North Miami Beach Dean’s Gold Site Will Become A Massive Mixed-Use Project

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What was once Dean’s Gold, a Miami Vice-era North Miami Beach strip club that the Miami Herald dubbed a “historical landmark,” will one day be the site of a one million-square-foot mixed used development.

CK Privé Group’s Uptown Biscayne project just received City Council approval to build a complex, the South Florida Business Journal reported. The project includes a 16-story residential tower, 35,000 square feet of offices, more than 170,000 square feet of retail spanning a grocery store, restaurant and fitness club, and more than 1,000 parking spaces — along with a pedestrian Main Street and 40,00-square-foot garden.

Arquitectonica is behind the design of the mixed-use center, which will span nearly five acres of highly visible intersections. Construction is expected to kick off this year.

 

Source: Curbed Miami

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Skyscrapers Face The Apocalypse

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On an ordinary day, George Dotzler may deal with wind speeds equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane, torrential rains akin to a monsoon and seismic shifts that feel like an earthquake. Rounding out the day could involve a heat wave and an arctic blast.

Mr. Dotzler, 58, is the director of operations for the Construction Research Laboratory, where builders, developers and architects go to test the durability and stability of glass building facades, called curtain walls. Located at what looks like an abandoned airfield in Miami, the lab has 38 sealed test chambers and all the equipment to replicate the forces of nature.

“It’s like ‘Mad Max’ here,” Dotzler said, referencing the 1979 movie’s dystopian landscape.

A mock-up of a facade at the testing lab.(Photo Credit: Scott McIntyre for The Wall Street Journal)

With skyscrapers sprouting up around the world, demand for structural testing is strong. Big-name architects are increasingly designing towers with quirky shapes, and developers must go to greater lengths to ensure that the unusual curves and crannies can withstand even the harshest conditions. While some testing is required by municipal law, most developers are going the extra mile, since they can’t afford to start mending ruptures and leaks once their buildings are up. Only three or four facilities in the U.S. have experience testing super-tall structures, Mr. Dotzler estimated.

In recent years, the company has been testing 53W53, a 1,050-foot-tall tower designed by architect Jean Nouvel that is under construction adjacent to the Museum of Modern Art in midtown Manhattan. Scheduled for completion in 2019, the 82-story building will have 145 luxury condominiums. The developers—a partnership between Houston-based Hines, Singapore-based Pontiac Land Group and Goldman Sachs —decided on a tapered structure with criss-cross structural framing on the exterior.

“Everything in this curtain wall is bespoke, custom-made for this building,” said David Penick, managing director at Hines. “Every piece of aluminum. Nothing is off the shelf.”

The developers had 6,000 panels of triple-paned glass custom-made by German manufacturer Interpane. Some were incorporated into two mock-ups, which typically include the trickiest, most vulnerable elements of the building, such as the corners, joints and vents, what Mr. Dotzler calls a “Frankenstein arrangement.”

“It’s like a doctor wanting to test a human being by putting together a mock-up with one ear, one nose and one elbow,” Dotzler said.

The mock-up went through a litany of tests. In one of the chambers, both inward and outward pressure was exerted on the glass as part of a water-infiltration test to see how much the design could sustain without cracking or leaking. The pressure was equivalent to about 77.5 mph winds.

Later, a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 aircraft engine with 13-foot propellers was positioned in front of the mock-up. Mr. Dotzler turned on the water spray rack and cranked up the speed of the generator to simulate a dynamic wind load—an effect that’s similar to a hurricane. Researchers then attached a hydraulics system to the structure of the building and shoved segments right and left in an attempt to determine whether they’d be secure in case of an earthquake or wind drift.

“Some of the pressures exerted on these facades far exceed what is likely to occur naturally,” Dotzler said. “If the facade survives these loads, it’s been well-designed and is sufficiently strong. The testing took several weeks and cost about $150,000. No major changes to the facade were made as a result.”

National Certified Testing Laboratories, based in York, Pa., tested a mock-up of an 88-story luxury condo tower scheduled for completion next year in downtown Manhattan. The building, called 125 Greenwich Street, was designed by Rafael Viñoly and features rounded corners.

Steven Della Salla, a managing partner at Bizzi & Partners Development, said his company paid about $210,000 to create the mock-up of 125 Greenwich Street, and another $163,000 for the tests themselves.

Mr. Dotzler said his company also is popular with Hollywood filmmakers, who like to shoot the facility’s post-apocalyptic aesthetic.

“We’ve hosted a couple of episodes of ‘Graceland’ and ‘Burn Notice,’ ” Dotzler said. “But we try to have them only after hours or on weekends.”

 

Source: Wall Street Journal

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Transit-Oriented Magic City Innovation District Submitted, Includes 2,500 Residential Units

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The Magic City Innovation District Special Area Plan was submitted to the city of Miami for review last month.

