I have my thoughts about the current highrise explosion in Metropolitan Miami, most good - but some bad. Before chiming in, I would like to hear your thoughts about the question: What are going to be the short term, and long term, ramifications of Metro Miami's highrise growth?

Should make for an interesting thread.

Well, one of my fears continues to be a possible anti-highrise backlash like you're seeing in your own Broward County, where virtually every high-rise is challenged. This reaction is also seen down the coast, to Miami Beach, and there is even a movement afoot in Brickell to reduce density.

thats true, i hope the brickell projects get approved and built!! no NIMBY;s!

I'm by no means a NIMBY, furthest thing from it, but I would like to see some medium density buildings to go up in Brickell as well as highrise, just so the density becomes more livable and expansive.

OK, Ill chime in here.....

The good:

- enhances downtown population
- makes the city more asthetically pleasing
- makes for a good cause to increase transit capabilities
- can promote good pedestrian life with the right mix of residential and commercial spaces
- can increase efforts to revitalize the Miami River

The bad

- can aggravate an already bad traffic problem in and out of CBD and Brickell
- NIMBYism (of the bad kind)

Keep 'em coming...

I'm by no means a NIMBY, furthest thing from it, but I would like to see some medium density buildings to go up in Brickell as well as highrise, just so the density becomes more livable and expansive.

I agree. Having skyscrapers on top of one another works ok in, for example, New York. But in Miami, that would be a mistake. However, I would say it is a bad thing to go in the direction of say, Atlanta, which I think has a nice skyline - but its gaps are much too cavernous.

Im a little disturbed, also, about the pricing of these apartments. They are very exorbitant and prohibitive to the average Joe. But then again, most other cities are in the same boat as well.

i say build tall and dense, come on it is brickell, the four seasons started this boom, and it should be successfuly complete with giant 500+ scrapers!!

we can build the low and midrises in like midtown, or father south, or farther north,

but we should build tall in the cbd and brickell, and in between, where theres already tall buildings.

it should be if u drive on i 95 south, around the julie tuttle causeway, low and medium rise buildings, then as u get closer to cbd, the buildings get taller and taller, then bam ur in the middle of downtown, and the tall buildings go all the way to brickell, and as you go south the buildings will get shorter.

the four seasons is built already so FILL IN THE GAPS between 4 seasons and wachovia!!!


lol this my opinion! :cheers: :drunk:

I'd hope that not everything is replaced with these new condo towers. There's a lot worth saving, especially downtown. Nothing so far that I know of, but I fear it will start happening. It'd be nice to see some of these things start to get fixed up, but there's been little work towards that end. Seems like the land owners are just waiting for a payday and don't feel it's worth renovating for increased rents. There's still slums in Brickell.


Also, maybe we need another school or two for the area. Some clinics. How about some parkland and open spaces? I'm enjoying the boom, but I wish the city/county was doing more planning along with it.

I'd hope that not everything is replaced with these new condo towers. There's a lot worth saving, especially downtown. Nothing so far that I know of, but I fear it will start happening. It'd be nice to see some of these things start to get fixed up, but there's been little work towards that end. Seems like the land owners are just waiting for a payday and don't feel it's worth renovating for increased rents. There's still slums in Brickell.


Also, maybe we need another school or two for the area. Some clinics. How about some parkland and open spaces? I'm enjoying the boom, but I wish the city/county was doing more planning along with it.

I was hoping they fill in that little inlet of water between AA Area and Bicenntenial Park and make that into a real park. There is also the age old question of Watson Island. Chalks airline operates out of there, and there is a yacht club there too. That would be made into a nice park with a pretty ornate bridge going over the road to connect the two halves of the island.

What are they doing, if anything, with the Miami Circle ?

