http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v289/enyers/midtownjune23.jpg

in that soleil video, they depict Everglades on the bay as being way too short compared to 50 biscayne. otherwise, it was well done.

I think downtown will be a nightmare congestion wise once all those building gets built (although will be nice in terms of being able to walk to things but people love their cars in FL)... I little north of downtown (close but not right in it) and close to the highway access seems like a cool location to me. Just one man's humble opinion... What do others think. Cheers.Nightmare if you are talking about pedestrian congestion!!
The beauty of downtowns...almost any downtown that you can think of, is that people can live and work in the same area without driving.
Not too many people in the Brickell, Miami River, or CBD will be driving to the American Airlines Arena, Performing Arts Center, 24 hour entertainment district, Museum Park, Whole Foods or the high paying jobs located in the tallest office towers or financial district.
The people that live in the suburbs will be driving into town on the congested roads.
The real congestion exsists todayalong Biscayne Boulevard entering and leaving the CBD, all the way to Aventura in the drive times.
Thank goodness I don't have to drive in that mess daily or in the future. The only reason to leave the CBD will be to go to that Taco Bell 40 blocks north!

RX:

I guess we'll just have to see about walking vs. driving realities.

If you know NYC, for me it's like the difference betwen living in Times Square vs. the Upper East Side or West Side. Both are still in NYC (Manhattan) but my personal taste is to be NEAR enough to the action but be able to live comforatbly away enough from all that action... to manic for me. That's why for me (again personal preference) uptown area wil be more desirable ove the long run... at least for some people. Plus right now values are much better there because most people think like you. Just remember the masses aren't ussually the best for envisioning the future.

"Two roads diverge in the woods, and I took the one less taken. And that has made all the difference."

True, that in Manhattan..you are near the action 40 blocks north of the financial district where many high paying jobs are located....especially since Manhattan's population is 1.537 Million.
Miami is a little shy of that number at around 345,000.
There is also a pretty famous park near the Upper East and Upper West side, and plenty of services/museums/etc in those neighborhoods that don't compare to the Biscayne corridor, especially at 40th street.
Knowing a little bit about Manhattan...it is really a stretch to compare the median between I-195 east bound and westbound to the Upper East Side or the Upper West side of Manhattan.
I have friends that live in both the upper East side and Times Square, it is true that is much more quiet on the Upper East side, it is only a quick train ride into the downtown.
Let's hope that there will be a train from 40th street to the Museum Park, or the financial district, or the riverwalk, or anything. Cross you fingers and rub your lucky rabbits foot.
Right now all of those amenities exist in the CBD/Brickell/Miami River neighborhoods.
With all do respect to Robert Frost, Biscayne Blvd. is the same road...there are no forks to choose from...you just have to drive on the path for about 30 minutes longer in rush hour if you are north of 11th street.
If you have a job downtown or in the financial district...and you chose the "value" of living at 40th street, you will spend about 30 minutes more in your car each way then you would have if you lived near your workplace.
One hour per day...20 hours per month....240 hours per year. If you work week is a 40 hour work week...you have just spent 6 work weeks in your car.
If you have a wife/husband or a roommate, double that lost production.

I personally don't think the "values are better" up there...the prices are much cheaper up there though, you've got that going for you for sure.
Value is pretty arbitrary, but if you value time instead of money...or if you value excercise rather than sitting in a car...or if you value not using fossil fuels as opposed to walking...you would surely choose to live within walking distance/electric MetroMover distance to your work, public parks, and city services.

Envisioning the future in some crazy scenario...the Biscayne Cooridor might catch up with the CBD/Brickell/Miami River neighborhoods for livability, providing that the CBD/Brickell/Miami River neighborhoods stop evolving right now and the Biscayne cooridor can catch up for a half a decade or so. That is not very likely with all the tif money and new property taxes that will be rolling in by the 1,000's of units.
One could even envision a new Taco Bell in the CBD within the next 24 months. :runaway:

^please can we get another taco bell and maybe on the beach 2?!

Yeah the NY/MIA comparison doesn't work the same, and nobody hold your breath on miami transit - its not coming soon enough.
Midtown miami/biscayne corridor/design district are coming into a very dense residential settting with this retail suburbia quality (midtown) nestled next to high priced designers in the design district. It is close enough to the action of CBD and SoBe but far enough away to say out of sight out of mind.
I know further up north that crappy Biscayne Landing at FIU north is using that "too smart for downtown" ad campaign on bus-stops in downtown!

Miamians and the non-local investors (i think) are all looking for something thats pseudo-urban/suburban. You know a condo that compresses all the 'amenities' of Kendall Drive and a Spa into 9 floors of parking instead of 9 blocks of it while still being close enough to look out on the bay or downtown and Bayfront/Museum parks without ever having to actually go down there.

It will be a much more dense fabric no question, but knowing what I do of Miami I still see people going condo-elevator-car-work-car-elevator-condo, they still never get out of the car/building most of brickell currently has that feeling (lived on brickell key for 1.5 years).

Hopefully Im wrong and pedestrian and rail transit frenzy is incited!

Hey, for perspective's sake, you can't just scoot around NYC effortlessly either.

Ah, Manhattan, the best place on earth.

Also the most dense urban area with highrises on earth. that's just the way it is. 3x what chicago is and chicago is huge.

miami is more about geography, trends and newness. that said, miami was no. 2 to nyc last year for new construction-- go figure.

nyc has been an established city (manhattan) for at least 3 or 4 generations, minimum-- that's the difference. its our principle city in the US-- always has been.

Miami's role and identity is changing as the years go by-- for the better.

And much more construction than NYC *proportioately* I'd be willing to bet.

It will be a much more dense fabric no question, but knowing what I do of Miami I still see people going condo-elevator-car-work-car-elevator-condo, they still never get out of the car/building most of brickell currently has that feeling (lived on brickell key for 1.5 years).
True for now Archi...
Right now, southern Brickell (where most residential development is located) is still pretty far from the transportation...as is Brickell Key.
For those that have never ridden the Brickell Loop, it won't be as obvious but if you jump on the Metromover at the Four Seasons, and check out all the projects that are within 200 yards of a MetroMover stop, it is vividly clear, people will be leaving their cars in the garages. As you enter the MM and head west to the MetroRail connector look at, Capitol Towers, Infinity, Lattitude, Axis, Avenue, Plaza, Premiere Towers, Citi Center, 500 Brickell, Brickell on the River, etc. That is just the Brickell Loop of the MetroMover.

Many two car households will downsize their auto collections to save a car payment, car insurance payment, gas and maintenance payments.
Those savings alone justify the additional cost that you may have to finance.

Consider the following....Hypothetically:
A condo costs $50,000 more in the CBD than in Midtown.

You are really taking roughly $10,000 more out of pocket(20% when you finance it, and your monthly payment will be exactly $300 more per month at 6% with 30 yr amortization).
Of that extra $300 per month, about $250 per month is deductible as interest expense for the first few years. There aren't as significant deductions for a personal car or leverage for that matter.
Sell the car for $15,000 cash, use $10k of it for your downpayment to live in the CBD and use the rest of the proceeds, $5,000 to cover the extra $300 out of pocket for (5,000 / $300 = 16.66 months). Now the insurance/maintenance/gas is icing on the cake!!!

I believe that the math is compelling enough to bring people into the cities and out of the suburbs and exburbs. The price may be lower elsewhere, but the value is probably higher in compact neighborhoods located around jobs and transportation.

Good point Dale. You know those "fastest growing" statistics they do... definitely, Miami is fastest new construction (by far).

There is another reason most people moving to the new buildings on Brickell will be downsizing to one car. Most of the new buildings build only one parking spot per unit.

There is another reason most people moving to the new buildings on Brickell will be downsizing to one car. Most of the new buildings build only one parking spot per unit.

are you sure about that ? I think that would be great but as far as i know in Miami Beach at least any new development has to have 1.5 spaces per unit, and 3/4 bedroom units usually have 2. when i lived on brickell key in a 2 bedroom we had 2 spaces.

are you sure about that ? I think that would be great but as far as i know in Miami Beach at least any new development has to have 1.5 spaces per unit, and 3/4 bedroom units usually have 2. when i lived on brickell key in a 2 bedroom we had 2 spaces.

The towers going up on South Miami Ave (Premeire, Axis, Avenue, Pointe...etc) are all made almost entirely of 1 and 2 bedroom units which only get one parking space, the rare 3 bedroom unit gets 2 parking spots. Most of them add on a hundred parking spots or so for their office or retail components.

^ thats a smart system, though i think the office thing has a per square foot rule (SoBe its 1 space per 300 sf. new office or retail i believe) but i think they should keep cars to a minimum, definitely. :cheers:

Bad news for future Midtown residents:

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/12027540.htm

Buyers of Nirvana in anything but

Buyers of the Nirvana condo conversion project in Miami are irate, alleging protracted delays and shoddy work by the same developers doing Midtown Miami.

BY MATTHEW HAGGMAN

mhaggman@herald.com

The developers of Midtown Miami promise the massive, eight-tower residential project will revitalize Miami's Wynwood and Edgewater neighborhood. Miami Mayor Manny Diaz called the development an ``unbelievable deal for the city.''

But don't tell that to the residents of Nirvana, a condominium complex in northeast Miami being developed by the Midtown Miami builders. For months, the condo owners have complained the Nirvana project is behind schedule, the workmanship shoddy, and the developers largely unresponsive.

The state's Division of Florida Land Sales, Condominiums and Mobile Homes is moving to fine the developers for failing to include condo owners on the developer-controlled condo association boards, as required by law.

Some 35 Nirvana unit owners have retained a lawyer, Andrew Dickman, and still more owners are fuming over the project in Miami's resurgent Upper Eastside.

''The residents are raising such a stink because these are the guys doing Midtown and look at the job they are doing here,'' said Nirvana owner Spence Levy, 35.

The principal developers for Nirvana and Midtown Miami -- Michael Samuel, Daniel Pfeffer, Joe Cayre and Jack Cayre -- didn't return calls or e-mails for comment.

Bruce Cutright, the developers' representative at Nirvana, explained that its property manager failed to hold timely condo-board elections and the problem is being fixed. But he vigorously denied widespread problems at the project.

''Things have progressed fairly well,'' maintained Cutright. ''We had some hiccups on permitting issues. But, overall, we've made good progress.'' He said, ``there is always a vocal minority.''

It's unclear what recourse the unhappy buyers may have. ''We are hoping this does not have to go to court,'' said their attorney, Dickman. ``Our first step is to present a master list of complaints and issues to the developer and give the developer a point person to deal with.''

In 2003 Samuel and New York-based Midtown Equities -- which includes Pfeffer, Cayre and Cayre -- formed a joint venture, Sobay Partners, and purchased the 17.5 acre bayfront rental complex at NE 64th Street called Banyan Bay Apartments. The site on Biscayne Bay includes five apartment buildings.

In 2002, the same group -- under the name Midtown Group -- purchased the 56-acre former Buena Vista rail yard and is building the eight-tower community, Midtown Miami.

According to the Midtown Miami website, the developer's experience includes building the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Club & Spa in Baltimore's Inner Harbor and holding a 25 percent interest in the World Trade Center site.

At Nirvana, the plan is to renovate the property and convert the rental units into condos. Buyers were wooed with slick brochures of stylish units in a lavish landscape -- a gated community with tennis courts, gym, marina and two pools.

But owners such as Jorge Villegas, who says he closed on a unit in June 2004, contend that verbally promised completion dates were missed again and again.

A March 21 letter to residents from Nirvana property manager David Keller promised a ''major effort'' to complete the pools in the ''very near future.'' Yet, a visit to the complex this week found construction of the two pools incomplete and at a standstill. Construction of the entry guardhouse and gym were underway but also unfinished; the marina is closed and the tennis courts demolished.

''In 2003 they said they would be mostly done in June 2004,'' said Villegas, 42, who purchased a Nirvana unit as an investment and currently rents the unit. ``Then they said September 2004, then December 2004, then March, then June. I talked to them three weeks ago and they said September.''

Cutright, who said he took charge at Nirvana four weeks ago, said pool construction has been delayed because of incorrect permits. He said he knew nothing about previous promised deadlines, declaring that all exterior renovations -- from pools to a guardhouse -- will be completed by November.

Some residents complain that the conversion is dragging on while newly constructed projects, such as Blue, rise nearby them. ''We can't get a guard tower up and Blue is nearly done,'' said Peggy Lee, 26, who owns a Nirvana unit with her husband, Ray Chang.

Meanwhile, many residents remain irate over a host of other glitches: sliding doors that won't open; lights that won't turn off; front doors marred with peeling paint. They say some kitchen appliances aren't the same quality as those displayed in the Nirvana sales center. All the while, residents complain, they have to pay the full maintenance fee of approximately $300 a month.

''We feel that instead of living in Nirvana,'' said owner Alexander Diaz, 27, ``we are living in a nightmare.''

Everyone :) , anyone seen Midtown Construction site lately ??? Its Hot and another yellow Tower construction Crane went up today, Wednesday, July 6th, 2005, This is going to be Miami's next boom area. from the I-195 expressway to Miami Beach, with the Blue Condo Tower 95 % completed, check it out now, We need Pictures of this area, please , anyone :hi: , and this is only Midtown two tower, more cranes coming next month for the sold out already started construction of Midtown Four Tower.

P.S. Go Cranes !!! :cucumber: :banana: :carrot: :pepper: and now 32 Tower construction Cranes in the City of Miami Limits alone !!! :cheers:

Still in "believe it when I see it" mode, as I've been for the last 3 years when the hype started about the Biscayne Corridor.
Great to see a lot of it being constructed in the BVRY...go cranes!!! (Chuck, where'd you get those colorful dancing bannanas?)
ICE is down...and who knows about some of the other ambitious projects...I hope that they all go up as planned. There are a lot of really great people with good intentions working on that area, and hopefully it can ride the same wave as the urban core.