According to the documents, the developers are proposing to build:

  • 2,490 residential units
  • 1,763,820 office square feet (net)
  • 432 hotel rooms
  • 313,165 retail square feet (net)
  • 5,547 parking spaces in garages

In total, 17 buildings with the tallest at 27 stories are planned. Completion of the entire conccpt will take 10-15 years, with construction to begin in 2020, according to the project website (although existing buildings will be rehabilitated before then).

In a letter, the developer says they intend to build a Transit Oriented Development, with a stop to be built on the Brightline/Tri-Rail Coastal Link track.

Cirque Du Soleil Billionaire Guy Laliberté is listed as having a stake on an ownership statement submitted with the proposal.

Arquitectonica is the architect.

Source: The Next Miami

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The North Miami Beach Renaissance Rising Strong

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Developer EDEN Multifamily topped off construction of NOMA, an eight-story, 347-unit apartment building at 2145 Northeast 164th Street in the heart of North Miami Beach.

Scheduled to be completed in fall 2018, NOMA is EDEN’s first development in North Miami Beach and represents a significant milestone for the city, which is experiencing a renaissance following the 2015 completion of the City’s Mixed Use Town Center zoning district. The multifamily project is located in the emerging Community Redevelopment Area on the east side of the city.

EDEN and Coastal Construction, the project’s general contractor, are set to host a topping off celebration at the project site on February 2 at noon. City of North Miami Beach commissioners, city officials and other invited guests will be on hand to tour the project and enjoy the festivities.

“We are finding a strong demand from renters for boutique apartment buildings in urban areas—or the downtown areas of suburban markets—as an alternative to the high-rise towers that dominate these areas,” EDEN Multifamily president Jay Jacobson tells GlobeSt.com. “These renters are seeing that you can find value and convenience at new boutique buildings without sacrificing the level of amenities. The challenge for multifamily developers is to identify areas where this type of product can be delivered on a cost-effective basis.”

NOMA includes studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, an eight-story parking garage and ground-floor retail space. Building amenities include an inner courtyard with a heated pool, an elevated sundeck seating area with a firepit, community rooms, a state-of-the-art fitness center with a yoga/spin room and a dog walk and grooming area.

EDEN will enhance the public greenspace along the Snake Creek Canal with extensive landscaping, public seating, a walking path/bikeway and a significant public art installation. The multifamily property offers common area Wi-Fi and large community gathering spaces.

Coastal Construction is the general contractor. MSA Architects is the NOMA architect, with Bruce Howard and Associates providing landscape architecture and ID& Design Internationalas the interior designer.

 

Source: GlobeSt.

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Downtown Miami Church Sold To Developer For $55M

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Property Markets Group acquired the site of a downtown Miami church along Biscayne Boulevard for $55 million, with plans to build a major mixed-use tower.

The First United Methodist Church of Miami sold its 1.15-acre property at 400 Biscayne Blvd. to New York-based PMG. The deal was partially funded by Toronto-based Greybrook Realty Partners, which previously announced plans to invest $32.2 million into the project. The site is near American Airlines Arena, Miami Dade College, and the College/Bayside Metromover Station.

PMG’s Ryan Shear, Evan Schapiro, Matt Ellish, and Yechiel Ciment negotiated the deal. They were represented by Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr attorneys Luis Flores, Rebecca Sarelson and David Yontz, plus Josh Kaplan at Bilzin.

“This is our third investment in the Biscayne corridor, increasing our ability to create innovative living experiences for residents,” Shear said. “We feel that this market is one of the most important areas of Miami from a future growth perspective, general location and view standpoint.”

The developer said it plans to build over 690 units and about 20,000 square feet of commercial space. The property is zoned for about 50 stories. The apartments would be branded by PMG’s new X Social Communities division, which appeals to young professionals seeking more attainable pricing. Its nearby X Miami apartment building, which is under construction, is part of the same brand.

The 400 Biscayne project would have co-working spaces, an oversized fitness center, communal kitchens, smart package lockers, smart home technology controlled by an app, and many pre-furnished units. As part of the project, PMG will build a new church on the site with a separate entrance for FUMC Miami.

“FUMC wanted to rebuild the church in the same location, so the relationship with the potential buyer was very important,” Flores said. “They liked the young and thriving energy that PMG brings to its developments and could see themselves doing business with the developer in the short and long term. The transaction is unique because we had to wear different hats at different times since we are the buyer and builder of the future church.”

“It was the right time for the church to take advantage of the revitalization of its neighborhood,” Pastor Dr. Audrey Warren said. “The project will ultimately allow the church to grow and meet its future operating needs.”

PMG said the architect of the building is Sieger Suarez, and Carlos Ott is consulting on the church that will be included in the structure.

 

Source: SFBJ

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Planned Redevelopment Of Former INS Location In Miami Draws $26M Loan

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Developers planning to redevelop a former home of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in Miami borrowed $26 million to finance the project.

