were represented by an Avison Young team led by John Crotty and Michael Fay. More than two years ago, the unit owners came together and hired Avison Young to offer their property in bulk to Two Roads Development.
According to the Avison Young team, the unit owners were able “to negotiate for a multiple of more than three times what the sellers would have sold their individual units for on a one-off basis.”
Two Roads is a West Palm Beach and Miami-based developer that is known for its other towers including Elysee and Biscayne Beach.
First Rendering Revealed of New Supertall Tower by Major Food Group-Major Residences
JDS Development Group has partnered with Major Food Group to build one of the tallest residential towers in Brickell. Today, the developer has released the first official rendering along with some construction updates.
The project (now renamed 888) will be located at 888 Brickell Avenue with 259 branded units. Rising 82 stories or 1,049 feet tall and just over 1 million square feet in, this will be Major Food Groups’ first residential project.
Studio Sofield is the architect designing the tower, lobby, and units. Ken Fulk Inc. will be responsible for the club, food, and beverage spaces.
With Major Food Group expansion in South Florida with Carbone, ZZ’s, and many more, you can expect to have 2 to 3 Major Food Group restaurants and bars.
Major Food Group has more than 30 restaurants, clubs, and hotels in the United States and overseas. This project is currently being reviewed by Miami-Dade planners for approval.
There are currently 8 supertall towers planned for Miami including:
Construction at one of the newest Brickell towers, Una Residences Miami has gone vertical. Recently, a tower crane was seen being installed to begin the actual construction of the tower.
Since the project began construction in 2022, the developers began with one of the most extensive projects of the construction, the underground parking garage. At 100,000 square feet, the garage is considered one of the most expensive and deepest garages in Miami with the ability to house 236 cars. The garage itself is 3 stores below sea level.
With the parking garage located under the building, the developers were able to increase the height of the lobby and include 20-foot tall glass windows that will overlook the pool deck.
UNA Residences will feature floor-to-ceiling glass surfaces on every floor ‘reflecting the Miami sunshine,’ 10′ 8″ foot ceilings in every residence, and the most spectacular views of Biscayne Bay and the Rickenbacker causeway. Prices for these remarkable units range from $942,000 to $6,643,000.
BUILDING FEATURES
135 luxury condominium residences
Iconic 45-story waterfront condominium
2 to 5 bedroom residences ranging from 1,100 to 4,786 sq ft
Unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean, Biscayne Bay, and the city skyline
High-efficiency and noise-reducing floor-to-ceiling exterior glass
Three levels of underground parking
RESIDENCE FEATURES
Private elevator entries into each residence
Expansive terraces with effortless “lift-and-glide” floor-to-ceiling doors and glass balcony railings
10’8″ ceiling heights, above Miami standard
Chef’s kitchens with Gaggenau ovens, electric induction cooktops, microwaves, dishwashers, and refrigerators/freezers
Master suites with separate his and hers closets and bathrooms
Utility rooms with full-sized washers and dryers
Flow-through residences with east-to-west ocean and city exposures on the top floors
Two penthouses, each with a private pool and 11’7″ to 12’4″ ceilings
AMENITIES
Bayfront pool
Outdoor lap pool
Family pool
Jacuzzi
Catering kitchen
Kids’ splash-pad area
Owners’ lounge
Private dining/party room
Movie theater
Kids’ playroom
Outdoor lounge
Baywalk access
State-of-the-art fitness center, with yoga and personal training areas, plus his and hers dressing rooms
Private marina
Spa with steam room and sauna, as well as indoor and outdoor private massage treatment rooms overlooking the bay
Dedicated beauty suite for private hairstyling, manicure, and pedicure appointments
Beautifully landscaped outdoor terraces
Dog-walk area
Private air-conditioned storage areas
SERVICES
24-hour concierge service
Combination of valet service and self-parking
Package room
UNA Residences Miami is estimated to be completed summer of 2022. If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at Una Residences, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at lucas@miamicondoinvestments.com or by phone at (786)247-6332.
Construction Begins at Aria Reserve Miami
Today marked the official start of construction for Aria Reserve Miami with a groundbreaking ceremony. In attendance were the developers, the Melo Group, Mayor Suarez, and many others. The groundbreaking took place near the ocean at the Edgewater site just steps away from the sales center.
Speakers included Guopo Melo, Mayor Suarez, and sales staff for Aria Reserve. Refreshments and appetizers were served along with a mini-presentation of Aria Reserve.
Aria Reserve will rise 62 stories tall reaching 627 feet, making it the tallest twin waterfront residential development in the United States. The project will feature two towers, each with 390 units and 1,608 parking spaces.
Sales for Aria began in June 2021 for South Tower. According to the Melo Group, over $40 million of all 12 penthouses have sold within the first 90 days of the launch. Now more than 90% of the units have sold with a total sales of over $600 million.
Residential units begin at $750,000. Although sold out, the penthouses started at $12 million. Units will feature 1 to 4-bedroom floorplans with 1,100 to 2,600 square feet of options. The penthouses themselves range from 3,500 to 9,000 square feet with each of them featuring a 3-car garage.
Tower Amenities:
2-acre recreation deck
Lap pool and spa
Gaming center
Playground
Tennis courts
Basketball courts
Paddle courts
Miniature golf course
Wellness center
Gym
Meditation Garden
Residence Features
Unobstructed views of Biscayne Bay and Ocean
Finished residences with two flooring options
All residences include 2 high-speed elevators
All residences include an office/media room
All residences are sunrise-sunset flow-through from East to West
3-month seasonal rentals allowed up to 4 times per year
Construction is anticipated to be completed in 2024. If you or someone you know have an interest in purchasing at Aria Reserve, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at lucas@miamicondoinvestments.com or by phone at (786)247-6332.