Bank in the Morningside area just topped off, Its a rather unimpressive midrise along Biscayne Boulevard.

Here is a rendering of 1650 Biscayne (Cardinal Symphony) I found on the Elkus/Manfredi Architects page. The lowrise loft building is nice but the tall one bores me. Too many long featureless balconies. I like the roof though. At least its a 600-footer. Whats up with the yellow tower?

I guess Miami has come a long way if I am complaining about minor details of a new 60 story tower.

http://www.elkus-manfredi.com/images/1650%20Biscayne.jpg

ooohhh... this ones nice... i luv the just straight up vertical length of the building with the soft curves... its beautiful

but ill jump on the bandwagon ask ask wat the hells up wit the yellow beast?

Dave :rock: , Thanks My friend for that great Update, This is going to be a Fantastic Tower and yeah, whats up with that strange yellow tower :dunno: behind the Super 600 foot Beauty :colgate: .

P.S. NIMBY :righton: , my Mexican low paid ( 6.15 per hour ) employees :lurker: on the back of my bandwagon :horse: want some water :nono: , can we stop by your place on sunday, lol. :okay:

i do like that project. the taller tower isn't anything amazing, but the project as a whole is pretty good looking. it's being developed by cabi developers who are also doing the everglades projects, so let's hope they've learned their lessons on how to price & do contracts so that this one doesn't get delayed too.

here's some pics of portico that were recently added to the city's site:

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/1368/portico24yv.jpg

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2825/portico1xf.jpg

love the density on the 2nd pic. you can check out all the docs here (http://egov.ci.miami.fl.us/LegistarWeb/Legistar.asp?action=3&mtKey=4221)

i do like that project. the taller tower isn't anything amazing, but the project as a whole is pretty good looking. it's being developed by cabi developers who are also doing the everglades projects, so let's hope they've learned their lessons on how to price & do contracts so that this one doesn't get delayed too.

Cabi seems like a "one project at a time" kind of developer. Do anyone now if 1650 will go before Capital Towers or if they will go up simultaneously?

I wonder what is planned for the site between the Bay Parc Plaza apartments and the 1800 Club. The two small buildings were recently bought up by a company calling themselves "B A D ASS LLC" (I'm not kidding check it out for yourself here (http://gisims2.miamidade.gov/myhome/propmap.asp?app=none&bytool=FOLIO&cmd=FINDFOLIO&cmdTemp=&tool=SELECT&searchtool=FOLIO&searchtoolTemp=&mapURL=http%3A%2F%2Fgisims2.miamidade.gov%2Foutput%2Fmd_prop_S01410153020309611178.jpg&minX=702253&minY=281551&maxX=1009861&maxY=589159&selX=&selY=&scale=30761&ownerl=&ownerf=&stnum=&stdir=&stname=&sttype=&stunit=&stzip=&folio=0132310030580&reffolio=&cfolio=&startnum=0&sOrthophoto=NO&sColorphoto=YES) )

B A D ASS LLC"

OH MY GOD!!! I would think only Dale or I would make up a name like that! What is up with that, its pretty stupid. I mean really its not very professional to have a name like that. And this is coming from me which should say a lot.

lol badass llc,

cardinal symphony is badass

Dave :rock: , Thanks My friend for that great Update, This is going to be a Fantastic Tower and yeah, whats up with that strange yellow tower :dunno: behind the Super 600 foot Beauty :colgate: .

P.S. NIMBY :righton: , my Mexican low paid ( 6.15 per hour ) employees :lurker: on the back of my bandwagon :horse: want some water :nono: , can we stop by your place on sunday, lol. :okay:


chuck... u and ur mexicans can stop by my place anytime... hell, ill even make u guys some tacos!

An article on the emerging design district:

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/12202059.htm

South Beach pioneer moves to Design District

By MATTHEW HAGGMAN

mhaggman@herald.com


Developer Craig Robins, who pioneered the redevelopment of South Beach from seedy beach community into international playground, is forsaking trendy Lincoln Road and moving the headquarters of his company, Dacra, to Miami's Design District.

The move will put him in the middle of ambitious new construction projects that are expected to transform the artsy neighborhood and could one day give it the cachet of South Beach.

Over the past decade he has been buying up and renovating properties in the Design District. Now he is ready to embark on the district's first significant new construction in years. He envisions erecting more than 15 new buildings, including condos, apartment rentals, art galleries, design showrooms, office space, restaurants and cafés.

''Years of hard work have laid the foundation,'' said Robins, 42. ``So much has happened already and the neighborhood appears to be on the verge of a very profound and important transformation.''

Over the next three years, Robins plans to add nearly 1.5 million square feet of new construction to his roughly 500,000 square feet of current holdings in the Design District.

The aim: enliven the district's streets with more residents and visitors who in turn will promote commercial activity and inspire new restaurants and cafés, while hewing to the Design District's identity as a center for art, architecture and design.

''The goal is to make this neighborhood Miami's unique creative laboratory,'' Robins said.

Robins is moving Dacra's headquarters at the end of the year from South Beach to the fourth floor of the refurbished Buick Building on Northeast 2nd Avenue.

''I still live in Miami Beach and have property there, but [South Beach] is becoming more of a commercial kind of place,'' said Robins. ``A company like ours likes to be on the edge and in new and vital places. Mainly, it will be a lot of fun to be in the Design District.''

But Robins faces many challenges in a neighborhood that spiraled downward in the 1980s as crime surged and a competitor, the Design Center of the Americas, opened in Dania Beach.

The Design District has no natural features like a beach or a waterfront to lure residents. And some past condo projects planned by other developers that were unveiled with much fanfare have yet to get off the ground in the district. Work has not started on either the Aria or Cube condo projects. And street life in the area remains lackluster, with limited options for dining or entertainment.

''Is something happening there? Yes,'' said real estate analyst Michael Cannon. ``The neighborhood looks a lot better than it did. But does it have a long way to go? Yes. The neighborhood has not reached critical mass.''

But Robins has a considerable track record. He founded Dacra in 1987 and became a leader in South Beach's revival, playing a part in the renovation of landmarks such as the Netherland and Marlin hotels and redevelopment of Lincoln Road and Española Way.

Since he started buying property in the Design District in 1994, he has refurbished structures such as the Moore Furniture Co. building and attracted more than 50 designers and professionals ranging from architects Alison Spear and Chad Oppenheim to singer Juanes to the neighborhood.

''I think Craig is one of the most talented developers in Miami,'' said Jorge Perez, chairman and chief executive of The Related Group of Florida, which is among the nation's biggest condo developers.

Attorney Neisen Kasdin, who was mayor of Miami Beach during much of South Beach's resurgence, said the Design District shares similar characteristics: a defined neighborhood; quality architecture and streetscape; and a unique, identifiable character.

And he thinks the massive Midtown Miami development -- located just south of the Design District -- and its plans for eight condo towers and several big-box retailers -- will complement the district's revival and draw new people into the neighborhood. The re-emerging Buena Vista single-family home neighborhood to the north and new condo construction along Biscayne Boulevard should also help, Kasdin said.

''The prospects are good,'' said Kasdin, a partner at Gunster Yoakley in Miami. ``The only question is the time frame.''

PHASE ONE UNDERWAY

Robins, who is currently completing a residential development called Aqua in Miami Beach, plans to roll out the new construction in the Design District in two phases.

Phase one is already underway. It includes:

• Oak Plaza, a project on Northeast 40th Street, that will include two two-story buildings for retail and design showrooms. A new street called Plumer Alley will knife between the two structures connecting to Northeast 39th Street, leading to a restaurant space and courtyard. Completion is expected by year's end.

• Two modern single-family homes on Northeast 42nd Street that are set to receive the final nod for occupancy within the next two weeks.

• Two buildings along Northeast First Court between Northeast 38th and Northeast 39th streets that are slated to go up in 2006. Each will have a ground floor retail component and the upper floors in the Palm Court Building will include rental apartments while the Collection Building will have art gallery space and hold Robins' private art collection.

• Two parcels on either side of Tuttle Street between Biscayne Boulevard and North Federal Highway that Robins hopes will serve as the Design District's gateway. On one side of the street, two two-story retail and design showrooms are planned. On the other, two more two-story retail structures topped by several floors of condominiums are on the drawing board.

Robins said a condo developer will be chosen shortly who will build the condo component. Construction is set to begin next year.

Much of the construction, Robins said, will be financed by money earned from his project Aqua and from money paid to Dacra by the condo developer who builds the Tuttle Street condo. Robins has also long used Alabama-based Colonial Bank to finance his projects.

PHASE TWO PLANS

Robins plans to launch a second phase within the next three years that will include office space, more condos, art galleries, retail and design space and possibly a hotel. Those developments would go on several parcels of land Robins already owns at the intersection of North Miami Avenue and Northeast 39th Street, among other locations.

Added to this mix, developer Jeremy Green of Nexus Development Group has purchased two Design District parcels where he plans to build town homes and lofts. And last year Robins sold the famed Living Room building, noted for its oversized pink outdoor couch, to Diego and Ernesto Rimoch of Mexico City for $3 million. They plan to turn it into an independent film theater.

Expecting an influx of people in the district, Robins' Dacra is also slated to build a city-owned parking garage in the neighborhood.

''I think the Design District holds similar potential as Lincoln Road [did],'' said Green. ``What better evidence than one of the biggest catalysts of Lincoln Road, Craig Robins, is the biggest landowner in the Design District.''

sorry but i love that article especially since my parents own a house on northwest 40 street,so that means an increase in the value of our property.:yay:

anyways i love some of the projects that dacra has done in the design district,
especially the living room,which has been featured in many magazines and also the new modern building on the corner of forty first street.

also theres been alot of speculatiuon that dacra had brought the aria site and that was where the new city owned garage was going to go.

i hope this new the developer the best,and hopefully the district will continue its ascent.....in other news a new restaurant and ni9ghtclub just opened on the district it called sheba....i'll be checking out next week

He's still got that PR machine going!!
Does anyone else remember in the mid-nineties when Craig Robbins was buying up the design district and touting it as the new South Beach?? It seemed like every Ocean Drive real estate article touted the brilliant move to the design district. He is definitely a great promoter, and I'm sure his buys there haven't really crippled his investment fund...but doubtful that design district returns have approached 1/4 of the South Beach returns in the last 12 years.
It's been over a decade, and the design district is still no South Beach...3 restaurants and a couple of clubs...I hope that it keeps gaining in popularity, it is always helpful for a city to have different offerings.

Dacra has received plenty of design district advertising in the store front windows. Lots of "For Lease" signs (if you know what I mean).
Pardon the skepticism...but might it be true that Craig Robbins' South Beach space can be rented for $60 per square foot in a New York minute while his Design District space has remained unleased for awhile?

Smart move to lease out the most valuable space and move to the unleasable space.
Smarter move yet to put that kind of spin on it!!!!

you sure do sound excited roark..........

anyways the renderings for these new projects are on robbins website

www.dacra.com its in the new development section

Dania Beach?

South Florida Dave :) , any update on the Portico Condo Tower getting City of Miami Approval ???, WOW !!!, I love this tower :cheers1: , too , North of the Omni Complex, Fantastic News :cheers2: , Another tall tower, One after another every week here in our ever growing City. :cucumber: :banana: :carrot:

The biggest problem with the design district is that nobody actually lives there. If you drive down NE 2nd ave after dark, it feels like you're driving through a floodlit movie set after everyone went home for the night.

Personally, I hope that the western end (straddling Miami Avenue) gets redeveloped into something resembling downtown South Miami... maybe a big corner Barnes & Noble or Borders superstore (whichever one isn't in Midtown), god forbid maybe even a neighborhood pizza place like the ones all over south beach.

The biggest reason while the design district will never be another south beach is simply that its too small. Its what like 6 blocks X 3 blocks? South Beach is about 22 blocks X 10 blocks, so obviously its going to have more of everything and therefore be able to attract more people to go there. Right now the design district is a little smaller than downtown South Miami and has many many fewer restaraunts and retail. But then again the nightclubs have pretty much all left South Miami for the Design District area(Revolver moving up north and being replaced by a strip club hurt my South Miami).

:) actually no the design district is from 41st all the way down to 20th street
ofcourse it isn't continuos.also around the same area as the wynwood arts district is the fashion district,the produce district,and the warehouse dist.

the original design district was from 41 to 36,then a couple of galleries were added up to 29th,after that there are a couple which spread till 20th street.

now thanks to lionstone alot more will be added around 20th street,and yesterday the zoning board approved 2 new art galleries on 26th street designed by chad oppenheim. :) .also southfloridaceo is suppose to do a full editorial on the wynwood arts district for the august edition. :) anyways anyone know about the electra building on 36th street infront of midtown

Living and working in the Design District

By JO WERNE

Special to The Herald


It's a beautiful morning in the year 2010. A young artist leaves his loft apartment in the Miami Design District and strolls to Northeast 40th Street to enjoy a cup of coffee at a sidewalk café.

Later, he visits several art galleries to see if his paintings, placed on consignment, have sold. Pausing to chat with friends in a plaza shaded by oak trees, the artist checks out the daily specials in the windows of several cafés before returning to his loft in a live/work high-rise to start another painting.

This is a scenario envisioned by architect Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk five years from now when the Design District is transformed from an under-utilized area of designer showrooms and art galleries to a bustling neighborhood of condos, rentals and new mixed-use buildings. Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Miami, Plater-Zyberk sees more restaurants, as well as convenience stores and pleasant streetscapes that will make the neighborhood a desirable place to live.

''I see the district full of merchants and shoppers,'' says Plater-Zyberk who created a master plan for the area. ``DASH [Design and Architecture Senior High] will be thriving. I see more green, a better entry and several buildings with walk-throughs.''

''What we are doing is embarking on a really intense program to bring architecture into the neighborhood,'' says Craig Robins, head of Dacra Properties who is planning to build several live/work structures as well as a building to house his extensive art collection, which will be open to the public. ``We are taking a vibrant neighborhood and making it more so. We're going to create live/work spaces for creative people and subsidize where young people need help.''

Dozens of artists, architects and designers, he says, are already involved in the district.

The area ''has that excitement of a new and developing neighborhood,'' says architect John Keenen of Keenen/Riley Architects, New York. ``Every time I go to Miami, I can feel the changes in the district. It's palpable. It reminds me of changes in Manhattan, the evolution of SoHo and other neighborhoods.''

Keenen and his business partner Terence Riley, curator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, are involved in several projects in the Design District, including four two-story retail buildings that will be on Tuttle Street. The newly named street curves from Biscayne Boulevard and will become a major entrance to the district.

The architects also have designed two courtyard homes on Northeast 43rd Street, one of which Riley plans to live in when he's in Miami.

Craig Konyk of Brooklyn-based Konyk Architecture is one of several architects commissioned by Dacra to design the new buildings on Tuttle Street. ''Our building [Tuttle Street 2 on the map on page 29] is an open plan that could support other uses besides showrooms,'' he says. ``We will make a roof-top activity space. This is exciting for us. New buildings show the district is growing.''

New York architect Walter Chatham has been involved in the Design District for 10 years; he did the renovation of the Moore Building and other buildings on commission from Dacra. ''Residential has been a missing ingredient in the district,'' he says. ``The area had to be viable before residential could happen. It should accelerate rapidly.''

`GOOD BONES'

Plater-Zyberk, whose firm DPZ Architects designed the town of Seaside in the Florida Panhandle, believes the Design District is ripe for residential development because ``it has good bones and an urban structure.''

Design District merchants would like to see people living in the neighborhood because ''when they look at residential, they see bucks,'' says Susane Ronai, owner of Susane R Lifestyle Boutique.

''Because people are going to be living here, the district must be more friendly, more urban, more welcoming,'' she says. ``And it must become more convenient. I had to send a client needing batteries for her camera over to [Biscayne] Boulevard and several blocks down to find batteries. Two years from now, no one will have to go outside the district for a battery. We need more boutiques, cafés, restaurants, a newsstand. We need a little movie house, and I would love to see a bookstore here.''

''The district is perfect for residential,'' adds Rajni Agarwal, owner of Advanced Trading, an Oriental rug showroom at the same Northeast 40th Street location for 25 years. ``It's so convenient to downtown, the expressway, the airport.''

Wayne Taylor, owner of NOW, a retail showroom of contemporary furniture, also welcomes residential development. ''It makes it an urban area,'' he says. ``We're in transition, on the way. Enough people are interested in putting their feet in the water to make it work.''

Many of the conveniences the Design District will need as it morphs into a residential area will be available just blocks away at Midtown Miami, which is under construction at the old Buena Vista Railroad Yard south of Northeast 36th Street. Besides eight residential towers, the development will have ''big box'' stores, supermarkets and specialty stores.

''Midtown Miami is very positive for us,'' says Robins. ``The district can be more artistic, designer-oriented. I think the two areas will be compatible.''

Design District merchants also view Midtown Miami's residential towers as a potential source for their products. Everything from bathroom fixtures to tile, floor coverings, furniture, antiques and art are already available in district showrooms. Most now welcome retail customers as well as offer discounts to designers and architects.

''What we should have here is many more designers so this could become a one-stop shopping area for all sorts of home furnishings,'' Ronai says.

Although the Design District has a ''good street grid,'' Plater-Zyberk says the blocks are too long to make it pedestrian-friendly.

SHORTER STREETS

Dacra is already addressing this issue by cutting a lane through from Northeast 40th Street to Northeast 39th and building two narrow buildings that will be shaded by oak trees. Called Oak Plaza, it will include a restaurant and patio that will invite pedestrians to pause and relax in the shade.

''It will be the first public space for the district,'' says architect Carrie Penabad, whose firm Cure & Penabad Architects is responsible for the plaza, the new street and two new buildings along with Khoury & Vogt Architects, both Miami firms. ``I think it's great to have residences in the district. You need housing to make it lively both by day and night.''

Anyone who has walked the long blocks of the Design District during hot weather knows the area also needs shade. Beginning this summer, the City of Miami plans to plant 80 trees along Northeast 40th Street and improve lighting and sidewalks. Concerned about the entire street being torn up at once, merchants met with the city, which has agreed to do the work in four increments. The city is also building a parking garage south of Northeast 39th Street.

Finally, Plater-Zyberk points out, the ''new'' Design District must be convenient and easy to get around: ``There is a need for kiosks to direct people around the district. We need to make it friendly.''
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/12202064.htm

DESIGN DISTRICT TOWER: The City of Miami Urban Development Review Board last week approved plans for Tiziano, a 15-story residential development at 53 NE 41st St. in Miami's Design District, with recommendations for changes and improvements in landscaping and suggestions for additional ground-level retail stores. Plans include 45 residential units and a four-story parking garage.
DEVELOPMENTS MOVE AHEAD: The Miami Urban Development Review Board last week approved Class II special development permits for Arquitectonica Design Studios for development of a three-corner site at 3300 Rice St. in Coconut Grove, the Lafayette Square affordable-housing development at Northeast 79th Street and First Avenue, and Villa Patricia, 234-242 NE 79th St. It approved major-use special permits for The Boulevard, 238-274 NE 34th St., and The Roads at 18th, 1840-1860 SW Third Ave

:) actually no the design district is from 41st all the way down to 20th street
ofcourse it isn't continuos.also around the same area as the wynwood arts district is the fashion district,the produce district,and the warehouse dist.

the original design district was from 41 to 36,then a couple of galleries were added up to 29th,after that there are a couple which spread till 20th street.

now thanks to lionstone alot more will be added around 20th street,and yesterday the zoning board approved 2 new art galleries on 26th street designed by chad oppenheim. :) .also southfloridaceo is suppose to do a full editorial on the wynwood arts district for the august edition. :) anyways anyone know about the electra building on 36th street infront of midtown

I guess its just names. I consider the area from 36th to 20th street to be Wynwood, not the Design District.

Hey Hatter, good updates man. Do you know what the plan is for 79th and 1st?

rider whats on 79 and 1st isn't that the shopping center where bad boys 2 was shot

I thought that was the mall on Biscayne and 79th he was talking about?

"the Lafayette Square affordable-housing development at Northeast 79th Street and First Avenue, and Villa Patricia, 234-242 NE 79th St."

are you talking about this

Thanks Hatter

Cardinal Symphony is awesome!

well it seems like ice2 has changed its name to element and groundbreaking is suppose to be in november,prices are still high

^ Wow ! In Miami, even the dead projects rise ! They just get another name.

well it seems like ice2 has changed its name to element and groundbreaking is suppose to be in november,prices are still high

Is that the same company that is building Axis? What is going on with axis, why is there no activity at the site?

So ICE 2 is still a go, as "Element"? That's good news. I like Ice 2's design.

Looks like it. And prices start at a hefty $1.6 million for the cheapest units.

I might be overstating this point, but IMO, Ice 2 (along with TMP and Lynx) is/are going to be Miami's most important architecturally significant new bldgs. for years to come. they are so unique and so international looking, they will influence newer bldgs. that get designed for the better.

I might be overstating this point, but IMO, Ice 2 (along with TMP and Lynx) is/are going to be Miami's most important architecturally significant new bldgs. for years to come. they are so unique and so international looking, they will influence newer bldgs. that get designed for the better.

i really like their simple/pristine clarity but i dont think there influence will be so important. i mean they are embarking on a track that is something along the lines of a whitewashed Mies or SOM in the earlier years. obviously these are 'much' better in terms of balconies etc. but they r still elitist and isolationist in some sense.

the best of these is Lynx but its a more urban mix project as opposed to private residential - i dont know about you guys but im already over chads neoclassical concrete richard meier style (see the beach house project) and how its cool for a while but soon it will be overcooked.

but you are right the influence is already heavy in new buildings all over SoFla.

great because they add another style of architecture to miami... and you can never have to much of a good thing

OMG :eek2: the more I see whats going on down in Miami the more I get mad at Seattle City planers of the past. I cant wait to See Miami in a few years Cheers guys :cheers1:

OMG :eek2: the more I see whats going on down in Miami the more I get mad at Seattle City planers of the past. I cant wait to See Miami in a few years Cheers guys :cheers1:

And we'll drink to the demise of that building height cap you guys suffer with. :cheers:

It will reserve my judgement until I see what an Oppenheim building (Ice, Ice2, TMP) looks like once its completed. No one's seen one yet. Speaking of which, didn't he do Space01 in North Bay Village? How is that one turning out?

The thing about Oppenheim, is that those bldgs he's designing are so distinct, there isn't, to my knowledge, any bldg in any other US city that looks like them.

They will be unquestionably Miami, just like the JHC, Sears, Marina City, IBM, Daley Ctr, and Tribune are unquestionably Chicago; and the Chrysler, ESB, and Waldorf (to name a few), are so New York.

Miami has BOA and Wachovia and ESP (the 3 main ones). Add Blue now. This new crop of bldgs. will do for Miami what those others did for those other cities.

SOM is synonymous with Chicago. KPF with NYC. And there's more... Now, Miami's architectural scene is starting to mature-- and it is very impressive.

The Island director Michael Bay just bought a $7 million bi-level penthouse with four bedrooms, four baths and a rooftop pool at Element, the latest crane -- er, condo, to go up along Biscayne Corridor, this one at Northeast 31st Street in Miami. While sales haven't opened to the public, we're told that a major filmmaker and an out-of-town basketball player have also bought here. When's the party?

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/people/12335805.htm

The Island director Michael Bay just bought a $7 million bi-level penthouse with four bedrooms, four baths and a rooftop pool at Element, the latest crane -- er, condo, to go up along Biscayne Corridor, this one at Northeast 31st Street in Miami. While sales haven't opened to the public, we're told that a major filmmaker and an out-of-town basketball player have also bought here. When's the party?

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/people/12335805.htm

I guess he had to buy a Miami condo to be near his partner in crime Jerry Bruckheimer who bought at Il Villagio on South Beach for $6.7 million recently.

ok new project in midtown,and guess what its already u/c around the 1st floor.

its called midblock midtown
http://www.condofinds.com/listing_images/Midblock_Midtown_Miami1.jpg
http://www.condofinds.com/listing_images/Midblock_Midtown_Miami2.jpg
Midblock is a mixed use building in the heart of Midtown Miami. Midblock’s retail includes cafes. A cafe. Restaurants. New York style deli, cleaners, everything you would expect in a great city neighborhood. This truly is an energetic city where people walk to the store, walk to get the newspaper, walk to dinner, walk to see their friends. Dive home from work or work nearby, you won’t need a car to get around this neighborhood. A pedestrian arcade, from Midtown Blvd to Market Street, is a mix of green-markets, street fairs and people watching.

The most surprising new spot on the block is the 11-story Midblock. An intriguing selection of townhomes, lofts and tower units are designed with floor-to-ceiling glass, wide-open spaces, great layouts and great Midtown vies. It’s the perfect city mix. Townhomes range in size from 1,350 to 1,555 square feet, lofts are 1,200 to 2,600 square feet and tower residences are 800 to 1,800 square feet. Lots of light, lots of room, lots of energy.

also finnally we see the appearance of the mystery kubik in morningside,which is the first project to comeout in the uppereastside,this is on 57st right after you pass the publix and the soyka restaurant complex,the developer is the owner of the soyka restaurant

http://www.condofinds.com/listing_images/Kubik1.jpg


p.s. and we thought august would be a slow month.

also this is the original rendering for midtown or as it was being called at the time biscayne redevelopment or buena vista yard.
[IMG]http://www.kafka-franz.com/images/Midtownmiami--098.jpg[IMG]

I have been wondering about this kubik project. Is it u/c?

http://www.cajaradesign.com/graphics/Mdt1.jpg
http://www.cajaradesign.com/graphics/Mdt7.jpg
http://www.cajaradesign.com/graphics/Mdt4.jpg
http://www.cajaradesign.com/graphics/Mdt5.jpg
http://www.cajaradesign.com/graphics/Mdt3.jpg
http://www.cajaradesign.com/graphics/Opr1.jpg
http://www.cajaradesign.com/graphics/Opr2.jpghttp://www.cajaradesign.com/graphics/Opr3.jpg
http://www.cajaradesign.com/graphics/Opr4.jpg
http://www.cajaradesign.com/graphics/Opr5.jpg
http://www.cajaradesign.com/graphics/Opr6.jpg
http://www.cajaradesign.com/graphics/Opr7.jpg
http://www.cajaradesign.com/graphics/Opr8.jpg
http://www.cajaradesign.com/graphics/Opr9.jpg

I have been wondering about this kubik project. Is it u/c?

no but i was eating yesterday at soyka and noticed they put up the fence banner which wasn't up last month,and they have a website,i don't remeber it but i believe its www.kubikatmorningside.com

WOW @ midblock midtown....that one went right under our radar...(maybe it needs some tuning lol)
Where exactly is it?

great stuff mad hatter:D

street i'm guessing its the second midrise in between midtown2 and shop at mid
http://www.fortunehouserealty.com/Images/StarterImages/MidtownMiami.JPG

oooh...I didn't realize this was part of the midtown miami project...great:):)

MAD Uptown Hatter :wave: , STREET :bowtie: , and everyone else :gossip: , Another Tower construction Crane going up on the Midtown Site, could this be the MIDBLOCK complex, or could the crane be for Midtown Four ??? :okay:

This will make it 34 Tower Construction Cranes just in the City of Miami limits alone, Go Cranes !!! :applause:

A map showing the locations of various projects in Uptown:

Platinum Bay is missing. It should be just to the East and South of Platinum
http://www.miamibeach411.com/real_estate/biscayne-map.html

well paradise development might have a new project,they just acquired a parcel directly across from shops at midtown which is diagonally from the unreleased electra project.paradise is also developing flatiron and park lane.the site the acquired looks to be about an acre and was currently being used as art gallleries.

another site which looks to be on the verge of selling is the aspira charter school right at the entrance to 1-95 the parcel is going to attract some big bucks and its a huge site so i expect a big name developer like related,paradise,terra,maysville etc. to buy them out soon.

anyways as too what chuck was saying there is currently 2 cranes being assembled at midtown,but there funny looking cranes anyways there too small to be the cranes for midtown4 so i'll take it as there for midblock which is on its second floor.also midtown recieved about a shipment of 200 steel beams ,i'm guessing for the retail section,also there digging some deep holes,i don't know for what.

Affordable housing for Little Haiti: 19-story Lafeyette Square on NE 78th ST.

http://www.miamisunpost.com/seventhstoryfrontpage.htm

The Miami Zoning Board approved variances that enabled the construction of what is being promoted as a “true” and desperately needed affordable housing project in Little Haiti, during a meeting Monday.


The Gatehouse Group went before the board requesting a reduction of the number of parking spaces required to build Lafayette Square, a $29 million apartment building at 141 NE 78th St. Gatehouse’s representatives felt that 306 parking spaces, as required by city code, were simply not needed in a low-income housing project such as this, and offered to provide 53 percent of the spaces instead.

Often, affordable housing project representatives are granted a variance in the city’s parking requirements, sometimes up to 50 percent, and the group was able to convince board members that they were not merely labeling their project “affordable,” but were in fact, providing the city with a much needed resource.

David Canepari, president of the Gatehouse Group, said that although building affordable housing in Miami is becoming increasingly difficult, his organization has managed to put together a project that will directly benefit the renters in the city of Miami.

“The need for affordable housing in this county is greater than ever, but it is becoming near impossible to build them,” said Canepari. “Apartments are being converted into condos, and older apartment buildings are being razed. It is becoming extremely difficult to build rentals yet we’re providing one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments for individuals who earn between $14,000 and $38,000 a year.”

Canepari said one-bedroom apartments at Lafayette Square will rent for between $450 and $550, two-bedroom apartments for between $535 and $650. Three bedrooms will be offered for between $600 and $750 per month. He said these rates are possible only because the project is funded largely through Low Income Housing Tax Credits received from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Several board members said they were impressed with the applicant’s suggested rental rates.

“That price does not exist in Miami,” said zoning board member Charles Flowers. “It certainly made me think to hear that number.”

Fellow board member Juvenal Pina agreed and added that having a 50-year deed restriction preventing Lafayette Square from being converted into condominiums was a giant improvement over the 10-year restrictions other projects offer.

Well that part of town isnt really a hot spot for condos anyway. Im happy to see that project. After all I grew up a very short distance from there and I always hoped that part of town would someday turn around. Here's hoping this is the start of something good.

When I took Methods & Materials of Design at FIU, my professor told us about house building in South Florida... "There is and old saying in South Florida--build a basement, and you have a pool..."

Posted on Thu, Sep. 15, 2005

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Parking lot plans 'under' construction

A developer hopes to help solve the Miami Performing Arts Center's worries about where people will park. The answer: build underground.

BY MATTHEW HAGGMAN

mhaggman@herald.com

Developer Leviev & Boymelgreen is planning to build where few dare to go in South Florida: below ground.

The New York-based developer said it plans to build 1,000 parking spaces on two or three floors underground immediately west of the Miami Performing Arts Center.

Building below ground is an expensive and challenging feat few have taken on in South Florida because the water table is so high in the region. But recently, developers have shown a willingness to dig deep into the soil for new construction to avoid placing high-rise towers atop parking garages considered unsightly and unfriendly to pedestrians.

A project in Kendall called Downtown Dadeland and Grove Garden in Coconut Grove are attempting to build underground garages. A mixed-use project called Byblos on Bird Road, which awaits approval by the Miami City Commission, includes a three-floor underground garage.

''Everyone thought because of the high water table you cannot do it,'' said Raymond Mitri, president of Miami-based Idec, which is developing Byblos.

The big concerns: An underground garage can cost at least 25 percent to 40 percent more than above-ground --and it may not be effectively sealed from leaks or flooding.

Yet Laurent Lefebvre, CEO of Soletanche-Bachy's U.S. operations, which specializes in the below-ground construction, said the technology to seal an underground garage is proven. This technology, he said, allows a builder to develop above-ground space -- like condominiums, retail or office space -- that generate bigger profits than a parking garage.

The Leviev & Boymelgreen garage would be built on land bordered by Northeast 13th and 14th streets and Northeast First and Second avenues.

If successful, the garage would begin to resolve one of the Performing Arts Center's gnawing issues: where on a permanent basis are people going to park?

Roger Carlton, Miami Performing Arts Center Trust board member, said roughly 1,500 spaces will needed during peak times.

Mark Armstrong, director of Leviev & Boymelgreen's Florida operations, said he hopes to file plans with the city of Miami within the next three months to formally begin the permitting process.

But Armstrong said the proposed underground garage could not be completed for at least two years.

That leaves PAC officials -- who announced additional cost overruns Wednesday -- scrambling for a temporary solution for the scheduled opening in Fall 2006.

Leviev & Boymelgreen has aggressively assembled parcels in the three-block property to the west of the Performing Arts Center. In its latest move, last week the Miami-Dade School Board agreed to sell Leviev & Boymelgreen the half-block between Northeast Second Avenue and Northeast First Court, which runs along Northeast 14th Street, for $8 million.

The New York developer has not secured every parcel in the three-block area largely comprised of surface parking lots and vacant land.

The owners of the three-story Willard Garden Hotel, for instance, have refused to sell. But Armstrong said Leviev & Boymelgreen will go forward with its plans regardless.

Plans for what Leviev & Boymelgreen puts atop its planned underground garage on the land immediately west of the PAC ''are still preliminary and very conceptual,'' Armstrong said.

A small condo accross the street from me in South Miami built an underground parking garage. And its only a 7-unit building (a restrictive 4-story height limit will do that).

I saw this guy, Laurent Lefebvre, CEO of Soletanche-Bachy's U.S. operations, present their company on Wednesday...they do amazing work. They build underground/underwater, and only under water. It is an amazing niche, and they have no hesitation whatsoever in building underground/underwater in Miami.
They built the Paris portion of the Chunnel entry and many other public works projects. If you can stick 40 feet of below grade parking under a building, that boads well for the pedestrian aesthetic, and as a bonus...the developer can sell more square footage and stay under height restrictions.
Another thing that Lefebvre talked about was putting public parking under the street....imagine a subterreanean parking lot under Biscayne Boulevard from Flagler to the PAC. Little exit stair wells would give access to Museum park on the East or the cafes on the West side of the street.
They have done it often in France and in dense areas all over Europe...they even have the technology/knowhow to construct under roads and allow them to be open and to be fully functioning.

Imagine the future of miami when the standard of parking garages for condos and offices are all put underground... imagine the buildings of today that are going up with their garages maintaining sizeable portions of the first couple of floors. To use the condos on Biscayne BLVD for example, from MarinaBlue to Marquis, all of the buildings going up have nothing whatsoever for retail on the NE 2nd Ave side--which will mainly be used at the entrance and exit of cars for the parking garages; the street will become a new eye sore for the city in the future.

Kobi Karp has a rendering of Electra up on their website. Here it is:

Is it healthy to live this close to a freeway (fumes...etc)?
http://www.kobikarp.com/images/Electra%20NE1.jpg

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/Electra%20NW1.jpg

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/Electra%20SE1.jpg

Kobi Karp has a rendering of Electra up on their website. Here it is:

Is it healthy to live this close to a freeway (fumes...etc)?
http://www.kobikarp.com/images/Electra%20NE1.jpg

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/Electra%20NW1.jpg

[IMG]http://www.kobikarp.com/images/Electra%20SE1.jpg[/IMG

that last image didn't come out...

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/Electra%20SE1.jpg

there ya go

why is it called electra looks more like commieblock

thatll b nice to drive by... just goin down the highway, kinda bored wit nuttin but other cars and cement all around u and boom! building rite there...

i like it. i don't see where you get commieblock from either, hatter. it ain't that bad. in my eyes, anyway.

snagged this pic from the webcam on onyx's site. does anyone know what the u/c building on the left side of the pic is?

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8182/onyx6gn.jpg

i like it. i don't see where you get commieblock from either, hatter. it ain't that bad. in my eyes, anyway.

True enough. I would have changed my mind about the commies had they built a truckload of those instead.

well i guess not really commieblock but looks like a plain sandwich.

anyways dave thats new wave,does onyx2 have a webcam.

ah, new wave. thanks hatter. that was bugging me.

just checked the onyx2 site & i didn't see a webcam anywhere. is it even u/c yet? i would assume that they'd eventually put up a webcam for it since they put one up for onyx.

Wow S.F. Dave :) ,and Mad Uptown Hatter :) that 's the Tower that topped out this week, its Great, The New Wave condo tower, nice picture Dave, thanks for the update, Now lets see Onyx Two condo tower start up and also the Star Lofts condo tower crane is starting to rise, fantastic, Go Cranes !!! :cheers:

wasn't there a website for new wave? i can't find one anywhere. anyone know it?

chuck, when is onyx2 supposed to start?

wasn't there a website for new wave? i can't find one anywhere. anyone know it?

chuck, when is onyx2 supposed to start?
Yes ,there was a website S.F.Dave :) , but the condo is Sold out, at www.newwavecondos.com and in your Picture dave, that is Onyx 1 , right with the StarLofts condo accross the street there, and further down is the New Wave , also showned in your pic, but in the background. :cheers:

Hey Dave what is the address for that Onyx web page?

www.onyxmiami.com (http://www.onyxmiami.com)

chuck, when is onyx2 supposed to start?
YES !!!, S.F.Dave :) , This Fall, with a completion date of Late , 2007, ONYX2 will be completed with 50 floors in 24 months according to the sales center. :cheers:

P.S. Rider of Rohan :) and S.F. Dave :) , check this out, ICE 1 is still alive at www.icemiami.com :sleepy:

I was just browsing through Arquitectonica's website and it seems they have a few renderings of a 57 story mixed use development across the street from the PAC. I've been a troll on this board for a while and have never seen it. By the way they have it under the title "Downtown Mixed-Use Development", which has to be the lamest title ever.

I was just browsing through Arquitectonica's website and it seems they have a few renderings of a 57 story mixed use development across the street from the PAC. I've been a troll on this board for a while and have never seen it. By the way they have it under the title "Downtown Mixed-Use Development", which has to be the lamest title ever.

Yes, DGM :) , that was the OPUS 1 condo tower of three towers in that same area planned, but the F.D.O.T. bought them out for the future exspansion of the I-395 to Miami Beach and U.S.1 . it was the tall slim light green tower, all glass, also protested by others for blocking the view of the P.A.C., its over now, Dead and forgotten. :sleepy:

p.s. Welcome DGM :) to our Forums. , and make sure you vote in the Florida forum, in the thread, " Which city do you like overall ", Miami only has 11 votes to go to make a perfect " Magic city 100 ". Go Cranes !!! :cheers:

So something is finally going to happen with Star Lofts? That project has been around forever, at least 5 years.

Thanks Dave and Chuck :)

yea star lofts finnally got finacing a couple of months ago and finally began some groundwork and also city24 finally started groundwork also

yea star lofts finnally got finacing a couple of months ago and finally began some groundwork and also city24 finally started groundwork also


YES !!!, Mad Uptown hatter :rock: , CITY24 has broken ground on its very low rise condo tower, but its a Go.

DGM :wave: , thanks for voting , you help us make Miami a step closer to the " Magic City 100, Now only 9 more votes to Go. :applause:

please everyone :) , lets make it real, make your vote count in the florida forum thread, " which city do you like overall " . :cheers: :cucumber: :cheer: :cheers2:

wow, i thought city 24 & star lofts were dead. good news.

wow, i thought city 24 & star lofts were dead. good news.

Its True S.F. Dave :hi: , its because the Interest Rates are still holding at about 5.67 % at www.interest.com the website that tell's it all, as long as the interest rates stay down , the buyers keep comin to our City of Miami :okay: , Sold outs are everywhere :righton: , Condo projects are starting their construction, its happening, Go Cranes , at 37 m)) total just in the City of Miami, and going for 50 in June of 2006, the Most Cranes ever ! :applause:

www.electraone.com

www.electraone.com

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/8711/electraone5te.jpg

alot better than kobi karp's renderings

^thats cool, about how tall is it?

^thats cool, about how tall is it?

The city lists it as 33 floors, 420 feet. For comparison thats about the same height as the Vue or the Club in Brickell.

about the same height as blue isnt it? and its right across from it towards the west

actually blue is only 380ft,we were wrong about the 420ft height

thats good, has good height

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/8711/electraone5te.jpg

NIMBY :wave: , this is Great, I'm having a heart attack here :righton: , So many new towers , no time to build them all at once, where are all the material for all these towers going up all at once ???,

:speech: The Location, Location Location :hahaha: , Directly accross the street from the entrance to the Midtown Shops :okay: on N.W. 36 th street and N. Miami Ave, the Northeast corner,, its ready to build :omg: , signs everywhere on the fence, its got a trailer there already on the site. :cheer:

MIDTOWN MIAMI UPDATE,
picture taken january 17,2005
http://img128.exs.cx/img128/103/newimage172hf.jpg

new update thanks to aessotariq at urbanplanet

MIDTOWN MIAMI UPDATE
the Blue tower is in the background
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/9954/midtownsite31ox.jpg
Northwest corner of property.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8271/midtownnw1sx.jpg

Northeast corner
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/2618/midtownne7uv.jpg
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/7885/midtownsite29re.jpg
Downtown Miami about 30 blocks away
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/5674/midtowndtskyline6mi.jpg

moving along nicely... great update hatter

This is going to be a great project in my opinion.

yeah this and electra could be the start of something good for that area.

and dont forget Blue pioneered in that area. with midtown, blue and the new projects coming on line this area should be very attractive.

well on 36 street there is blue,midtown,electra,silverton,los suenos a new unreleased project by paradise development,and also one a few blocks down from electra.

well on 36 street there is blue,midtown,electra,silverton,los suenos a new unreleased project by paradise development,and also one a few blocks down from electra.

And electra2.

yea but that one is on 39 street close to the post office.,and i also forgot to say that the midtown entertainment center project will be launched next year,the entertainment center will be were the nightclubs will be located,expect a movie theater and somethings similiar to met square,it will 2 or 3 highrises.
incase some of you want to know where its at,its the sliver of land across the railroad tracks were the storage building,the midtown sales office and where that domino's is at.

midtown entertainment block
http://www.forumarc.com/portfolio/entertainmentblock/eb1.jpg
http://www.forumarc.com/portfolio/entertainmentblock/eb2.jpg
http://www.forumarc.com/portfolio/entertainmentblock/eb3.jpg
http://www.forumarc.com/portfolio/entertainmentblock/eb4.jpg

shops at midtown
http://www.forumarc.com/portfolio/theshops/sam6.jpg
http://www.forumarc.com/portfolio/theshops/sam3.jpg
http://www.forumarc.com/portfolio/theshops/sam5.jpg

midblock
http://www.forumarc.com/portfolio/midblockeast/mbe2.jpg

Is that a tennis court on the roof?

Looks like it. Guess that means you should keep your eyes up when walking on the streets below.

Not realy Midtown area but we have no thread for the River Area, so I'll put it here:

River Oaks Marina & Condo, 21 floors 218 feet on NW North River Dr next door to Terrazas River Park Condo.
http://www.riveroakscondominium.com/

Some nice renderings:
http://miamirealestatetrends.com/pages/RiverOaks.aspx

Here's a nice rendering of Boulevard a Zyscovich designed 16-story 169 foot tall biulding going up on Biscayne & 33rd.

http://miamirealestatetrends.com/pages/BoulevardMiami.aspx

I love you dave!

wasn't boulevard originally avant..anyways they already got a 10million financing package...so this one seems serious,the tower will cost 50million to build

I like the glassy buildings in the first few renderings of the midtown entertainment block, don't know what to see about the shopping mall portion.

Question: is the entertainment block all part of the Midtown Miami project, and is it on the Midtown Miami site?

Any word as to who has exactly signed committments with DDR to lease commercial space in Midtown? I know Whole Foods said no way and chose the Central Business District instead...but are there any definite yeses?
Also, why did the developers fire Majestic Properties? Are the sales going as well as the publicists led us to believe?
Just curious...if anyone has an inside scoop, please share! Thanks!

I suspect DDR itself doesn't really know who's going to be there. One big, HUGE mistake they made was their deal with the devil that got the City of Miami to pay for garage construction, but eliminated the possibility of free parking. That's going to be a big headache for DDR, because a lot of big box stores (Target and Best Buy, among others) have explicit company policies against opening stores in locations without abundant free parking absent an incredibly compelling reason good enough to get the approval of the company's top management. Ultimately, the owners of the Shops at Midtown might have to bite the bullet and lease the whole garage from the City of Miami so they can offer free parking and sign Target, Best Buy, and the rest. Or, god forbid, replace one of the planned stores with an office tower whose lower 18 stories are a garage they own so they can offer free parking to the stores and sign them as permanent tenants (leaving the City of Miami with a brand new expensive white elepant of a garage that nobody will ever use).

And why wouldn't Target, Best Buy, and the rest jump at a place like Midtown? Because there's a big, huge plaza less than two miles north (Biscayne & 79/82) that "everyone" knows is going to be blasted down to the ground the moment its owner decides the market is ripe to replace it with a high-density upscale "power center" like Dadeland Station. Guess where Midtown's big-box tenants are all going to jump ship and run to the nanosecond that happens?

Look at it this way... if Best Buy were in Midtown and cost a buck or more to park at, and Circuit City were 2 miles away and had free parking, which store would you visit first for casual commodity-like purchases like CDs and DVDs? Sure, you might bite the bullet and pay to visit Best Buy if you were shopping for something expensive like a new TV or laptop... but admit it... for daily low-value purchases, you'd go to Circuit City first -- even if you liked Best Buy better, and even if Best Buy were a dollar cheaper, because the parking cost would eat up any savings, and the hassle of having to wait in line to pay when exiting would make you not even care whether it might be another 50 cents cheaper at BB. And god help you if a movie lets out while you're waiting in line at Best Buy to pay, because you'll be stuck breathing exhaust fumes in the garage for 20-40 minutes (meter still ticking, of course) just trying to get out.

I suspect Target, Best Buy, and the rest would grudgingly sign 5 year renewable leases for stores at Midtown now, but they aren't willing to commit to 20+ year leases with teeth to punish them for jumping ship or restrict their ability to assign it to someone else and walk away. DDR knows this, so it's probably trying to play the arch-rivals like Best Buy/Circuit City and Borders/Barnes & Noble against each other... and likely failing, because they know their arch-rivals are just as adamant about staying away from non-free parking as they are.

Some nice observations in there canes! I'm still in the believe it when I see it camp...I'd bet that Midtown won't be nearly successful as the pr folks/media/Majestic Properties would lead people to believe.
Having said that...the fact that there is so much progress on the Railyards is a surprise to me. Good job.
I hope that I'm wrong on this...because that will mean that the market will still be on fire for the next 5 years. I wouldn't bet the farm on that.

Well, I'm not writing off Midtown... just their plan to let the City build the garages and charge for parking. The fact is, there's way too much money at stake in Midtown for them to sit back and let the retail portion flop. And the City knows it -- you just know City employees lovingly gaze at the spreadsheet showing projected 2010 property tax revenues in the Wynwood Loft District. ;)

I really think that we're going to see a press release quietly printed in Miami Today at some point over the next 9 months quietly announcing that the plaza's owners have signed a hundred-year lease with the City of Miami for the parking garage. That would be win-win for everyone... the garage still gets built with bonds, the City doesn't lose money, parking gets to be free, and I'll get to have a Best Buy and Target a half mile away from my new house so I can make desperate 8:55pm runs there... :)

Roark -- from what you know, is there any legal impediment to the City actually leasing an entire bond-financed parking facility to someone instead of operating it itself? I'd like to think that common sense would dictate that nobody would have grounds to complain or block it as long as the city is guaranteed to cover its construction and debt service costs, and maybe make a slight profit... but I know governments have an amazing way of shooting themselves in the foot because there seems to be a general requirement that bureaucrats abdicate any and all common sense when assuming their duties... It might, however, explain the silence of the plaza. They might have to wait until the parking facility is done before officially signing a lease with the City (or even opening negotiations), which would force them to make EVERYTHING with stores like Target and Best Buy tentative until they actually have a signed garage lease in hand.

:bowtie: :speech: :okay:


I love you dave!

Everyone :hi: , this is what makes this Miami :cool: Forum, rocks :rock: and success " full " :applause: !!!, the faith of " love :pet: " for one another here is strong and keeps us :grouphug: together as a family posting the most of the best views and news of our great growing " tall and huge " sunshine SkyscraperCity !!!. I love :hug: ya all , too :lovethem: , and thanks :yes: for making my everyday here shine m)) , and all I need to say is, Go Cranes !!! :banana: :cheer: :carrot:

as to what miami canes said,i think he's right about midtown being idiots to have a parking garage where you have to pay....for some reason they seem to think all of there shoppers are going to come from the midtown complex or to take that streetcar that isn't even a sure deal.

and roark we seem to be on the right page these days...to me midtown is being overhyped and i don't think they're sales are as good as they claim and i'm surprised that you can't find a tenant list any where..other the then the one released a year ago which included circuit city,petsmart,linens and things,target.

the worst thing that can happen to the city and the developers would be to not get the streetcar out there and to not attract people from all over the county to midtown.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/12859941.htm

MIDTOWN MIAMI
Giant retailer barred from project
Miami city officials do not want a Wal-Mart Supercenter to be part of the Midtown Miami mixed-use project.
BY ELAINE WALKER
ewalker@herald.com

Big-box retailers are welcome at The Shops at Midtown Miami -- except Wal-Mart.

That's the message from Miami city officials who killed a potential deal this summer that would have had a Wal-Mart Supercenter anchoring the project, along with Target.

The Shops at Midtown Miami is a 600,000-square-foot shopping center under construction as part of a mixed-used project on the former Buena Vista rail yard, on the outskirts of Wynwood.

''We're not opposed to a Wal-Mart coming to the city of Miami,'' City Commissioner Johnny Winton said. ``That site is not one we want to be known as a Wal-Mart site.''

What Winton and others don't like: Wal-Mart's ``image.''

Winton said the city made that clear to Developers Diversified Realty when the project began several years ago, but the message had to be reiterated this summer when a Wal-Mart deal was proposed.

Eric Brewer, Wal-Mart's Florida spokesman, said the chain was disappointed in losing out on the Midtown Miami project.

Wal-Mart was willing to do a nontraditional, pedestrian-friendly design with multilevel parking garage with the option for a second-floor entrance, Brewer said.

''That project would have really helped Wal-Mart improve the perception in South Florida of our ability to build differently,'' Brewer said.

Scott Schroeder, spokesman for Developers Diversified, said this week the company would not discuss its ``leasing strategy or potential tenants.''

Target, Linens 'n Things, Circuit City, OfficeMax, PetSmart, Ross Dress for Less and West Elm, a lower-priced concept by Pottery Barn, are all expected in the initial lineup of tenants, when the shops open next fall. There's also the possibility of a home improvement superstore.

But those tenants are all fine with Winton.

''Target doesn't have the same image that Wal-Mart has,'' Winton said. ``It's about the look and feel of the big box.''

Brewer said Wal-Mart is still working with Developers Diversified on finding another site for a Miami supercenter.

''We're still very interested in finding a good opportunity in Miami's urban core,'' Brewer said.


Brewer said Miami city officials killed a deal for a new [Walmart] supercenter at The Shops at Midtown Miami, which is under construction on the outskirts of Wynwood.

`AN IMAGE PROBLEM'

Miami City Commissioner Johnny Winton said Wal-Mart just didn't fit the ''image'' the city wanted for Midtown Miami, which is going to include Target and other big box retailers.

''Whether they like it or not, Wal-Mart has an image problem,'' Winton said. ``That image is not what we want this development to be.''

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/12859932.htm

Target, Linens 'n Things, Circuit City, OfficeMax, PetSmart, Ross Dress for Less and West Elm, a lower-priced concept by Pottery Barn, are all expected in the initial lineup of tenants, when the shops open next fall. There's also the possibility of a home improvement superstore.


so they do have some sort of line-up!

"Target, Linens 'n Things, Circuit City, OfficeMax, PetSmart, Ross Dress for Less and West Elm, a lower-priced concept by Pottery Barn, are all expected in the initial lineup of tenants, when the shops open next fall. There's also the possibility of a home improvement superstore."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------


i hope midtown doesn't turn out to be just a shopping center,but an actual pedestrian mall...from some reason those tenants don't really strike an intrest in me......the need to start thinking about barnes and noble,some electronics shops,some better clothing stores etc.

anyways i'm glad they told walmart to stay the hell out

That list of things is typical of the state of Miami, in my opinion. They're all big chains, something that you can find anywhere. Someone visiting Miami may be impressed that they're all in one location, and maybe in the way they're presented in an urban setting, but in reality there will be nothing they can't already get in any moderately-sized American city or suburb. My fear for Miami has been the same for some time now - Miami has the development, but it lacks the uniqueness. Perhaps it is because Miami is growing so fast, and it will come eventually after time, but there is nothing Miami about Miami. There is nothing unique, no culture. Then again, the more I travel, the more I realize this is the same for most places. Let's just pray for more Lincoln Malls and less Red Bird Shopping Plazas.

Everyone :wave: , IMO :ohno: , they truly need a Publix or a food supermarket in that area, I'm serious :okay: , there's no food supermaket over 20 blocks in all directions, the nearest food supermarket is the publix at Biscayne Bvld and 51st street, and that's too far away from all these future rich condo towers going up. :gaah:

:hi: I understand why they DON'T :bash: want a supercenter Walmart, I just visit the new one at the 163rd Street Mall in NMB, just take one walk in there and you can see it for yourself, I'm not against any race :nono: , but all the employees I have seen there are african americans. Not :banned: one white american or even a latin american, that's not right. :runaway:

thank goodness walmart's out, so the midtown isnt really gonna be like a "brickell" or a place for all rich people, with that store lineup,

which is good, and hopefully the units are affordable so u can get some middle class in there not just expensive-as-hell units that only high rollers can touch.

couple obserations:

1. doesn't sound like midtown is having problems finding commercial tenants assuming the article belwo is accurate.