What are they doing, if anything, with the Miami Circle ?
DALE, its SAD, I went by there , today, Tuesday, Oct.12th, 2004, ITS STILL the SAME, covered up and sitting there, at least the grass is cut around the property. I wish they would get it open to the public, like it was ONCE PROMISED !!!, Its just decaying away. :sleepy:

Miami-Dade County accounts for 60% of construction in Florida. Construction in Florida generates 500,000 jobs a year - third in the US behind California and Texas.

With Miami-Dade County accounting for 33% of the trade between South America and the US and 48% of commerce between Central America and the Caribbean, it seems natural that companies in the Southern Hemisphere are seeking business opportunities here, according to the International Trade Consortium of Miami-Dade County.

Brokers Expect Office Sales to Remain Strong in S. Florida
By Melissa Bogdany
Last updated: Wednesday, October 13, 2004 03:03pm

MIAMI-South Florida will continue to see a large number of office sales due to low interest rates, economic growth and pent-up demand, says a new report by Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Brokerage Co.

According to the report, buyers are expected to continue to look for long-term opportunities in the area’s office market. The Office Research Report covers Fort Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm Beach.

“South Florida’s office market is showing significant improvement in 2004,” according to Gene A. Berman, senior vice president and regional manager of Marcus & Millichap’s Fort Lauderdale office. “Buyers are attracted to rising tenant demand, which is the result of job growth in a strengthening service economy.”

The demand also should result in higher price tags on local office properties, as buyers are encouraged to enter the office market and owners can sell smaller properties and buy bigger ones in better locations, the report says. “We expect that decreased vacancy will encourage owners to seek higher prices not only in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, but also in suburban Delray Beach and Coral Springs,” Berman says.

This year, the median price per sf should go up about 4% to $125. Investors are expected to focus their attention on properties in Forth Lauderdale due to the high job growth projected in the MSA. Strong tenant demand in desirable regions such as Coral Gables, Cypress Creek and Pompano Beach will also encourage investor interest, the report adds.

The area’s overall vacancy rate is expected to drop 110 basis points, from 15.9% to 14.8%. The vacancy improvement is the result of fewer completions and job growth. Downtown Miami and West Palm Beach are two submarkets that are attractive to tenants. Also, suburban areas are experiencing lower vacancy rates, less than 9% in Kendall, Coral Springs and Northeast Dade. On the other hand, vacancy rates are higher than average in downtown Fort Lauderdale as well as near Miami International Airport, according to the brokerage firm's findings.

In South Florida, only about 875,000 sf is scheduled to be delivered by the end of the year. This represents the lowest amount of space since 1995. Most of the new construction is occurring in Miami and West Palm Beach, but downtowns and employment hubs such as Deerfield Beach also are seeing strong activity. Many large projects in the planning stages will make the construction slowdown short term, the report states.

Miami-Dade County accounts for 60% of construction in Florida. Construction in Florida generates 500,000 jobs a year - third in the US behind California and Texas.

With Miami-Dade County accounting for 33% of the trade between South America and the US and 48% of commerce between Central America and the Caribbean, it seems natural that companies in the Southern Hemisphere are seeking business opportunities here, according to the International Trade Consortium of Miami-Dade County.
Fantastic RX, :) That means there's 300,000 Construction Workers in MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ALONE, Wow, No wonder Early Morning RUSH-HOUR Traffic on I-95 is a DIASTER starting at 6 am, ITS JAM Packed with Pick-up Trucks with 4 Construction Men in the Back Bed of each vehicle, lol. KEEP Those INTEREST RATES Steady at www.interest.com :cheers:

hahaha, chuck.

