The Ritz-Carlton Residences Miami Beach Releases First Photos

The Ritz-Carlton Residences Miami Beach released some updates as they have completed the lobby and library. The stunning LEED Certified, 111 unit waterfront building located at 4701 North Meridian Avenue is under development by Lionheart Capital and designed by Lissoni Associati. The building is currently around 65% sold and plans are to to deliver in the Q1 2017. The lobby design pays tribute to the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Units range from 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom layouts with 15 private single-family villas. Sizes range from 1,700 SF to more than 10,000 SF and $2.8 million to over $40 million. The Ritz-Carlton Residences Miami Beach will be one of the finest and most private residential buildings in Miami Beach. Inquire with us today to for more information and showings.  

$150 Million of Condos Hit Market in Faena House

Will Miami's luxury condo market get a jolt from Faena House? Time will tell, but $150 million of units are back on the market as investors seek to flip their investments, which sold-out at $407 million. The last developer unit closed in May to Paul Cejas, who purchased a unit for $20 million. Hedge funder Ken Griffin purchased the double penthouse units for $60 million and has listed them at $55 million and $18 million a piece. It can be typical for units 10% to 20% of units to hit the market after a building is delivered, which is right where Faena House is at 9 of 44 currently listed. Despite that some units have been listed for close to a year. Currently listed units range from, $3.7 million to Griffin's $55 million and sellers plan on holding firm on their pricing. 

Faena Versailles Classic

Faena Versailles Classic will bring new world luxury to old world art-deco style. Faena Group has transformed the Versailles Hotel on 35th St. and Collins Ave. Miami Beach into a 22 luxurious units by William Sofield. The renovation has preserved the 1940's facade, grand lobby, terrazzo flooring among other features in it's historic art-deco style. Units range from 1 to 4 bedroom at 1,034 SF to 2,753 SF with two duplex penthouse units at 7,300 SF each with their own pool. The residences already include luxurious, Miami style features including the classic terrazzo floors and custom lighting. Additionally high-end Italian kitchens and stone counters add to the quality of the residency. Amenities include pool, fitness center, 24 hour security and valet, stylish club rooms and access to the entire exclusive Faena neighborhood.  

Expansion of North Beach

With new measures having been approved by the Commission, North Beach is underway to become the next neighborhood that the city focuses its developmental efforts on. These long anticipated proposals will help city planners bring a more centralized hub to the area, as well as a rumored town center. 
The ordinances will increase height maximums from 75 to 125 feet and allow for a short-term rental district, while still protecting the older or architecturally significant buildings in the area from rapid demolition by setting a six month moratorium. This vote paves the way for large-scale developments in North Beach, both residential and commercial. Developers say they have plans to build a 175-room hotel that will include plenty of retail space and parking on 72nd Street. 
Allowing a short-term rental district will decrease the six month minimum for rentals, which will help families who are looking for extended vacation homes. It would allow for services such as Airbnb, which will ultimately increase the value and help preserve the older buildings, whose high maintenance costs are not covered by rental income. 

1212 Lincoln Road

A new mixed-use development is heading to Miami Beach's Lincoln Road, with an expected completion of 2017. The Miami Beach Design Review Board approved the long awaited plans after a 1 year extension as tenants relocated. The newly approved development will be a five-story building filled with a mix of a hotel, luxury retail and dining. The hotel will include 100 boutique hotel units across 45,000 SF with a European-style market in the 93,000 SF of retail space. The building will be designed by Perkins + Will and will help upgrade the existing aging infrastructure that currently makes up Lincoln Road. The project will help expand Lincoln Road across the street at 16th and Alton. Developer Crescent Heights has plans to build 2 more developments on Lincoln Road as this neighborhood gets an exciting shake-up.  

