DAVE:) , my Update Friend,
there's no end really to our boom, because it went from Condo construction back to Office and Retail construction:applause: .

Did you notice an advertisement in the " Miami Today " :rock: weekly newspaper about a week ago.
The old OMNI Mall and Hotel is making a comeback as a Super mall of retail stores, and two office towers on top of the Old Omni Parking garage,
The Radisson Hotel stays as is, but the name could change.
IMO, I believe I heard something about a MACY's taking the old JCPenney three floor store at the new OMNI.
the whole outside of the old Omni mall and old Jordan Marsh, and old JCPenney will be all futuristic glass covering shields rounding the whole city block of the Old Omni into a New Fresh Look !!!:soon: :cheer: :banana2:

Did you notice an advertisement in the " Miami Today " :rock: weekly newspaper about a week ago.
The old OMNI Mall and Hotel is making a comeback as a Super mall of retail stores, and two office towers on top of the Old Omni Parking garage,
The Radisson Hotel stays as is, but the name could change.
IMO, I believe I heard something about a MACY's taking the old JCPenney three floor store at the new OMNI.
the whole outside of the old Omni mall and old Jordan Marsh, and old JCPenney will be all futuristic glass covering shields rounding the whole city block of the Old Omni into a New Fresh Look !!!:soon: :cheer: :banana2:

Chuck, my friend, I dont know if I like this news much.:ohno:

I've never stayed at that Radisson...........but I've heard horror stories about it. I was truly excited about the proposal to tear the omni down and put 6 towers on the site...........can you imagine that density??

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/coral_gables/story/196061.html

CORAL GABLES
$5 million complex awaits approval
New construction continues at a quick pace with a busy city development review committee meeting Friday.
Posted on Thu, Aug. 09,

BY ELAINE DE VALLE
edevalle@MiamiHerald.com

Owners of the former Lincoln Mercury used car dealership in Coral Gables want to turn the old one-story building and car lot into an eight-story retail/office/residential complex with a rooftop gym and pool.

The $5 million project, at 4311 Ponce de Leon Blvd., consists of 37,000 square feet of office space, 5,000 square feet of retail area and 3,200 square feet of ''residential lofts.'' City officials will scrutinize the proposal Friday at a development review committee meeting, a first step for developers in the building process.

Another office/condo high-rise and a residential compound that includes both condominiums and town houses, will also be reviewed at the meeting.

The first is a $6 million, nine-story tower at 245 Altara Ave., in the industrial zone near the Village of Merrick Park, with retail space on the ground floor and offices and condos above.

A two-story town house development with an attached five-story condominium is proposed for the properties at 1405 and 1431 Galiano Street and 35 and 41 Menores Avenue.

Two apartment buildings would be demolished to make way for the $5 million project, comprised of a total of 45 residential units.

The University of Miami will also bring in plans for a one-story practice field house for the basketball teams, which it hopes to build adjacent to the Bank United Center facility. The $7.4 million project at 1245 Dauer Drive includes practice courts, academic and athletic space, restrooms and storage space for a variety of purposes.

City officials will also see plans for a skin care training center at 3737 SW Eighth Street and the Kellogg School of Management satellite campus at 95 Merrick Way.

The meeting begins at 1:30 p.m. Friday and is in the first floor conference room at City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way.

Old Spanish Village to change one of the towers from Residential to Office:

http://cggazette.com/absolutenm/templates/indextemp.aspx?articleid=3181&zoneid=1

Old Spanish Village gets commercial makeover

By Sebastian del Marmol
sdelmarmol@cggazette.com

The Old Spanish Village project planned for the historic Arts and Crafts District of Coral Gables – just south of the city’s Central Business District – is beginning to look more like an extension of the city’s commercial core than a mostly residential development developers originally touted to city leaders about a year ago.

At the Aug. 28 City Commission meeting, the same team of developers, architects and lawyers who sold the project as the fulfillment of city founder George Merrick’s vision for the urban core of the city, humbly asked for major changes to the project which would change its basic characteristic from a mostly residential project with some commercial use to a predominantly commercial project with a significantly less housing stock.

The biggest change involves the building to be constructed at 2801 Ponce de Leon Boulevard which was originally planned to be a residential building and now has been switched to a commercial office building with retail along the first floor.

In total, the changes will result in the loss of 213 planned residential units or 53 percent of the total housing stock of the project.