RESULTS so far, Good News- JOBS, Bad News- TRAFFIC, Good News- More Tourists, Bad News- More Traffic, Good News- More Meetings, Bad News- Lots More Traffic, LOL.

if they made public transportation the priority that it should b, the traffic wont get any worse, it mite even decrease

but gotta love dade county's incompetency, its been wat...? 2 years since the half penny salese tax was apprived and they still havent even gotten the citizens overview panel up, in the meadntime they put up new bus stops wit pretty palm trees and new bus stop signs to con the people into thinking something is actually gettin done

I Hope YOUR Right NIMBY :) , thats all I see everyday NOW, is More TRAFFIC, More Pick-Up Trucks with Four Construction Men in the Back beds of each Darn VEHICLE !!! More Turnovers, more fender-benders, more Flat tires, more Headaches, more tickets being written by state troopers :bash: that don't have anything else to do but write tickets for more than one person in the Carpool lanes, lol. :cheers:

What are the IMPACTS, MORE Concrete Trucks, Back-Hole Diggers, Dozers, Rollers, CRANES, and More Cranes, Tractor Trailer Trucks, LOW BED Trucks, More Cement Trucks, More Buses , More Planes, More Cruise Ships, More Cars, More Accidents, More Doctors, More Nurses, More Dentists, More Lawyers, More Homeless, More Prisoners, More Crime, More Pick-up Trucks on I-95 with 4 Construction Men in the back bed of Each Darn Vehicle, lol.

^haha yea those are the impacts

well traffic wont be bad because people will work and play in downtown and brickell.

people live and play in manhattan, and luk at the traffic there

well thats because the rich people like to take a limo to get from one street to another,they're afraid of getting robbed or something.

Uptown-Midtown :) , Is that THE REASON Why I take a LIMO to get to the Third House from Me here in MIAMI, LOL. :jk: :)

well i was speaking of new york...chucky

hahaha

checkout www.500brickellcondo.com yay at this rate i'll become a millionaire in no time im getting paid 0.00000000000000001 cents for everytime i type this

i say build tall and dense, come on it is brickell, the four seasons started this boom, and it should be successfuly complete with giant 500+ scrapers!!

we can build the low and midrises in like midtown, or father south, or farther north,

but we should build tall in the cbd and brickell, and in between, where theres already tall buildings.

it should be if u drive on i 95 south, around the julie tuttle causeway, low and medium rise buildings, then as u get closer to cbd, the buildings get taller and taller, then bam ur in the middle of downtown, and the tall buildings go all the way to brickell, and as you go south the buildings will get shorter.

the four seasons is built already so FILL IN THE GAPS between 4 seasons and wachovia!!!


lol this my opinion! :cheers: :drunk:


You're right Miabalinboi. they should go as tall as they can right between the Four Seasons and the Wachovia and then bring the 600 0r 500 ft towers south and north of those 2 buildings, that will create a nice dense area of scrapers.

thats the rite way to think! yarg!!!!!!! (guess wat moronic democratic leader i am... lol... aite, i promise uptown, thats the last political thing ill say)

MORE TRAFFIC :bash: , More Pickup Trucks with 4 Construction Men in the Back Beds of Each Vehicle with Them Telling Thanksgiving Jokes Like, " Hey Jose, Do you Know What TURKEYS eat on Thanksgiving DAY :) ", The other 3 Men reply, " NO JOSE, what do they eat ? ", JOSE Answers, " NOTHING !, Their Already STUFFED ! :cheers:

^hahahahahahaha,

good ol chuck

What are the Impacts ?, hmm, Let me see, :) To get through the Traffic Going down on I-95, Take the CARPOOL LANE With Huge Turkeys in the Front Seat Waving at the Police Officers :bash: looking for a Single Person in the Carpool Lane. Gobbel, Gobbel, lol. :cheers:

What are the IMPACTS, Hmmm, Let me Think.....More People, More Dogs, More Cats, More Rats, More Ducks, More Birds, More Parrots, More Chickens, More Cows, More Fish, More TURKEYs, LOL.

Probably the biggest casualty of the condo wars is going to be mediocre, aging condos developed in western Dade during the 70s and early 80s. The big problem with condos outside of extremely wealthy, high-demand areas is that they tend to slowly slide downhill over time because their inhabitants either retire (and have less money) or simply sell to someone in a lower social class and move because it's easier than trying to get everyone to go along with an expensive renovation plan (that many current residents won't be able to afford anyway because the lower value of the now-dilapidating property is the whole reason they could afford it in the first place).