One Ocean

From Related Group, the developers that brought you the Murano, W South Beach, and Apogee, comes the new One Ocean South Beach: a peaceful oasis in the heart of South of Fifth that rivals its sister properties with its modern glass facade. The building will have 46 residences and four oceanside villas with unique living spaces that incorporate nature and art created by architect Enrique Norten. 
Typical units will include oversized balconies, private elevators, and an exclusive beach club membership. Residents can enjoy looking out at the zen garden from the state-of-the-art fitness facility or relax in private cabanas at the Infinity Edge pool. One Ocean South Beach is being designed so that every unit will have a unique, flow-through floor plan, so each will be a one-of-a-kind. The building offers three to five bedroom options which will typically be around 3,000 SF starting at $1000/SF. 

The Mansions at Acqualina

The Mansions-in-the-Sky at Acqualina are the epitome of world-renowned luxury, where your every need has been anticipated and desire fulfilled. The Mansions bring you a complete lifestyle, where every nuance manifests their commitment to an unparalleled level of greatness: in architecture, amenities, and service. Developed by The Trump Group, the oceanfront Mansions were completed in 2015 in Sunny Isles Beach. Each floor only contains two corner units that offer 180 degree views of both the sunrise over the ocean and sunset over the greater Miami area to the west. The coveted flow-through plan of the oversized rooms, coupled with the spectacular outdoor terrace and kitchen create a sense of a grandiose entertainment space.
Each condominium home is personally fitted with Fendi Casa interiors, imported Mediterranean design features, and luxury fixtures created by Michael Segal Interior Design. Acqualina offers residences starting at around $7 million for 4,608 square feet with three to six bedroom options. Although located in the prestigious Sunny Isles area, you won’t need to leave the property upon arrival. On site amenities include the Five-Diamond Acqualina Resort and Spa, a palatial Grand Room designed for entertainment, private cinema, gaming room and children’s center, virtual golf, and cigar lounge that will surpass your every expectation from the world’s finest residences. 
    In addition to their extensive services, the Mansions at Acqualina also offer privileged access to Il Mulino New York, the oceanfront Costa Grill, and Acqualina Beach Club, Bar, and Hair Salon. The development continues to meet their selling marks with over 60% of the units currently sold, but selling prices are down 4%. However, quick sellouts in the area have prompted developers to continue investing in Sunny Isles Beach which has many new buildings going up in the coming years. It continues to offer buyers the luxury living South Florida is known for. 

Mondrian South Beach Hotel & Residences

This stylish hotel by the Morgan’s Hotel Group emulates old Hollywood glamour meets sophisticated modernism. The hotel got a $200 million renovation in 2008, charged by interior designer Marcel Wanders who aptly nicknamed his masterpiece “Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.” He mixed iconic black and white details like the laser cut floating staircase with gold, oversized fixtures to create a modern fantasy. Relax in the enchanting outdoor oasis of Mondrian that is enveloped by curtains of lush, green foliage. 
The Mondrian also uniquely offers residency, providing owners the opportunity to have the property managed by its hotel management group or rent out on your own via Airbnb.com. The high-turnover flexibility offers great returns for investors and high cap-rates. The condos offer full hotel service along with various discounts throughout the Morgan’s Group properties, and are move-in ready. They offer studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedrooms with a bay view option starting at $271,000. With Morgans Hotel Group being purchased by SBE, the future is bright for Mondrian South Beach.  

3900 Alton

3900 Alton, designed by Ricardo Bofill, is a timeless vision that strikes a delicate harmony between nature and art. Its 78 residences feature ten foot floor-to-ceiling windows that capture and mimic the beauty of living on Biscayne Bay, while bathing living areas in natural light. Each unit has an overview of the cascading pool and surrounding lounge seating, that is nestled amongst a landscape designed by the visionary behind Soho House and founder of Naturaficial, Andres Arcila. 3900 Alton has a personally curated collection of art, designed by Loris Cecchini and Fernando Mastrangelo, unique to each unit and also in the lobby. Equipped with 24 hour concierge, a state-of-the-art gym, business center, children’s playroom, and even a Tesla house car, this building is the epitome of easy, luxurious living. Located in the heart of historic Mid-Beach this sophisticated boutique residence offers a seamless transition between modern and organic living with its lush oasis and artful collaboration.