Instead, the new building which had been tentatively called Casa Palermo will now be a 239,000 square foot office building.

Architect Jorge Hernandez went through the changes with commissioners and admitted that the project evolution was the result of changes to the real estate market which has drasticaly fallen off in the last year or so.

“The market has changed since we first came before you,” Hernandez said. “This is a realignment to insure the health of the project.”

Although the architect and project principals – who sat in the rear of the commission chambers and said nary a word during the discussion – emphasized that they were not seeking any major changes to zoning or other technical aspects of the project, they acknowledged that the changes were significant.

Still, they said that the newly proposed commercial office building had several distinct advantages from the original plan and would essentially replace the mostly vacant office building which is currently on the site.

Among the advantages, according to Hernandez, was the fact that the project would now double the amount of additional parking spaces above what is required by code – from 50 to 105 for a total of 1,109 spaces – and the fact that the new proposal wold not require changes to the right-of-way first contemplated.

The commission unanimously approved the changes but did so with the understanding that some aspects of the project would be lost.

Mayor Don Slesnick, who supported the project from its outset, said that the switch to a mostly commercial project eliminated one of the original selling points of the Old Spanish Village development.

“A residential project would lower the amount of trips and cars as originally envisioned,” Slesnick said. “I’m troubled but still support (the project).”

Even so, he said, the need for commercial office space in the city’s downtown was great and would be partially filled by the new-look version of the project.

“This comes at a time where commerrcial space is much needed. We don’t have it.”

The rest of the commission agreed and in doing so seemed to tacitlly approve a philosophical switch from encouraging residential development in the commercial business district (CBD) to bringing back more commercial space.

During the discussion, Vice Mayor William Kerdyk, Jr. asked project representatives to comment on rumors that the Old Spanish Village project would take on new developers in addition to those already existing.

Robert Fine, an attorney representing current developer Ponce Circle LLP, said he could not comment on ongoing negotitations but that any new players would not affect the overall project or impact fees resulting from it.

A large new project ($81 million) for the Merrick Park area. Its to go on a large group of parcels just south of Merrick Park generally around 4601 LeJeune Rd and it goes before the Coral Gables Development Review Committee on the 26th. Its to be 9 stories (8 above ground and 1 below) with the 1st floor being retail, floors 2-5 being parking (seems way like a terrible waste of space) and floors 6-8 being composed of 60 residential units.

Item #3:
http://www.coralgables.com/CGWeb/documents/bnz_docs/agendas/devrevcomagenda20071026.pdf

Here is the location of the project (thats the parking garage for Merrick Park just above the new project):
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y19/dave8721/md_prop_S0141268592456202387_new.jpg

Awesome find Vendetta!! I was wondering for quite some time what was to go there. It's a perfect site, no wonder it looks so bad now. It'll go well with the other development infront in the ex ford dealership site on the other side of the metrorail. This is real good. The back entrance of merrick park will be nicer...

Drove by the night this was happening and wondered what was going on (they had the searchlights and everything). Turns out it was the ceremonial "ground breaking" ceremony for Old Spanish Village:

http://cggazette.com/absolutenm/templates/indextemp.aspx?articleid=8&zoneid=1


Ponce Circle Developers celebrate groundbreaking and launch of Old Spanish Village



Ponce Circle Developers, along with Coral Gables City officials, hosted an exclusive celebration on November 2nd, to launch Old Spanish Village, the largest mixed-use development currently underway in downtown Coral Gables.

The party was held at the historic Art and Architecture building constructed by Coral Gables founder George Merrick, now serving as the Old Spanish Village Sales Gallery, and was attended by over 200 guests, including the areas top real estate brokers and agents. Local dignitaries such as Coral Gables Mayor Donald Slesnick and Coral Gables City Commissioners were also in attendance.

Guests received a Spanish-themed welcome and were escorted through the sales gallery to a lavishly decorated tent on-site. A guitarist and several flamenco dancers provided entertainment for the evening.

“This is truly a milestone moment for us,” stated Ponce Circle Developers managing partner, Ralph Sanchez. “We have taken pride in developing this project and in fulfilling George Merrick’s dream of building a Spanish-themed village in Coral Gables.”

A historically significant project, Old Spanish Village was developed with extraordinary vision by a team of developers and architects to combine retail, office and residential space and provide the convenience and appeal of village living in downtown Coral Gables.