Three entities managed by Ye Zhang — Florida Fullview Immigration Building, Fullview Immigration Building I and Wealthy Delight — borrowed the money from an affiliate of Madison Realty Capital.

In 2013, the developers paid $12.5 million for the former INS location at 7880 Biscayne Boulevard, which the federal agency vacated in 2008.

The developers have razed the building the INS occupied and plan to turn the 1.4-acre property into a mixed-use development called Triton Center, designed by Stantec.

Triton Center would encompass a 139-room Hilton Garden Inn hotel, 324 apartments, approximately 585 parking spaces, and 25,000 square feet of commercial space.

 

Source: The Real Deal

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Macy’s To Close Historic Downtown Miami Store

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Macy’s historic location in downtown Miami is among the latest of its stores to fall victim to a national cutback plan that will include the elimination of 5,000 jobs in the United States.

The company said last week that it expects to save $300 million by closing 11 stores around the country early this year, cutting payroll and streamlining some in-store functions.

“We anticipate our net headcount reduction will be approximately 5,000, including the staffing adjustments across the stores’ organization, further streamlining in some non-store functions and impact closure of 11 stores,” said spokeswoman Jacqueline King in an email.

Besides the Miami store and one at The Oaks Mall in Gainesville, the company will shut four locations in California and others in Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Vermont. The moves are the latest in a plan disclosed in late 2016 to close 100 stores. Thus far, the company has disclosed 81 of the 100. The latest on the hit list will start eight- to 12-week clearance sales.

Macy’s said it intends to close about 19 more stores as leases expire or real estate sales are completed. Last year, Macy’s closed its store at CityPlace in West Palm Beach. Nearly a dozen stores remain in operation in Broward and Palm Beach counties. More than a half-dozen operate in Miami-Dade County.

“Our primary focus in 2017 has been to continue the strong growth of digital and mobile, stabilize our brick-and-mortar business and set the foundation for future growth,” CEO Jeff Gennette said in a statement. “Looking ahead to 2018, we are focused on continuous improvement and will take the necessary steps to move faster, execute more effectively and allocate resources to invest in growth.”

The Miami building is viewed as an anachronism by developers, planners and analysts as the downtown area attracts a younger population that generally avoids department stores and prefers to shop online.

“The departure is a good thing,” Mika Mattingly, a Colliers International real estate agent. “There are so many positives. There are a lot of scenarios that are inviting. First among them: educational institutions that could use the space.”

Located at 22 E. Flagler St., the downtown Miami store once anchored the Florida-based Burdines chain, which got its start in 1898. Burdines joined Federated Department Stores in 1956. Looking to leverage the Macy’s brand, Federated lumped the names together into Burdines-Macy’s in 2004, only to strip away the Burdines label a year later. At one point, the location served as corporate headquarters for Macy’s Florida.

“I think this is a huge opportunity for the current owner to really capitalize on a piece of real estate that is completely underutilized,” said Zach Winkler of JLL, a national commercial real estate brokerage firm.

A decade ago, the Downtown Development Authority feared Macy’s might leave downtown as the company wielded the possibility as a bargaining chip for a more aesthetically pleasing downtown.

“It’s been a pillar of downtown for a long time,” said Alyce M. Robertson, executive director of the DDA. “It’s sad to see a major retailer go. Had this happened 10 years ago, we would have faced a much more serious impact.”

But now, amid a post-recession construction boom that delivered high-rise hotels, retail, condos and offices, the urban center is a more vibrant place.

“The population has more than doubled,” Robertson said. “It’s a younger demographic. The property itself could use a facelift. It’s not the most welcoming place. They used to have a restaurant on the first floor on the west side. It would be nice to have some kind of street-level presence to engage the pedestrians on the new Flagler Street when it’s built out.”

Jason Shapiro, managing director of Aztec Group, a Miami real estate finance and investment firm, said the building should be divided up into smaller spaces for restaurants, smaller retail and shared work spaces.

“It’s still the core of the core from a location perspective,” Shapiro said. “I’d be surprised if you didn’t see a wholesale change for the better in the next couple of years.”

 

Source: SunSentinel

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Will Chinese Condominium Buyers Keep Flooding Miami In 2018?

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What’s ahead in 2018 on the condo front? Is there a sweet spot in the market? What about Chinese buyers?

GlobeSt.com caught up with Art Falcone, co-founder and managing principal of Encore, to get his thoughts in part one of this exclusive interview series.

GlobeSt.com: You recently sold out your luxury condo project on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Do you expect sales momentum for luxury condos in South Florida to continue in 2018 or will there be a slowdown?

Falcone: We could potentially see a slowdown because of lenders, not a lack of buyers. The slowdown on luxury condos started about two years ago, and because of that, lenders have pulled back dramatically on financing new condo projects. That’s ultimately causing problems for developers and resulting in an additional slowdown.

GlobeSt.com: Is there a sweet spot in the condo market right now? 

Falcone: The sweet spot is in amenity-rich developments. That includes both the actual buildings and the surrounding communities. Our Miami Worldcenter project is in the middle of Downtown Miami where people can live, work and play.

They have the best shopping and restaurants plus museums, the performing arts center and sporting games and arenas. Everything is walkable. If you’re under $800 per square foot in a great, amenity-rich area, that’s the sweet spot.

GlobeSt.com: Chinese buyers have been active at Paramount Miami Worldcenter. Do you see an influx of Chinese buyers coming to Miami in the year ahead? 

Falcone: The reason we’ve seen so many Chinese buyers at Paramount Miami Worldcenter is because we’ve actively sought them out by going to China every month. That being said, right now both Orlando and Miami International airports are considering adding non-stop flights to China.  If that happens, there will definitely be an influx of Chinese buyers.

 

Source: GlobeSt.

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Miami Board OKs Waivers For Proposed Mixed-Use Tower In The Arts & Entertainment District

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An Aventura orthopaedic surgeon and his wife are spearheading plans to convert a prime slice of vacant land on Biscayne Boulevard and 17th Street into a 53-story mixed use tower.

Barry J. Silverman and Judy Silverman manage V Downtown Inc., a company that is proposing to build the new high-rise in Miami’s Arts & Entertainment District.

Miami’s Urban Development Review Board signed off on several waivers requested by V Downtown for the project at 1775 Biscayne Boulevard at its meeting on Wednesday.

Rendering of the proposed tower at 1775 Biscayne Blvd.

The project, designed by Kobi Karp, would have 444 residential units, 200 hotel rooms, 45,600 square feet of commercial space, 64,500 square feet of office space, and 546 parking spaces. The project would include a rooftop amenity deck for the residences and a lower amenity deck for the hotel and retail uses, which would be open to the public and provide access to views of Biscayne Boulevard and Biscayne Bay. The development is adjacent to the Omni Center and just east from Opera Tower.

The commercial spaces would be on the ground and lower levels and followed by the office space on floors two through seven. The hotel would occupy the 10th through 17th floors with the residential units taking the upper floors, according to documents filed with the city.

V Downtown sought waivers to increase the lot coverage to 88 percent instead of the 80 percent that is currently allowed; to allow a floor plate of 19,800 square feet where only 18,000 square feet is allowed for the residential side; to reduce the required parking by 30 percent because the project is located near the Omni Metromover station and bus depot; and to allow the parking structure to extend along the entire length of the proposed frontage. The garage would have an artistic or glass treatment to help conceal it, documents show.

The Silvermans are known for their philanthropic work with Jewish organizations such as the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Foundation and the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center. Through the Barry and Judy Silverman Foundation, the couple have funded local educational and social services with a special focus on people with disabilities and special needs.

 

Source: The Real Deal

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Mixed-Use Development Project Near UM Obtains $95M To Start Construction

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NP International obtained a $95 million construction loan for its Paseo de la Riviera mixed-use project across the street from the University of Miami in Coral Gables.

Click on the photo for a SFBJ rendering sideshow of the Paseo de la Riviera project

Starwood Property Mortgage, as the administrative agent for a group of lenders, assumed the $16.5 million loan originally granted last year by TotalBank and boosted it to $95 million. The borrower is 1350 S. Dixie LLC, an affiliate of NP International led by President Brent Reynolds. The general contractor is Balfour Beatty.

“Paseo de la Riviera will break ground before the end of 2017 and will take two years to complete,” Reynolds said. “Getting the construction loan is a big milestone. We’re pleased to have a great partner like Starwood.”

NP International has yet to announce a hotel brand for the project or select a leasing manager for the commercial space.

The company acquired the 2.7-acre site at 1350 S. Dixie Highway for $44 million in 2016. The 55-year-old Holiday Inn there is being demolished to make way for Paseo de la Riviera.

The project would have 240 hotel rooms, 200 apartments, 4,380 square feet of restaurants, 20,000 square feet of retail, and a parking deck.

“The hotel will have 10 stories, and the apartment building will rise six stories on top of the parking deck,” Reynolds said. “There will be separate pools for apartment residents and hotel guests. The hotel will have a conference room to serve the community, but not full banquet facilities. There really hasn’t been a new or upgraded facilities in quite some time, so to have an upgraded, modern lifestyle brand that serves not only the community and the university, but also the businesses, in the area is a win-win. There will be a paseo for pedestrians to walk between two the buildings, passing from U.S. 1 to a public park. The paseo would draw the community into the project’s open space and encourage both the apartment residents and hotel guests to go downstairs and congregate. It’s almost like an urban living room.”

 

Source: SFBJ

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