Need evidence? Go take a drive up 163 street, or through coastal south Broward county and see all the thoroughly mediocre condos built 20-30 years ago that have all just kind of stagnated. In theory, it's possible for a developer to buy out a condo and force the last few owners to sell, but I think that's actually happend maybe twice in the entire history of Dade County, and isn't likely to happen often in the future barring a major hurricane that destroys most of a condo anyway.

In other words, the main casualty of overbuilding and market saturation downtown is likely to be felt by residents of Miami-Dade who don't live in the City itself.

On the other hand, I suspect there are more than a few investors who've stretched themselves to the breaking point buying preconstruction condos to flip who aren't just HOPING they can sell them for 50-100% more than they paid... they're FINANCIALLY DEPENDENT upon it, and ANY cooling off will leave them financially devastated & set off a few chain reactions that will be felt throughout the market. The big winners will be people who bought preconstruction condos 2-3 years ago. The likely losers are people who think they can indiscriminately throw money at ANYTHING marketed as "preconstruction" today and see the kind of appreciation that has taken place over the past 3 years repeat itself without any kind of slowdown.

The next big losers will be people who paid upwards of $250k for a tiny 1 bedroom condo or studio. The fact is, concrete is dirt cheap per square foot. Like, $25/square foot cheap ($10-15 in less heated markets like the midwest). It's artificial limits imposed by zoning on buildable area that make it expensive. Once the market starts to get a little saturated, builders are going to end up building fewer (but bigger) units so they can still maintain their old price points. Anyone who's buying tiny condo units today as investments would probably be well-advised to buy TWO adjacent units, so they can at least be sold as a pair to a future buyer who'll want to combine them into one bigger unit.

Great post! The buy two together (next to each other, or stacked) gives you significant resale flexibility. It's a good call.
Dense areas of reesidential development will sustain downtowns and really thrive in good times.
My take is that if you are buying pre-construction for quality of life and investment, buy near the EXISTING transportation ie. within the brackets of the MetroMover.
From the Performing Arts Center south to SE 14th Street Financial District.
If you are waiting for a train track to get to you someday, there is a possiblity that you may be waiting a very long time.

true

EVERYONE :) , Or is it ANYONE :) ?, Around Biscayne Blvd Today in Downtown near the Wachovia Center, WHAT A TRAFFIC DIASTER !!!, Its STARTED, the IMPACT of TRUCKS Blocking ALL the LANES, Digging HOLES in the Street, Burying CABLES and Blocking Streets, ROAD CLOSURES everywhere on U.S. 1, which is Biscayne BLVD, the Through way to BRICKELL from Downtown. IT WAS A MESS, and Its Going to GET WORST, with the DUPONT PLAZA coming down :bash: , Already HALF down NOW :bash: and MET 1 Finally Starting and ONE MIAMI at 50 % Completed and PEOPLE from Out of state LOST and Confused and Can't FIND BAYSIDE, ITS only the Beginning of THE NEXT 5 Years of CONSTRUCTION !!! :cheers:

well they started the reallignment of biscayne blvd they will be converting the streets into two ways no more one way streets in downtown miami

Are there streetscaping plans for Biscayne ?

Are there streetscaping plans for Biscayne ?
YES DALE :) , Thank GOD, BUT they won't be Completed Until LATE 2009, After all the HUGE TOWERS are Completed. :cheers:
Believe ME :) , its going to take THAT LONG, But Biscayne BLVD will Be Beautiful AGAIN in 2010, Like it was in 1910, Or was that 1920, or 1930, Maybe 1940, could be wrong again, I think it was 1950. :cheers:

heres the link to some of the biscayne projects and the dates of the work to be done

http://gisims2.co.miami-dade.fl.us/MyNeighborhood/MPOProjDesc/ProjDesc/DT2502241/index.html
http://gisims2.co.miami-dade.fl.us/MyNeighborhood/MPOProjDesc/ProjDesc/DT4124731/Index.html
http://gisims2.co.miami-dade.fl.us/MyNeighborhood/MPOProjDesc/ProjDesc/DT4146231/Index.html

Can someone help me with some more info regarding the first project #2241.