A better rendering of the office tower for the Old Spanish Village project. It will be interesting to see how it looks in reality (will they go for a cheaply painted exterior?) but judging from the article they do plan on going all out on the finishes with imported marble and such.

http://cggazette.com/absolutenm/articlefiles/3491-Ponce-de-Leon-Towers-perspective.jpg

http://cggazette.com/absolutenm/templates/indextemp.aspx?articleid=8&zoneid=1

This stunning 15-story landmark will offer retail space on the ground floor and office space starting on the eighth level. It is inspired by the beautiful 15th Century Cathedral in Barcelona, Spain, with three majestic towers like the famous Cathedral de Barcelona Santa Eulalia. Like its sister building, Alhambra Towers, which has won nine awards, it will be finished with the finest imported marble, granite, brass, wood work, stained glass, fountains and artwork from around the world.

Interesting... very Coral Gables.

So they're gonna knock down the building that's there? That would be great! Let me see if I can show you guys:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i102/stratoshpere/Picture8.png

That's the lot, but currently there is that white building right where they plan to do the spanish cathedral looking thing.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i102/stratoshpere/Picture9-1.png

So it's going to be demolished? Imploded! I certainly hope so!

The Gables Gateway project to go betwenn LeJeune, Ponce De Leon, and Granello Ave has been reconfigured as a 10-story 230 unit rental apartment tower to be managed by Gables Residential with 100,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor (and 3 ten-foot bike racks).

http://www.coralgables.com/NR/rdonlyres/09EB47A8-BEEB-4C8D-9526-BDEF50543061/1227/021308StaffReportwattachments1.pdf

So they're gonna knock down the building that's there? That would be great! Let me see if I can show you guys:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i102/stratoshpere/Picture8.png


So it's going to be demolished? Imploded! I certainly hope so!


The old office building has been gutted. Its now just a giant shell (looks kind of like an erector set). It will be interesting to see how they bring it down.

Affordable housing project Coral Gables-style: 1-bedrooms to start at $1500/month, 2-bds at $1800/month.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/neighbors/story/506094.html

CORAL GABLES
Gables commission OK's affordable housing project

Commissioners OK'd the first project to be proposed with affordable housing.

BY ELAINE DE VALLE
edevalle@MiamiHerald.com

Affordable housing rates in Coral Gables may seem like a fortune somewhere else.

Case in point: The first project to go up in the city with affordable housing will be built on the edge of the swanky Village of Merrick Park shopping complex near U.S. 1 and offer one-bedroom units for $1,500 a month.

Two bedrooms will go for just under $1,800 a month.

That's because state guidelines set affordable housing rates according to the median income in the neighborhood. In the Gables, that median income is nearly $80,000.

Mayor Don Slesnick said he wanted the project to give priority on those units to workforce staples like teachers and police officers.

The city is mandated by the state to have 437 additional affordable housing units built in the next 10 years and officials realize that in the Gables -- where property values are typically higher than other places -- that may be difficult.

''We projected we needed 44 units a year,'' Slesnick said. ``Our chances of getting 44 units a year are slim to none.''

City planner Javier Betancourt said the department was still writing an affordable housing ordinance that would provide the requirements and guidelines for developers to include either affordable housing in their projects or provide a fee in lieu of that so that the units could be built elsewhere. But that has taken some time, he said.

''If we can get 35 with this project, that is certainly a plus,'' Betancourt told commissioners April 8.

Mario Garcia-Serra, an attorney for the developer of Gables Gateway, said that 35 units was all they could earmark for affordable housing.

''There are no affordable housing requirements right now,'' Garcia-Serra explained to the city's planning and zoning board in February. ``No other developers have come up to the plate like we have. We're doing it to the maximum extent that we can with how the current economics are right now of this project.''

Local real estate consultant David Dabby said, however, that the affordable units seemed to be at market rates.

''It makes no sense,'' he said.

The one-bedroom apartments average out at 900 square feet, which works out to about $1.67 per square foot, which can be found in other rentals -- albeit in older buildings -- in the city.

''If it's not the best located unit in the building, that is not really crazy,'' Dabby said.

''In today's market, for a brand new rental apartment, developers will try to average like $1.90 or $2 per square-foot, so in that sense it's a little below market. But in any building, the range is going to be $1.70 to $2.30, so it's hard to address that,'' he said, explaining that any complex would sell units without premium views at lower rates.

''The truth is that Coral Gables is a place for premium rents,'' Dabby said, ``but $1,500 for a one bedroom? You could find plenty of places in Coral Gables for that -- maybe not brand new.

Commissioner Wayne Withers said he preferred a rental model to the ownership model for affordable housing because he said it seemed easier to manage.

But he was still uncomfortable with the city's role and said the commission should consider finding a private group that ``we can hire that manages affordable housing.''

He later told the Herald that he found the affordable rental rates ''ridiculous,'' even though he thought it was worse when they were selling them for $270,000.

''That's the fallacy of the whole thing,'' Withers said. ``It's affordable housing for Coral Gables, not affordable housing where it should be, in some of the transition downtown zones and fill-in areas.

''Let's have developers donate the money and give it to Miami-Dade County and build affordable housing where it should be, near [State Road] 836 or near Jackson, where people have the Metrorail accessible and land is cheaper,'' Withers said.

Tibor Hollo's 14-story 2020 Ponce office tower topped off:

http://www.cggazette.com/upload/public/n_305_1.jpg

http://www.cggazette.com/index.cfm/index.cfm?dsp=news.view&nid=305

FECR celebrates topping off at 2020 Ponce

Posted on Thu, Jul. 03, 2008
2020 Ponce tops off.

Florida East Coast Realty (FECR) hosted approximately 75 city officials, brokers, buyers and members of the development team at the recent topping off ceremony of 2020 Ponce, a class A office condominium in downtown Coral Gables. Construction on the 14-story building began in June of 2007 and will be completed Spring 2009. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were served as guests mingled on the terrace of the 2020 Ponce sales gallery at 2100 Ponce de Leon.

“To have civic and community leaders support us tonight is a true honor and a testament to the collaboration between Coral Gables and the private sector,” said Tibor Hollo, FECR chairman and president. “We look forward to entering the last phase of 2020 Ponce and delivering a product of which the city and its residents will be proud.”

The 130,000 square-foot Mediterranean-style building is located on the corner of Ponce de Leon and Minorca. It features state-of-the-art office space with customizable, designer-ready layouts, an extraordinary lobby and common areas plus balconies, some with wraparound terraces. The latest technology, security systems, concierge and valet are also features. Owners have the convenience of VIP parking onsite; four spaces will be allotted for each 1,000 square feet. Leasing options are available.

Other current projects in FECR’s portfolio of 55 million square feet of development in 55 years are the recently completed Opera Tower condominium in Miami’s Arts District and One Bayfront Plaza, a $1.8 billion development that will include two 70-story mixed-use towers, the tallest building in Miami and the first hotel to be built north of the Miami River in 25 years. The company is making its mark in other markets such as Las Vegas, New York and St. Petersburg, Florida.

Old Spanish Village is progressing

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/coral-gables/story/639559.html

CORAL GABLES
Pack lunch, you will be idling awhile in Gables

Motorists should expect detours for the next several months around the development called Old Spanish Village in the city's downtown.

BY ELAINE DE VALLE
edevalle@MiamiHerald.com

Construction on Old Spanish Village -- a development of residences, offices and retail space over nearly seven acres near Ponce Circle Park -- will affect traffic in the area for the next several months.

There will be detours as parts of Galiano Street, Coconut Grove Drive, Palermo and Malaga avenues are closed to vehicles.

• Galiano Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from Sevilla to Malaga avenues until later this month.

• Coconut Grove Drive is closed from Ponce de Leon Boulevard to Malaga Avenue until October.

• Palermo Avenue will be open from Ponce de Leon Boulevard to Malaga Avenue only to residents who live on the block.

The work will lay the foundation for the project, a 900,000-square-foot, mixed-use complex that includes office, retail and residential units approved in July 2006.

Townhomes on the property's east side are already under construction, but the bulk of the construction in the next couple of weeks is the water and sewer additions and connections, said Ponce Circle Developer Vice President Albert Perez.

''Not all the streets are going to be shut down at the same time,'' Perez said. ``We're on schedule. Once we wrap up all our civil work, we will continue to work on the townhomes.''

Developers have also started building the architectural landscape elements that will identify the village, Perez said.

''We're building elements to set up the perimeter of the village,'' Perez said, referring to pylons on Ponce, crescent parks on Galiano Street and a bridge -- much like the one on Granada Boulevard and Eighth Street -- over Coconut Grove Drive.

