Miami=South Beach Art Deco District

[Roark]

The sometimes disparaged and often loved Bentley Bay is getting a faux bamboo covering for those goofy parking levels.
Now if they would just cut the concrete block off the east side and put in some glass!!!! (reason #25 not to fall in love or hate a rendering, those renderings can be deceptive).
http://www.restainer.com/skyscrapers/bentleybay_eastside2.jpg

[Rx727sfl2002]

WIRELESS BEACH: Miami Beach plans to request proposals in August for a citywide wireless broadband network, to be operating in mid-2006. It's to allow free public access to high-speed Internet in hot spots throughout the city as well as create a citywide wireless broadband network with mobile connectivity for police, firefighters, building inspectors, parking officers, public works employees and other city workers.

[dave8721]

945 Jefferson Ave by the very busy Kobi Karp got approved by the MB Historic Preservation Board. Another good small scale building for the beach. I like the roof top terraces.

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/945%20Jefferson%2003.jpg

[streetscapeer]

oo, nice....finally some good stuff North of 5th ave, and away from collins and washington:):)

thanks alot dave:)

[havok100]

I think 945 Jefferson has been completed. It looks really nice from the 27th floor of the Floridian.

[dave8721]

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/050825/fyi.shtml

Sounds interesting,
BEACH CENTRAL: A proposal for a city center for Miami Beach in the form of a cultural plaza at Washington Avenue and 17th Street is working its way through city government. As proposed by architect Kenneth Treister, a traffic circle with a fountain or sculpture at its center would be spanned by four soaring pedestrian bridges over the four intersecting streets. Mr. Treister cited a local model: "Coral Gables' beautiful traffic circles such as Cartagena Circle at Sunset and Old Cutler Road, which gracefully handles waves of traffic every day." The city commission sent his proposal to the Transportation and Parking Committee and then to the Land Use and Development Committee.

[streetscapeer]

ooo...I like the sound of that:)

[archifreese]

seriously i dont think itll work or happen - the traffic circle sounds ok for gables but in sobe with pedestrian bridges at an intersection that maybe 10 people cross a day (unless theres an event at jackie gleason and then they cross at drexel anyways) is just 2 much fluff for my taste. speaking of 17th washington wtf happened to gehry and new world? or did the city kill that potential change for the better along w/the streetcar.

[magic-city]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/kunmingbridge.jpg http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/050825/fyi.shtml

Sounds interesting,


I visited Kunming China a few years ago and my hotel was next to this four way pedestrian overpass. It was very interesting. Pedestrians could only cross the street by using this overpass.

Wash and 17th may not be busy now but if the Cirque de Soleil and the Gehry project get built, it may be very busy.

I think a traffic circle could be an interesting urban feature, but I hope the pedestrian overpasses are not like the one in Kunming. It became a pain in the ass everytime you wanted to cross the street. Climb stairs, walk up/down ramp....a long walk to get to the other side. Believe me, I had to get to the other side quite often to visit the KFC since this was the only food my 8 year old would eat.

Look at the overpass at the Douglass Rd Metrorail station... a few million dollars to build and hardly anyone uses it because its easier to dash across the 6 lanes of US 1. I hope the urban planners take a close look at this.

[Toucano]

Its not easier to dash across US1, I often see people standing there for twice or three times the amount of time it would have taken them to just use the overpass. The people who cross US1 are just stupid because the overpass even has elevators which makes being lazy even easier...

[dave8721]

Article in the Herald this morning:

Cirque du Soleil seeks $100M in funds

Cirque du Soleil wants to convert the Jackie Gleason into a $150 million theater and is willing to put up $50 million. But a hotel group wants a bigger convention center first.

BY DOUGLAS HANKS III

dhanks@herald.com


Cirque du Soleil wants as much as $100 million from the public to build a whimsical, Latin-inspired theater in Miami Beach that would elevate the resort city into a worldwide entertainment destination, developers said Thursday.

But in a session with city leaders, Miami-Dade County's hotel industry trade group warned the project would hurt tourism if it endangered plans to build a 50,000-square-foot ballroom at the adjoining Miami Beach Convention Center.

At issue are $55 million in Miami-Dade County bond funds the hotel industry says are pledged to building a ballroom, but which city officials say can be used for any improvement of the convention center.

Cirque wants the $55 million to convert the city-owned Jackie Gleason Theater into a $150 million entertainment complex with a 1,700-seat theater, restaurants, bars and a nightclub that would connect to the Convention Center and include space that could be used as a ballroom. But hotel-industry backers say the space would be too small.

''Our studies tell us . . it can't be less than 50,000 square-feet for us to be able to book conventions,'' said Stuart Blumberg, president of the Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association. ``We're at risk if we don't have that space.''

The ballroom issue emerged as Cirque's development team made its first public presentation of what the renowned human circus wants to create in South Beach.

Johnny Boivin, who helped create Cirque's O show in Las Vegas, promised a tent-like theater on 17th Street, with walls that sweat, a cloud-topped roof and a facade resembling a jewelry box. Inside, the Cirque show would offer a Latin take on the Montreal-based troupe's fleshy, joint-defying acrobatic show.

The rest of the article can be found here:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/12538590.htm

[dave8721]

ah, that explains it dave. i thought something must've happened since i hadn't heard anything in a while. thanks for the info.

roark, do you have any pics of it?

I found a preconstruction realty website with some info. Looks like it will be one tower now, 19-stories, 511 units with prices from $850,000 (for the 570sqft studios I'm guessing) to $8M.

http://www.condofinds.com/listings.php?listing=359&imageNo=5

Here is a pic they have up on the website:
http://www.condofinds.com/listing_images/W_South_Beach5.jpg

[mileageman]

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/7527/1594515579026kc.jpg http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8808/1594515831566zc.jpg http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8272/1594515957834al.jpg

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/12628365.htm

Posted on Tue, Sep. 13, 2005

FONTAINEBLEAU
Tower of glass to replace Spite Wall
Owners of the Fontainebleau plan a modern structure where a 16-story building now stands. Twenty feet away, the Eden Roc wants a new building, too.
BY DOUGLAS HANKS III
dhanks@herald.com

The Fontainebleau wants to replace its famed ''Spite Wall'' building with a 20-story angular glass tower with a rooftop pool jutting outward over Miami Beach like a horn.

The Y-shaped oceanfront building unveiled at a zoning hearing Monday would become the second of two new towers planned at South Florida's largest hotel. And it offers the first glimpse of the new owners' vision for transforming the 1954 Miami Beach icon into a modern showcase of Las Vegas-style opulence and showmanship.

''This space will become a pilgrimage site,'' Fontainebleau Resorts President Glenn Schaeffer said of the hotel's new spa, which will have its walls bathed in a light sculpture designed by artist James Turrell. ``This will be one of the most important art spaces on the planet. And you can get a massage there, too.''

Schaeffer, the Vegas hotelier behind Excalibur, Mandalay Bay and other casino mega-resorts, said the company would spend $450 million on a new 1,800-room Fontainebleau.

Along with at least a half dozen restaurants and the spa, he promised big-name acts at the hotel's new theater and 50,000-square-foot ballroom, from championship boxing matches to Paul McCartney. Architectural plans filed with the city include a House of Blues, a popular concert-hall chain, though Fontainebleau executives called those drawings preliminary.

But in his presentation to Miami Beach's Historic Preservation Board, Schaeffer emphasized sweeping changes are in store for the 1,340-room Fontainebleau, once the most stylish in Miami Beach.

The original Chateau building, designed by Morris Lapidus, would undergo a significant renovation, while the grounds would be remade into a series of pools and cabana areas. A Versailles-style garden is planned atop of the new ballroom. The renderings of the new tower show a glass-walled pool thrusting out above the building's south wall.

The new look comes as Schaeffer and the hotel's majority owner, developer Jeffrey Soffer of Aventura's Turnberry Associates, try to leverage the Fontainebleau's reputation into a new brand.

FLAGSHIP HOTEL

They hope to make the Miami Beach property the flagship of a string of Fontainebleaus, with the first one already announced in Las Vegas. But after dismissing Hilton, the Fontainebleau's operator since 1978, they lack the benefits of a global chain's Internet reach or meeting-sales staff.

The Fontainebleau's new 500-room tower would replace a 1962 building possessing one of the most famous stories in South Florida architecture. Ben Novack, then the Fontainebleau's owner, reportedly commissioned the 17-story windowless rectangle of a building to cast a shadow on the adjoining Eden Roc's pool.

Now the two hotels have united to support each other's expansion plans. Both properties will waive setback requirements in order to allow two new towers within 12 feet of each other on the oceanfront: a 20-story building for the Eden Roc and the Fontainebleau's proposed 20-story tower. John Nichols, a Coral Gables architect, designed both proposed buildings.

Members of the historic board offered mostly positive comments at the hearing. Lapidus, one of the Beach's most celebrated architects, didn't design the Spite Wall, and it hasn't enjoyed much status in the city's preservation movement.

''I'll miss it, but I won't mind seeing it go,'' said Mitch Novick, the board's chairman.

SOME CONCERNS

But board members did say they worried the expansion plans would detract from the comma-shaped Chateau building, which housed all of the hotel's rooms until the Fontainebleau II condo-hotel tower opened next door this year. (A third condo-hotel tower, Fontainebleau III, is under construction.)

Jean-Francois Lejeune, a board member and architecture professor, said the new ground-level ballroom and spa could crowd the view of Chateau building, particularly from the beach.

''I think it's somewhat agitated on the ocean side,'' Lejeune said. He also criticized Fontainebleau Resorts for wanting to redo a Lapidus-designed theater.

The board plans on voting on the proposal at a later meeting and will forward its findings to the City Commission for a final decision.

[logybogy]

That pool is really cool. I wonder if it'll be glass bottom? Wouldn't that be an interesting swim to look down 200 feet and see the ocean beneath your feet? It'll be like you are swimming suspended in the air.

[Roark]

Just when you thought Revuelta couldn't pick up any more prestigious clients than Ugo Columbo and Edgardo Defortuna, he has just been approved for a Ritz Carlton on Miami Beach (another Ritz Carlton).
Miami is the only city in the world with three Ritz Carlton's (Grove, South Beach, Key Biscayne) and now another on 29th street.
This will be condo, condo/hotel, hotel.
Sales will begin early next year (as usual...send me a private message to get on the first list).

[Dale]

Hope it's white and massive.

[The Mad Hatter!!]

how does revuelta do it.........

[logybogy]

Did the 29th and collins project finally get approved? It's been before the historic preservation board "multiple" times over the last year.

[Roark]

Yep...approved...it will be more like his Il Villagio than any of the 50 stories buildings that he's done. The Save Miami Beach Ordinance will only allow for 22 stories maximum.

Not sure if it will be as colorful as the Il Villagio...I know Dale and Nimby like their buildings colorful and their Trans Ams with the cool bird decal on the hood!!! :naughty:

[logybogy]

Looks like the old Roney Plaza is getting another face lift.

http://www.nueve.com/paradiso.jpg

[dave8721]

That place is starting to remind me of Joan Rivers...

[streetscapeer]

I don't like the Roney


and this makeover doesn't seem to do anything drastic enough for me to start liking it!

[logybogy]

The old hotel was a beauty.

http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/cities/miami/miami1/photos/miami1012.jpg

It's a tragedy they bulldozed it in the 60's for this POS.

[streetscapeer]

omg...that was glorious....why can't they make buldings like that today:(

[dave8721]

I don't like the Roney


and this makeover doesn't seem to do anything drastic enough for me to start liking it!

Kind of like Joan Rivers...

[archifreese]

^ yeah!!! lol
this is another cheesy renovation that Historic Preservation and Design Review Board had where the only "feature" theyll be adding is the railing or something i agree the 1st one was better!
Has anybody heard about these two projects :

Chelsea lofts 12th and West http://www.theroyalbaygroup.com/Condominiums/chelsea.htm

Westside lofts
http://www.theroyalbaygroup.com/Westside.htm

Okay the chelsea lot did demo/clear a year ago and then had a trailer etc. on site that they have removed and no one has been there in over 3 months.
Westside lofts begun construction in Dec/Jan and has the first floor sitting there with rebar in the cmus and hasnt had anyone on site since march or april. i ask because these are(were) both being sold together at the same sales center at 12th/west. its gone 2.
what happened these were decent lowrise yuppy housing.!?!?! i hope it wasnt that gilbert fiend district thing i know they wanted to rezone west/bay rd. to lower height and far. anyone?

[jdnn]

omg...that was glorious....why can't they make buldings like that today:(

I agree that the older building looks nicer, but I also see a reason why things changed... I mean, the old building doesn't even have balconies for the units it seems to me, and it's right next to the beach! I rather would have a balcony to catch a sea breeze than living inside a nice building surrounded by walls (pretty much).

[logybogy]

Very, very few of the art deco buildings on south beach have balconies. Yet people pay a heavy premium to stay in balcony-less TINY rooms because of the location and atmosphere.

[jdnn]

Very, very few of the art deco buildings on south beach have balconies. Yet people pay a heavy premium to stay in balcony-less TINY rooms because of the location and atmosphere.

Then isn't the Roney the "best" of both worlds -- art deco AND balconies? (I'm ashamed that I had to use the word "best" btw, especially for this project)

[logybogy]

The Roney Plaza isn't Art Deco.

I refer to the Roney and many of its sister condo canyon buildings built in the 5000-6000 block of Collins as 1960's "Cheap Ugly Crap Architecture." (CUCA)

The condos built in the 1960's along Miami Beach were poorly built. A lot of corners were cut especially with the quality of the concrete used in the buildings. They mixed too much sand in the concrete because they were CHEAP.

If we ever get a Cat 5 Hurricane hit Miami Beach head on, these old condo buildings will be coming down. It'll be something else to see 15-20 story towers crash into the ocean. It'll make Katrina look like a summer thunderstorm.

[rider_of_rohan]

The Roney Plaza isn't Art Deco.

I refer to the Roney and many of its sister condo canyon buildings built in the 5000-6000 block of Collins as 1960's "Cheap Ugly Crap Architecture." (CUCA)

The condos built in the 1960's along Miami Beach were poorly built. A lot of corners were cut especially with the quality of the concrete used in the buildings. They mixed too much sand in the concrete because they were CHEAP.

If we ever get a Cat 5 Hurricane hit Miami Beach head on, these old condo buildings will be coming down. It'll be something else to see 15-20 story towers crash into the ocean. It'll make Katrina look like a summer thunderstorm.

With a cat 5 and a thirty foot storm surge you could kiss the entire beach goodbye. That would wash over the beach and deposit it in Miami.

[logybogy]

The newer condo high-rises built after Andrew should withstand even Cat 5 and massive storm surge without a catastrophic structural faiure, i.e. building going tippy-toppy over and *boom*!!! There would be massive exterior wall collapses, every window would be blown out and every condo interior gutted, roof would peel away etc., but the structure should still stand as a hollowed out gutted shell.

At least that's what it was designed to do. Who knows whether these buildings were built to code or the inspectors were paid off to ignore any shoddy workmanship....

Now, a lot of the condos built in the 60's and 70's I know were shoddy when built and many of them haven't been maintained properly and are falling apart to boot (i.e. Castle Beach Club). Those are going bye-bye as in nothing but a pile of rubble on the ocean in a Cat 5, maybe even in Cat 4.

It's been close to 80 years since Downtown Miami and Miami Beach has been hit by a Cat 4 or Cat 5 hurricane. Ironically, we were in a real estate boom back in the 20's and the 1926 Hurricane was what brought it all to a halt. Hopefully, history won't repeat itslef, but we are very long over due and unfortunately the probability that it will happen within the next 20 years is very high, given we are now in a more aggressive hurricane pattern with stronger and more numerous storms each season.

[ChuckScraperMiami#1]

The newer condo high-rises built after Andrew should withstand even Cat 5 and massive storm surge without a catastrophic structural faiure, i.e. building going tippy-toppy over and *boom*!!! There would be massive exterior wall collapses, every window would be blown out and every condo interior gutted, roof would peel away etc., but the structure should still stand as a hollowed out gutted shell.

At least that's what it was designed to do. Who knows whether these buildings were built to code or the inspectors were paid off to ignore any shoddy workmanship....

Now, a lot of the condos built in the 60's and 70's I know were shoddy when built and many of them haven't been maintained properly and are falling apart to boot (i.e. Castle Beach Club). Those are going bye-bye as in nothing but a pile of rubble on the ocean in a Cat 5, maybe even in Cat 4.

It's been close to 80 years since Downtown Miami and Miami Beach has been hit by a Cat 4 or Cat 5 hurricane. Ironically, we were in a real estate boom back in the 20's and the 1926 Hurricane was what brought it all to a halt. Hopefully, history won't repeat itslef, but we are very long over due and unfortunately the probability that it will happen within the next 20 years is very high, given we are now in a more aggressive hurricane pattern with stronger and more numerous storms each season.

Rider of Rohan :) , This is true what Logybogy :) is saying here, Jorge Perez :) has built stronger Cat 5 proof storm condo Towers on South Beach to withstand up to 200 mph winds. I heard the developer say this in his own words, and new Miami Beach codes have gotten tougher since the 155 mph winds of Andrew :bash: came through in 1992. :cheers:

[jdnn]

The Roney Plaza isn't Art Deco.

I refer to the Roney and many of its sister condo canyon buildings built in the 5000-6000 block of Collins as 1960's "Cheap Ugly Crap Architecture." (CUCA)


Well, just because it's crappy and ugly doesn't mean it's not Art Deco... It seems to follow the guidelines for Art Deco if you look at the little tower on top and the lines on that side of the building.

But it would be great if that was torn down. :-D But I still can't say that the old one would be nicer to live in (but of course, seeing the floor plans might change my mind -- although a big balcony would be nice).

I rather they make glassy balconies like we're seeing with newer condos. They look nicer, smoother and sleek. Really ultra-hip and modern. The Roney and many other condos need something like that.

[ChuckScraperMiami#1]

[QUOTE=logybogy]The old hotel was a beauty.

http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/cities/miami/miami1/photos/miami1012.jpg

It's a tragedy they bulldozed it in the 60's for this POS.[/QUOTE

Logybogy :) , Gosh darn it, it Had the " Freedom Tower " look in the front. Darn It, " Who ? :bash: "gave the order to tear this landmark down, where's my gun, lol. :weirdo:

[Roark]

Ironically, we were in a real estate boom back in the 20's and the 1926 Hurricane was what brought it all to a halt.I believed this to be true until I attended a lecture given by Dr. Paul George...I asked him about the bust in 1926 as it related to the hurricane, and he said that is one of the biggest misconceptions in South Floridas history. What really caused the bust was overbuilding and a very important shipwreck that closed off the port for a significant amount of time. Building supplies could not make it into Miami to continue to complete projects and the bust happened in 1925...of course, the hurricane hampered the recovery, as did the great depression, but it wasn't a hurricane that brought the real estate boom to a halt. You can see a reenactment of the shipwreck in the documentarty, "The Once and Future City: Miami". It's a nice piece produced by the Travel Channel.

[logybogy]

That's interesting, roark. I never heard that before. I'll have to research it a bit.

[Roark]

That's interesting, roark. I never heard that before. I'll have to research it a bit.No need logy...I've got your back! :)
And the Bust
The boom began dissipating in 1926. Wary speculators backed off from further investment in light of inflation, and a series of setbacks brought construction to a standstill. The spring and summer of 1926 witnessed a mass exodus of speculators. The boom was over.

In September, a hurricane with winds of 125 miles per hour smashed into the Miami area, with a portion of the eye passing over downtown. More than 100 Miamians and Dade Countians lost their lives in the storm. Thousands of homes were destroyed. Unfinished subdivisions were leveled. The entire region was plunged into a severe economic depression three years before the rest of the nation. From the Historical Museum of South Florida. (http://www.historical-museum.org/history/sfhm242.htm)

[logybogy]

cool! Thanks. :)

[Roark]

Here is a little something for those that have DVD playing software on their computers The Once and Future City: Miami (http://www.restainer.com/skyscrapers/movie.zip) it's just a little sample...at about 7:45 into the thing, there is discussion of the 1925/26 real estate bust.
It's a monster sized file...about one gig, and it won't be available after Monday at midnight, and if you don't have a very fast connection, you might run into some frustrations...forewarned...

[rider_of_rohan]

Rider of Rohan :) , This is true what Logybogy :) is saying here, Jorge Perez :) has built stronger Cat 5 proof storm condo Towers on South Beach to withstand up to 200 mph winds. I heard the developer say this in his own words, and new Miami Beach codes have gotten tougher since the 155 mph winds of Andrew :bash: came through in 1992. :cheers:

Understand Chuck, but that massive wave is the real problem, much more than winds. Look at how far inland it went in Mississippi with katrina. Now imagine that wave at Miami Beach. It would completely cover it and destroy almost everything in its path. There would without a doubt be plenty of room to build after a cat 5 in Miami beach. No single family homes or older buildings would be standing.

[ChuckScraperMiami#1]

Understand Chuck, but that massive wave is the real problem, much more than winds. Look at how far inland it went in Mississippi with katrina. Now imagine that wave at Miami Beach. It would completely cover it and destroy almost everything in its path. There would without a doubt be plenty of room to build after a cat 5 in Miami beach. No single family homes or older buildings would be standing.

:omg: wow, Rider of Rohan :hi: , lets pray to God :angel1: on this sunday :okay: , that we in our lifetime will never see this happen, :nono: and never happen to anyone else in the world. :angel:

[Roark]

Calling Magic City! Calling Magic City!
If you have some old pics of the Flamingo Hotel on South Beach, that would be very cool. I'm told that prior to the Grand Flamingo (and Morturary Towers) there was a Flamino Hotel on the Bay at 15th Street in Miami Beach, and that it was a regular hangout for Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. I think it makes sense considering that the Starfish Restuarant (now Barton G's on West Ave) was frequented by Al Capone and the boys.
Requesting any backup....thanks.

[mileageman]

http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/cities/miami/miami1/photos/miami1011.jpg
http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/cities/miami/miami1/photos/miami1027.jpg
http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/cities/miami/miami1/miami1011.htm

[dave8721]

Wow...I can't believe these were torn down.

The Floridian:
http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/cities/miami/miami1/photos/miami1018.jpg

The Fleetwood (where was this one?)
http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/cities/miami/miami1/photos/miami1014.jpg

The Pavilion (complete with a windmill)
http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/cities/miami/miami1/photos/miami1004.jpg

[Roark]

Thanks mileage! Good post...you didn't waste a minute.

[DGM]

The Flamingo and the Floridian look great. It really is a shame that they got torn down. The bottom two I could live without. Whats that thing on top of the fleetwood?

[dave8721]

The thing I thought was cool about the bottom one was the windmill.

[DOWNTOWNER]

Hi Guys,
Has anyone been in the Bentley Bay? Just wondering what your feelings are on this building? Thanks!

[archifreese]

^ havent had the good fortune (literally a fortune) to get in there :) but i like its west side the east side is blank -granted the vitri people could have easily gone somewhat vertical and blocked any east views but i think some more could be done there a mural or mosaics or something that blank facade kills me - and the aluminum bamboo is interesting.

[Don Pacho]

I like this one, it's kind of nice:

Hotel Halcyon

http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/cities/miami/miami1/photos/miami1021.jpg

[nimbyhater]

damn i wish we had some of these left...

[magic-city]

[QUOTE=Roark]Calling Magic City! Calling Magic City!
If you have some old pics of the Flamingo Hotel on South Beach, that would be very cool.

ROARK....I just got power after two weeks!!! It's been hell.

I have some great old images of the Flamingo and other bayshore hotels.

I'll dig them up and post some old images soon.

The Flamingo was quite the place in its day. Presidents used to stay there and it was the place to be for the boat races. It had a famous iridescent dome that was lit at night. The grounds included many activities for the guest. I think I have an old postcard with Rosie the Elephant at the Flamingo. It which was used as a publicity stunt during the boom of the 1920's.

I 'll see if I can find some old postcards.

[magic-city]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/flamingo1.jpg


From the vantage point of the hotel, you can see the Venetian Islands and Belle Isle with department store founder James Cash Penney's home (THE JC Penney) in view.

[magic-city]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/flamingo2.jpg

[magic-city]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/flamingo3.jpg

[magic-city]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/flamingo4.jpg

[magic-city]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/flamingo5.jpg

[Roark]

Magic-City, like the Magic City, never ceases to amaze and bewilder!! What a beautiful old building.
The new/semi-new building is pretty good too...the views are stupendous. The 1960's apartments are good sized with great care paid to views and sharing the community....16.1 acres of land!!!
That works out to be the 3rd largest parcel on Miami Beach. I think that Flamingo Park and the Miami Beach Golf Club are the only parcels that are larger.
The new Zyscovich tower is pretty impressive too...8'2" ceilings to blend with the classic towers, then 9'2" ceilings in everything from the 15th floor and higher.

[dave8721]

http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/newcity/drb/agenda_design.pdf

Some new projects for the Beach. I like the looks of projects C and D under New Projects. That "Block 51" project sits on a pretty big parcel on Commerce St and South Pointe.

[mileageman]

http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/newcity/drb/agenda_design.pdf

Some new projects for the Beach. I like the looks of projects C and D under New Projects. That "Block 51" project sits on a pretty big parcel on Commerce St and South Pointe.

Those are Jorge perez projects.

[dave8721]

Those are Jorge perez projects.

Yep he's been pretty busy for a guy who said he didn't plan on doing any more South Florida condos.

[rider_of_rohan]

Yep he's been pretty busy for a guy who said he didn't plan on doing any more South Florida condos.

Maybe he will come out and say "Now I really really wont do any more buildings in South Florida" and we could get another 70 story building in DT. He could fill that gap between Freedom and Everglades on the bay :)

[Roark]

I'm not normally a conspiracy threorist, but I'm going to pass this on.
A smaller developer (30-50 units) was telling me that bigger developers are feeding the Herald the lines that there is overbuilding and you have to be careful who you do business with.
The little guy said that Perez claimed to be moving out of South Florida so that buyers wouldn't wait for his next project, they would buy his available product faster, and he could move on to the next.
Time is telling that Perez isn't leaving the South Florida market, and is still developing projects.
Correlation doesn't equal causation, but it is funny how that is playing out...

[MIAballinboi]

^lol true,

he says hes moving out, but he keeps making new projects, thats a good theory,

[Roark]

You have to love the weather in Miami!!!! Thanksgiving Thursday in Michigan was -6 degrees farenheit with the wind blowing at 30 mph. Here are some pictures from the day before Thanksgiving from the Flamingo in Miami Beach. http://www.restainer.com/skyscrapers/flamingopool.jpg
I know this isn't South Beach Development news.....yet!
http://www.restainer.com/skyscrapers/flamingopool2.jpg

[logybogy]

But oh so expensive....especially with Citizens increasing rates by 50%.

A buddy of mine is planning to buy a lot in the North Carolina mountains as a summer home so he never has to deal with hurricanes in south florida ever again.

59,000 for 1.5 acres with a view like this. I may just join him.

http://photos.neg.ctimls.com/neg/photos/large/2/8/112128a.jpg

[dave8721]

Not that rural NC doesn't have its drawbacks. My sister lives in rural NC and has to drive 45 minutes to the nearest movie theater, or 30 minutes to the nearest decent restaraunt.

[logybogy]

Yeah, there are definitely tradeoffs.

Asheville is a pretty interesting place and cool funky town though. As long as I'm within a 30-45 minute drive, I don't really care too much. It takes that long to drive from Downtown to Aventura on Biscayne....on a good day.

I could never live in NC year round, though. It would get boring and way too cold in the winters for me, not to mention NC has a state income tax for full-time residents which is a big no-no for me, but for the summers....it's very tempting.

These homes in the NC mountains also are very good income properties for weekly vacation rentals. Depending on how nice the view and property is....you can get up to $1500 or $2000 a week in rentals.

[nimbyhater]

i might have to get me one of those... hows the cuban food in the greater asheville area?

[Rx727sfl2002]

just came back from nc brother has a 6 bedroom home for 140k on a hill looking down the mountain in banner elk area great location but as for cuban food is concerned you get one plaintain for a dollar and meat is really expensive also..everything else is cheap so overall its nice but has its drawbacks... i love the salty air too much to even think about moving up to a mountain...

[mileageman]

Posted on Thu, Dec. 08, 2005

MIAMI BEACH

A look at the history of Miami Beach's famous hotels

BY DOUGLAS HANKS III

dhanks@herald.com

Carl Fisher helped transform Miami Beach from an isolated swamp to a thriving resort city. But he wasn't a big fan of the ocean.

When the industrialist scouted sites for his Flamingo Hotel, Fisher ruled out the island's ample beachfront. A yachtsman, Fisher saw the placid Biscayne Bay as the perfect venue for boat races, and for attracting the wealthy, refined traveler who liked to watch them.

And so Miami Beach's first huge hotel -- 11 stories tall, with a lighted dome that changed colors throughout the evening -- opened in 1920 not on prime oceanfront but on the western end of 15th Street.

Fisher's waterfront priorities give a taste of how much Miami Beach's hotel industry changed in the eight decades since the Flamingo's first guests shelled out their $15 for a night's stay. Veteran Miami journalist Howard Kleinberg charts the evolution in a new book, Woggles and Cheese Holes, The History of Miami Beach's Hotels.

Commissioned by the hotel industry's largest local trade group, the 124-page book recounts a familiar story of Miami Beach's building booms and lean times, and of developers taking big bets and sometimes coming up disastrously short.

The title comes from the Beach's most famous and controversial hotel designer: Morris Lapidus, the architect of such iconic resorts as Fontainebleau, the Eden Roc, and the Americana in Bal Harbour.

For the San Souci lobby, Lapidus wanted curving carpet shaped like a ''woggle'' and columns coming out of holes in the ceiling and floor like cheese holes.

Those kinds of flourishes charmed the traveling public but often won scorn from architectural elites. Frank Lloyd Wright once compared the Fontainebleau to an anthill, and San Francisco architect Robert Anshen called the Americana a ``monument to vulgarity.''

LAPIDUS' LEGACY

Today, many scholars view Lapidus, who died four years ago at age 98, as one of the most important architects associated with Miami Beach.

''The critics died,'' Kleinberg said in an interview Wednesday. ``He didn't.''

The Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association hired the former Miami News editor to write the book, a follow-up to an earlier history of Miami Beach itself. Proceeds will return to the association, which receives a $225,000 annual subsidy from Miami-Dade tourist taxes.

Stuart Blumberg, president of the association, said he championed the book's publication to commemorate his 50 years in Miami Beach's hotel industry. Blumberg worked as a bellhop at the Americana while a college student and went on to executive positions at the Hilton Plaza and the Fontainebleau before running the Beach's chamber of commerce and hotel association.

''I want to leave a legacy,'' Blumberg said.

Kleinberg writes approvingly of Blumberg for nearly two pages, but the book also notes Blumberg did not support early efforts at protecting the city's Art Deco architecture -- a style credited with helping spark South Beach's 1980s revival.

OTHER TIDBITS

Among the book's other tidbits:

• In the 1910s, hotel guests could open up two of Miami's daily papers and read about themselves. Both the Herald and the Metropolis printed lists of guests checking into Miami's Royal Palm, Halycon and Seminole hotels. But the first Miami Beach hotels weren't considered posh enough to merit similar coverage.

• Lapidus so despised Fontainebleau owner Ben Novack that the architect dropped the 'c' from Novack's name in both of his autobiographies. Novack and Lapidus both claimed credit for the Fontainebleau's distinctive curved exterior.

• Though a few hotels promoted themselves as open to ''Gentiles Only'' through the 1950s, Kleinberg said he could find no evidence that any hotel posted a ''No Jews, No Dogs'' sign. The slogan has been cited as Exhibit A of the lodging industry's anti-Semitic past.

• Before ''Art Deco'' took hold, the nautically inspired architecture that characterized Miami Beach hotels built during the 1930s was known as ''Zig Zag,'' ''Streamline,'' and ``Depression Moderne.''

• As recently as 1971, a critic dismissed Art Deco as resembling ''stranded ferry boats.'' Delano designer Philipe Starck caused a stir in the 1990s when he called South Beach's Art Deco district ``a pink fluorescent machine to pick money from tourists.''

• In 1968, Harry Singer ended his franchise agreement at the Hilton Plaza. He changed the name to the Hotel Plaza so he wouldn't have to throw out the china and towels bearing the HP monogram.

The book sells for $20 in hardback and $15 in paperback. For more information, call 305-531-3553.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/13355027.htm

[dave8721]

A renovation and new building addition to 2360 Collins Ave (the last property on the West side of Collins before the Canal). New building to be called Rivage

http://www.miamisunpost.com/images/Groundwork%20pic.JPG

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

MiMo Rules for New Property

The 1950s era motel at 2360 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, known most recently as the Banana Bungalow, is about to become an ultra-luxurious, European-style seaside condominium village called Rivage.

The extraordinary site has water on two sides overlooking Lake Pancoast (an inlet from Indian Creek) and facing the Dade Canal, which flows out to Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean just across the street.

Architects Kobi Karp and Allan T. Shulman (an expert on Miami Beach preservation) and interior designer Sam Robin are working on designs for the original building and a new stepped four-, six- and eight-story building on Liberty Avenue that will be compatible with the neighboring John Collins historic district. The MiMo (Miami Modern)-style motel, with its soaring triangular roof, stone walls and period lobby, will be retained and the rooms gutted to provide living spaces that include 12 two-level townhouses opening onto the pool deck.

Altogether there will be 85-units ranging from 660 square feet studios up to 2,400 square foot three-bedroom penthouses, with a choice of 35 different floor plans. Several units will also have vast outdoor living space in 1,200 to 2,200 square foot terraces.

The first two-level subterranean parking garage in Miami Beach will also be part of Rivage and designed by a French company that knows a thing or two about underwater construction – it worked on the Euro Tunnel linking England and France!

Developer Mark Lesser of New York-based Centurian Development Group says that the mix of units and fine finishes in the property will appeal to buyers who appreciate quality and want a real sense of privacy in residences within a few blocks of all the South Beach action.

Cervera Real Estate is the exclusive sales and marketing agent for the property.

[nimbyhater]

looks like were getting more and more underground parking all over miami... great, cause the parking pedestals are getting reeeeally old

[dave8721]

Website for the Saxony at 31st and Collins.

http://thesaxony.com/

[Roark]

looks like were getting more and more underground parking all over miami...These are the cats that I saw present their talents.
The first two-level subterranean parking garage in Miami Beach will also be part of Rivage and designed by a French company that knows a thing or two about underwater construction – it worked on the Euro Tunnel linking England and France!The talked about the possiblity of underground parking beneath Museum Park. They have done some really amazing projects.

[dave8721]

Brickell on SSP found some renderings of Lincoln East which is to go on the corner of Drexel and Lincoln.

Nice gravity defying architecture:
http://www.ten-arquitectos.com/images/miami.gif

http://lincolneast.com/
http://www.ten-arquitectos.com/miami.html

[streetscapeer]

Hottt...SoBe continues with the great architecture nd innovation:):)

[nimbyhater]

its south beach dammit, not SoBe... it aint new york and shouldnt try to be, cause new york sucks, and miami kicks ass... SOUTH BEACH!

[brickell]

Thanks for the mention dave. Except for the blank concrete faces on the sides, that building is hot.

[streetscapeer]

its south beach dammit, not SoBe... it aint new york and shouldnt try to be, cause new york sucks, and miami kicks ass... SOUTH BEACH!

umm...negatory, it's just a convention that caught on in te big cities first, London had it first btw (Soho).

Get over it!:)

[nimbyhater]

hhhmmm... well if its a general city thing then i guess it might be ok, but not just an imitation of fukin ny...

[rider_of_rohan]

whats wrong with NYC? I think its a great city, London is too...man if I could live in London :D too damn expensive though.

[Roark]

The W South Beach has just gone from reservations to purchase agreements. 3rd floor one bedroom (643 sq ft.) just sold for $942,000. All of the reservations have intentions to contract so far.
The Holiday Inn that sits on the site will be demolished in March. Groundbreaking in April. Not sure what we are going to do for an Outback Steakhouse, guess we have to get in our cars and drive to the 'burbs... :gaah:

[dave8721]

About TRG/Block One, Relateds new South Beach South of Fifth project:

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

The proposed project, developed by TRG-Block One (a The Related Group subsidiary), would consist of a seven-story, 145-unit curved tower similar to the Fontainebleau’s, and extensive subterranean parking.

“I’m comfortable with the overall massing and underground parking,” Lefton said, “but I need detail on how this will get done.”

Issues arose from neighboring residents and board members largely over an alley that will supply access for service vehicles. Since it is only wide enough for one vehicle at a time and is home to two parking spots from an adjacent building, some feel it will cause more problems than solutions.

“[You] certainly don’t want service on Ocean [Drive] and certainly not on South Pointe so it relegated itself to this corner,” said architect Charles Sieger of the Sieger Suarez Architectural Partnership. “Would we have preferred to put it somewhere else? Yeah, but we had no other choice.”

TRG-Block One’s plans also include a passive park that will be open to the public and maintained by the complex. Praise for the park was accompanied by questions about its ability to be landscaped, as it is located over underground parking.

“It works to the extent that you’re satisfied with some fairly small palms,” said Mooney, referencing the fact that only the five-foot perimeter would be adequate for deep plantings like trees. Sieger replied that developers were exploring the option of adding elevation in the form of earth mounds for planting but that the garage could not be submerged any further without significant problems.

The only other issue that left the board divided was the actual curved shape of the building. Though some felt it would be out of place alongside its neighbors, DRB member Mike Steffens praised the link the design would create between its historic northern neighbors and more modern buildings to the south.

“I don’t think of this as breaking the fabric as much as transitioning,” Steffen said. “It’s a nice transition recalling ’50s architecture and [Morris] Lapidus.”

Board member Clotilde Luce, uncomfortable with the presentation’s lack of drawings incorporating adjacent buildings, which would have given a more concrete idea of how the landscape would be completed, called for more detailed plans from developers.

“This is a big project in a sensitive neighborhood,” Luce said. “We could’ve seen more renderings to prove [Steffen’s] belief in the transition of fabric. I think it’s too important a site for the level of rendering we’ve seen.”

Architects and developers of TRG-Block One were granted a request to reappear next month with updated plans, giving them less than a week to submit their materials in time to meet staff deadlines.

[streetscapeer]

sweet:)

[Roark]

A little background...cut and pasted from the Sofla Historical Museum..

South Beach started as farm land. In 1870, Henry and Charles Lum purchased 165 acres (668,000 m²) for coconut farming. Charles Lum built the first house on the beach in 1886. In 1894 the Lum brothers left the island, leaving control of the plantation to John Collins, who came to South Beach two years later to survey his land. He used the land for farming purposes, discovering fresh water and extending his parcel from 14th Street to 67th in 1907.

In 1906, South Beach's first bar, Mac's Club Deuce (which still exists today), opened its door on 14th Street.

In 1912, Miami Businessmen the Lummus Brothers acquired 400 acres (1.6 km²) of Collins, in an effort build an ocean front city of modest single family residence.

Carl G. Fisher, a successful entrepreneur who made millions in 1909 after selling a business to Union Carbide, came to the beach in 1913. His vision was to establish South Beach as a successful city independent of Miami. This was the same year that the famous restaurant Joe's Stone Crab, and Miami Beach's first hotel, the Flamingo Hotel, opened.

On March 26, 1915, Collins, Lummus, and Fisher consolidated their efforts and incorporated the Town of Miami Beach. South Beach is born. In 1918 the Mac Arthur Causeway was completed. The Lummus brothers sold their oceanfront property to the city from 6th Street to 14th, which was then and is now the area known as Lummus Park.

In 1920, the Miami Beach land boom began. South Beach's main streets, 5th Street, Alton Road, Collins Avenue, Washington Avenue, and Ocean Drive were all suitable for automobile traffic. The population was growing in the 1920s, and several millionaires such as Harvey Firestone, J.C. Penney, Harvey Stutz, Albert Champion, Frank Seiberling, and Rockwell LaGorce built homes on Miami Beach. President Warren G. Harding stayed at the Flamingo Hotel during this time, driving up interest.

[Roark]

Miami has more Ritz Carlton's than any other city in the world!! Key Biscayne, Coconut Grove, and South Beach. Let's add another Ritz Carlton Residences to the mix! Here are the renderings from Luis Revuelta of the site formerly known as the Seville. Note that the Seville will remain in tact, and that a 15 story tower will be added where the conference center used to be. There will be only two residences per floor in the cylincrical tower and will be sold around $5M each.
http://www.restainer.com/skyscrapers/ritz_web.jpg

http://www.restainer.com/skyscrapers/ritz2_web.jpg

[Toucano]

Gorgeous...

[Dale]

Wow ! That doesn't look like The Seville of my youth !

[dave8721]

I like it. Of course any improvement on the Seville thats there now would have been welcomed. A round tower by Revuelta?? Guess this one wasn't a cut and paste job.

[nimbyhater]

whats the tower on the other side of the seville gonna b? hopefully more hotels instead of more empty condos... more rich tourists

[logybogy]

That's a gorgeous rendering. Are they going to preserve the huge clock?

BTW, has anyone been around south pointe lately? I'd love to get pictures and updates on how Apogee and Continuum II are coming along...

[nimbyhater]

was at the beach the other day and saw some big ass columns on the apogee site... should start seeing the first floors soon... i remember seeing two huge cranes at the continuum site, but i dont remember how much work theyve actually done... ill try and get some pictures next time im there...

[logybogy]

This is a rendering of Apogee.

http://www.zilbert.com/apogee/images/aerial_photo.jpg

[Don Pacho]

This is a rendering of Apogee.

http://www.zilbert.com/apogee/images/aerial_photo.jpg

I thought that this area being the last piece of land it was going to be something amazing. No ofence but this design is very disappointing.

:)

[logybogy]

It would have looked better as a 40 story building, frankly.

[Toucano]

Apogee is ridiculously Ugly....

[rider_of_rohan]

Its a box, not much effort put into design.

[logybogy]

A very expensive box....I think it's the most expensive condo project in all of Miami-Dade...they are selling from 2.5 million to 15 million. Also, Jorge Perez said that he is going to use one of the penthouses as his personal residence when it is completed.

[archifreese]

^ yes it is boxy but this was the most heavily disputed box in history, the city and the portofino and murano condo associations imposed height restrictions upon them for a myriad of trivial reasons as well as preventing a juice bar on the pool deck for fear of "noise pollution" and they wanted major setbacks to retain view corridors etc.
they also had to give the city and the south pointe park a formal entry on the washington ave side (at the builders expense) and i believe the city has a portion of the ground floor garage on the park side to program as they wish and i believe there is city parking there as well (?).
this was one of the most ridiculous compromises i have ever seen in DRB history.

[dave8721]

My 1500th post :)

Looks like something new for the property on the corner of Lincoln and Alton (on the opposite side of Lincoln Rd from the Movie Theater). There is currently a 9-story office building and a bank on the site now. The plans call for the addition of a roof top restaurant, a new 7 story "mixed use parking structure" and a new 2-story building.

Also further down you'll see Regatta II a 9-story residential building for North Beach, and Apogee is at it again trying to add "mechanical louvers" whatever the hell those are.

Also plans by TRG-Block One (Related right?) to add two 7-story condo hotels on the block of Ocean Dr south of 1st Street.

http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/newcity/drb/da20060207.pdf

[ChuckScraperMiami#1]

:applause: CONGRATS DAVE !!!, :dance: You the Man :righton: , keep it up, Gotta Hit 2,000 next :cheers2: ,, maybe someday we'll catch up with DALE :ohno: , :hahaha: LOL . Great Updates , too, :okay: EVERYONE :grouphug: !!!

[rider_of_rohan]

:applause: CONGRATS DAVE !!!, :dance: You the Man :righton: , keep it up, Gotta Hit 2,000 next :cheers2: ,, maybe someday we'll catch up with DALE :ohno: , :hahaha: LOL . Great Updates , too, :okay: EVERYONE :grouphug: !!!

Good luck man lol. Dale has a couple thousand posts on Urban Planet too. He gets around

[dave8721]

About the 1111 Lincoln Road project across from the movie theater:

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

In other business, the DRB approved the renovation and alteration of 1111 Lincoln Road. The applicant, Mbeach1, a limited liability company controlled by Robert Wennett’s Wellspring Investments Management, wants to redevelop the 111-foot-tall SunTrust building into a 124-foot-tall project that would include a rooftop restaurant, additional office space, ground-level retail, a new two-story structure and a seven-story “mixed use parking structure.”

“It is not another parking building,” Wennett told the board. “It is a landmark structure.”

The mixed-use building faced tremendous scrutiny from Miami Beach residents who saw the requested additional height the developer was proposing for the new structure as contrary to current Miami Beach zoning codes.

“It is indeed a beautiful building,” Del Vecchio said, “but the requested height increase is not in compliance with current zoning codes.”

Residents were worried that if Mbeach1 received DRB approval for the height increase, it would open the door for other developers to use the Mbeach1 Lincoln Road project as a platform to challenge current zoning ordinances. After receiving approval from the DRB, the proposed 1111 Lincoln Road project proceeds to the Miami Beach Planning Board.

[Roark]

It would have looked better as a 40 story building, frankly.It is against the law to build over 22 stories according to the Save Miami Beach Ordinance.
I like the entry to Apogee, and the fact there there is such a high percentage of glass to concrete is interesting too.
http://www.restainer.com/apogee/arrivaL.jpg

[Roark]

I'm told the Sales Manager is a really nice guy! So send him a private message if you are interested in more information. :)

Miami Herald Article (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/13891580.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp)

Posted on Fri, Feb. 17, 2006

Condo conversion deal may be state's largest
MCZ/Centrum will close on a more than $600 million deal with AIMCO to purchase the Flamingo South Beach apartment complex and turn the property into condos.
BY MATTHEW HAGGMAN
mhaggman@MiamiHerald.com

The Flamingo South Beach, a massive apartment complex in Miami Beach, is set to be sold and turned into condominiums, in a deal that appears to be the biggest condo conversion ever in Florida -- and possibly the country.

MCZ/Centrum, a joint venture group based in Chicago, will pay more than $600 million for the 1,688-unit apartment complex that sits on 13 acres along Biscayne Bay. The property is being sold by AIMCO, a publicly-traded apartment company in Denver. The parties reached agreement Thursday and are expected to close today. The purchase suggests that the Chicago condo converters remain bullish on South Florida's condo market. But it also comes at time when prices appear to be leveling after hitting new highs last year.

Under the terms of the deal, the Bay Road property will be bought in phases, with the south tower converted to condominiums first, followed by the north and center towers. Miami-based Fortune International is slated to sell the units, which must be first offered to existing renters.

Judy Stowell, AIMCO's director of public relations, did not return calls Thursday. Earlier in the week she said the company does not comment until a deal is complete.

Principals at MCZ/Centrum either declined comment or could not be reached. Jay Massirman, the CB Richard Ellis vice chairman who is brokering the deal, also declined comment.

`HIGHEST SALE PRICE'

Amid South Florida's housing boom, developers have bought rental apartments and turned them into condos at a furious pace. But market observers said they do not recall any condo conversion with such a hefty price tag.

''To my knowledge, at more than $600 million it would be the highest sale price for an apartment in the state of Florida and possibly the country,'' said veteran real estate analyst Michael Cannon, managing director of Integra Realty Resources in Miami.

Cannon also said it would be the largest apartment complex in Florida to be turned into condos.

Across South Florida, developers have sought to take advantage of strong -- at times, frenzied -- demand for condos by converting apartments into condos. Such a scenario allows developers to avoid the headaches of actually erecting a new building. It also allows buyers to purchase and move into a unit faster than the roughly two years it takes for a new condo to be built.

DIMINISHED RENTALS

In 2005 alone, more than 10,000 apartments were converted to condos in Broward County. In Miami-Dade conversions have so diminished the rental stock that it would take an additional 3,000 new rental units each year for the next five years to replenish inventory to its 2002 levels, according to Marcus & Millichap's 2006 National Apartment Report.

Of course, many conversion buyers are investors who immediately rent the units again. This has started to fragment the rental market from large landlords to numerous individual landlords. But the Marcus & Millichap report said it's uncertain if enough individually-owned units are resurfacing on the market as rentals to be a big factor in the rental market.

[logybogy]

Yeah, I know about the save miami beach ordinance. This parcel could have been built higher since there was pending litigation associated with it for like years and years from back in the Kramer days...

Perez just wanted it built fast and quick and aimed for the quick sell, so he agreed to the current 22 story limit.

[logybogy]

roark, do you know if this is a fee simple sale or is it that 99 year leaseback thing they talked about a long ago?

Also, you have an expected price per square foot for units in the older towers and the new tower?

[Roark]

roark, do you know if this is a fee simple sale or is it that 99 year leaseback thing they talked about a long ago? Also, you have an expected price per square foot for units in the older towers and the new tower?Can't really talk about pricing until tenants are notified of their rights under the Florida Statutes, but their will not be a ground lease, and the prices will be very competitive.
Capri South Beach, the project that shares the north property line is selling for $800 to $1,000 per square foot. It is safe to say that the Flamingo will be substantially less than that.

[mileageman]

On talk of the real estate bubble in Miami, Perez says he is certain there will be a short-term correction, and that development is peaking.

"It is red hot. There is a crane on every corner."

But he is confident strong local and international demand will create another boom. "I think Latin Americans continue to see Miami as their capital, and I can't think of another city in America that is better poised for growth."

He has seen strong interest in Apogee, his latest high-end project with 66 of 67 units sold, mostly to domestic buyers. Their average price is $5.3 million.

Miami's potential is greater than Las Vegas, New York and Atlanta, some of the other favourite cities for developers to be in, he says.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18144925%255E25658,00.html

[Roark]

I agree. Perez is a sharp guy. Just saw him accept the "Sand in My Shoes" award last night at a big Gala sponsered by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.
There was a video presentation on these Jumbotrons where his daughter, via weblink from college in Spain, congratulated him. Others to pay respect on the big screen were Donald Trump and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The food was great!

Speaking of sharp people...the MCZ/Centrum people are VERY smart. Every developer in town was pitched the Flamingo, and passed because of this "ground lease" challenge.
These guys from Chicago "cracked the code", stepped up to the plate and are now going to sell the largest condo conversion in the United States. The smart and creative deserve big rewards.

[dave8721]

It turns out the City of Miami Beach puts out a development report as well:

http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/newcity/depts/planning/project_matrix.cat.pdf?bcsi_scan_7FC3C74FD9762EFF=0&bcsi_scan_filename=project_matrix.cat.pdf

[dave8721]

It turns out the City of Miami Beach puts out a development report as well:

http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/newcity/depts/planning/project_matrix.cat.pdf?bcsi_scan_7FC3C74FD9762EFF=0&bcsi_scan_filename=project_matrix.cat.pdf

Some things I noticed:
-The Flamingo (new tower) is listed as 356 feet to the roof and 401 feet to the top of the glowing thing, whereas Emporis only listed it as 338 feet.
-Emporis lists the Setai at 386 feet but its listed here at 398 feet tall.
-I've been looking for a height for the Fontainebleau 2 for a while and it turns out its 445 feet tall which makes it the 6th tallest on the Beach.
-The Ritz Carlton South Beach (after renovations) is now 12 stories, 136 feet tall.
-The report lists the heights of the two Continuum towers as being 449 feet while emporis lists Continuum I at 471 feet tall.
-It also lists a 16 story, 167 foot tall hotel as being part of the permit for the Continuum project.
-Emporis lists the Waverly at 358 feet tall but this report lists it as 386 feet tall. The report says 358 feet is the height of the highest residence. 386 to the top of the structure.

[dave8721]

Related backs out of Cirque de Soleil/Jackie Gleason Theater project:

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/13985219.htm

ENTERTAINMENT
Cirque shrinks plans for South Beach theater

Facing opposition, Cirque Du Soleil plans for a smaller South Beach complex. The scaled- down project prompts Related to drop out as developer.

BY DOUGLAS HANKS III
dhanks@MiamiHerald.com

Cirque du Soleil has scaled back plans for a $130 million entertainment complex in South Beach and will propose a more modest remake of the Jackie Gleason Theater to accommodate its famed human circus, company and city officials said Tuesday.

The new plans include another major change: developer Jorge Perez, one of South Florida's most influential builders, has pulled out of the project. In a statement, Cirque said Perez's Related Group of Florida withdrew after the project shrank to a shadow of the original proposal for the city-owned Gleason.

Perez, who brought Cirque to Miami Beach and would have served as the developer and a partner in the project, initially proposed a nightclub, shops and a celebrity-chef restaurant in a complex surrounding an elaborate new theater in the Gleason.

But those plans met with opposition from the nightclub and restaurant industry, as well as from tourism leaders who warned the $130 million price tag would draw funds away from the neighboring Miami Beach Convention Center.

City Manager Jorge Gonzalez said Cirque no longer wants a nightclub or celebrity-chef restaurant there, and plans a less costly remake of the Gleason. For example, instead of ripping out the theater's entrance and moving it to 17th Street, Cirque will make do with customers entering on Washington Avenue.

''They're trying to scale down the cost of the project,'' Gonzalez said. ``They're trying to maximize what's there today and retrofit that, rather than completely gutting it and making it over.''

Gonzalez said Cirque has not provided new financial estimates for the construction project.
Originally, the Cirque team -- backed by Related and Clear Channel Entertainment -- proposed contributing $50 million for a $150 million development project, with the public contributing the rest. That was later scaled down to a $45 million contribution from the Cirque team for a $130 million project.

SHARED REVENUE
Miami Beach would share in a Cirque theater's revenues, but Gonzalez said financial details have not been proposed.
He described the scaled-back theater plan as having more of a ''fighting chance'' politically. Some commissioners have warned Cirque wanted too many public dollars and that they would want a referendum before approving such a large project.

Cirque's backers see the theater bringing the most popular act in Las Vegas to a city whose entertainment offerings are mostly limited to the beach and nightclubs. And it would bring new revenues to the money-losing Gleason as it prepares to lose many of its performances to the new Performing Arts Center in Miami.

THEATER SPECS
The redrawn Cirque theater would still hold 1,700 seats, Gonzalez said. It would include a 300-seat lobby restaurant and bar area, with an adjoining city building at 555 17th Street converted into Cirque-run event space.
Cirque described Related's departure as amicable. ''We also thank them for their invaluable contribution to the initial proposal and we fully understand and support their decision'' to leave the project, Cirque senior vice president Eric Fournier said.

Perez and Related executive Kevin Ryan did not return requests for comment Tuesday. The company's South Beach withdrawal marks Related's second Cirque project to run into difficulty.

New York City zoning officials recently rejected plans for a Related-affiliated company to build a 60-story condo tower atop a Cirque theater near Times Square. The venture would have used a special ''theater bonus'' to build the residential tower in the city's Off-Broadway district.

[logybogy]

It also lists a 16 story, 167 foot tall hotel as being part of the permit for the Continuum project.

This is interesting. I don't remember this. Anyone know anything more about this?

[Roark]

DOUGLAS ELLIMAN FLORIDA MARKET OVERVIEW

NEW RECORD HIGHS SET IN AVERAGE PRICE AND AVERAGE PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT INDICATORS

On the heels of a 13% increase in 2004, large scale media coverage adding to existing concerns of a real estate bubble and hurricanes Wilma end Katrina, South Beach’s luxury waterfront condominium market proved to be bullet proof-resilient with the average sales price skyrocketing an astonishing 41% to 1,325,553 in 2005 versus $941,l54 in 2004.

Interestingly, gains in South Beach were evenly spread throughout the year with 9% of the annual appreciation realized in the fourth quarter. This is in sharp contrast to Manhattan reports where the market languished in a range of a 4% decline to unimpressive 1.3% increase in Q4. Boston, San Diego, San Francisco, and Chicago posted 1% to 2% declines in Q3 2005.

On a year over year basis, the average price per square foot in South Beach surged ahead at on equally torrid pace to the average sales price increasing 40% to $763/SF from $545/SF. Sales activity evenly spread between large and small units without the presence of concessions or discounting for sizable floor plans. In most cases, buyers paid a premium for above average sized units.

Barring the opening debut of Icon and Setai, 2005 sales volume was down 24% due to extremely low levels of listing inventory. The lack of overall supply in the marketplace provided sellers with an opportunity to command sharp scarcity premiums.

The average selling time decreased 17% to 151 days (5.05 months) from 183 days (6.1 months). The overage listing discount decreased 1% to 6.5% from 7.5%. On average, sellers received 93.5% versus 92.5% of their original listing price.

However, current inventory in the luxury water-front condominium market versus January 2005 is up 27% with 215 residences listed on the open market for sale.

Looking ahead and in light of an increase in listing inventory, current sellers are attempting to obtain even higher gains, speculating demand will continue to outstrip supply thereby pushing the market into a new and yet higher price range, accompanied by additional double digit appreciation rates in 2006.

[Roark]

This is from the monthly Miami Beach Magazine e-mail blast. The city also sends an attractive glossy Magazine by mail to every MB resident. It's one of nice things a city government can do when they are loaded with cash! Another is to lower the tax rate, and they've done that too!!!

Miami Beach First Major City to Provide Free WiFi
Miami Beach residents and visitors will soon be able to go surfing, not just in the water, but into another realm. The only board needed will be a computer with a wireless card to catch the free unlimited internet waves. The City of Miami Beach recently entered into an agreement with IBM to install a secure citywide wireless broadband network, also known as WiFi (wireless fidelity) to support public safety and other government use and also provide free hot zones citywide for public access. A pilot program was tested over the last couple of months and everyone should look forward to the citywide installation and coverage this summer. The new service also has added benefits, such as programs and technology for Miami Beach schools and a computer equipment purchase program at discounted prices for Miami Beach residents; among others. For more details, coming soon.

[Miami as in Perfect]

that is just too awesome and generous. the price of my wifi in pem pines is just too much to know that miami beach will have it for free. awesome.

[MIAballinboi]

wow miami beach is a cool city.

[logybogy]

This is a website with more info on Miami Beach's wifi proposal.

http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/wifi/wifi_main.asp

They have maps of all the wireless access points. A lot of them will be using public street lamps.

http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/wifi/Ekahau%20Reports/MB%20MAP%201/MB%20MAP%201/files/file4.png

Signal Strength Maps (green is stronger, blue is weaker)

http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/wifi/Ekahau%20Reports/MB%20MAP%201/MB%20MAP%201/files/file5.png

[Toucano]

In the midst of all this construction we all failed to notice that another tower is rising on fisher island...its almost done!

[dave8721]

This is a website with more info on Miami Beach's wifi proposal.

http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/wifi/wifi_main.asp

They have maps of all the wireless access points. A lot of them will be using public street lamps.

http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/wifi/Ekahau%20Reports/MB%20MAP%201/MB%20MAP%201/files/file4.png

Signal Strength Maps (green is stronger, blue is weaker)

http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/wifi/Ekahau%20Reports/MB%20MAP%201/MB%20MAP%201/files/file5.png

What will the poor impoverished residents of Star Island do without free wifi access?? My god will somebody think of the children!!!

[Roark]

The upgrades to the Flamingo are going to be incredible! $30 Million plus in improvements. The Rockwell Group (http://www.rockwellgroup.com) are the architects that will improve the 16 plus acres of waterfront land with lots of incredible features and amenities. Rockwell did Murano Grande, Canyon Ranch, Nobu, W's in Manhattan, the Kodak Theatre (where they just handed out the Oscar's), and Cirque Du Soleile sets. Improvements are going to include water follies, fire pits, and sitting areas that are wired for sound. You just come down to the courtyard, sit down and put you I-pod in the docking station and Voila!
Letters of Intent are being taken this week, and I'll bet you the south tower is 75% reserved by Friday! That is without a single advertisement or sales center.

[renner01]

I swear when related group starts a job you know it will get built (Less Las Vegas) and when it goes up it goes up fast
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/constructionImages/PICT1074.JPG
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/mapImages/apogee.jpg

[dave8721]

I swear when related group starts a job you know it will get built (Less Las Vegas) and when it goes up it goes up fast
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/constructionImages/PICT1074.JPG
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/mapImages/apogee.jpg

True, I'd put Swire in that category as well. I'm amazed how fast Asia progressed (and Carbonel before that). Asia went from annoucement to verticality in like 6 months.

[havok100]

Roark,

I have a friend that just moved out of the Flamingo, the asking prices where just too high. Also the maintainance fee, parking fee( actually he told me you had to buy a parking space, what is the starting price for a space?). So with the high prices, plus maintanaince, parking, etc. He decided against it and bought a place on Belle Isle.

[Roark]

Roark, I have a friend that just moved out of the Flamingo, the asking prices where just too high. Also the maintainance fee, parking fee( actually he told me you had to buy a parking space, what is the starting price for a space?). So with the high prices, plus maintanaince, parking, etc. He decided against it and bought a place on Belle Isle.I can understand how he'd think that, but a lot of people that I know thought that too, they shopped around and found that it really is a great deal. Of course, the further away you go from Lincoln Road, prices will get lower. And especially if you sacrifice some of the services and amenities.
It's pretty amazing, you'd expect that Belle Island would be like 25% cheaper or something, but it's pretty close to the same prices for the Flamingo.

There aren't any buildings on Belle Island with a 14,000 square foot David Barton Gym, Two resort swimming pools (adding two more pools), Convenience store, pet grooming, restaurant, shipping center, beach, beach volleyball, fire pit, I-pod docking stations in cabanas that float over a pond.
Plus, it's important to note that the Flamingo doesn't need hurricane shutters, some of those Belle Island buildings haven't had new windows in decades. Flamingo was renovated in 2003 and will undergo another 30 million plus improvement project, including glass balconies and new sliding glass doors.
Maintenance at the Flamingo is 53 cents per square foot. To compare that to the buildings on Belle Island:
3 Island - No comparison, it's not even a condominium. It's a co-op.
5 Island - 41 cents per square foot.
9 Island - 46 cents per square foot.
11 Island - 44 cents per square foot.
16 Island - 70 cents per square foot.
20 Island - 54 cents per square foot.
10 Venetian - 53 cents per square foot.
Maintenance at the Flamingo includes TWO gym memberships per month, important because it's probably the nicest gym in South beach...14,000 sq feet on the 8th and 9th floor overlooking the Biscayne Bay with a full basketball court and and a half on the roof. And maintenance also includes the Air conditioning and Satellite from Dish Network. One master dish, not a bunch of stupid dishes on the balconies.
If he could afford it but still thinks that they are expensive, he is definitely getting bad advice or doesn't have all the information that he should have to make the proper decision. The tenants at the Flamingo are getting a steal!! They don't have to pay title insurance, doc stamps, or intangible tax at their closing, and they get a huge discount to the market.
The prices at Flamingo average $460 per square ft. (the building to the south, Waverly is in the high 500's to $650 per square ft.) The building to the north, Capri, is selling for $800-$1,000 per square ft. Sidenote: Now that the Flamingo is selling, I'll bet that the Capri is going to be in big trouble competing with so many luxury apartments next door.
You definitely don't have to buy a parking space at the Flamingo, there are 1,780 parking spaces and 1,688 apartments. Now that the building is condo, parking will be even more abundant. New Yorkers are putting in Letters of Intent as if there is no more waterfront property in Miami Beach! (oh wait...there isn't any more...but I digress!!) New Yorkers are buying apartments and won't be using the parking at all!! For $200 they fly from NYC to MIA and for $25 they take a cab to Sobe and never need a car or a parking space.

Check this out: I just looked up sales on Belle Island. There are 66 apartments for sale there today. In the last 4 months, there have been 15 sales on the entire island...the prices average $450 per square foot.

Clearly, at $460 per square foot the deal is at the Flamingo. Two blocks to Lincoln Road, 10 blocks to Interstate 395, 4 blocks to 20+ Clay tennis courts in a Nick Bolletteri facility, and 16 plus acres of land improved by the Rockwell Group (Murano Grande, Nobu, W, Kodak Theatre, Jet Blue Terminal NYC, Cirque du Soleil ORL, etc).

[Rx727sfl2002]

the man is right the flamingo at that price and with all the current amenities it now offers would still be a hell of a deal over anything on sobe... i think the middle tower that was added really combined the property and made it look good now with 30 million in improvements it will be one of the best sought out properties north of south of fifth.....

[pawnmaster]

Hey roark, how much is a one bedroom with water view on the flamingo?

I read that the building behind opera tower was also owned by the same ppl. Is there anything on that one converting also? With Opera tower covering the view and 1800 on the other side I can see how they would want to convert b4 its too late.

[Roark]

the man is rightBeginers luck!! :)

PM...one bedrooms with bay view are starting in the low 300's...The developers, MCZ/Centrum, are responsible for the conversion on Biscayne Blvd called Cite. It's been long sold out. They are very big/good with over 6,000 units converted in S. Florida. You'd have to be good to take on the Flamingo, it's the largest condo conversion in the United States.

[dach2k5]

I wonder what the renovation in '01 entailed and if they are doing anything additional now. Even w/ the renovation it's still a 45 year old building.

[pawnmaster]

The building i was thinking of was park plaza. That is a still a rental building but one that will get most of its view blocked in the coming months.

Beginers luck!! :)

PM...one bedrooms with bay view are starting in the low 300's...The developers, MCZ/Centrum, are responsible for the conversion on Biscayne Blvd called Cite. It's been long sold out. They are very big/good with over 6,000 units converted in S. Florida. You'd have to be good to take on the Flamingo, it's the largest condo conversion in the United States.

[Roark]

I wonder what the renovation in '01 entailed and if they are doing anything additional now. Even w/ the renovation it's still a 45 year old building.The renovation in 2001-2003 entailed a total rehab. All the windows, and mechanical, the interiors have all new appliances, Dishwasher, Washing Machine & Dryer in every apt., Corian countertops, tile kitchens and baths, and new hallways.
The $30 million that will be added will be significant upgrades to the landscaping (including sitting areas with I-pod docking stations that "float" on a pond). All hallways will be redone, new entry doors, new glass balconies, new sliding glass doors.
The savvy investor/buyer will take the 43 year old Flamingo at $465 per square foot rather than go next door to the Waverly for $600 per square foot any day!!

[dave8721]

http://www.multi-housingnews.com/multihousing/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002313157

Luxurious Condominiums in Florida Announces General Contractors for Two Towers

APRIL 06, 2006 -- Miami Beach, Fla. -- Marking its official debut in the South Florida market, the Caribbean condominium complex announced that a New York City-based real estate construction trade will handle renovation for one of its towers, while a general contractor will spearhead construction of its second tower.

Christa Construction & Development LLC will restore the facade of the existing six-story, 35-unit North Tower, an art deco classic built in 1941, to its original grandeur. Meanwhile, South Florida general contractor GT McDonald will head construction of the 19-story, 68-unit South Tower, scheduled to begin in the next 60 days.

“The unique design of Caribbean makes this an exciting project with which to introduce ourselves to South Florida,” said John Casey, president of Christa Construction. “We are looking forward to working side-by-side with GT McDonald.”

When complete, the towers will have an oceanfront, heated swimming pool and spa along with a towel service, a fire pit, sun deck with chaise lounges, state-of-the-art fitness center, billiard lounge, wine vault and direct beach access via the famous boardwalk. To cap off the living experience, attentive staff will proffer five-star building and valet services and 24-hour security.

Units will feature top-of-the-line designer kitchens and baths, “smart” technology and breathtaking ocean and Intracoastal views. Residences in the north tower will range in size from 704 to 1,748 square feet, with units in the south tower measuring 1,434 to 3,910 square feet. Direct oceanfront two- and three-bedroom units are available from $2 million. Eighty percent of the units have already been sold.

[dave8721]

http://www.multi-housingnews.com/multihousing/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002313159

Nationally Acclaimed Pillars of the Industry Awards Honor Excellence in Multifamily Housing

APRIL 06, 2006 -- Scottsdale, Ariz. -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) honored a condominium-hotel in Miami's South Beach and a national developer of condominiums as the “best of the best” in the multifamily housing industry with its Pillars of the Industry Awards, presented during its annual educational conference.

Considered the most prestigious national awards in the industry, the Pillars Awards honor excellence in apartment and condo design, development, marketing and management. NAHB had recognized 30 winners for excellence and superior leadership in building, marketing and management.

The Setai Resort and Condominiums, a condo-hotel in Miami, took top honors as Best Multifamily Community of the Year, an award selected from among all the winning entries in the builder award categories. The Setai also won this year’s Best Mixed-Use Community award.

Crescent Heights, a New York City-based firm specializing in condo conversions, is one of two firms that received the Freddie Mac Development Firm of the Year award. This marks the first time that this award has been given to a condominium developer. The company, headed by Bruce Menin, has created a system for handling the conversion process, from acquisition to final sale, in a way that gives every buyer individual attention.

“In what has been an exceptional year for multifamily housing, condo construction and conversion activity have shown impressive growth, and that’s reflected in the number of exemplary award-winners and finalists in for-sale categories of the Pillars competition,” said Jerry Howard, CEO and executive vice president of the NAHB.

Freddie Mac and NAHB also honored the Minneapolis-based Lander Group, headed by Michael Lander, with the Development Firm of the Year award. The Lander Group focuses on smaller-scale urban infill development using green building technology.

[ChuckScraperMiami#1]

Dave :hi: , great find, I love the design and how they also done the old structure out in front of this over 40 floor Setai Condo :righton: tower at 23rd st and collins, Excellent !!! :cheer: :okay:

[renner01]

http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/constructionImages/PICT1101.JPG
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/mapImages/apogee.jpg

[Toucano]

Apogee is nice, its just too bad the Nimby's in Miami beach don't allow for buildings to be taller. IMO, height restrictions are good only when set at the height of the tallest existing building or landmark in the city...Miami Beach needs to continue to densify and we all need Baylink to be built...

[dave8721]

I wasn't aware that Continuum II had gotten this far along (fromKCGridlock's pics):

http://photos.***************/kcgridlock/miami/IMG_0155_sized.jpg

[Toucano]

I think Continuum is a very underated project, these towers are beautiful...

[logybogy]

Here are renderings of Continuum II.

http://www.floridarealtyfinder.com/images/Continuum-Model-Pic2.jpg

http://www.kevintomlinson.com/images/lux_condo_gallery/continuum2.jpg

[Pablo63090]

Miami needs more buildings with crowns. It's also a pretty affordable building with units ranging from $5,000,000 - $15,000,000. :rofl:

[LCB]

I'm actually glad Continuum II didn't just mirror building I. Althought I am really surprised its not equally as tall. It appears a little shorter. Must have been a zoning restriction.

[Roark]

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060502/20060502005908.html?.v=1&printer=1
Condos for Sale: the 24/7 South Beach State-of-Mind at the Largest Condominium Conversion in Two Decades
Tuesday May 2, 11:38 am ET
Legendary Flamingo South Beach Offers Lavish Scenery, Progressive Amenities and On-the-Go, Over-the-Top Attitude


MIAMI BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2006--Following months of speculation and rumor, South Florida's most-anticipated new condominium conversion is official: Flamingo South Beach, where "fun in the sun" takes on a completely new meaning, is a "go."
Legendary as a rental residence, this 1,688 unit, three-building, 16.5 acre campus is being re-envisioned by Chicago-based MCZ/Centrum Flamingo, LLC, as the country's largest condominium conversion in recent memory. Following a $30 million rejuvenation, under the design direction of the renowned Rockwell Group, Flamingo South Beach will offer homeowners an unbeatable South Beach state-of-mind and sophisticated urban lifestyle worthy of any world-class residence.

"Flamingo is the premier Miami condominium community because, quite frankly, there is nothing like it available anywhere else," said developer Michael Lerner. "It simply exudes the South Beach vibe, which is why interest is already at a fever pitch and reservations are in huge demand."

Situated on 1,300 linear feet of exquisite bayfront property, approximately the length of four-plus football fields, Flamingo South Beach features beautiful expansive views of Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami. Residents will enjoy two bayside resort-style pools with a tiki hut and food and beverage service as well as an outdoor spa. Beyond the lush tropical gardens and pathways throughout the property, residents will also enjoy a 10,000-square-foot athletic club packed with state-of-the-art fitness equipment, a full-sized basketball court, juice bar and classes ranging from yoga and Pilates to spinning and kickboxing. Residents can also take advantage of Flamingo's resort-style services including dog walking, housekeeping and car wash.

Also on the drawing board for the community, just blocks from the charming boutiques and cafes of Lincoln Road, are a spa, nail salon, cafe/newsstand, dry cleaners, gourmet market, convenience store, and flower shop, making Flamingo South Beach literally a city-within-a-city.

Flamingo South Beach's South Tower, the first phase in the renovation and conversion process, features 14 stories of 562 residences, ranging in size from 451-square-feet for a studio/one bath, to more than 2,300-square-feet for a three bedroom/three bath. Each unit features high-speed Internet access, satellite television, spacious walk-in closets and a washer and dryer in each unit. The floor plans of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom condominiums are priced from $200s to the $800s.

Along with the announcement of Flamingo South Beach, MCZ/Centrum has selected Fortune International as the exclusive sales and marketing partner for the property. Flamingo South Beach's sales center is located at 1500 Bay Road in Miami Beach. For more information, call 305-531-2922

About the Developer:

Chicago-based MCZ/Centrum is the renowned developer behind Serenata, Sian Beach Club, Cite, The Tides, The Wave, Parc Central and Regent Park - some of Florida's fastest-selling properties. For more than 30 years, MCZ/Centrum has been committed to providing superb urban development and superior service in Chicago, Kansas City, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, New Jersey and South Florida. Within each market, MCZ/Centrum is committed to offering exciting new communities that complement the urban landscape. MCZ/Centrum is now positioned to develop the next great South Florida community with the newly announced Flamingo South Beach condominium conversion.

About Fortune International:

Since 1983, Fortune International has raised the bar in high-end real estate throughout South Florida. The vision of founder Edgardo Defortuna has set industry standards by continually forging into new, competitive areas of real estate development while remaining a leader in sales and marketing. In its brokerage division, Fortune boasts more that 850 realtors and 17 offices from Key Biscayne to Weston, and numerous international affiliates.

In addition, Fortune International is the developer's choice for exclusive on-site sales, having represented some of South Florida's most successful projects with thousands of sales to date. Fortune's portfolio of high-end, luxury condominium projects include Jade Residences at Brickell Bay, The Bridgewater, M Resort Residences/Le Meridien Sunny Isles Beach, Jade Beach, Jade Ocean, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, IVY, MINT, and now Flamingo South Beach.

[dave8721]

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/classifieds/real_estate/14511292.htm

• Demolition of two buildings has begun on the site where Leviev Boymelgreen's Vitri will be built, 541 West Ave., Miami Beach. Vitri will house 66 one-, two- and three-bedroom residences priced from $600,000. For details, call 305-604-8050 or visit wwwvitrimiami.com.

[trickykid]

What buildings are/were on the Vitri site? I can only think of a 7-11 by there but im not very familiar with the area.

[archifreese]

^the 7-11 is staying its not part of the property. there were two connected buildings that used to be a furniture store behind the 7-11 on west ave. those are officially gone now. the construction documents have already gone out and things should start very very soon.

[dave8721]

New midrise lofts for the Alton Rd area (929-939 Alton Rd to be exact).

The Residence:
http://www.triangleproperties.net/graphics/pre_construction/residence/index.html
http://www.triangleproperties.net/graphics/pre_construction/residence/residence_building.jpg

[Roark]

Very nice! I love it when projects make use of the rooftops and add a little greenery.

[dave8721]

A developer is proposing a new 5 story mixed use building for the Lincoln Road area (1681-1683 West Ave). Its to go on the parking lots to the west of Alton Rd north of Lincoln Rd.

2a below:
http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/newcity/drb/agenda_design.pdf

The land in question:
http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite/Listing/Profile/ProfileSE.aspx?LID=14500375&linkcode=1070&sourcecode=1lww2t006a00001

[dave8721]

An article with some updates on projects in the Collins Park area:

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/miami-dade/cities_neighborhoods/beaches/14730940.htm

• The ''W'' Hotel Project is scheduled to tear down the Holiday Inn this summer and have it graded and ready for construction by December. The project should then take approximately 22 months. Currently, the project is 60 percent sold. The new sales center is scheduled to go into the Palm Court Building at 23rd Street and Liberty Avenue.

• Paradiso and Hotel Gansevoort are progressing along. No sales figures were released but the hotel is scheduled to be up and running in early 2007. To date one restaurant, Phillip Chow (not to be confused with the Mr. Chow restaurant), has been signed into part of the 100,000 square feet of available retail space. David Barton is relocating there from the Delano to 40,000 square feet. No other contracts have been signed to date, but the owners are well aware of the importance of retail within this neighborhood.

• The owners of Setai have become partners in the Wolfie's project on Collins Avenue at 21st Street, and the project is scheduled to be completed within 28 months.

• Walgreens at 23rd and Collins will start construction as soon as all the permits are issued, and plans to open in the first quarter of 2007.

• Club Mokai at 225 23rd St. plans to be open in June after a $2 million renovation of the Mama Veija property.

• The Rivage: No status was available.

• Artécity has all its building permits and is under full construction. The completion date is not known at this time. Artécity is on Park Avenue, between 21st and 22nd streets, and is an exemplary blend of historic preservation, renovation and new construction.

[dave8721]

Very nice! I love it when projects make use of the rooftops and add a little greenery.

Too bad the Historic Preservation Board didn't agree. They denied the permit due to complaints from the Flamingo Park lowrise historic district (despite the fact that this building is not in the historic district and the code specifically allows buildings that tall).

Article containing some odd statements by citizen/activists (in bold):
http://www.miamisunpost.com/thirdstoryfrontpage.htm

Miami Design Preservation League Appeals Building Decision
City Commission Overturns Approval of Alton Road Building

“Obviously they were against this from the very beginning; their reasons for overturning the decision don’t hold any weight.” — Maria Gralia, attorney for Alton Sobe, L.L.C.

By Jason Fitzroy Jeffers

For more than 30 years, the issue of overdevelopment has loomed large in efforts to preserve Miami Beach’s historic architecture. Last Wednesday, yet another debate concerning development and its impact on preservation began to take shape when the Miami Beach City Commission unanimously overturned the Design Review Board’s approval of a controversial new building.

In March, the city’s Design Review Board approved plans for a five-story building slated for construction at 929 - 939 Alton Road that would house both commercial space and residential units, but the Miami Design Preservation League appealed the decision before the Miami Beach City Commission, arguing that the proposed building would threaten the character of the adjacent historic district in the Flamingo Park neighborhood.

“The city has done a good job of protecting the district itself; now it’s time for the focus to turn to development outside of the district that stands to threaten it,” said Bill Farkas, executive director of the Miami Design Preservation League.

The proposed development is allowed within the boundaries of the zoning district in which it is located, yet concerns from residents in the neighboring historic district prompted MDPL to appeal the DRB’s approval of the building, making it the first time the preservation organization has ever done so, Farkas said.

“What we have in this neighborhood are one and two-story bungalows,” said Mark Needle, a resident whose home is adjacent to the proposed development. “This building would be five stories tall. In our discussions with the neighbors, someone accurately described it as a ‘horror show to the district and the affected neighborhood.’”

Lawyers for the building’s developers argued they are well within their rights to construct the building as planned, and added they had made concessions in their plans to appease neighboring residents. As such, they asked the City Commission to uphold the DRB’s original ruling.

“It is in no way true that this is not a proper development,” said Maria Gralia, attorney for Alton Sobe, L.L.C., the developer of the building. “There is no question that the decision should be affirmed.”

Members of the City Commission were generally sympathetic to the concerns of the residents, agreeing the building would be out-of-scale with neighboring homes, but expressed some concern about the legal ramifications of overturning the decision.

“I think that building would destroy that neighborhood,” said Commissioner Matti Herrera Bower. “To me, compatibility would mean a lower height. The thing is, I don’t know exactly how to fix the problem so I’m asking for some help here.”

“It definitely seems to be out of scale, but I don’t want to make a decision that comes back to bite the city in the butt,” said Commissioner Luis Garcia.

They also remained hesitant to overturn the DRB’s ruling after City Attorney Jose Smith and Assistant City Attorney Gary Held informed them they couldn’t make a decision solely based on their own opinions.

“In order to [overturn the decision], you have to find that there was some error in the DRB’s decision,” Held said. “You cannot just substitute your decision for that of the Design Review Board.”

After further discussion, the commission voted unanimously in favor of sending the issue back to the DRB, on the grounds that residents were not given enough time to evaluate the final plans for the building, and also because the chair of the DRB had expressed that he felt the board was not able make any decisions based on the building’s compatibility with the neighborhood.

“I think it’s appropriate to remand it,” said Commissioner Jerry Libbin. “If [the Design Review Board] chooses to uphold the decision, so be it.”

There was also a call for further discussion and investigation into the issue to avoid similar situations in the future.

“I have no problem sending this back to the DRB as it has immediate impact on the district,” said Commissioner Simon Cruz. “We also need to ask the Planning Board to start looking into making that entire area historic.”

The commission’s decision got a mixed reception.

“Obviously they were against this from the very beginning; their reasons for overturning the decision don’t hold any weight,” said Gralia. “I have to discuss with my clients whether they want to appeal this decision or try to work something out with the neighbors.”

“I feel a little better knowing that the law gives us some protection,” said Needle, who also expressed concerns that this was just the beginning of a new fight. “If you drive down Alton Road, you’ll see a whole bunch of ‘For Sale’ signs for mixed-use properties; developers have all these opportunities to max out these lots when we should be scaling back. The entire edge of the district is under threat.”

Comments? E-mail letters@miamisunpost.com.

[Roark]

Oh well...a little less supply in the 333139 South Beach market. Thank God that the demand keeps increasing!

[Roark]

That massive fireworks display last night was to celebrate the 70% sold milestone at Flamingo. Thats 390 + sales in 6 weeks. or about 10 per day.
Check out the website that launched last night! www.flamingomiami.com (http://www.flamingomiami.com)

Matt Haggman from the Herald was at the party, I'm curious to see how the Herald can turn that into bad news.

[brickell]

Impressive, considering the number of units. Well done Roark.

[Miaminole]

That massive fireworks display last night was to celebrate the 70% sold milestone at Flamingo. Thats 390 + sales in 6 weeks. or about 10 per day.
Check out the website that launched last night! www.flamingomiami.com (http://www.flamingomiami.com)

Matt Haggman from the Herald was at the party, I'm curious to see how the Herald can turn that into bad news.

I went to the party. It was awesome. Loved it. Congrats on the sales!

[arch photographer]

IT SEEMS LIKE THE BEACH IS DOING WELL VITRI, RIVAGE, LINCOLN EAST, HERZOG AND DE MUERON PARKING GARAGE ON LINCOLN ROAD, FRANK GEHRY AS WELL, AMAZING BOUTIQUE RESIDENCES ALL OVER THE BEACH EVEN IN NORTH BEACH AND BAY HARBOR. IT'S JUST TO BAD ABOUT THE CANCELLATIONS IN MIAMI. CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR WHO IS CHOSEN FOR MIAMI ART MUSEUM. I CAN'T BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE EVEN COMPLAINING ABOUT 5 STORY BUILDINGS. I LOVE THE BEACH AND IT'S CHARACTER, BUT WHY CAN'T WE GIVE IT MORE CHARACTER WITH GREAT CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE TO HIGHLIGHT AN ONGOING HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURAL EXCELLENCE AND AESTHETIC INGENUITY

[DGM]

Does anyone know how long it'll be before they announce the architect for Museum Park? I'd like to see a Zaha Hadid building there.

[archifreese]

i heard terrence riley wanted to have a competition with world class architects, however dont get your hopes up about a zaha. i know its 7 years later, but the conservative nature of the review boards that make these decisions are why the PAC is the PAC and not IMO something world class.

the good part is the museums have a lot of say, but i still see conservatitive and cheap winning over cool and daring and expensive.

[DGM]

That is sort of lame. If, they cut out all the corruption and idiotic planning they could definitely afford a good design. For instance, instead of paying a contractor to constantly move dirt around (the sisyphus of contractors I suppose), they could pay for higher quality cladding or a better architect.

[Toucano]

Does anyone know how long it'll be before they announce the architect for Museum Park? I'd like to see a Zaha Hadid building there.

I got an e-mail from the city of miami planning board...you can go see a scale model of the museum site tomorrow from 10-3 at the coconut grove convention center...its free and the planning board will have a booth there set up with the model as well as information on miami 21 and other items...

[hello345]

has glass started being put in on apogee? also... how deep will the reflecting pools be?

thanks in advance!
- hello345

[ChuckScraperMiami#1]

has glass started being put in on apogee? also... how deep will the reflecting pools be?

thanks in advance!
- hello345

HELLO :rock: ,
:bowtie: This project by Jorge Perez :cool: , is great, I know if he could of had it his way, it could of went up to 44 floors :righton: , But Miami Beach city:bash: rules only 22 floors :bash: , but the glass will look great with the Reflecting pools !!! :cheers:

[ChuckScraperMiami#1]

I got an e-mail from the city of miami planning board...you can go see a scale model of the museum site tomorrow from 10-3 at the coconut grove convention center...its free and the planning board will have a booth there set up with the model as well as information on miami 21 and other items...
Toucano :master: , please any pictures of the models :rock: , I couldn't make it to this event :applause: ,

Anyone with pics ??? :okay: :gaah: :cheers2:

[hello345]

any updates on carribean?

-hello345

[Roark]

any updates on carribean?-hello345They've sold about 80 out of 100 and they have broken ground.

[Toucano]

Toucano :master: , please any pictures of the models :rock: , I couldn't make it to this event :applause: ,

Anyone with pics ??? :okay: :gaah: :cheers2:

didnt make it there unfortunately...

[Theme park nut]

Does anyone knows what's going with the Saxony site at 32 street and collins ave. :)

[brickell]

didnt make it there unfortunately...

I did. The model was alright but didn't really shed any light on the subject.

[LIVEFROMTHE305]

APOGEE IS AT ITS 19TH FLOOR AND GLASS IS UP TO ABOUT 9TH, THE FLOORS IN THIS BUILDING MUST BE 15FT ATLEAST SEEING 5 FOOT SOMETHING WORKERS STANDING IN BETWEEN FLOORS

[hello345]

ausome!!! :) any pics?

[ChuckScraperMiami#1]

I did. The model was alright but didn't really shed any light on the subject.

and Brickell :rock: , my friend :cool: , they have to also move one of the largest Sewer :bash: Pump transfer station in Miami - Dade county :hm: in the way of one of the Museums on site, and that's a 3 year job right there :runaway: , I should know, I work for them, lol. :runaway:

[Toucano]

I did. The model was alright but didn't really shed any light on the subject.

What did it look like?

[Roark]

Congratulations! All of Miami Beach elementary and middle schools earned an "A" from the State of Florida based on their students' performance on this year's Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). They were among 179 Miami-Dade schools to receive the top grade this year.

[Rx727sfl2002]

the sewer transfer station will be incorporated into the design as a bamboo shack.. its not moving

[Roark]

the sewer transfer station will be incorporated into the design as a bamboo shack.. its not movingHey...quit muckin' up the great news on the South Beach thread with the sewer talk from over the bridge! :)

[havok100]

Now they need to fix Miami Beach High. Some of the students I see coming out of the school are ghetto. Where in Miami Beach do they come from? I'm guessing the North Beach Area. Hopefully with the new construction and the renovation of the existing facility things will improve.

[Roark]

Now they need to fix Miami Beach High. Some of the students I see coming out of the school are ghetto. Where in Miami Beach do they come from? I'm guessing the North Beach Area. Hopefully with the new construction and the renovation of the existing facility things will improve.Improve to better than an "A" grade? Or improve their fashion sense?
I'm looking forward to seeing the improvements designed by Zyscovich at the school....it should be a great improvement.
It's refreshing that all the Miami Beach Schools scored A's on the FCAT no matter what the kids look like at Beach High or where they are from.
Kudos to the students, parents, teachers, and the community!

[DGM]

Improve to better than an "A" grade? Unfortunately you can improve to get a grade lower than an A. For one, I believe the school must continue to improve to keep its A. And the bottom ten percent must improve proportionally to the top ten. The year my class took the FCATS my school got demoted to a B because the bottom ten didnt improve enough. We still had the second highest scores in the state; second to Nease in Jacksonville I believe. The FCAT is hilariously bad at testing a school's true performance.

[havok100]

Personally, I could care less about FCAT scores. The truth is some of the students coming into high school cannot read, write or do basic math for their grade level. The fact that the middle and elementary schools are improving will hopefully improve the grade of the high school in the upcoming years. It is a good sign and shows that maybe things will start to change in the school system.
Anyone have the renderings of what the school will look like in the future.
As for fashion sense? Some of these students unfortunately need to be told what they can and cannot wear... J/K

[Roark]

The FCAT is hilariously bad at testing a school's true performance.I'd say that there isn't anything funny about bad acedemic performance, and also, there there is something to be said about improving the bottom 10% of a school. Incremental improvement is a very worthy goal.
Forget about the politics of it, the fact that we are testing is a great improvement over the "not testing" that we were doing before.

[ChuckScraperMiami#1]

Hey...quit muckin' up the great news on the South Beach thread with the sewer talk from over the bridge! :)
LOL, Roark :) , your so funny, and yes its in the wrong thread, lol :cheers: .

[rider_of_rohan]

Miami Dade county schools graduations rates are terrible. Improve that and I will be impressed.

[ChuckScraperMiami#1]

Miami Dade county schools graduations rates are terrible. Improve that and I will be impressed.

Rider of ROHAN :) , my friend :righton: , I see the problem getting worst everyday, here.

There's the one word answer :cheer: ,

Overcrowding !!! :gaah: :gaah:

its true, Miami-Dade is growing by 76 more residents everyday, and there's more students per class growing more and more, and less schools opening, with less classes. :bash:

[Roark]

Miami Dade county schools graduations rates are terrible. Improve that and I will be impressed.They are as terrible as many large school districts. At 45.3%, Miami Dade has a higher percentage than New York City, Los Angeles. Broward graduates 48.7%
Stats from June 20, 2006 (http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-06-20-dropout-rates_x.htm)
But, I started this by accentuating the postive, and I still maintain that a city as dense as Miami Beach has done a great job by having every single elementary and middle school with "A" FCAT grades.

[DGM]

I'd say that there isn't anything funny about bad acedemic performance, and also, there there is something to be said about improving the bottom 10% of a school. The bottom ten wasn't bad, it was the overachieving top ten that got us the B. You have to understand that I grew up with this test. In elementary school the FCAT was tested on my class. I found myself correcting grammar, spelling, and logic. It was really poorly written. Teachers "teaching" the test made school oppressively boring in middle school. Really there are many reasons why I believe it is bad for the educational process. Anyhow, congrats to Miami Beach anyhow. Just dont let your top ten get too ambitious.

[rider_of_rohan]

^^^ this is a problem everywhere. Schools funding often depends on acheiving test scores set by state and fed government. The schools teach to the tests, which is a lousy process.

[Roark]

Anyhow, congrats to Miami Beach anyhow. Just dont let your top ten get too ambitious. :) :) Interesting point...it kind of reminds me of Kurt Vonnegut's short story "Harrison Bergeron" (http://instruct.westvalley.edu/lafave/hb.html)

[ChuckScraperMiami#1]

:) :) Interesting point...it kind of reminds me of Kurt Vonnegut's short story "Harrison Bergeron" (http://instruct.westvalley.edu/lafave/hb.html)

ROARK :bowtie: , please my friend :righton: , I need update on the Continuum II condo tower, floor amount , and the Apoogee Condo tower, floor amount, last i heard it was 19 floors. Me Johnny 5, need Info, Input,LOL. :cheers:

[logybogy]

Now they need to fix Miami Beach High. Some of the students I see coming out of the school are ghetto. Where in Miami Beach do they come from? I'm guessing the North Beach Area. Hopefully with the new construction and the renovation of the existing facility things will improve.

Nope, they bus the ghetto kids in from Miami and North Dade. It's why Beach High has a fairly sizeable black student population, while the city of Miami Beach does not. It's been this way for decades. Part of a court order to desegregate the schools I think from the 60's or 70's.

[ChuckScraperMiami#1]

Nope, they bus the ghetto kids in from Miami and North Dade. It's why Beach High has a fairly sizeable black student population, while the city of Miami Beach does not. It's been this way for decades. Part of a court order to desegregate the schools I think from the 60's or 70's.

LOGYBogy :hi: , welcome back :righton: , haven't heard from you for awhile, and Yes :okay: , its true :happy: , I used to lived near North Miami Beach High, and now with a new improve Mall at 163rd st, with a new Huge Super Walmart and Ross for less and improved stores and a 7 day bank Atlantic with a renovated Marshalls :cheers2: , with the Home Depot in front of the High school, It needs a new addition soon for the growing black population :llama: of North Miami beach. :cheers:

[hello345]

Please can someone take a pic of Apogee! the last update on april 21st!

[logybogy]

http://www.zilbert.com/apogee/images/p7.jpg

[hello345]

Thank you so much!!! :) how come the first floor of glass has all its glass but after that each floor is missing panes of glass in certain places? are they going to put glass everywhere or just going to leave holes like that?

thanks in advance
-hello345

[archifreese]

Thank you so much!!! :) how come the first floor of glass has all its glass but after that each floor is missing panes of glass in certain places? are they going to put glass everywhere or just going to leave holes like that?

thanks in advance
-hello345
they put the fixed windows in first on all floors, then follow w/the sliding glass doors after so the doors people are always a few floors behind the window workers.

[dave8721]

Viceroy South Beach Resort & Residences by Related:

http://www.relatedgroup.com/Admin/upload/vICEROY%20sOBE%20Rendering%20Block%2051.jpg

http://www.viceroysouthbeach.com/

From the Related website (http://www.relatedgroup.com/properties/properties.aspx?condoType=1&condoID=227)

Viceroy South Beach residences are set to break ground late 2006 with completion set for spring 2008. Resort construction is slated to begin in 2007.

[Toucano]

Nice, now thats 2 Viceroys that will be coming to miami, the other one being in the ICON development

[BornInTheGrove]

ok dude... i've been trying unsuccessfully trying to figure out where this building is going... no luck. The website says 800 South Pointe Dr., but i dunno, is it gonna be behind Apogee, around it?

[dave8721]

ok dude... i've been trying unsuccessfully trying to figure out where this building is going... no luck. The website says 800 South Pointe Dr., but i dunno, is it gonna be behind Apogee, around it?

Its to go on the land between Washington and Alton Road on the north side of Biscayne Street (which is a block or so below 1st Street). Basically its across the street to the north of Apogee. At least thats where i think its going since thats where Related owns land.

[Toucano]

Eh, I wish they'd build something taller then...

[dave8721]

Eh, I wish they'd build something taller then...

I dont think Miami Beach allows anything taller than about 5 or 6 stories thats not on the water. This is across the street from the waterfront properties. Of course they used to (see the 10+ story inland buildings around Lincoln Road) but not anymore. I think the change was the same time as the 22 story height limit on the coast.

[dave8721]

Here are the exact parcels. Apogee went on the large property on the South side of Biscayne Street (and the parking lot). This one must be going on the properties making up the parking lot on the north side of the street. "TRG" stands for "The Related Group" by the way.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y19/dave8721/trg2.jpg

[BornInTheGrove]

and the funny thing is i was doing a little project ( more like a hobby ) where i was using that piece of land and several others adjacent and seeing if i could fit in a nice baseball stadium with mass transit and all.

[Toucano]

I dont think Miami Beach allows anything taller than about 5 or 6 stories thats not on the water. This is across the street from the waterfront properties. Of course they used to (see the 10+ story inland buildings around Lincoln Road) but not anymore. I think the change was the same time as the 22 story height limit on the coast.

Yeah, which is ridiculously stupid on the part of MB residents...Height restrictions blow when they are shorter than existing structures...Oh well...

[logybogy]

Well taller structures inland would screw around with the views of the residents in the million $ + condos on the water and we can't have that.....cause the one thing that's worse than a NIMBY is a NIMBY with lots and lots of money.... The associations in the oceanfront buildings have the money to hire the lawyers necessary to fight any project that goes against their interests and "views."

[spellbound]

Well taller structures inland would screw around with the views of the residents in the million $ + condos on the water and we can't have that.....cause the one thing that's worse than a NIMBY is a NIMBY with lots and lots of money.... The associations in the oceanfront buildings have the money to hire the lawyers necessary to fight any project that goes against their interests and "views."

All true, but it's also perfectly within their rights to do that.

It's probably safe to say that all of us here tend to be pro-development (and usually the higher the better) but we should never forget that most people don't feel that way. We are the minority opinion--by FAR--on those issues.

You can bet that if height restrictions or other scaled-down development proposals were put to a public vote in Miami (or any other city) they would win in a landslide. Most folks don't see it the way we tend to, and are quite hostile to large-scale development.

So, we may disagree with the NIMBY attitude but it often reflects a majority opinion....and people DO have the right to fight for the kind of place they want to live in, even if it may not be our vision.

[logybogy]

I'd rather have a bunch of different music shows than the same circus show all year round.

TOURISM
Miami Beach to decide: rockers or acrobats?A top concert promoter wants to manage the Jackie Gleason Theater, challenging Cirque du Soleil's bid for a permanent show.

BY DOUGLAS HANKS III

dhanks@MiamiHerald.com

The company behind the Staples Center in Los Angeles and concert productions from American Idol to Jay-Z wants to remake the Jackie Gleason Theater into a home for rock and pop acts, warning that permanently installing Cirque du Soleil there would be a disaster for Miami Beach.

Owned by the billionaire founder of Qwest Communications, Philip Anschutz, AEG Live is the country's second-largest concert promoter. It also produces the Celine Dion show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, a major competitor to Cirque's four permanent theaters there.

Senior city officials and Cirque executives have been talking since late 2004 about converting the Gleason into a Cirque theater. Assistant City Manager Hilda Fernandez said a detailed proposal should go before the City Commission in the next few weeks.

Cirque supporters say it would bolster tourism by offering visitors one of the world's best-known live acts.

NOT ENOUGH VISITORS

But in meetings with city commissioners and staff in recent weeks, AEG executives argued the Miami area doesn't attract enough visitors to support a year-round production.

''You need the convention business. You need the hotel rooms. You need the tourism,'' AEG Chief Executive Brandon Phillips said Friday, before meeting with Gonzalez at City Hall.

Cirque has five permanent shows: four in Vegas, a destination with roughly 39 million tourists a year; and one in Orlando, with about 50 million. Miami-Dade and Broward combined attract roughly 21 million visitors a year.

As for conventioneers, which Phillips said account for half of Dion's ticket sales, the Miami area's meetings industry attracts roughly 1.5 million people a year, compared to 3.8 million in Orlando and 6.1 million in Vegas, according to the destinations' tourism bureaus.

A Cirque spokeswoman and city officials were not immediately available for comment Friday.

AEG has not yet filed a proposal with the city, but its plan contrasts Cirque's dramatically.

Cirque would design a theater to accommodate an elaborate new Latin-themed show for South Beach, which would run twice a night for most of the year. The latest, slightly scaled-back plan, would cost about $120 million, Fernandez said. Cirque touts its shows' renowned spectacle as a tourist magnet.

And the proposal could require as much as $80 million in public funding, the city manager wrote in a May 15 memo.

AEG promises a varied schedule of live acts -- essentially the same strategy pursued by the Gleason's current management, which in recent years has booked magician David Copperfield, rocker Elvis Costello and folk singer Tracy Chapman.

Its acts -- from rockers Slipknot to comedian Cedric The Entertainer -- will primarily appeal to local residents rather than visitors, AEG says.

And Phillips said Friday AEG would not ask for any public dollars. ''When I heard it was being torn down, I figured it was in disrepair,'' Phillips said of the Gleason. ``It's in fantastic shape.''

MONEY-LOSING VENUE

But the Gleason already loses about $1 million a year as a performance venue, even before most of its main acts move to Miami-Dade's new Performing Arts Center.

AEG said it believes it could book about 150 events a year, Fernandez said, which is close to what Gleason already did during its peak.

''The bigger question is . . . how it can compete with two other arenas, and two new performing arts facilities,'' Fernandez said. Its programs, she said, ''wouldn't necessarily be something that would drive tourism or add an iconic entertainment venue'' as Cirque would.

For now, she said, ''the bottom line is the administration has been given only one directive by the City Commission, and that is to negotiate a deal with Cirque.'' She said she expects the commission will discuss AEG's proposal, however, as early as Wednesday.

[Roark]

All true, but it's also perfectly within their rights to do that.
It's probably safe to say that all of us here tend to be pro-development (and usually the higher the better) but we should never forget that most people don't feel that way. We are the minority opinion--by FAR--on those issues.
You can bet that if height restrictions or other scaled-down development proposals were put to a public vote in Miami (or any other city) they would win in a landslide. Most folks don't see it the way we tend to, and are quite hostile to large-scale development.
So, we may disagree with the NIMBY attitude but it often reflects a majority opinion....and people DO have the right to fight for the kind of place they want to live in, even if it may not be our vision.Very well said.

The 800 address is the address of Apogee, and has to be on the south side of South Pointe Drive, odd numbers are on the north. They may just be using the 800 South Pointe as the address for their sales center and the property where the Viceroy will be built is on the North side of South Pointe Drive, but I believe the property to the south of Apogee is also owned by TRG Alaska and can be built on...here is an ariel of Apogee....notice the parking lot on the south side of the Apogee site. Plenty of room for another lowrise.
Apogee Construction update (http://www.apogeesouthbeach.com/constructionUpdate.php)

[logybogy]

I believe that parking lot area was donated to the city of Miami Beach as an extention of South Pointe Park. It was part of the agreement to let them build anything at that site in the first place. It was held up in litigation for ten years with that Kramer dude until Perez closed the deal with the city.

[Roark]

So often politicians and bureaucrats bare the brunt of bad jokes, but the leaders of Miami Beach have done another great job!!! :applause:

The budget is growing a bit to serve the needs of citizens, but because of the economic development here, the tax rate has been decreasedagain! It's this kind of stability that attracts smart money to invest here, and why the market in South Beach is so strong.

Posted on Tue, Jul. 18, 2006

Miami Beach plans to lower tax rate for second year

BY SUSAN ANASAGASTI
sanasagasti@MiamiHerald.com

In Miami Beach, where the booming real estate market has meant rising tax bills for homeowners and more money for government, officials are planning to lower the city's tax rate for the second straight year, even while spending will go up by about 15 percent.

In planning for the 2007 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, the City Commission recently agreed to drop the city's property tax rate from the current level of $8.07 for every $1,000 of assessed property value to $7.67.

Also for the second year, commissioners approved a Homeowners Dividend. This year, homeowners whose Miami Beach properties have homestead exemptions will receive a $300 check from the city. Last year's dividend was $200.

The rate was tentatively set by the City Commission at its July 12 meeting.

Despite the rate decrease, the city's proposed $237.67 million budget for next year is still $30 million higher than this year's budget of $207 million, representing an increase of about 14.3 percent. It includes money for more police, lifeguards and code and building inspectors, as well as new police and sanitations shifts, and also will boost the city's reserves.

''The biggest mistake in the world would have been not to apply new resources to what the community wants us to do,'' City Manager Jorge Gonzalez said. ``For many years the answer has been, we don't have the money to do that.''

The rate drop, which is about 5 percent, is the largest single reduction in the city in about 15 years, Gonzalez said, and will translate to an average savings of about $30 for property owners with homestead exemptions.

The new tax rate means that an owner of a home valued at $270,000 -- the average assessed price for Miami Beach homes last year -- with a $25,000 Homestead Exemption will pay about $1,880 in annual taxes to the city.

That excludes Miami-Dade County government, school, water and transportation taxes.

[Dale]

Wow! What a concept!

[dave8721]

Wow! What a concept!

Of course they are in effect raising taxes still since the value of land went up so much. Makes you wonder more about all the cities in Miami-dade that did not lower their millage rates despite the vast increases in property values over the last couple of years.

[Dale]

So maybe they slowed the increase ? ;)

[logybogy]

$30 tax reduction!!! lol

The dividend idea is really interesting though and I have no idea about the legalities (this could be illegal) but I thought of a cool novel way of getting some oceanfront land upzoned beyond the city's stupid 20 story limit, so developers can build anything they want.

As it stands now, any developer that wants to get a property upzoned has to get the voters of Miami Beach to approve them. Miami Beach voters usually won't, so why not bribe the voters directly?

Tie the referundum on any particular property to a "Miami Beach homestead property owner mitigation fee" for any increased traffic, loss of ocean views/sightlines, open space, whatever, the increased height and density would cause.

There are about 15,000 homestead properties in Miami Beach....so a developer can say, I'll put down $20 million in mitigation fees paid directly to every homestead property owner in Miami Beach, which would be a cool $1,333 for instance and the only thing the voters have to do to get that check is let the developer build a huge building.

Don't bribe the politicans, bribe the voters, all above board in an election! Who would pass up a free $1,333 so a developer can built their building? Only the residents who live close by would object, everyone else would want their free money!

[dave8721]

Here is Bijou, an 8-story building to go at 315-321 Ocean Dr (actually its more of an addition to an existing structure).

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/bijou003.jpg

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/bijou002.jpg

http://www.kobikarp.com/images/bijou001.jpg

[Roark]

Of course they are in effect raising taxes still since the value of land went up so much. Makes you wonder more about all the cities in Miami-dade that did not lower their millage rates despite the vast increases in property values over the last couple of years.The amount of tax revenue is increased as a result of higher property values, yes. The tax rate is lowered for the Miami Beach citizens because the govt has enough money to meet our needs.
What really makes you wonder is how about the Miami-Dade County portion and the School Board portion of the Miami Beach (and everywhere else) property taxes, shouldn't that part be lowered for the same reason?

[brickell]

Miami-Dade is also lowering the tax rate. Not sure if that's just for unincorporated residents or not.

[LCB]

Here is Bijou, an 8-story building to go at 315-321 Ocean Dr (actually its more of an addition to an existing structure).



Any more info on this project? It appears 90% of the units will be facing directly into neighboring buildings, which are very close and low quality. I'm curious what the price points will be.

[dave8721]

Any more info on this project? It appears 90% of the units will be facing directly into neighboring buildings, which are very close and low quality. I'm curious what the price points will be.

Considering the oceanfront south of fifth location, i'd say somewhere around $1500 per square foot (if not higher).

[MAH45462]

For those into retail news, the construction walls will be taken off a new Apple Store tomorrow on the 700 block of Lincoln Road.

http://www.ifoapplestore.com/photos/lincoln_road_storefront/lincoln_road_12.jpg

While this is the fifth Apple Store in South Florida, it is only the ninth Apple Store in the chain (out of over 130) that will be a "flagship" store.

[ChuckScraperMiami#1]

The amount of tax revenue is increased as a result of higher property values, yes. The tax rate is lowered for the Miami Beach citizens because the govt has enough money to meet our needs.
What really makes you wonder is how about the Miami-Dade County portion and the School Board portion of the Miami Beach (and everywhere else) property taxes, shouldn't that part be lowered for the same reason?

ROARK :hi: , talk about the Tax rate, one of Today's ( 07-20-07 ) YAHOO, A.T. & T. top stories has the FORBES Top 10 Most expensive ZIP codes in the U.S.A., Only one in Florida made it , and it was # 10 :cheer: , 33109, Miami Beach, fl., but it 's on Fisher Island for a median home Sale Price of 1,942,000 :omg: .

Roark :bowtie: , about how much of a tax rate for that price on Miami Beach :dunno: ???

P.s. Had to add this, Roark, there's only a 2005 population of 606 on Fisher Island, can you find out , if this is True ???

[Don Pacho]

For those into retail news, the construction walls will be taken off a new Apple Store tomorrow on the 700 block of Lincoln Road.

http://www.ifoapplestore.com/photos/lincoln_road_storefront/lincoln_road_12.jpg

While this is the fifth Apple Store in South Florida, it is only the ninth Apple Store in the chain (out of over 130) that will be a "flagship" store.

And what a flagship store has that the others do not have?
Is it better and bigger than the one at The Falls?

:)

[MAH45462]

And what a flagship store has that the others do not have?
Is it better and bigger than the one at The Falls?

:)

No idea.The store doesn't look particularly big. Different retail chains have different reasons for calling a store "flagship". For some, it just means the store is stand-alone rather than a mall. For others it means larger and with extra departments. The Banana Republic on Lincoln Road, for example, is a flagship.

[spellbound]

No idea.The store doesn't look particularly big. Different retail chains have different reasons for calling a store "flagship". For some, it just means the store is stand-alone rather than a mall. For others it means larger and with extra departments. The Banana Republic on Lincoln Road, for example, is a flagship.

Yeah...it's a term that seems to have no real meaning in a lot of cases.

Urban Outfitters, for example, is headquartered here in Philadelphia and makes a big deal about their Center City store being the chain's "flagship" but ultimately it's just another Urban Outfitters.

That Apple store DOES look pretty cool, though, in their white-on-white minimalist style even if the "flagship" moniker probably doesn't really signify much.

[kevinkagy]

Yeah...it's a term that seems to have no real meaning in a lot of cases.

Urban Outfitters, for example, is headquartered here in Philadelphia and makes a big deal about their Center City store being the chain's "flagship" but ultimately it's just another Urban Outfitters.

That Apple store DOES look pretty cool, though, in their white-on-white minimalist style even if the "flagship" moniker probably doesn't really signify much.

Well it sure is a lot of white; it looks like a Spanish cathedral.

[SkyDiveJunkee]

Did Apple Store renovate an existing structure or is this a new building?

[Toucano]

Did Apple Store renovate an existing structure or is this a new building?

yes, you can read all about it in the apple website...it was an old dept store...

[Roark]

ROARK :hi: , talk about the Tax rate, one of Today's ( 07-20-07 ) YAHOO, A.T. & T. top stories has the FORBES Top 10 Most expensive ZIP codes in the U.S.A., Only one in Florida made it , and it was # 10 :cheer: , 33109, Miami Beach, fl., but it 's on Fisher Island for a median home Sale Price of 1,942,000 :omg: .

Roark :bowtie: , about how much of a tax rate for that price on Miami Beach :dunno: ??? P.s. Had to add this, Roark, there's only a 2005 population of 606 on Fisher Island, can you find out , if this is True ???Well the tax rate is the same for everyone. No matter if you own a $10M condo or a $100,000 condo. You multiply the rate times the tax assessed value to get the amount of property tax you pay. Miami Beaches millage rate is currently 24.28...so you multiply your tax assessed property value time .02428. Typically the tax assessed value is about 75-80% of the market value of any home, so most people just use 2% of the purchase price as a rule of thumb for calculating their taxes. The average Fisher Island home owner, contributes $47,151 to the local schools roads and city services. ($1,942,000 x .02428 = $47,151).

As for the population...I don't know for sure, but that sounds high to me. It's a small island with a lot of second, third, and fourth homes. Perhaps the wealthy claim these places as their primary residences because of Florida's favorable income tax rate (zero) and asset protection laws.
If 606 is the number, that tiny little island donates $28.5 Million every year to our city!! Hooorayy for the rich!!!!

[umiami305]

Beach office building garners $74M price tag

The Lincoln office building in Miami Beach has sold for $74 million, illustrating the ever-growing desire to own South Florida office space.
BY MATTHEW HAGGMAN
mhaggman@MiamiHerald.com

A Miami Beach office building called The Lincoln has sold for $74 million, underscoring investors' increasingly voracious appetite to own office property in South Florida.

The deal, on a price-per-square-

foot basis, ranks among South Florida's most expensive office acquisitions ever -- if not the most expensive, observers said. It comes on the heels of several other large buys in recent months, including the $62 million purchase last month of another Miami Beach office building with a similar name, eight-story Lincoln Place at 1601 Washington Ave.

With scant office construction in recent years as the residential condominium market boomed, office buildings have become increasingly valuable. Vacancy rates have shrunk as the economy continues to perform well. And with little office space slated to come onto the market in the next few years, investors are betting rents will continue rising.

Current office owners, meanwhile, are ever willing to cash out for big profits.

''Commercial office buildings seem to be the new rage,'' said Scott Robins, the Miami Beach-based developer who sold The Lincoln with business partners Michael and Joe Comras, and Don Peebles. The group built the building with LNR Property Corp., the Miami Beach-based real estate investment and finance company.

Real Estate Capital Partners in New York, which represents a German investment fund, bought The Lincoln at 1691 Michigan Ave. The deal closed Tuesday.

''It's a particularly good time to be an owner,'' said Shawn Veldhouse, vice president at Real Estate Capital Partners. ``There's good job growth, limited new construction, increasing rental rates, and we liked the proximity to Lincoln Road.''

The rising cost of commercial property insurance was not a problem because the buyer is a large institutional investor that can spread out its costs, participants in the deal said.

The Lincoln is a six-story office building with 158,500 square feet of space, including a public parking garage and the Lucky Strike Lanes bowling alley on its ground floor.

The building's tenants include South Beach Diet author Dr. Arthur Agatston, Robins said.

As the residential market slows, developers are proposing more office buildings. But whether any will be built remains an open question due to high construction costs and uncertainty over whether rents will rise enough to cover them.

There are also questions about how far the demand for office space goes, despite the fact the market has tightened.

The vacancy rate stands at 8.4 percent in Miami Beach, 9.6 percent in downtown Miami and 10 percent in Miami's Brickell area, according to real estate brokerage CB Richard Ellis. By comparison the brokerage reported that vacancy rates a year ago were 17 percent in Miami Beach, 13 percent in downtown Miami and 17 percent in Brickell.

[Don Pacho]

Well it sure is a lot of white; it looks like a Spanish cathedral.

That is an art deco building.
A spanish catedral looks more like the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables or Freedom Tower in downtown Miami that are copies of the Giranda Cathedral in Seville.

[dave8721]

Think it will be a slow demolition of an explosive one?

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/060727/fyi.shtml

W COMING: Demolition of the Holiday Inn at 2201 Collins Ave. on South Beach will begin Aug. 1 to make way for the 185-unit W South Beach Hotel & Residence, said developer David Edelstein of Tristar Capital. Construction is to begin in December with a 2008 target opening. So far, 61% of the units, ranging from $700,000 to $10 million, are sold, he said - "way above our expectations."

[dave8721]

This one is going to stand out like a sore thumb. At least they'll be able to sell their views since the law no longer allows anything else over 8 stories in the area:

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

18 Stories!
City Commission Forced to Accept High-Rise in South Pointe

“We are stuck, and it sucks.” — Commissioner Saul Gross

By Bonnie Schindler

Years after litigation began, the Miami Beach City Commission had no choice Wednesday night but to settle with the developers and owners of an Ocean Drive project.

An 18-story, 205-foot-tall building is soon to be constructed and nestled among low-rise buildings, including the Brown’s Hotel and the Century Hotel.

“We have to settle,” Commissioner Luis Garcia Jr. said. “We are in between a rock and a hard place.”

In what Commissioner Saul Gross called “grandfather status,” the project, which will also include 10 housing units, retail space, a gym and 38 parking spaces, will be able to follow zoning guidelines of the early 1990s.

Back in 1993, Micky Biss, who owned land at 120 and 130 Ocean Drive, got design approval for a condo project from the Design Review Board. It was not until three years later in 1996 that the city adopted legislation regulating building height on Ocean Drive to five stories. In 1999 the final building permit was approved and Biss and his developer, the Congress Group, Inc., were ready for action.

But nothing was built, and the permit expired. Then their 180-day extension expired. By the third time, the city denied any further extensions, stating that the maximum time allotted under the city code was already used up.

Finding a loophole in the system, Biss filed a claim against the city, thereby saying the permits were still open because it was in the process of litigation.

“He drove through the loophole before the government closed it,” Gross said.

In May 2001, “the Building Official at that point made a mistake that the city has not been able to overturn since,” resident Frank Del Vecchio said in a letter addressed to South Pointe Residents and historic preservationists, which was forwarded to the press. The building official allowed the expiration to be voided, and the developer was able to get court affirmation that the permit was still open, Del Vecchio added.

From the years 2000 through 2003, the question of whether or not the permit lapsed was asked and argued by the city, which wanted the new permit to follow current zoning regulations, said City Attorney Jose Smith

The city lost in court battles four times, said Gross.

A new property owner has stepped up to the plate and submitted a modified design to the Planning Department. The city’s settlement would allow the project to go forth, according to Smith.

The changes submitted by the new owner were minor, Smith said. If the changes had been major, the project would have been required to go back to the Design Review Board, thereby losing its grandfather status, meaning its permission to build more than three times the height of the current regulations.

There were no legal avenues that the commission could take to turn back the hands of time, Gross said. “We are stuck, and it sucks.”

Before settling, Mayor David Dermer said, “We want this wound to heal,” and he wished for it not to come back into the chamber.

He added, “We are very pleased that this has been put to bed.”

Comments? E-mail letters@miamisunpost.com.

[Toucano]

Good if the building fits in...anyone know what it looks like?

[LCB]

This one is going to stand out like a sore thumb. At least they'll be able to sell their views since the law no longer allows anything else over 8 stories in the area:

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

The article says 5 stories is the max in the area. I've also heard 8. Anyone know for sure, or does it vary from street to street?

And yeah, this building is going to look odd and crammed. Its across the street from the South of Fifth condo? I think that is the name. So, its not beach front.

[LCB]

Took a picture of Apogee while driving home today and had the camera handy.

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/1195/dsc01792pl1.jpg

[logybogy]

I think this is the parcel? The views would still be very good since there is a park adjacent to the property and the upper floors will tower over everything there.

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/7918/parcelsouthbeachyj7.jpg

[arch photographer]

http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/7825/mypubreadypompano2mv7.jpg

Zyscovich has designed the new Miami Beach High, it is very cool, good to get rid of the old high school. This is a shot of there Pompano Beach High, as an inkling of what's to come. It looks like it could be Morphosis

[spellbound]

http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/7825/mypubreadypompano2mv7.jpg

Zyscovich has designed the new Miami Beach High, it is very cool, good to get rid of the old high school. This is a shot of there Pompano Beach High, as an inkling of what's to come. It looks like it could be Morphosis

Hmmm...it kinda has a "Prison Moderne" look to me, but maybe that's just a snap reaction.

The best designed Miami schools, imo, are the few remaining (very old) ones like Miami High and Bryan Elementary in North Miami....with the Spanish courtyards, gardens, and breezy, open-air hallways. The ones built in the 1920's and 30's.

No chance they'd spend the equivalent today on putting up such designs, I know, but so many modern schools seem to be designed by the same people who build correctional facilities.

Maybe that's just a sign of the times...(sigh)

But, anyway, your photos are always superb and appreciated!

[Roark]

The best designed Miami schools, imo, are the few remaining (very old) ones like Miami High and Bryan Elementary in North Miami....with the Spanish courtyards, gardens, and breezy, open-air hallways. The ones built in the 1920's and 30's.Well, I admit Fisher-Feinberg is a beautiful old school in South Beach, but calling old schools best designed because it is old and beautiful is a stretch.
As I look at Arch's picture, the first thing I see is a breezy courtyard and open air hallways. The Catilevered second level in that structure achieves the same function as a breezy logia without the arches and ornamentation.
No chance they'd spend the equivalent today on putting up such designs, I know,
I'm sure that this high school cost roughly the same if not more (in todays dollars) as the "best designed" schools from the 1920's and 1930's. For one thing, the newer buildings Air Conditioning Chillers are blowers are more expensive! And the routers and Internet systems are probably a bit more pricey too!!! :)

[arch photographer]

Here is an early Chad building ILONA in South Beach. I think it is amazing the way that he exploded onto the scene, and his work is amazing. I can't believe the difficulty he has had with developers and sales. I couldn't wait to see Ice, Ice2, and Park Lane Tower, and now they are all in jeopardy, or history I find that unbelievable. I wish he was to have one MAJOR building on the beach. It would elevate the status of the beach to see Oppenheim forms. P.S. I think Donald Judd is poetry. Reduction Reduction... to a only a vibration.http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/6898/02mq5.jpg

[Roark]

Here is an early Chad building ILONA in South Beach. I think it is amazing the way that he exploded onto the scene, and his work is amazing. I can't believe the difficulty he has had with developers and sales. I couldn't wait to see Ice, Ice2, and Park Lane Tower, and now they are all in jeopardy, or history I find that unbelievable. I wish he was to have one MAJOR building on the beach. It would elevate the status of the beach to see Oppenheim forms.Check out the building formerly marketed as Ilona Bay (16th & Bay Road, by Flamingo) It's pretty schweet. Also, Chad did Montclair Lofts on Meridian and 17th Street.
Yeah...he's had some bad luck on the beach and in Vegas, but huge success with 10 Museum Park and Gregg Covin. Chad is set to work with Fortune Development on the Sonesta in Key Biscayne, it's a big project with about 3 stories or so of underground parking. Those Fortune people are easy to get along with, I'm sure that will be great. :cheers:

[arch photographer]

Ilona Bay is cool, I can't wait to shoot it. So is his Collins Park townhouse. Waiting for completion to shoot those. TEN MUSEUM PARK will be amazing once they remove all that blue sticky stuff on the glass. I wonder if it will be blue or green or clear glass. I know it must be tinted in some way but if it were some kind of clear it might just have the crystalline look of the renderings, and really get the glass core encased with white geometric enclosure.

[Roark]

This was just aired on British Broadcasting Corporation's "The World", and broadcast nationally on a 5 minute segment on the sales momentum at Flamingo, and the influence of South American buyers in our market. Featuring:
Mike Lerner - MCZ/Centrum (Flamingo Developer)
Edgardo DeFortuna - Fortune International
Ron Shufeld - Esslinger Wooten Maxwell
Audio (http://audio.theworld.org/wma.php?id=08027 )

[dave8721]

A hotel on the West side of the Beach?

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15226351.htm

Morgans Hotel to develop new condo-hotel in South Beach

BY DOUGLAS HANKS
dhanks@MiamiHerald.com

The company behind the Delano and Shore Club hotels plans a new resort on a quiet, residential stretch of South Beach: the western shore.

Morgans Hotel Group announced this afternoon it paid $110 million for the middle tower of the Mirador residential complex at 10th Street and West Avenue.

The New York company said the tower will be converted into a condo-hotel complex, where at least some of the rooms will be owned individually. The new hotel will carry the Mondrian brand after a popular Morgans hotel in Los Angeles.

The announcement contained few details, but the company has scheduled a conference call to announce quarterly earnings later this afternoon. The partners say they will spend $60 million on renovations.

[Roark]

A hotel on the West side of the Beach?
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15226351.htmOh yeah...old news. Ian Schrager & Co. have been working on it for a while now....Asia de Cuba will be the restuarant in the property. The Middle tower is actually 1100 West Avenue....the Mirador rental tower.
Guess what? 400-ish less rental apartments in the South Beach supply, Flamingo rents go up...Flamingo looks like a better investment every day...

[arch photographer]

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/1517/flamingo2fp0.jpg

May be old news, but the impact could be really interesting. I think that when Vitri and 5th and Alton shops and now a Mondrian Hotel are all happening in that neighborhood the very last remnants of Miami Beach seedy will no longer be visible. I just mean that those high profile projects will seal the deal and everyone coming into South Beach will have the beautiful shocking visual experience of urban tropical paradise. It makes you wonder what will be next for lower Alton Rd. or all of Alton Rd. for that matter. Does anyone know when the shops at 5th and Alton are gpoing to happen? Those empty lots there are not a good calling card.

[arch photographer]

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/8456/flcolumnsmx9.jpg

One more for the brutalists.

[hello345]

has the demolition of the holiday inn on the site of the W started yet? it was scheduled for augusst first wasn't it.

[dave8721]

I've been looking for a rendering of the new 1111 Lincoln Road structure and I finally found one.

Go here:
http://www.beai.com/

Then click on Portfolio > Residential & Mixed Use > 1111 Lincoln will be the 4th project from the left (or 4th from the right since its in the middle) at the bottom of the screen.