Louver House

South-Of-Fifth continues to deliver some of the most prime real-estate on Miami Beach and in South Florida. Louver House, developed by Mast Capital and designed by Architect Rene Gonzalez hit the market in mid-January for pre-construction reservations. The boutique residential building's design blends glass with stone to create a beach sanctuary that feels like quite luxury away from the hustle and bustle of city life.  

Louver House features 12 units, all in 3 bed/ 3.5 bath layouts across 4 stories with rooftop terraces. Units include oversized balconies, private elevators and 10 foot floor to ceiling glass ranging from 2,088 - 2,432 SF. Units also include high-end kitchen and bathroom fixtures and appliances by Ornare, Wolfe and Sub Zero, smart-technology ready and 2 parking spaces per unit. Pricing starts at $1.9M - $3.6M. The rooftop terrace features an infinity edge pool, BBQ area and garden lounge. Louver House also features 24 hour security, outdoor yoga studio, state-of-the-art fitness center, electric vehicle charging stations and a full-time residential manager. If you are looking to live or invest in South-Of-Fifth and prefer a boutique, quite, unique building with magical layouts, Louver House is worth looking into.   

Sunset Harbor Residences

The war zone over on Purdy Ave. will not be coming to a close any time soon as Miami' Beach's Land Use & Development Committee approved Deco Capital Group's request to raise height restrictions. In partnership with New York developer RWN Real Estate Partners, the mixed-use Sunset Harbor Residences will reach up to 90 ft, extending on the previous 50 ft limit. This ordinance is only applicable to owners with over 200 ft. of frontal space on Purdy Ave. Deco Capital aims to build 15 luxury condos atop their premium retail space that they purchased in 2014. Sunset Harbor Residences will be 3-bedroom layouts and approx. 2,000 SF. The building will overlook Purdy Ave & Maurice Gibb Park and include covered retail spaces and indoor/outdoor cafes in a covered promenade. Owners at the Lofts at South Beach are pressing Deco Capital Group for financial compensation due to lost views attributable by the approved increase in height restrictions ordinance, which will block views North from the Lofts at South Beach.   

The Sunset Harbor area is undergoing massive and fast redevelopment and is blossoming into one of the most expensive and walkable neighborhoods in Miami Beach, only rivaled by South Pointe. Retail, dining, entertainment amongst other attractions have moved into the area which has been transformed from auto-lots and junkyards to high-priced luxury real-estate. The project looks to capitalize on the development style that has found success in Sunset Harbor to this point, bringing in mixed-use developments, pedestrian walkability, covered retail spaces and indoor/ outdoor cafes. Sunset Harbor serves as the entrance to Miami Beach via Venetian Causeway and is just minutes from Lincoln Rd. 

L'Atelier Miami Beach

A new glass condo building will be coming to 6901 Collins Ave. thanks to a joint effort by three development groups. Given the moniker L'Atelier Residences, the all-glass building will rise 18 stories above Miami Beach. SMG Management, Shamrock Holdings and W Capital Group broke ground in Q4 2015 as construction commenced with an expected opening of 2017. L'Atelier sits on 130 feet of beach front property that bridges privacy with accessibility to Miami Beach's cultural center. L'Atelier will replace the Golden Sands Hotel, but careful design by Holly Hunt will still preserve the hotels historical 3-story facade and incorporate it as part of the new building's design.

Each unit includes massive balconies, outdoor jacuzzi and Poliform kitchens with Gaggenau appliances. Units come in 3 bed half-floor residences, 4 bed full-floor residences and 6 bedroom penthouse layouts at 2,300 SF, 4,600 SF and 8,000 SF respectively. The building will feature amenities by HOLLY HUNT and Enzo Enea including a private, staffed beach. Other five-star amenities include a full time House Manager, 24 hour valet, oceanfront infinity edge swimming pool, upper deck lap pool, pool bar and BBQ area, spa, hammock garden, state-of-the-art gym and a beauty salon. The penthouse has hit the market at $25 million and L'Atelier's construction continues to move smoothly along. This exciting building is sure to shake up the aging area between lower Miami Beach and Bal Harbor.