''Everything is progressing nicely,'' Perez said, referring to the project's target date of May 2013.

``The biggest monument to date is the bridge. The structure is already up. We're waiting for the board of architects to approve the paint.''

The next phase of the project will be what the developers call El Prado North, an eight-story residential tower with 49 units on the site of the parking lot of the U.S. Century Bank building on Ponce de Leon, Perez said.

Target date for excavation for that building, which has underground parking, is March, he added.

``Market conditions bearing. We have seen sales pick up the last couple of weeks.''

Anyone know any information on Gables Station, a 7-story retail center parallel to US-1/Metrorail across from Village of Merrick Park in Coconut Grove? Is it going to be built or what?

Here's more information:
http://www.berkowitzdevelopment.com/gablesstation.htm

They closed the Ford dealership there, but just law week the cars were back. I haven't seen any progress on the location and haven't read any news on it in at least a year.

edit: just came across this
http://www.miamiherald.com/251/story/636016.html
Indications are is it's still a go. Maybe they're waiting to finish Alton and 5th.

They closed the Ford dealership there, but just law week the cars were back. I haven't seen any progress on the location and haven't read any news on it in at least a year.

edit: just came across this
http://www.miamiherald.com/251/story/636016.html
Indications are is it's still a go. Maybe they're waiting to finish Alton and 5th.

Interesting. Looks like you're right. They might wait until 5th & Alton is done to start with Gables Station. Thanks for the article.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/coral-gables/story/679602.html

CORAL GABLES
Gables commission blocks office highrise west of Le Jeune

Plans for a 10-story office building on the west side of Le Jeune Road, which is almost entirely residential, were laid to rest by the City Commission.

By ELAINE DE VALLE
edevalle@MiamiHerald.com

Coral Gables City Commissioners changed the zoning Tuesday on a small parcel of land south of City Hall on Le Jeune Road and Valencia Avenue from residential to commercial, as recommended by staff, so it would be consistent with the comprehensive land use plan.

But developers who proposed a 10-story office high rise were shot down because leaders feared the project would encroach on a residential neighborhood and also become a precedent for other properties west of Le Jeune Road to go from residential to commercial.

Nobody even made a motion to entertain the requested land use change, which would allow a higher building, and site plan for the 90,000-square-foot 170-foot high project.

''If this was a project that was multifamily, I would be completely supportive,'' said Commissioner Maria Anderson. ``If this office building, which is beautiful, would be in an area east of Le Jeune, I would be completely supportive.''

Anderson, who lives two blocks away from the site on Almeria Avenue and was told by the city attorney that she had no conflict in voting on the matter, said she remembered when a moratorium on development was issued for that area after residents expressed concern about overdevelopment and the lack of buffer zones.

''This is taking away from the buffer zone,'' she said. ``I can't support it.''

Despite the comments from a majority of nearby residents and property owners who endorsed the project, commissioners were unmoved by arguments by architect Robert Behar and attorney Laura Russo that there was already precedent for high rises west of Le Jeune in the area with the 16-story 550 Biltmore Way building, the David William Hotel Condominium and the 13-story La Roc adjacent to the site.

Vice Mayor William Kerdyk said he was particularly concerned the project could lead to the future development on the site of the Church of Christian Scientist just north of the proposed project and across the street from City Hall.

''And I would not like to see the development of a building of 120 feet at that site,'' Kerdyk said. ``I feel that there is a point of demarcation on Le Jeune.''

The planning staff recommended denial of the project because, in part, it was not compatible with the neighborhood or the historic setting created by City Hall and the church, which is being considered for historic landmark designation. It recommended the underutilized property be developed according to existing commercial zoning, which would allow a 77-foot building with a maximum six stories.

Russo countered that the 13-story La Roc high rise directly west of the site ``already establishes the intensity on this block.''

Commissioners also noted that with the exception of the Jaycee building on University Drive and the 401 Le Jeune building north of City Hall, there were no commercial structures along that corridor of the state road.

Behar, who also sits on the planning and zoning board but recused himself last month when the advisory group voted against the land use change and site plan, argued in favor of the commercial use by invoking the name of Gables founder George Merrick.

He said Merrick ''envisioned this area to be a high rise district'' and showing a 1927 map defining the area as a business zone with height limits of 90 feet.

Commissioner Ralph Cabrera said he also had concerns, but he thought the project was ''quality'' and asked if there was a compromise that could be reached because he did want to see the property, which nearby residents said was an eyesore, redeveloped.