2. those big chain stores wil not be the only stores there... i would expect there to also be smaller boutique tyoe stores along with the big chains (some of these smaller stores can bring the uniqueness and cache were looking for)... but having only the higher end boutique shops doesn't sound like the postioning they want in the market for midtown shops (want high traffic stores to bring in the people). hopefully the'y'll get the belend of stores right.

3. agree on the supermarket... a nice Publix... Roark make it happen.

4. Peter... disagree with you that there isn't anyting unique or higher end in Miami... just a short walk from Midtown is the Design Districit. Take a look around ther some time... and will only get better...

5. can anyone get the inside scoop from midtown folks... woud be great to know their actual gameplan.

Everyone :wave: , IMO :ohno: , they truly need a Publix or a food supermarket in that area, I'm serious :okay: , there's no food supermaket over 20 blocks in all directions, the nearest food supermarket is the publix at Biscayne Bvld and 51st street, and that's too far away from all these future rich condo towers going up. :gaah:

:hi: I understand why they DON'T :bash: want a supercenter Walmart, I just visit the new one at the 163rd Street Mall in NMB, just take one walk in there and you can see it for yourself, I'm not against any race :nono: , but all the employees I have seen there are african americans. Not :banned: one white american or even a latin american, that's not right. :runaway:

Chuck do we know if this is going to be a Super Target? If so they have a supermarket in them, called Archer Farms. We had one in Chaska Minnesota and it was pretty nice (about like a publics that I recall, did anyone notice that they have Publics in panama? I swear I saw one in a photo). Anyway your right, the area needs a supermarket and your also right that Walmart will hire anyone who will walk in the store (this is not a dig at African Americans, but in that part of town thats who is around). In other areas they hire whites, because thats what is available, but in all cases they usually get people who cant get jobs at other places do to lack of job skills and education.

Chuck do we know if this is going to be a Super Target? If so they have a supermarket in them, called Archer Farms. We had one in Chaska Minnesota and it was pretty nice (about like a publics that I recall, did anyone notice that they have Publics in panama? I swear I saw one in a photo). Anyway your right, the area needs a supermarket and your also right that Walmart will hire anyone who will walk in the store (this is not a dig at African Americans, but in that part of town thats who is around). In other areas they hire whites, because thats what is available, but in all cases they usually get people who cant get jobs at other places do to lack of job skills and education.
^^
very true Rider of Rohan :wave: , ther are many african americans north and west of the Midtown shops, but this new condo complex of Midtown :) with over 3,500 units planned and under construction will change the race in this area quickly with the high costs of homes and condos. This Midtown Shops, is a HUGE STEEL :omg: and metal complex of three floors of shops and a huge parking garage. I need someone to take Pictures please and post them here, and by the way, the ELECTRA :banana: Condo tower going up accross the street from the Midtown shops will rise 32 floors by early next year, I just found out, This is Tall for this area, in Fact it will be taller than ANY Midtown Condo tower that will go up in the next 7 years. :applause:

Your answer to that good question :bowtie: , I hope :dunno: its a SUPER Target m)) , that will have a food store with it, We'll know soon, I'm going by there this week to the sales center and find out ,. if its a Target or a Super Target,, give me a week to find out, lol. :cheers2: :bow:

DOLLARS TO "DONUT"
Patricia L. Kirk



Miami's Midtown neighborhood is bustling with activity as developers begin turning a 58-acre parcel once referred to as "the doughnut hole" into the centerpiece of the community.

The former Buena Vista railroad yard, the biggest available parcel in the city, cuts an 18-block-long corridor through Midtown. It's being replaced by mixed-use developments totaling 772,000 square feet of retail space, 150,000 square feet of office space, 3,700 residential units and a 350-room hotel.

Biscayne Development Partners LLC, a partnership of New York-based Midtown Equities and Miami-based Samuel & Co., bought the entire parcel from Florida East Coast Railway in 2002. The firm is finalizing permits so construction can begin on several high-rise towers with 3,000 condominiums and apartments, 150,000 square feet of office space and 172,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.

Meanwhile, Developers Diversified Realty Corp., (DDR) a Cleveland-based REIT that owns, develops and manages retail centers, is planning to build 700 residential units atop 600,000 square feet of retail space. The company would not verify the roster of confirmed tenants, but the word on the street is that Target, Linens 'n Things, Circuit City, OfficeMax and PETsMART have all agreed to take space at The Shops at Midtown.

The projects, valued at $1.2 billion, will restore tax value to an underused chunk of urban property while creating badly needed jobs-70 construction jobs and up to 2,000 permanent retail positions-in one of Miami's poorest neighborhoods. It will also fill a retail vacuum in the area.

"The Midtown project value to the city is very extensive," says Otto Boudet, chief development officer in Miami Mayor Manny Diaz's office. "It's putting property on the tax rolls, but more importantly, it will bring retail to a neighborhood where none exists. It's a quality of life issue," he adds, noting that residents currently travel 25 miles to shop.

"This is the poorest neighborhood in the poorest big city in the country," Boudet notes. "The impact for us is creating opportunity and jobs."

The projects grew out of a city development plan for Midtown that was completed in 2002. One of the planners, Dr. Ned Murray, associate director of Florida International University's Metropolitan Center, fully expected the document to gather dust on a shelf. Instead, developers mobilized so quickly that they caught the county and city off guard.

Once market and impact studies were done, however, the officials fast-tracked approvals. "There was a lot of cooperation at the top level, and developers were quite responsive in getting the information to us," says Murray. "It's quite remarkable."

Samuel admits that he didn't need much convincing to help plan improvements for the district. "The (cargo) containers stacked up cut people off like a gated community," he says. "It destroyed the whole neighborhood."

Boudet notes that the city created a tax district, which enables it to issue $70 million in bonds for infrastructure improvements.

Voters approved the bond issue in the November 2004 election, allowing the city to move forward with improvements, which will reconnect neighborhoods severed by the container yard and provide parking facilities to help attract big box retailers. Tax revenue generated by new Midtown development will be used to repay the bonds.

The Midtown District stretches from NE 29th Street to NE 36th Street. The city is creating a main thoroughfare through the district, Midtown Boulevard, which will run north and south parallel with nearby Biscayne Boulevard. Samuel Co.'s mixed-use village will be located on the east side of Midtown Boulevard and DDR's retail project on the west side.

A major problem the city hopes to overcome is displacement of current Midtown residents due to gentrification of the area. Midtown is already beginning to change, as creative types in search of inexpensive space and a culturally rich environment began relocating to there from the trendy Design District over the last five years, Murray says. The area is becoming an enclave for independent film, video and post-production facilities as well as modeling agencies.

The city is sensitive to gentrification issues and is moving to put a program in place to mitigate displacement of residents, Murray says. An affordable housing trust fund created in the 1980s, which has been relatively dormant, may be revived, requiring developer contributions to build such housing.

Midtown developers have agreed to build affordable housing, and Boudet says that the city is trying to clear the way for mixed-income housing projects, which means steering away from federal and state tax-credit financing. Federal and state affordable housing programs require projects to be 100% affordable. This means that an occupant's income cannot exceed 50% of the area's median income.

In an effort to encourage workforce housing projects, the city has adopted legislation that allows developers to build residential projects without onsite parking structures, so long as there is adequate nearby parking. This ordinance allows to developers to lease parking space for residents at existing facilities. Workforce housing is aimed at working-class people, who earn up to 130% of the region's median income of about $36,000 annually.

Noting that eliminating the cost of building expensive parking structures has helped hold down building costs, Boudet says the results so far are encouraging, as several condominium projects are going up in downtown that are priced in the $99,000 to $280,000 range. "We hope to have the same thing going on in neighborhoods throughout our urban center."

The city is also developing an electric trolley system to improve public transportation in the urban core. Initially, the trolley would run from downtown through Midtown to the Design District, and later be extended north to Little Haiti.

"The idea is to go back to an electric trolley system," says Boudet, noting that the ultimate plan to connect downtown to Miami Beach is further out because it will require federal funds. "If funded locally, it could be operational within three years," he says.

http://www.theslatinreport.com/top_story.jsp?StoryName=0406Miami.txt&Topic=Place&fromPage=Place

Ok this article isnt brand new but whats with the building condos on top of the retail, I never saw that before. Is that something that got shot down?

found this one kobi karp's site. electra on the bay.

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/ElectraontheBay.jpg

can anyone tell exactly which lot this is? chuck?

Love it !

Still wish Miami had a bayside drive though.

found this one kobi karp's site. electra on the bay.

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/ElectraontheBay.jpg

can anyone tell exactly which lot this is? chuck?

Judging by that little cut out bay just to the north (and then checking a map), that must be the lot on the bay between NE 26th TER and NE 27th ST. That little bay (the water directly to the right of the cut out portion of the building) is where Onyx2 is going.

I like the background in that picture. That must be Midtown? Slow movers if this can be built ground up and they arent even done yet :) Dave where on the little bay is Onyx2 going?

Judging by that little cut out bay just to the north (and then checking a map), that must be the lot on the bay between NE 26th TER and NE 27th ST. That little bay (the water directly to the right of the cut out portion of the building) is where Onyx2 is going.

good eyes. i didn't notice the cut out water area to the right. that's the landmark i always use for this area, but til you said it i didn't notice it.

so onyx would be 1 or 2 lots south of this & star lofts 1 lot south of onyx, all right on the bay. nice.

oh man, oh man...this is some nice shite. what does Electra itself look like again? (anyone got a rendering?)

If my memory serves me correctly, this (Electra on the bay is much sweeter!)

however, I'm afraid that the back of the building is gonna be rather bare!!

oh man, oh man...this is some nice shite. what does Electra itself look like again? (anyone got a rendering?)

If my memory serves me correctly, this (Electra on the bay is much sweeter!)

Post #579 in this thread had the renderings. Electra on the bay looks taller. El1 would be 33 floors 420 feet. I counted 43 floors on this one. There is also an electra2 (21 floors), so this makes 3 electras.

Post #579 in this thread had the renderings. Electra on the bay looks taller. El1 would be 33 floors 420 feet. I counted 43 floors on this one. There is also an electra2 (21 floors), so this makes 3 electras.


thanks I found them.. I'll post em here

Electra I

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/Electra%20NE1.jpg


Electra II

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/ElectraII001.jpg


Electra on the Bay

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/ElectraontheBay.jpg



They all look great:)

oh, cool. i didn't see electra 2 on karp's site yesterday. looks a little like platinum, which is to say i think it's kinda "eh". looks like it's gonna have a good amount of retail/office space with that big podium.

Jeez, I thought Electra on the Bay was just a better rendering of Electra. I didn't know there were three of them ?!

Its electric :runaway:

another day another tower...

whoa i love new york developers,anyways phase 2 and 3 look best to me. electra on the bay looks like another 400ft. it'll join in great with blue,soleil,parklane,element,onyx2 and platinum on the bay,onyx1,and star lofts.


if you look at the rendering for electra on the bay you can see the onyx1 site

This image shows where Onyx and Onyx2 will go and the little bay. Electra on the Bay will be between them.

http://www.condofinds.com/listing_images/Onyx_2_Miami6.jpg

Its electric :runaway:

you just had to go there, didn't you? :gaah:

PARKING PACKAGE: Developer Dacra and the Miami Parking Authority are building a 400-space garage in the Design District at Northwest 38th Street and First Court. "We're really at the preliminary stages to the negotiations for the parking garage," said Dacra owner Craig Robins. Jami Reyes, authority board member, wanted to know when the garage would be built. "We need a timeline for this because there is a need for parking in the Design District," she said at the authority's meeting last week. The cost of the garage is undetermined.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
right across from electra2 which is at 39 and first avenue

best have some ground floor retail...

Groundwork

By Helen Hill
Columnist

Not a Mirage!

Each week another untapped Miami neighborhood hits the radar for new luxury construction. The latest is the Northeast 79th Street area just south of the Shorecrest neighborhood where folks from the Related Group of Florida are finalizing plans for a new condo development called Oasis on the Bay. The 3.8-acre site on the north side of the 79th Street Causeway was formerly occupied by Mike Gordon’s seafood restaurant and faces across Biscayne Bay towards North Bay Village.

Oasis on the Bay will have two 20-story buildings with a total of 467 units with nine-foot-high ceilings and floorplans ranging from 685 to 1,700 square feet. The majority of residences will average 920 square feet. Instead of the usual decorator-ready status, the units will come finished and be priced from the mid-$200,000s to the mid-$500,000s. The architectural firm of Cohen, Friedman and Encinosa have also included flats buffering (or lining) the parking levels to suit the design requirement for new buildings introduced by the city of Miami three years ago. Amenities will include a health club and spa, restaurant, mini-market, a bayfront pool and a marina with boat slips for use by residents. As part of their good neighbor policy, Oasis project manager Eric Fordin says that the developer plans to build a public bayfront walkway, clean up a nearby canal and rebuild a decrepit privacy wall. Related have also donated an empty lot on the south side of 79th Street to the City of Miami, to use for a passive park, fire station or other community facility. Groundbreaking for the project is planned for mid-2006.

A Natural Element

The eight-acre site on Biscayne Bay in Miami’s Edgewater section was called Sapphire Bay by previous developers who planned to build the Ice projects there. Well, the ice melted and now a sparkling new building called Element is going up at 620 NE 31st St. using the original innovative designs by architects Chad Oppenheim and Walter Chatham. New York-based Brack Capital Real Estate through BCRE Element LLC is planning a 56-story waterfront luxury condo tower of 106 units with two residences of 2,300 to 5,000 square feet plus 10-feet deep balconies, per floor. The inventive interiors feature moveable glass partitions that can create flexible spaces such as bedrooms, dining rooms, media centers or family rooms. Eighteen-foot-high glass wall windows in the vast living-dining room offer panoramic water or city views.

The urban resort-style amenities include sunrise and sunset pools with cabanas and lounging areas surrounded by tropical landscaping, a private health club, spa and sauna, cigar humidor and wine cellar as well as two tennis courts, a half basketball court and a putting green. The price for all this luxury starts at close to $2 million.

Michael Bay, director of major motion pictures such as The Island, Pearl Harbor and The Rock recently purchased a 5,000 square foot, four-bedroom, four-bath penthouse on two levels for a reported $7 million. Element’s groundbreaking is planned for fall 2006 and a temporary sales center is now open at 1101 Brickell Ave. Brack is also planning an Element on Manhattan’s Upper West Side later this year
http://www.miamisunpost.com/groundwork.htm

Interesting. Good neighbor policy sounds interesting. They must be cleaning up the Little River canal..the venice of my youth.

Paris gallery to open in Miami
A Paris gallery says it will open its first U.S. location in Miami's Wynwood arts district.

Emmanuel Perrotin will renovate a two-story, 1959 structure built in the Miami Modern - also known as MiMo - style at the corner of Northwest Second Ave. and 30th Street. The future gallery will be close to the Rubell and Tony Goldman art collections.

Miami architect Chad Oppenheim has been chosen to design the 12,000-square-foot gallery space. Among the features to be preserved are the building's original terrazzo floors, tiled central staircase and external structural elements.

"This is a unique project on many levels," Oppenheim said in a release. "Emmanuel's gallery is internationally renowned with an impressive stable of artists, and the project also gave me the opportunity to work on a smaller scale incorporating the interesting vintage detailing of the original 1959 building."

Oppenheim will also design a three-story building next to the gallery as a live/work space for the gallery owner, its directors and guest artists. Delivery is expected in late 2006.

The Miami gallery will be an extension of Perrotin's activities in Paris. The gallery was designed to have large viewing rooms where artists, collectors, journalists, curators and principals can hang out and socialize around art.

The Emmanuel Perrotin gallery will open during ArtBasel Miami Beach, Dec. 1-5. Solo shows featuring Martin Oppel of Miami, Bernard Frize of France and Piotr Uklanski of Poland will start during ArtBasel until Feb. 4.

"We discovered in Miami that many of the collectors had established a tradition of living next to or in their galleries," Emmanuel Perrotin said. "We were very interested in developing this idea with Chad Oppenheim in our project. Art no longer only imitates life, but intersects with it."

South Florida Business Journal (http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2005/10/10/daily43.html?f=et81&hbx=e_du)

Interesting:)

I`m always a fan of more unique art galleries in Miami...

There once was a vast collection of art in Miami Including works by the spanish painters Greco and Velasquez...it was all part of the deering estate which was donated to the Art Institute in Chicago in the 1950's, when Vizcaya was purchased by the county...So Sad to see it go, it would have looked wonderful in the new MAM...

If you go down to the deering estate down in Cutler ridge you can still see a couple of works which were left behind...quite lovely...

After seeing "Lima" in the City of Miami spreadsheet for October, I guess that means that Kobi Karp's "Lima" building on their website must the same building:

Lima (2955 Biscayne) 41 floors 473 feet. Not a big fan of the appearance:

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/05-09-02_Lima%20exterior2a.jpg

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/05-09-02_Lima%20exterior1a.jpg

I also just noticed that the property that Electra on the Bay will go on currently hosts a 12 story apartment building from 1982 that will come down. Demolition anyone? :)

Dave :wave: , Check this out :okay: , www.electraone.com also, that 12 story apartment building is Gone :bash: !!, all clear now to start construction of this beautiful tower :righton: , I say, Go Cranes !!! :banana: :cheer: :pepper:

wheres that lima project goin up?

wheres that lima project goin up?I"m not too sure about this, but could it be that the "Lima" building was a typo on the city spreadsheet and it is really refering to the Cima tower that is going to be the third building in the Riverfront project?
Cima is on sale now, and IVY II is going to begin in a couple of weeks.

I"m not too sure about this, but could it be that the "Lima" building was a typo on the city spreadsheet and it is really refering to the Cima tower that is going to be the third building in the Riverfront project?
Cima is on sale now, and IVY II is going to begin in a couple of weeks.

It said 2955 Biscayne Blvd for the address.

Dave :wave: , Check this out :okay: , www.electraone.com also, that 12 story apartment building is Gone :bash: !!, all clear now to start construction of this beautiful tower :righton: , I say, Go Cranes !!! :banana: :cheer: :pepper:

How do I miss a 12-story building coming down? I guess it shows how often I am in the uptown area.

found this on the related group's site. i guess this is eastside oasis redesigned & renamed.

http://relatedgroup.com/Admin/upload/Oasis%20On%20Biscayne%20Bay%202cropped.jpg

that is really bulky and ugly very unmiami,still don't like this project

Check this one out! I found renderings of Urbana, the 42-story 549 foot Office/Residential Tower for NE 17th ST and NE 2nd AVE. Its their first project in Miami-Dade and it definitely does not look like a Miami project:

http://www.haigroup.net/gxpsites/hgxpp001.aspx?2,1,14,O,S,0,PAG;CONC;29;2;D;255;1;PAG;,

http://www.haigroup.net/gxpfiles/content/image/source0000000015/IMA0000020000000502.jpg
http://www.haigroup.net/gxpfiles/content/image/source0000000015/IMA0000020000000503.jpg
http://www.haigroup.net/gxpfiles/content/image/source0000000015/IMA0000020000000505.jpg
http://www.haigroup.net/gxpfiles/content/image/source0000000015/IMA0000020000000504.jpg

wtf is that it looks like something from china,,,,,not miami

good work as always dave

jesus. i wanna be excited about a building with a spire & a giant tv on its exterior, but that thing is ugly. it's just plain cheezy looking. hopefully with some redesigns & some better renderings this one will be improved, but until then it goes right to the top of buildings i don't ever wanna see on miami's skyline.

btw, i wanna nominate dave as poster of the month for the enormous amount of renderings & info he's been digging up. props to you, dave! :cheers:

its got Marina Blue's parking pedestal.

btw, i wanna nominate dave as poster of the month for the enormous amount of renderings & info he's been digging up. props to you, dave! :cheers:



I 2nd your nomination:)

I don't mind the Urbana project, I think they could do a bit better though, it'll probably end up in the Margaret Pace park cluster. I'll wait for better renderings!

thats pretty far inland... good sign... along wit infinity finally gettin more inland density... our skyline wont just b one long line...

i agree... def does luk alot like the asian skyscrapers i loath so much... but not as horrible as most of em... and dont worry, if these ever go up, the spire will get chopped off in the end... dont we all remember bor?

i third that by the way

well its different, finally a spire, lol it does got marina blue's parking garage

i smell a lawsuit...

i'll fourth that nomination......dave seems to of taken over sfdave's role of rendering finder now go get us some model pictures..

j/k

btw, i wanna nominate dave as poster of the month for the enormous amount of renderings & info he's been digging up. props to you, dave! :cheers:
I 2nd your nomination:)
I see that this nomination be passed

Thanks for the nomination. Does that mean I have to make my official nomination acceptance speech like at the political conventions? Hope i get to use a telepromter...

Ok, back to the Urbana tower. Did anyone read the website? Some literary Jewels I found:

"in the heart of The Arts and Entertainment District in Miami, Urbana Tower will be a new founding urban myth"
Does that mean its not real??

"the towering structure will work as a landmark architectural icon and will allow interaction even from a remarkable distance."
Don't phones do that?

I'm fine with Urbana's design (I do love that it has setbacks, not a sheer 600 foot wall up from the street like 900 biscayne) as long as its not that blackish color which I'm sure it wont be. Its just an early rendering.

Seeing no other nominations...Dave8721 wins!!! :cheers:
Great job!
Is your leg in a cast or something?!?! You've been posting a lot of great stuff and news!

groundwork
More on the Boulevard

All the talk of the Boulevard usually means the Biscayne version but now the famed street is gaining a building with the same name. Planned for 3360 Biscayne Blvd. just south of the Miami Design District is a 16-story, mixed-use development called Boulevard. The luxury boutique condominium is being developed by Ricardo Dunin and Flagler Hudson, LLC and is being designed by Miami architect Bernard Zyscovich with interior design by Alison Spear. This is the same team that produced the recently completed Meridian in Miami Beach.

Boulevard’s luxury boutique building will offer 127 residential condos of 665 to 2,100 square feet featuring floor-to-ceiling tinted glass windows in the Indoor/Outdoor Living Rooms that will give residents a seamless transition from indoor space to outdoors on partially covered lanai terraces. Views of Biscayne Bay and the urban scene will be visible from the terraces. The building’s amenities will include a fourth-floor pool and spa with an aroma garden, wireless Internet, 24-hour security, valet services and five commercial/retail units at street level. Prices for condos start in the low $300,000s and Alicia Cervera Jr. of Related Cervera Realty Services is handling sales at the onsite office. Groundbreaking is planned for May 2006 with completion expected in October 2007

thanks for the info hatter...I'm sure dave will find a rendering somewhere (lol)


I hope there are alot of groundbreakings on Biscayne Blvd in the early part of 2006.

thanks for the info hatter...I'm sure dave will find a rendering somewhere (lol)


I hope there are alot of groundbreakings on Biscayne Blvd in the early part of 2006.

You asked for it. Actually it wasn't to hard to find. It was right above the article Hatter posted in the Sun Post.

http://www.miamisunpost.com/Groundwork%201.JPG

Just found a rendering of "Chelsea" (1550 Biscayne). 52 floors 649ft. Must be have high ceiling heights or something to get a 649ft height with only 52 stories and a flat roof.

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/1550biscayne.jpg

Nice...I like it, love the height...

You can find a rendering of Lyghte (on the little bay next to Onyx2) 32 floors, 357 feet (one unit per floor) at:

http://www.beilinsonarchitectspa.com/housing.html

click on the "lyghte" on the right side of the screen.

Here's a better picture of Portico than I have seen while we are at it.

http://egov.ci.miami.fl.us/Legistarweb/Attachments/15785.pdf

Just found a rendering of "Chelsea" (1550 Biscayne). 52 floors 649ft. Must be have high ceiling heights or something to get a 649ft height with only 52 stories and a flat roof.

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/1550biscayne.jpg

Does the building undulate, or do you suppose it's an optical illusion ?

Or should I see a doctor at once ?

whoa dave.how are you doing it.....?

anyways i liked that old rendering we saw of boulevard,this ones a bit stumpy

as to chealsea looks sweet, but it looks like another icon/tenmmusuem/ice2/lynx postmodernist crystal box.......but i like the height and it will look good in that area

...next i like lyghtee,any info on it?

...lastly i hate portico it has to be one of arquitectonica worst designs ,and its not there fault they had a small budget in which to do a 40 story tower with,the building is all white and barely has glass

I'm sure portico had to have a low budget since I doubt it will be able to set its prices too high since it will be tucked behind Quantum and the 1800 Club.

What I am trying to find but haven't been able to yet is a rendering of Marquis West. The first condo project I've seen so far in the area west of the Biscayne Wall.

but could that be the project by the africa-isreali developers,that we saw a while a go,which was in the marquis sales office

^^ there is a neighbor for marquis west - touzet studio (who did vitri in sobe) are designing a massive tower (used 2 b twin 30 somethings) now its like a 40 or 50. as soon as it goes somewhere ill let u guys know.

i def. think that this is the africa-isreali project...and the reason for the increase might be the fact that they have an agreement with the PAC for some parking.

I like the Chelsea design. 12' total per floor is about 620'.

midtown future skyline----work in progress
i trying to do a skyline model for midtown but the renderings are a bit hard to come by,so its taking a bit longer than i expected and projects like soleil,midtownmiami,new wave don't have shots from the perspective i need.....so this will take a while to complete
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v289/enyers/skyline1.png

do whatever you can hatter...it's all well appreciated:)


I'm liking the chelsea tower too...hope it's sleek! It's right next to the Omni development it seems!

http://www.miami.com/multimedia/miami/entertainment/archive/pac/

Great Interactive presentation on the PAC by the Herald

About the 649ft "Anderson Opera Tower" project:

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/051027/story1.shtml

New opera house may become part of mixed-use project

By Suzy Valentine
An opera headquarters planned as a freestanding building opposite the Miami Performing Arts Center could form part of a mixed-use development that may be completed late in 2007.
The opera company is in talks with an undisclosed developer.
The Florida Grand Opera Anderson Opera Center is to occupy land on Northeast 15th Street between Northeast Second Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard. The opera company had planned that a freestanding venue would be ready at the same time as the arts center, which is slated to be completed Aug. 4.
The two-building arts center is to have its own ballet opera house.
Florida Grand Opera officials are studying options to consider what makes most financial sense.
"We want to be certain to maximize the revenues for this project," said Les Greenwald, director of public relations. "The opera house opening will not coincide with that of the arts center. It's likely to be late 2007 or early 2008.
"It could be part of a commercial or residential complex," Mr. Greenwald said. "There hasn't been a proposal. We could build vertically rather than horizontally."
He wouldn't say how long opera officials will evaluate before deciding. "Rather than rush into anything, we'd rather evaluate every option," said Mr. Greenwald. "There's a parcel of land, and we have to decide what's best for it. We could just have the Anderson Opera Center, or it could form part of a larger development.
"As soon as we can accumulate the data we need and we're furnished with the facts, then we can proceed."
The opera's headquarters is to include a theater, a rehearsal hall, a library, a costume and wigs shop, offices and accommodation for performers. The company's original plans provided 130,000 square feet, a theater that would seat 500, 24 residential units for young and visiting artists, a restaurant and a 300-car garage.
Florida Grand Opera appointed Maleta Construction Co. to build the structure designed by Coral Gables architect Raul Rodriguez, a partner in Rodriguez & Quiroga.
The center is to be named after longtime board member James Byrd Anderson Jr., who made the lead gift.
Florida Grand Opera budgeted $30 million for the project - a figure that may have to be revised.
"Until we have the final configuration for the project," said Mr. Greenwald, "we shan't be able to put a dollar figure on it."
The $30 million allocated to the project includes a $5 million award from Miami-Dade County's $2.9 billion General Obligation Bond. Florida Grand Opera received $4 million in the first issue in July and is slated to receive the remaining $1 million next year.
However, the county determined that allocation on the basis of the schedule the company was using earlier this year and has discretion to revise its timetable.
The Miami-Dade Industrial Development Authority has approved up to $25 million in tax-exempt bonds to finance construction. Florida Grand Opera must repay the contribution over 30 years.

Sounds like they want to get moving on this pronto.

Renderings of the Anderson Opera Center (Florida Grand Opera) before the tower was added. It will be interesting to see how the 649ft tower fits into the design.

Architects website: http://rodriguezquiroga.com/ -designed 355 Alhambra Tower in the Gables.

http://rodriguezquiroga.com/images/fgo_1.jpg
http://rodriguezquiroga.com/images/fgo_2.jpg

i like it,looks very modern,very unmiami hopefully the tower will blend in with this trend.

it does look kinda unmiami... but would fitin great on miami beach

Speaking of nice projects like this, someone started a thread in the City vs City about which North American City has the best proposed projects. Interesting...

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=278947

Anderson Opera center-- where is this going?

behind the PAC

New buildings for the Design District and "Aria" is now "Casa".

http://www.miamisunpost.com/groundwork.htm

By Helen Hill
Columnist

New Designs for the Old District
Miami developer Jeremy Green, principal of Nexus Development, is planning four interesting new projects in the Miami Design District, according to outline information just released. Canvas will consist of 21 luxurious three-story town homes, with private rooftop solariums above two levels of living space, private two-car garages and landscaped courtyards. The architects are Todd Martin, AIA, and Arturo Griego of Itec Design.

Miami architect Chad Oppenheim is creating a live/work environment in industrial-inspired spaces nearby at COR. Two buildings are stacked and separated by a vertical courtyard. Inside, light will flood the high-tech living spaces, showing off concrete floors, stainless steel kitchen appliances, etc. Ground-level restaurants and retailers will enhance the urban feel, for pedestrians to enjoy a dynamic venue in a dynamic neighborhood.

In contrast Casa reaches 18 stories above the Design District streets. Originally conceived as “Aria,” this new incarnation is intended to make a distinctive statement about design, architecture and lifestyle. Architect Chad Oppenheim has designed a signature pure, minimalist silhouette incorporating deep terraces for the residences. A rooftop terrace for the residents features pools and gardens. The visible steel structure is clad in floor-to-ceiling glass that functions as both pattern and support. Casa offers 78 one- and two-story residential lofts ranging from 700 to 1,335 square feet, and penthouses up to 2,500 square feet of living space.

Cube, another Chad Oppenheim concept, takes a revolutionary approach to modular design. Residents can configure their domains according to individual needs and desires in modules that can be assembled both vertically and laterally. Concrete, steel and glass are engineered to allow for ultimate flexibility in a total of 112 modules showing off such architectural features as cantilevered living spaces, 20-foot ceilings and full-floor expanses. Cube will also offer street-level retail spaces.

thank god,that aria site is such an eyesore,for such a nice area.

glad to here a reliable developer is being brought in...i wish it contained more infoi

Aria and Cube have been around for a long time, thay need to start going up!

Aria and Cube have been around for a long time, thay need to start going up!

True dat. I'm ready for a little punk-eek here myself. ;)

Zoning Board Denies Permit for
420-Foot Tower Near Design District

Electra Denied Permit After Residents Appeal

By Ashley Miller
Contributing Writer

Buena Vista East residents who attended Monday night’s Miami Zoning Board meeting were pleasantly surprised when the board denied a Class II special permit to developers who planned to construct a 33-story, 420-foot condo tower in the area.

http://www.miamisunpost.com/seventhstoryfrontpage.htm

Zoning Board Denies Permit for
420-Foot Tower Near Design District

Electra Denied Permit After Residents Appeal

By Ashley Miller
Contributing Writer

Buena Vista East residents who attended Monday night’s Miami Zoning Board meeting were pleasantly surprised when the board denied a Class II special permit to developers who planned to construct a 33-story, 420-foot condo tower in the area.

http://www.miamisunpost.com/seventhstoryfrontpage.htm

I think they're mad that projects like this would drive the drug dealers and prostitutes out of the neighborhood and then they'd have nothing to complain about. The developer should just switch electra 1 to the electra 2 parcel and vice-versa, which would put the smaller electra 2 farther west and electra 1 closer to Biscayne. The properties appear to be about the same size.

True dat. I'm ready for a little punk-eek here myself. ;)
Me too, too bad they have to be built form the ground up, if only God could just plunk these buildings down it'd be a lot easier. ;)

Me too, too bad they have to be built form the ground up, if only God could just plunk these buildings down it'd be a lot easier. ;)

I'll talk to Him about that tonight. :)

Divine intervention....dat's what I'm talkin' 'bout!:)

I'll talk to Him about that tonight. :)

can you ask about that new car Ive been wanting :D

and if theres time after the buildings and the car rider needs... mayb ask for that world peace and ending hunger shit... if theres time, not a big deal tho...

Okay, I just got with God, and He told me that He's going to smite down evil nimbys and cast heavy shadows over Freedom Tower. And He also says the backside of Freedom Tower is an abomination, a thing unnatural.

Rider, sorry, you got your request in late. I'll get back to Him tomorrow. I understand he's up on cars. After all, He did drive Adam and Eve out of the Garden. ;)

nimby -

I think He's going to tell me He's about saving some rich folks. I presume this is the case as Jesus said, "You will always have the poor among you", but He didn't say we'd always have the rich among us. So God's got to save the rich folks ! :)

and if theres time after the buildings and the car rider needs... mayb ask for that world peace and ending hunger shit... if theres time, not a big deal tho...

HAHA Nimby :)

Hmm damn rich folks...what standard are we going by here cause Im rich compared to Kenya

New renderings of Lima:

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/limaphotomontageweb.jpg

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/Newestlima1web.jpg

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/newestlima2web.jpg

Thats interesting. For the most part I like it, except for the roof, that looks strange to me. Footage on this one Dave? Good job diging this stuff up man.

Thats interesting. For the most part I like it, except for the roof, that looks strange to me. Footage on this one Dave? Good job diging this stuff up man.

Taller than it looks, 41 floors, 473 feet.

interesting ,

good height though

i like it,and kobi will be able to see it on a daily basis since his offices are located right beside it.....

The rendering with the blank white buildings in the background reminded me, has anyone heard anything about Platinum on the Bay lately, or even seen a decent non-black and white rendering?

i think i know where you kind find a rendering but im not sure----if you go to the AIA MIAMI architects page they had an award program in which platinum on the bay won the best unbuilt award and you can download the powerpoint but i don't know if the rendering is there.......anyways i thought the white blank at the left was for element?

I couldn't find any images on AIA :( The tall white tower is Element but Platinum on the Bay should have been at the end of the block that Lima is on. Just seemed odd that it is the only tall tower missing from the rendering (even electra on the bay is there), and we never hear anything about it.

i just stumbled across a rendering of platinum on the bay:

http://www.optionsmag.com/issues/july_aug2005/Images/d1_img1.jpg

i love this tower so much,man its sweet imagine that it was originally suppose to be 800ft.


perkins and will are great architects

That is pretty nice, how tall is it supposed to be now Hatter?

589 ft. according to the develoment report.

Nice height, 800ft would have been pretty tall for that area.

Too bad the FAA took an axe to it, though true, 800 would have been pretty tall for that area (3000 block of biscayne), and yes Perkins and Will are very fine architects, I like the work they've done in Chicago.

And the Morningside saga continues...

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/051124/story3.shtml

Homeowners group to resume fight against Biscayne development



By Deserae del Campo
Members of the Morningside Civic Association plan to go before Miami city commissioners again next week to oppose construction plans for a 105-unit mixed-use development along Biscayne Boulevard.
At the city's Dec. 1 planning and zoning meeting at city hall, Morningside Development LLC and residents of Morningside, a historic district of Miami, will face off over use of land at 5301-5501 Biscayne Blvd.
This is to be the second time commissioners will hear the appeal from residents to ban the building alongside the boulevard. They prevailed once, but a court last month overturned their victory.
In October 2004, the planning department approved a Class II permit to construct along Biscayne Boulevard. The mixed-used development, including 211 parking spaces, is to be nine stories high.
According to documents from the city's planning department, the project will include 11,994 square feet of office space on the first floors of two condo towers and stand 92 feet tall.
The zoning board in 2004 agreed with the Planning Advisory Board's approval of the project and also granted the permit to Morningside developers.
Later that year, residents filed an appeal of the permit, but the zoning board denied it 7-1.
In March, city commissioners heard arguments from Morningside residents including Christina Grass, who told commissioners the construction fails "to respond to the physical context, the surrounding urban form, and the natural green areas that characterize that portion of Biscayne Boulevard."
By a vote of 4-0, officials granted the appeal and the permit was axed. But it has resurfaced after Morningside Development LLC took the case to the 11th Circuit Court in October.
According to city documents, "the circuit court ruled to quash the city commission's decision" and sent the case back to the city.
"Again it's going before the board as a hearing," said JoNel ******, attorney representing the Morningside Civic Association. "Commissioners may approve it with conditions or send it back to the planning and zoning board for review."
Attorneys representing Morningside Development say the city has no choice but to grant the permit. No evidence presented to the city says it should deny the permit, said attorney Doug Halsey.
"One of the main complaints from Morningside residents is to keep the maximum height for this development at 35 feet," Mr. Halsey said. "The building is now at 92 feet in height, which complies to the amended SD-9 district."
Within the SD-9 district, property owners must obtain a Class II special permit from the city before they can build.
Condo prices for the Biscayne development are to range from $400,000 to $500,000.

Sales Kick Off at Flagler Group’s $35M `Boulevard’ Condo
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
By Marita Thomas

MIAMI-Sales have begun for Boulevard, a 16-story, 127-unit condominium with 13,000 sf of ground-floor retail, located at 3360 Biscayne Blvd. adjacent to the Design District. Ricardo Dunin, president of locally based Flagler Group, which is developing Boulevard, tells GlobeSt.com his company acquired the vacant land for $6.5 million and estimates the construction cost at $28 million.

Residential units in Boulevard range from 665 sf to 2,100 sf, and Dunin says the prices begin in the low $300,000s and reach to $1 million. Locally based Related Cervera Realty Services is handling marketing and sales. The five-space retail component is also condo, and Dunin says the selling price is $600 per sf. Groundbreaking is scheduled for May 2006 with completion by October 2007.

Other Flagler Group developments include the Mutiny, a $40-million waterfront condo-hotel in Coconut Grove, the neighboring $70-million, 224-unit Sonesta Hotel and Suites there, and Le Serano, a beachfront resort on St. Barthelemy in the Caribbean, which is scheduled to open next month.

http://globest.com/news/420_420/miami/140477-1.html

Judging by how smaller projects are being fought by Morningside residents, I would put this proposal in the "no chance in hell" category. But here is 5220 Biscayne any way. 11 stories, 120 feet.

http://egov.ci.miami.fl.us/Legistarweb/Attachments/19531.PDF

I don't understand why the neighboors are opposed to these projects on Biscayne Blvd. They are better than all the crack motels that are there currently...hopefully soon all those motels with the criminal element that patronize them will be gone...

An interview with Henry Harper. The man behind Filling Station Lofts, Parc Lofts and the Pawn Shop Lounge.

(re: 36-foot ceilings...that would be some AC bill)

http://newspaperads.miami.com/SS/Page.aspx?sstarg=&facing=false&secid=16513&pagenum=33

I dunno if anyone's seen or heard of this building, but its call COR, and its in the Design District. Architect is Chad Oppenheim.
http://www.miamirealestatetrends.com/default.aspx
Second one down, under Epic.

Anyone have any other info on this one?

I dunno if anyone's seen or heard of this building, but its call COR, and its in the Design District. Architect is Chad Oppenheim.
http://www.miamirealestatetrends.com/default.aspx
Second one down, under Epic.

Anyone have any other info on this one?

Are those Mercedes logos on the roof? Or windmills?

All i've seen is just this paragraph from an article posted on Oppenheim's project:

Miami architect Chad Oppenheim is creating a live/work environment in industrial-inspired spaces nearby at COR. Two buildings are stacked and separated by a vertical courtyard. Inside, light will flood the high-tech living spaces, showing off concrete floors, stainless steel kitchen appliances, etc. Ground-level restaurants and retailers will enhance the urban feel, for pedestrians to enjoy a dynamic venue in a dynamic neighborhood.

I was about to say the same thing but you beat me to it dave. That rendering must only show the top half or something. The description makes it seem that there should be some sort of opening in the facade for that "vertical courtyard". Anyhow, I like it. It is very modern.