The Residences by Armani Casa & Condominium

Coming soon to Sunny Isles is the beachfront Residences by Armani Casa & Condominium. This ultra-luxury condominium project brings some of the best developers, architects and designers in Miami real-estate together. The 56 story, 307 unit building is designed by Cesar Pelli of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. The Residences by Armani Casa is bought to Sunny Isles by developers Gil Dezer and Jorge Perez of Dezer Development and Related Group respectively in collaboration with ARMANI CASA.

The Residences by Armani Casa will feature 5 residences per floor with 10 foot glass windows and oversized balconies. There will also be 3 floors of private cabanas, a full service restaurant, world class fitness center and spa and an oceanfront pool and sundeck. Floor plans start at approximately 1,350 SF and reach to 4,200 SF in 2, 3 and 4 bedroom layouts. The 3 and 4 bedroom floor plans are flow-thru with views and terraces on both the ocean and bay/city sides of the building. Preconstruction pricing starts at $1.7 million and reaches above $6 million. Preconstruction sales began in early 2015 and over 50% of the residences were reserved by August. The project is expected to be completed in late 2016 or early 2017. 

Venetian Causeway to Reopen February 29

Over the past 90 years, the city of Miami has grown to love Venetian Causeway. Over the years mixed with the harsh, aquatic environment, the structure weakened before a bus got stuck in a hole on the roadway in March 2014. Metal plates had been used to patch the roadway until the decision to rebuild the span was made in early 2015. Since closing to the public in June 2015 following a bridge deck failure in April have, the Venetian Causeway has experienced over $12.4 million in renovations as it aims to reopen in February 29. Most of the upgrades came to the westernmost 730 feet of West Venetian Bascule Bridge on the Downtown Miami side.   

Since its closure Miami and Miami Beach have seen tremendous traffic backing up Alton Road and MacArthur Causeway. Additionally runners and bikers have been held off of one of Downtown Miami and Miami Beach's most scenic stretches across Biscayne Bay. Venetian Causeway residents have bared the brunt of the closure, lacking the quick and easy connection between the two cities in which they chose to live. Despite this, in an email to residents of Venetian Causeway, the city of Miami claims that:

“Over the past seven months, significant construction has been accomplished that will result in a completely new bridge superstructure, substructure, approach roadway and lighting."

The project is still on schedule and on budget.

L'Atelier Residences in Miami Beach Breaks Ground

A new glass condo building will be coming to 6901 Collins Ave. thanks to a joint effort by three development groups. Given the moniker L'Atelier Residences, the all-glass building will rise 18 stories above Miami Beach. SMG Management, Shamrock Holdings and W Capital Group had a groundbreaking ceremony last week as construction commenced with an expected opening of 2017. 

L'Atelier will replace the Golden Sands Hotel, but will still preserve the hotels historical 3-story facade and incorporate it as part of the new building's design. The building will feature 22 residences in 3 and 4 bedroom formats and will range from 2,300 SF to 4,600 SF. Entry level units starting at $3.6 million with an 8,000 SF penthouse priced at $25 million. Each unit includes massive balconies, outdoor jacuzzi and Poliform kitchens with Gaggenau appliances. Sales started in February 2015. The building will feature amenities by HOLLY HUNT and Enzo Enea including a private beach area with attendants, infinity swimming pool, upper deck lap pool, 24 hour valet, Spa and state-of-the-art gym. This exciting building is sure to shake up the aging area between lower Miami Beach and Bal Harbor. 

South-Of-Fifth Miami Beach Overview

One of the most exclusive enclaves, removed from the craziness of Miami Beach is the high-end South-Of-Fifth neighborhood. Starting from fifth street and encompassing everything through Southpointe Park, this area has undergone one of the most extreme transformations of property in the last decade. Consisting of falling apart buildings, criminals, homeless, etc. SOFI was an area to avoid. Real-Estate Developer Thomas Kramer purchased a large portion of what is now modern day SOFI for $45 million in the early 90's. He was able to get zoning permits to build some of the largest buildings in Florida which today stand tall over Miami Beach. SOFI, as it's also known as, is now selling at the highest price-per-square-foot with the most recent sales pushing $4,000 SF. Average pricing for the area has risen from $852 SF in 2009 to well above $1,500 SF in todays market. SOFI is a great place for residents looking for a turn-key unit that in a five-star building or investors looking for a solid rental return with a high-demand unit.   

One of the reasons SOFI is in such demand is due to the location. With South Pointe Park as the most southern tip of Miami Beach, SOFI is surrounded by water on 3 sides. Views consist of the Atlantic Ocean, Fisher Island, Biscayne Bay, Downtown Miami, Brickell, Port of Miami and north towards Miami Beach. SOFI is also very attractive as it is one of the more walkable and safe neighborhoods in Miami. From your doorstep, some of the worlds top restaurant destinations await including Joe's Stone Crab, Milos, Il Mulino, Prime 112, Prime Fish, Prime Italian, Smith & Wollensky, etc. Additionally there is South Pointe Park, which winds around the southern tip of Miami Beach overlooking Fisher Island and provides a beautiful, quite, secluded area for recreation and enjoyment. The 17 acres promenade features running and walking trails, seating, kids areas and beautiful views of Downtown Miami. SOFI is also home to Miami Beach Marina, providing many options for seafaring individuals.     

Top Buildings:

• Apogee
• Icon South Pointe
• Murano Grande 
• Continuum Towers
• Ocean House
• Glass
• Portofino Tower
• South Pointe Tower

New Developments to Watch:

• SOFI House
• Three Hundred Collins 
• 321 Ocean
• Marea South Beach

GLASS Project Southpointe

GLASS Project, formally know as the Glass120 Condominium in Southpointe has just about neared completion, making it the fourth condo project in the South-of-Fifth neighborhood completed since 2011. GLASS is being developed by Terra Group and will be an 18-story condo project located directly on the highly-desirable Ocean Drive. The GLASS name can be attributed to the design, which is meant to "disappear" into the sky as the building rises with smart use of architectural design and glass by architect Rene Gonzalez.  

This high-end area has been on the rise and prices have pushed higher then $2,000 SF with some units selling for over $3,000 SF. Glass120 features 10 units, 8 of which are already purchased at an average of $2,700 SF. Sales started at $3.4 million and have continued on past $20 million. Units feature full-floor layouts with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, Miami Beach and Downtown Miami. Buyers will have a chance to customize their floorpans and make the units "their own." Residents will also get an "estate manager" valet, housekeeping, beach services and gym.

Developers plan to build 11 more condo buildings, totaling about 150 units in the South-of-Fifth area of Miami Beach over the next few years. Pricing in this area is already extremely high per SF but is in extreme demand and the area continues to grow and flourish. South-of-Fifth should be a smart place to invest for years to come.

Revised plan for Lincoln Road released by James Corner Field Operations

Lincoln Road is starting to age and it is time to shake it up and make the shopping or recreational experience more enjoyable for all. James Corner Field Operations has been working on the redesign under close watch by the public and city alike. A revised plan for the Lincoln Road District Masterplan has been released by James Corner Field Operations. 

The classic Miami styling and old-time charm of Lincoln Road do not appear to be lost. The revisions address the side streets, the Lincoln Lane North and South Alleys and redesigned sections of the road. Euclid Oval will now have a children's play area and an amphitheater. A "catwalk-style" fountain will run through the middle and renderings show that it can be turned into an actual catwalk for fashion shows, a great way to bring people and excitement back to Lincoln Road. There will also now be public "outdoor living rooms" featuring shaded recreational areas and areas specifically for table seating to help bring the congestion off of the sidewalks. The future for Lincoln Road appears to be bright as James Corner's plan continues to come together. 

Faena House Penthouse sells for $60 million, sets Miami-Dade RECORD!

The Penthouse in the brand new Faena House has sold for a record breaking $60 million. Officially the largest sale for a single family home ever in Miami-Dade County, the sale comes in at $10 million more than the $50 million list price. In the process the 8,273 square foot Penthouse was combined with the unit below, a 4,243 square foot Penthouse B. Designed by Foster+Partners and customized to the buyers specificiations, the now 12,500 square foot penthouse also features 10,000 square feet of outdoor space and a 70 foot long rooftop pool.