It says it goes from 37th to 67th street on Biscayne Blvd. and that it is a "flexible pavement recontruction". What exactly wil they be doing and what will be result when they finish.

Also it says 2005 as work year is that when this project will be completed?

Thanks.

well they started the reallignment of biscayne blvd they will be converting the streets into two ways no more one way streets in downtown miami


ALL of them, why are they doing this, what are they trying to accomplish? won't this increase traffic?, esp with all the new residences?

it willl give more exit routes towards the ramps instead of using one main street corridor

this will open up alot of the corridors for more traffic and eliminate traffic on streets where its not needed and where they have to travel down through now to get to where they are going.

so basically it gives you more travel options

(ISG biscayne is very narrow in certain parts for the bus lanes so they are widening it and also installing medians and palms and landscaping in the center median also new lamps and traffic signals will be installed along with sewage drains and wells in certain parts where it is now needed)

thanks for quick reply. i heard some time ao that they were going to enlarge the sidewalks and make it more pedestrian and sidewalk cafe friedly. is that a separate group of projects? what is status/timing of those?

cheers from venezuela!

well theres alot in the pipeline but somethings might not be possible

widening sidewalks is possible in some parts but in others its impossible unless you tear down the building or make the street smaller in width

another thing mentioned was the rebuilding of the distributor ramps that lead into downtown miami off the i95 expressway they would lower these below grade and create a boulevard

a similiar plan is what is being proposed for i395 highway which leads to southbeach.

a tunnel was to be created on 2nd ave leading into brickell and another tunnel for the port of miami plus a third tunnel under downtown leading to the port but this one will not be built becuase its original path would take it under the new federal courthouse so that paln was scraped a 4th tunnel was to be built for the fcc railroad leading into the port.

finnally you have landscaping plans for biscayne,brickell,79th stree, southbeach, birdroad,and coral way

so lets see what gets done and what doest....

heres the link to some of the biscayne projects and the dates of the work to be done

http://gisims2.co.miami-dade.fl.us/MyNeighborhood/MPOProjDesc/ProjDesc/DT2502241/index.html
http://gisims2.co.miami-dade.fl.us/MyNeighborhood/MPOProjDesc/ProjDesc/DT4124731/Index.html
http://gisims2.co.miami-dade.fl.us/MyNeighborhood/MPOProjDesc/ProjDesc/DT4146231/Index.html
BUT REMEMBER RX :) , These ARE CONSTRUCTION START DATES, I work for the County, and I know FDOT are Slower Than We are, LOL. :cheers:
THESE PROJECTS Could TAKE 5 YEARS TO COMPLETE !!! :runaway:

What are the LATEST IMPACTS ?, Nails in our Tires from Demolition TRUCKS driving around Town, More POTHOLES in the Highways, More Accidents , More Drunks during the Holidays, More Garbage , More Homeless !

thanks for quick reply. i heard some time ao that they were going to enlarge the sidewalks and make it more pedestrian and sidewalk cafe friedly. is that a separate group of projects? what is status/timing of those?

cheers from venezuela!
ANYTIME ISG :) , and When Are you Coming BACK TO MIAMI ???, Also are you Gonna Stay here ? :cheers:

heres the link to some of the biscayne projects and the dates of the work to be done

http://gisims2.co.miami-dade.fl.us/MyNeighborhood/MPOProjDesc/ProjDesc/DT2502241/index.html
http://gisims2.co.miami-dade.fl.us/MyNeighborhood/MPOProjDesc/ProjDesc/DT4124731/Index.html
http://gisims2.co.miami-dade.fl.us/MyNeighborhood/MPOProjDesc/ProjDesc/DT4146231/Index.html
THANKS AGAIN RX :) , Great Sites :cheers: