REAL ESTATE

Condo to alter the downtown Miami skyline

Despite worries of oversupply, plans to construct 50 Biscayne, a 54-story condo in the heart of downtown Miami, are going ahead.

BY MATTHEW HAGGMAN

mhaggman@herald.com

Miami's downtown skyline, framed by the Wachovia Financial Center and the illuminated Bank of America Tower, is set for one of its most significant changes in nearly two decades.

Amid concerns of overbuilding, residential developer Jorge Perez has finalized plans to construct a 54-story condo in the heart of downtown Miami. Several new condo towers are planned or are being built in Miami's central business district, but Perez's new structure will be among the biggest newly constructed buildings in the rapidly changing downtown area.

The condo, 50 Biscayne, comes during Miami's unprecedented condo boom, which has prompted some to worry of oversupply.

The condo will be located on the full-block along Biscayne Boulevard between Flagler and First Street. Set across from 32-acre Bayfront Park, it will look out over Biscayne Bay. Currently, a one-story food court and mall, Columbus Bazaar, sits on the site.

Once completed, it will be the among the tallest buildings in Miami's central business district, which includes the marquee towers, the 55-floor Wachovia Center and the 47-story Bank of America Tower. Overall, the 64-story Four Seasons Hotel & Tower, located in the Brickell area, is Miami's tallest building.

Despite concerns of a market glut, the move to build the high-rise condo is one more indication that developers remain enthusiastically bullish on Miami's red-hot condo market. Last year, the Atlanta-based Cousins Properties acquired the rights to the Columbus Bazaar property and planned to build an office tower on the site. Instead, it scrapped its plans and decided to do a joint venture with Perez's Related Group of Florida and build a condo. The move marks Cousins' first foray into condo development.

Cousins previously focused on office, retail, industrial and residential community development, said its spokesperson Matt Gove. Related Group of Florida, the largest condo developer in the Southeast, has been at the forefront of Miami's unprecedented condo boom. It has 29 condo projects underway in South Florida, including three other projects in downtown Miami.

Some observers, however, worry that the push to build residential condos downtown in an effort to create an urban environment where people live, work and play has gone too far.

For instance, every new development on Biscayne Boulevard from the Miami River to I-395, which occupies virtually every available parcel of land, is set to be a condo tower.

Michael Cannon, managing director of Integra Realty, said that overall urban planning is needed to ensure an even balance of office and retail development in downtown Miami.

Currently, market conditions overwhelmingly favor condo rather than office development.

''It appears to me we are doing property specific development, and the only developers in the game are residential developers,'' Cannon said.

``With too much residential, you lose the business-urban environment of a downtown.''

Neisen Kasdin, chair of the South Florida and Caribbean chapter of the Urban Land Institute, said it is not uncommon to see a city's downtown core evolve into a place where people live rather work.

He said downtown residential development is even necessary to save downtown centers.

''I believe that in the long run it will be a salvation,'' said Kasdin, who is a partner at the law firm Gunster Yoakley in Miami.

``Because in a number of downtowns around the country, to a large extent, the old central business districts have outlived there usefulness as office centers.''

Miami is in the midst of an unprecedented condo boom, with more than 16,000 units being planned or being built from the Brickell area to the performing arts district, according to the Downtown Development Authority.

Perez said international buyers' thirst for Miami condo units is fueling the current frenzy.

''The normal analysis goes out the window,'' said Perez.

Fifty Biscayne is planned to have 523 units, with prices ranging from $200,000 to $800,000. Penthouse condos will run upwards of $1 million. Tom Daly, a partner with Related Group, said they are considering including a 78-room boutique hotel.

The development will include a fitness center and have 15,000 feet of ground retail space.

Daly said they are currently in discussion with the upscale New York-based grocer Dean & DeLuca.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/9320983.htm

nice 2 topics for the same article

whoops i tried to stop transmission to put the title inguess it got through

is this the columbus center?

Im 100% sure it is now to come think about it. Sorry no link to article below but the well know local developer i am sure is the related group

The Columbus Office Tower is sited on the most important corner in the central business district of downtown Miami, Biscayne Boulevard and East Flagler Street. The project represents the first high rise office building in the central business district in over 12 years. The site commands dramatic views over Bayfront Park and Biscayne Bay. The tower rises 40 stories and incorporates office and retail uses as well as structured parking for 1260 cars encompassing over 1,100,000 gsf. The tower has been designed to meet the stringent South Florida building code governing the impact resistance of the curtainwall. The building is sheathed in a glass and precast enclosure that rises from a podium incorporating retail space at ground level on all sides of the building. A light-filled entry lobby dramatically contributes to a vibrant street life. The tower's west facade facing Biscayne Bay gently curves to the top creating an elegant and distinctive profile on the Miami skyline. The tower will be dramatically lit at night accentuating its form and unique place on the Miami skyline.

and creators of the $181 million Columbus Center, planned for 50 N Biscayne Blvd., are in talks with a "well-known local developer" to add residences that could raise the structure's height from the 38 stories that are now permitted to 65, said Steve Caster, senior vice president of America's Capital Partners, The company is redeveloping the Columbus Bazaar site - proposed as an office-retail tower - with Cousins Properties.

now im confused
so it went from being proposed as an office tower to becoming a residential tower? or are columbus & 50 biscayne 2 seperate projects? (which wouldnt make much sense since both buildings would be occupying the same space)
Good news regardless. Downtown Miami gets alot of exposure in flim & TV, so this is the type of building that will have a powerful impact on the city. Hopefully it will be successful amid the countless other condo projects going on throughout Miami.

Sadly, the developer scrapped plans to go 65 stories, incorporating office space, and instead will build this 54 story condo tower.

i believe height was increased from 38 to 54 to make way for the residential part and is why they partnered with related group

This is now going to be a brand new condo tower, with no relation at all to the office tower that was once planned for this site. Cousins properties decided condo was the way to go & then hooked up with the Related Group to design & build this 54 story tower. It's the same site as before (the Columbus Bazaar site) but should be a whole new design then the one from before. I suppose they could actually use the same design, but I would think they would go in another direction altogether.

Interesting that the Herald claims it will be one of the tallest buildings in Miami & it's only 54 stories. Unless this tower has 11+ ft. ceilings it won't even hit 600 ft. At the same time, though, Infinity, 900 Biscayne, Marinablue & the new ho-jo tower should be as tall, or more likely taller than, 50 Biscayne. Maybe the Herald knows the height of the building, I don't know.

Anyway, it'll be interesting to see what this one will look like!

There's a pic in the Herald. It looks okay, nothing spectacular. And the Herald, perhaps true to form, lists the building at 550 ft. in one place and 544 ft. in another.

Yeah, you're right Dale. I wonder why it's not online?

Well, it's a boxy building, but it's got some flair to it. Anyone know who the architect is?

can someone please scan the rendering!!!!!!!!!!

is it 2days herald,

do i have to run out and buy it, or can someone scan it please!

It's in today's herald, Ballinboi. If I had a scanner I'd certainly scan it for you, but alas, I'm scannerless.

You're not missing much though. It's an alright design, but it's not gonna win any awards.

Now watch it win some awards.

I'm meditating on the pic now. Ohm-Ohm-Ohm.

I'm beginning to like it.

LOL...I thought MIAballinboi died...hadn't heard from him in a while.....I Reealy want to see the building....how the hell do I go about getting today's paper tomorrow!!

LOL...I thought MIAballinboi died...hadn't heard from him in a while.....I Reealy want to see the building....how the hell do I go about getting today's paper tomorrow!!

Calm down ! It'll be finished in a couple of years and *then* you can look at it. :)

lol, im still around


so no 1 has a scanner, i would host it on the web if someone scan it :bash:

I'd be happy to give it to you Ballinboi if you wanna come pick it up. I live in Key West, though, so it'd be a bit of a drive for you.






Heh, heh, I'm just messing with you, man. I'm in Kendall.

Seriously if you really want it I could get it to you somehow. Wish I could just scan it but, well you know.

Let me know.

lol key west,

i also live in kendall, but how can no one else have a scanner?

its ok, itll come out on the web somehow :)

someone scan it lol :cheers:

someone scan it lol :cheers:

Trust me, you don't want to see it. It looks dog-ugly. :wink2:

o, that sucks. :bash: i guess its better than nothing though.

o, that sucks. :bash: i guess its better than nothing though.

I'm just joking. It's really not bad looking. In fact, it looks quite refined, just a bit conservative.

does it have a spire or is it boxy ?

does it have a spire or is it boxy ?

To the best of my ability: It's a slim, rectangular box, with a wavelike structure on top, and it sits on stilts atop a larger podium. It also has a slotlike opening on the face for relief. I'm guessing the structure is concrete with green glass.

I was told that the loft 2 is sold out & they have a waiting list already for this new project. Their projects seem to all sell out, loft 1 & 2 are sold out w/out much advertising. I caught loft 1 late but I am sure loft 2 did not advertise but once in the Herald. We will see how it goes w/these new bldg.

I keep expecting things to slack off. But apparently there's no end in sight.

SHOULD ALSO CLARIFY IF ITS 540 OR 544 FT
Posted on Fri, Aug. 06, 2004

The dates for the selection of Wednesday's Florida Lottery numbers...

• The dates for the selection of Wednesday's Florida Lottery numbers and the results of Tuesday's drawing that appeared on the 5 minute herald page in Thursday's Herald were wrong. The numbers published for the Aug. 4 drawing were correct, as were the results of the Aug. 3 drawing.

• A graphic with a story on 50 Biscayne that ran Thursday on page 1C should have said that the condo is not yet under construction. Work is slated to begin in February.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/corrections/9332346.htm?ERIGHTS=1875888309012072009miami::renner01@hotmail.com&KRD_RM=4ppsonsqtrormqrkkkkkkkkltm|russell|N

This project is going public today! I have a preliminary floorplan on my site. Here's a rendering of Fifty Biscayne. http://www.pazrealtors.com/DowntownMiami/50Biscayne/

http://www.pazrealtors.com/DowntownMiami/50Biscayne/exterior.jpg

wow...that is.. that's... interesting...

Great article. If they are stating prices starting in the $200's that means probably $250+. By my experience these bldgs. advertised prices are never correct. When you get there it's always a lot more. This bldg. is in the same vecinity as their other properties loft1 & 2. I wonder how much the small units will be. Wow! I am really excited, I am glad I made the purchase at loft2 cause the prices are really rising fast!

You'll only find smaller studio in the 600-700 sq ft range in the $200's. The larger units facing the bay will likely start in the $450 per square foot range. Knowing these are much larger units, I don't think you fill anything for less than $600k facing the bay.

I will be meeting with my developer contact later today, and I'll post new info on my site. Here's the web address:

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

What's with the all the "paisley" on this building? And that wavy thing on top? These elements make this building look silly. It doesn't look like it belongs in an urban environment, but instead a resort setting. Does Miami have some sort of design commitee that can order developers to change elements of a building's design before it can be approved for construction? Just curious.

50 Biscayne Will Be 544 Ft./166 M. Tall. If Built It Will Be Tied With Opera House As The City's Fifth Tallest Building.

AND EVERYONE :) , This is ONLY THE BEGINING, 50 BISCAYNE Will Rule the Area next to BAYSIDE and BAYFRONT Park. I still can't wait till Next Year, 2005. I'm Still counting the TOWER Construction Cranes, 2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20,22,24,26, should I keep going,lol. :cheers:

i just got the new ocean drive issue,

and WOOW
it has a pop up ad for 50 biscayne that you flip down, and you see 50 biscayne, one giant sleek tower

although i still wish it coulda beeen taller since this spot will definetly impact the cbd skyline,

but well be positive and miami wil get a new tallest, right chuck lool

YES MIAballinboi, :) I just go crazy hearing ANOTHER TALL TOWER for MIAMI, I still see a 1,000 Foot TOWER by 2020, I hope I can live that long, LOL. :cheers: And Screw the FAA, I think they should lower the FAA Tower at the Airport, LOL> :bash:

ha, they should relocate the airport, even though its undergoing a multi-billion dollar projct right now lool,

well, didnt they wanna build one in the middle of the everglades and they wouldnt let em, damn tree huggers, gotta ruin it for the rest of us, we dont need the everglades, pave it over and build condos on it, lol

isnt there a movement to make homestead air force base a commercial airport? i think i head that somewhere

yeah i also heard they wanted to make the airport in the everglades once,

does anyone else got some more info on this and how far in the everglades they wanted to make it

thats interesting

http://sflwww.er.usgs.gov/publications/papers/pp1011/studyhistory.html

It's on the Dade/Collier line. Way out there.

There's a small airport there now.

wow, that would have been something.

:) I guess You all are talking about the PROPOSED SouthEastern REGIONAL JETPORT, Where the Runway still stands out there in the Glades, Where there are more ALIGATORS Laying on that RUNWAY , Than Airplanes, LOL. BUT , LOOK at MIA :) Today, with the 5.4 BILLION EXPANSION Going on with two new Terminals to Make MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT the BEST Airport in the NATION, According to a News Headline in the MIAMI TIMES, this Month. :cheers:

did they actually start building part of the airport in the everglades, chuck? i never heard that. you sure that's not something else out there that the gators are laying on?

did they actually start building part of the airport in the everglades, chuck? i never heard that. you sure that's not something else out there that the gators are laying on?
YES DAVE, :) They really Did build a runway out there for the JETPORT, but that was all they built and many planes use it to touch down and take off with, MIAMI VICE Also Filmed on it , when they were filming DRUG RAIDS, and DRUG DROP-offs, all in the early 80's. :cheers:

wow thats cool so theres a couple giant runways in the middle of the glades haha

they're not that big but they're definitely there. I've been out there a couple of times. There actually are alligators on the runway too.

This 50 Biscayne CONDO TOWER :) , will be Awesome when Completed, The SALES Center is on SITE at the Southeast Corner of the Property which is known now as the Columbus Bazarre. IT Has a HUGE MODEL of the TOWER, you can see from YOUR CAR on Biscayne BLVD. This is going to Make MIAMI A whole Lot more like TIMES SQUARE, The LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION, 24/7, :cheers: and accross from the BAYFRONT PARK Amphitheater, WOW. I say 2007, I WANT NOW to be There, " I'm SO Excited, I just can't Hide it, I know I know I know I want too, want too !!! " lol, I love that song ! :)

I've taken a few training flights out of Opa Locka and an instructor told me that that strip was an old training strip for Eastern airlines (before flight simulators), and it can accomadate a 747 Jumbo jet.
I'm also told, Not sure if this is true or not, that in the recent past that Air Force One lands on that strip in the middle of nowhere, and the President then flys by helicopter to meet up with the motorcade into the city.
Any know about that?

^ could be true, the prez flew into the everglades? could be for security

ROARK :) , I really doubt if the President's Plane lands out there on that runway, Its a bad area for Drug Dealers, Dumping their loads for Airboats to pick up the drugs during night hours, Its happen alot out there, and to land the President in that danger zone would be very critical and dangerous. Believe me , I work around MIA with Miami-Dade County for over 25 years and I watch AIR FORCE ONE land here at MIA Always when any of the past Presidents, Especially Ronald Reagan Come in here, and then take a Helicopter which is also called AIR FORCE ONE when the President is on it. There has never been a President taking off from that really OLD RUNWAY out in the Everglades, Which was used for Eastern Airlines Training during the 80's, BUT WAS BUILT way before EASTERN was using it, If I can remember back then it was built during the Early 70's FOR THE FUTURE " Southeast Florida International Jetport ", I can't find the old newspaper I saved from back then, BUT This Airport was almost in reality till the late 70's when the people of the " SAVE THE EVERGLADES ", Killed it, and the runway stayed UNTOUCH, But Completed without the Terminal to have been connected to it. :cheers:

^ thats an interesting history, what do you think theyll do with that in the future?

gotta love miami

Okay...it sounded plausible to me the Air Force one would land out there were access was so restricted. By the way, the plane is Air Force One and the helicopter is Marine One.

so anything new on 50 biscayne now that we have gone as throughouly off topic as we possibly could have

^ true we did get pretty off topic,

now back to 50 biscayne,

do you think the old design of columbus bazaar as an office is better than this?

i guess this office did fall to condos.

it coulda been a signature tower

I don't particularly like either design...I mean, IMO, 50 biscayne's design is better, bit it looks really boxy and domineering, it's hard to tell how it will fit into the skyline when complete!

50 biscayne, the building itself, luks great, but when you see it put into the skyline, its not a pretty site

i think the old office building wit in much better, and wouldve been a much more signature building, even if somewat short

i think the office tower could have made a more significant effect on it, plus now as we see how the met financial center and were gonna have enough condos, but its all good,

anyways how would this have looked in the skyline, an old proposal from the 80s, isnt this also the spot of the future 50 biscayne?

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/643/28miami-biscaynecenter.jpg

this surely is over 1000 foot, could this have been allowed by the faa, in this spot or is it just a rediculous proposal that was definetly cut by the faa?

THAT WOULDVE BEEN AMAZING! SINGLE GREATEST PROPOSAL IVE EVER SEEN FOR MIAMI EVER!

No way. I like the height, I don't like that building at all. a design like the columbus center with that height would be great.!!

yup i loved the height, not the design,

but most likely if this got as far as the faa, they musta gone crazy and immediately said NO to this project cuz of the height

No way. I like the height, I don't like that building at all. a design like the columbus center with that height would be great.!!


actually I agree....if columbus bazaar was that high it would be Uber-Amazing!!

i luv the design, and the height, the whole thing was great... faa prob killed it

anyways here is the colombus center as the office tower, which fell to the condo crazy, this is the renderings as 38 stories office,
http://www.pickardchilton.com/imgs/columbus_main_01.jpg http://www.pickardchilton.com/imgs/columbus_main_03.jpg http://www.pickardchilton.com/imgs/columbus_main_04.jpg http://www.pickardchilton.com/imgs/columbus_main_02.jpg

remember they were gonna add residential floors to give it a grand height of 65 stories and a definite citys tallest, i dono why they didnt follow up on this!

now its this
http://www.century21enmiami.com/50BiscayneFrontView.jpg

i think the office tower could have made a more significant effect on it, plus now as we see how the met financial center and were gonna have enough condos, but its all good,

anyways how would this have looked in the skyline, an old proposal from the 80s, isnt this also the spot of the future 50 biscayne?

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/643/28miami-biscaynecenter.jpg

this surely is over 1000 foot, could this have been allowed by the faa, in this spot or is it just a rediculous proposal that was definetly cut by the faa?
YES MIAballinboi :) , I remember this TALL 1,000 Footer back in 1984, It was approved by the City Of Miami, back then , and THE FAA had the area over 1,000 Ft approved then, BUT IT WAS the INTEREST RATES that killed it, THE PRIME RATE then was almost 21 Percent, and the ARAB Developer PULLEDOUT of building this WONDERFUL highrise, I was looking for his PIC, how did you find it :cheers: , This one and the One behind the Old Freedom Tower was suppose to be a 79 story HOTEL, back then, All these tall Buildings fell to the HIGH PRIME RATE of 1984-85. :bash:

woow the limit was over 1000 feet!! so it wasnt the faa,

but now it is noooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

The building proposed behind the Freedom Tower was a 65 story Hilton Hotel, back in 1982. It was never built.

What's with the all the "paisley" on this building? And that wavy thing on top? These elements make this building look silly. It doesn't look like it belongs in an urban environment, but instead a resort setting. Does Miami have some sort of design commitee that can order developers to change elements of a building's design before it can be approved for construction? Just curious.

The designs on the building is inspired by the famed Brazilian Landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx who was commissioned to create the sidewalk paver design along Biscayne Boulevard up to the Omni area. Jorge Perez, the developer of 50 Biscayne is an art collector who probably wanted to create an artistic style for the building. The colums and parking structure will have the Burle inspired design throughout.

"In 1988, the City of Miami approved a bold design and master plan for the main thoroughfare in the downtown area, Biscayne Blvd., running along Biscayne Bay. The project was designed by world renown Brazilian landscape architect, Roberto Burle-Marx, who brings a south and central American tropical influence to the sidewalks and plaza areas"

The building proposed behind the Freedom Tower was a 65 story Hilton Hotel, back in 1982. It was never built.
THATS TRUE PABLO :) , sorry about the Stories, I had the wrong name :bash: ME !, lol. It was the HEIGHT of 790 Feet Approved by the City of Miami back in 1982 , Which was that Special Design on top of the HOTEL which gave it the Higher feet, IT was Beautiful :) , Do you PABLO, have a PIC of that Building that was supposed to be built behind the Freedom Tower and also the developer was going to renovate the Old Freedom Tower back then, too. Thanks again !!! :cheers:

So did the Biscayne streetscaping ever get done ?

So did the Biscayne streetscaping ever get done ?


Yes, a major portion of it has been completed. I beleive that as new buildings come on line, they must continue with the design as outlined in the master plan. The design looks best from the air, especially from the 55th floor of the Wachovia Tower

Don't much care for 50 Biscayne but that 65 story office tower would have been awesome, especially at night..

The tower will be dramatically lit at night accentuating its form and unique place on the Miami skyline.

How will the building be lit up. I really love to see the Miami skyline light up at night and with the BOA building and the new I.M. Pei by met 3, 50 Biscayne would fit in perfectly.

The nighttime renderings may be it's only saving grace with me. The building is dog-ugly (my opinion) and it just doesn't make for good urbanetics to have condos smack dab in the CBD without even a hint of office.

well some are forgeting that they're lots of small office buildings in dt.miami,but i do think cbd is no place for a condo.but hey keep 'em coming 45 stories and above.

don't get me wrong guys but that proposed 1000ft. building doesn't fit in the skyline.it looks great but looks like a new york type building.just in my opinon ,still love the design.now the office tower would've gone great with the wachovia in the morning and if were illuminated,it would look great with boa at night.also 50bis.looks small for a 50 story building but i still like it although it should of been built in brickell.

So did the Biscayne streetscaping ever get done ?
LOL DALE :) , Don't TAKE Biscayne Bvld NOW, its a MESS and Potholes Everywhere, ITS Not done YET and with all the Highrises Starting or just getting Started Biscayne Bvld will only get WORST, I MEAN WORST, Now has ANYONE here Driven down Biscayne Bvld THIS WEEK ? :eek2: I mean from the Performing Arts Center PROJECT which is a STREET Disaster Right NOW !, and ALL THE WAY SOUTH into Downtown MIAMI, Check it out NOW, Your Front end Alignment will be OUT of Wack, :bash: Its BAD All the WAY TO THE BRICKELL AVE BRIDGE, Belive Me TRY IT !, Good Thing I have a County Vehicle to Drive BISCAYNE Bvld, And Like I Said, This is ONLY the Beginning. Streetscaping will never be Completed here for at least the next 5 years. :cheers:

true it was bad but i wanted to stay postitive, on us1 southbound right at 395, there must be like 5 different sheets of metal from work on top of each other and way out of line but the future is great!

its all for the better, its the mentallity against things like this which suk now, but will benefit us in the long run that kill things like baylink that we really need!

how did that do in the voting on nov 2 btw, did the thing for baylink pass?

THATS TRUE PABLO :) , sorry about the Stories, I had the wrong name :bash: ME !, lol. It was the HEIGHT of 790 Feet Approved by the City of Miami back in 1982 , Which was that Special Design on top of the HOTEL which gave it the Higher feet, IT was Beautiful :) , Do you PABLO, have a PIC of that Building that was supposed to be built behind the Freedom Tower and also the developer was going to renovate the Old Freedom Tower back then, too. Thanks again !!! :cheers:

Sadly, I do not have a picture of the building. But if you want to learn more about this project and others go look at the Miami Herald archives @ herald.com. But to view the articles you'll have to pay a ridiculous fee. Also the proposed hotel was a beauty. If it was built it would have changed the skyline forever. But luckily, the WFC and the BOA were built.

TRUE PABLO, Thank GOD those two TOWERS were Built JUST IN TIME, THE HIGH 21 % PRIME INTEREST RATES after they BROKE GROUND on the Wachovia ( Back Then SOUTHEAST Banking Center ) Financial Center, and THE BANK OF AMERICA ( Back Then CENTRUST BANK TOWER ) The RATES :bash: Killed Alot of Downtown MIAMI HUGE PROJECTS. THEN SOUTHEAST BANK Went down , and CENTRUST Went down with the BAD TIMES of BANKS Emerging Into the Better GIANTS !!! :cheers:

wow 22 percent thats crazy, well isnt it low now, get busy office towers!!

but unemployment is up and also their like 2 new bankrupt companies everyday

but the economies on the way up... and miami is gettin more and more attention all the time... i only give it a matter of time before offices start poppin up all over downtown, once a few of these condos get built and the neighborhood picks up, businesses will want to have an office downtown instead of in some crappy office park in doral

TRUE NIMBY :) , I see the OFFICE TOWER of 18 STORIES going up in the PARK WEST area West of the MIAMI ARENA, IS A START and ITS being BUILT BY BOVIS Construction GROUP :) , the BEST Builders I know, Its going to have a 12 Story Parking Garage to the South of Tower # 1 and a FUTURE 36 STORY Office TOWER # 2 to the South of that GARAGE. All Being done by BOVIS !!! :cheers:

Hopefully we'll see more office buildings rise soon

im confident that in about 10 years, once a good few of these condos are done, and the neighborhood picks up, and the economy will be up by then, well see alot more office development downtown

NIMBY, maybe Sooner,We''ll have to wait and see.

10 years to get any serious possible new tallests office wise...

just plain offices well b gettin sooner

10 years to get any serious possible new tallests office wise...

just plain offices well b gettin sooner
NIMBY :) , 10 YEARS is GOOD for that TALL Office Tower, after all these CONDO TOWERS are Completed, SOUNDS GOOD, by the WAY, 50 BISCAYNE CONDO TOWER Might START SOONER, I heard JORGE PEREZ :) wants to START Sooner than Expected, AWESOME MAN, " BUILD UP, BUILD FAST " :cheers:

What Miami needs is big industry and banks to move to Miami and encourage growth like in the 80's. Back then Miami had Southeast Bank (17th largest bank in the nation back in 1985) and CenTrust Savings and Loans headquarted in the city. Now Miami has no major bank headquarters. Hopefully Burger King can leave their ugly Blue Lagoon headquarters and build a tall office tower/headquarters in Downtown Miami.

Unfortunately, 90 % of new office space is being built in the suburbs. It's a nationwide trend. Not to say that there can't be some sort of reversal.

lol come on burger king, build us a 1000 footer to beat mcdonalds haha

If I'm not mistaken I believe Burger King headquarters just moved into a new building near MIA, so I don't think they'll be building anything anytime soon. By the way, getting back to 50 Biscayne, I agree with streetscaper in that I think it looks kind of ugly, but at least it's over 500 ft. What I really would like to see is the old everglades hotel being blown up, hopefully on new years eve! That would be such a good symbol for the start of 2005, out with the old, in with the new!

the everglades hotel is probably the worst hotel in miami,its worst than some motels,i was reading reviews of it and i was laughing so hard i almost choked. stories about wierd loud noises,giant rats,stained sheets,stupid staff,and no coffee until after 9 am.i didn't know whether to laugh or feel sorry for those tourists,so i just laughed.but evgd. is so bad that its hurting miamis reputation.

What Miami needs is big industry and banks to move to Miami and encourage growth like in the 80's. Back then Miami had Southeast Bank (17th largest bank in the nation back in 1985) and CenTrust Savings and Loans headquarted in the city. Now Miami has no major bank headquarters. Hopefully Burger King can leave their ugly Blue Lagoon headquarters and build a tall office tower/headquarters in Downtown Miami.
Huh? Miami is the second largest banking city in the USA.

the everglades hotel is probably the worst hotel in miami,its worst than some motels,i was reading reviews of it and i was laughing so hard i almost choked. stories about wierd loud noises,giant rats,stained sheets,stupid staff,and no coffee until after 9 am.i didn't know whether to laugh or feel sorry for those tourists,so i just laughed.but evgd. is so bad that its hurting miamis reputation.


Hopefully they'll demolish it and build a new tall tower there, I hate that old building right in the middle of downtown, looks so out of place.

The old Everglades hotel will definitely be demolished, by explosives! The new towers can't be built with that old building in the way. I heard that they would like to blow it up on new years eve, but if not then sometime early next year. Miami will look so different once these nice looking towers are built, with the ugly 50 biscayne only a block away.

Well at least BK is moving in the general direction of downtown. They used to be at their suburban office park in Cutler Ridge (which was actually quite attractive as ugly office parks go) then moved to the airport area. If they continue their moving trend they would reach downtown eventually, right?

The old Everglades hotel will definitely be demolished, by explosives! The new towers can't be built with that old building in the way. I heard that they would like to blow it up on new years eve, but if not then sometime early next year. Miami will look so different once these nice looking towers are built, with the ugly 50 biscayne only a block away.


Hi JR79,
I totally agree with you re. the aesthetic of the new proposed 50 bisc bldg; this is a prime downtown property that will impact our city's skyline for decades-I still can't believe that the initial design was replaced by this one; hopefully there will be a redesign along the way. I really like all the new proposed bisc blvd buildings-esp The Everglades-but not the new 50 bisc-any news on the possibility of a redesign???

doubt a redesign will happen,i wish it did.but anyways it will be a tall tower

Maybe we should start an email campaing to Jorge Perez and The Related Group to see if they change the design of 50 Biscayne, lol. It is UGLY!!!! Bring Back the Original Design.

wait wat design are we talking about because the original was an office tower that wasn't being developed by related group,and the chances of that design happening are 0.0000%.and i believe groundbreaking is set for early next year so forget about it being redesigned.

the everglades hotel is probably the worst hotel in miami,its worst than some motels,i was reading reviews of it and i was laughing so hard i almost choked. stories about wierd loud noises,giant rats,stained sheets,stupid staff,and no coffee until after 9 am.i didn't know whether to laugh or feel sorry for those tourists,so i just laughed.but evgd. is so bad that its hurting miamis reputation.
TRUE Uptown-MIDTOWN :) , Thats the reason WHY its Coming DOWN, :bash: . Its the ONLY thing to do , TEAR down all the Old " UGLY " Buildings and BUILD TALL SkyScraperMIAMItowers.COM , LOL :cheers:

Maybe we should start an email campaing to Jorge Perez and The Related Group to see if they change the design of 50 Biscayne, lol. It is UGLY!!!! Bring Back the Original Design.
MIAMI1 :) , You have to BE THERE at the SALES Center, To Really GET the FEELING of this TOWER Design, IT FITS Downtown MIAMI, the Hype, The Mood , its ART , Its Downtown !, the Place to get rid of your Troubles, DOWNTOWN !!! Petula Clark, Great Singer, lol. :cheers:

pewho clark?who the heck is that

Chuck, unless this Petule Clark person is going to convince the Related Group to redesign this ugly piece of "art" (50 Biscayne) by singing to them, then I'm afraid that I'm not going to be able to share your enthusiasm for this project. I'm with uptown - BAN THE 50!

pewho clark?who the heck is that
Uptown-Midtown :) , Petula Clark Sang the Song, " DOWNTOWN " during the EARLY 1960's, She also Sang her Song during A KING ORANGE BOWL Parade During the 1965 or 1966 YEAR. :cheers:
JR :) , I think its BEST if you went to the Sales Center ON SITE of the 50 and Check Out the MODEL, you'll agree ITS an ART Building Type of TOWER . Its TRUE a Office TOWER should have gone there, BUT its Really TOO LATE, the 50 TOWER IS HALF SOLD OUT !!! :cheers:

I'm with Chuck on that....50 Biscayne is nice! VERY large balconies. And another very interesting feature of Fitty is that somewhere toward the top you can see a colorful mural looking gizmo (not what the marketing dept. would call it). That is made of opaque glass for about 4 stories tall and 100 feet wide. The people that have apartments on those floors will have light shining through this feature.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but we should all agree, it could be a lot worse!

I still say it evokes a Bird of Paradise (the flower).

Should I be concerned for my mental health ?

Will the Burle Marx streetscape plan be actualized building-by-building, or at once ? And when ?

Nahhhhhh...if Georgia O' Keefe was right, that is a perfectly healthy thing to be focused on all the time...

ok the only problem i have with fifty is the red letters or flowers or whatever its is i did like the height of the bldg 584ft(i think)and why is it taking so long to sell haven't they been offering this building for like 3 months now.

ok the only problem i have with fifty is the red letters or flowers or whatever its is i did like the height of the bldg 584ft(i think)and why is it taking so long to sell haven't they been offering this building for like 3 months now.
TRUE Uptown-Midtown :) , Its Taking a little Longer to sell the HIGH PRICED UNITS, Remember What Happen at the Everglades on the BAY, Deposits Sent back to some of the Buyers, THIS 50 CONDO is being More carefull, THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS HAS Skyrocketed OVER 50 % and Supplies are being SLOWED on Delivery, WHICH the DEMAND for SUPPLIES is at it HIGHEST EVER. Meanwhile the UNITS are COSTING MORE and Buyers ARE LESS Interested with these NEWEST PROJECTS, SO now it Looks Like THE TURNING POINT of FUTURE Towers Slowing Down and FOLDING some PROJECTS. Its beginning to feel the Effect of HIGHER Prices and Less Interests on Investing in CONDOS. :) I HOPE I'm Wrong, HIT me PLease ! :bash:

It has to slow sometime, but it doesn't appear to be just yet. And I don't consider the 50's timetable as slow at all. I'd say lightning fast really compared to how fast condos sell in other cities.

I know I'm probably a month and a half late on this, but I have mixed feelings on 50 Biscayne's design. The continuous balconies and murals are cool- actually unique compared to other new construction. But the building is too slender compared to its bulkier adjacent neighbors. It seems out of place- but for the design of its base, which saves it. yah, dee, yah, dee, yah, dee, yah. Fuck it. I love it!

Oh, Chuck, did you ever tell us what the official height was? All I remember was 540 or 544 feet that I think was quoted from an El Herald article. If you can confirm the height, I'll update Paul at emporis with this one too. He seems eager to update the info when he's fed the info with a little bit of back-up, i.e., clout, i.e., when I told him the info came straight from the "horses mouth", care of Chuck and the great county of Miami-Dade!

hey jz its officially 544ft
heres their website http://50biscaynemiami.com/

hey jz its officially 544ft
heres their website http://50biscaynemiami.com/
GREAT Uptown-midtown :) , 544 is a GOOD NUMBER, But 1,044 IS A BETTER NUMBER :) , To be Built in MIAMI in 2022, " THE ORANGE TOWER " at 100 Stories, To be Built by DONALD TRUMP :) , Your Fired !!! :cheers:

hahahaaha good point chuck

hahahaaha good point chuck
Thanks MIAballinboi, :)

Now that the building is open, I live in it, and it's horrible. The people are horrible, the facilities are broken or jammed with people.

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