''I would like to see the developer come back with alternative plans based on what we heard here today,'' Cabrera said. ``There's not an appetite for this.''

On sales at Old Spanish Village

http://www.multihousingnews.com/multihousing/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003847038

Condos at Seven-Acre, $350M Mixed-Use Miami Project Start Selling at Brisk Pace


Sept 8, 2008

By Anuradha Kher, Online News Editor

Coral Gables, Fla.--Ponce Circle Developers LLC has selected architecture firm, Jorge L. Hernandez Architect, to design Old Spanish Village, a $350 million, seven-acre mixed-use development in Coral Gables, Fla. Inspired by the vision of Coral Gables founder, George Merrick, Old Spanish Village hopes to evoke the aesthetics of ancient Spanish towns.

Old Spanish Village is the modern realization of one of several themed enclaves in the city, such as the French, Chinese and Dutch villages that Merrick conceived and created in the 1920s. Spanning three city blocks, the community will feature three mid-rise condominiums and 38 villa residences, interspersed with tree-lined courtyards. When complete in approximately four years, the project will feature 222 for-sale units. In addition, the project will feature 250,000 sq. ft. of commercial space, including retail, restaurants and an office tower.

“People in real estate world use the term ‘village’ very lightly, but this is truly a village with pedestrian-friendly streets and roads for cars,” Jorge L. Hernandez, founder of Jorge L. Hernandez Architect, tells MHN. “Across the seven acres, there are cobble stoned streets and small parks with fountains, which give the place a village feel but at the same time, it also has all the urban necessities that people want today. It’s a new urban community.”

Hernandez adds, “The buildings are hurricane-resistant and have an old-world craftsmanship and charm, but also a quality of timelessness, which is the main draw for a lot of the buyers.” Some units will be ready for occupancy in the next six to eight months.

The units are priced from $500,000 to $3 million. “Even though the overall Florida market is not doing very well, Coral Gables is an exception. People are discovering the gem that this city is. There is a lot of demand from European and Latin American buyers as well as regional buyers. Most of our units are selling at lightening speed. In fact, half of our condos are sold at the pre-construction stage,” says Hernandez.

Amenities will include swimming pools, cabanas, fitness centers, common areas and covered parking. In addition, the units will feature Italian cabinetry, impact-resistant widows and doors, alarm and fire-safety systems, and high-end appliances. Villas will also offer private rooftop terraces, private elevators, individual emergency gas generators, two-car garages, a butler’s pantry and a separate laundry room.

Renderings of the Gables Residential rental building to go up at Le Jeune and Ponce De Leon:

http://www.gables.com/gablesliving/photogallery.aspx?Region=21&CommunityId=149

Renderings of the Gables Residential rental building to go up at Le Jeune and Ponce De Leon:

http://www.gables.com/gablesliving/photogallery.aspx?Region=21&CommunityId=149

Thanks for the info. The building's nothing special persay. It's your typical Coral Gables style, but the location is really good it's near the Douglas Rd Metrorail Station (roughly) and it's an area that is slowly going more urban and pedestrian friendly.

The area around Merrick Park and the area around Sunset Place are areas that I would like to see more urban renewal in. They both have a lot of potential and in recent years have grown tremendously, and projects like this Gables residential tower will help that.

Website for Ponce De Leon Towers office project (part of Old Spanish Village):
http://www.poncedeleontowers.com/home.html

Aerial of project location:
http://www.poncedeleontowers.com/pdfs/aerial_plan.pdf

^^ Whats up with the Old Spanish Village? Is it already under construction or when will it start?

^^ Whats up with the Old Spanish Village? Is it already under construction or when will it start?

Parts of it are already under construction. A townhouse portion is well underway.

Yet another new Office Tower to go up in the Gables:

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/081204/story1.shtml

Mexican investors to renovate one office tower, build another in $130 million Coral Gables project

By Yudislaidy Fernandez
Mexican investors plan to build a Coral Gables office tower of 185,000 square feet and renovate an adjoining building of 100,000 square feet.
The $130 million, 396 Alhambra project encompasses renovation of an existing 7-story office building and construction of a 15-story Class A office tower at the Southeast corner of Alhambra Circle and LeJeune Road.
Phase one, which includes the rehab, is to begin in February and be completed by spring 2010. The building's parking garage is to be demolished and replaced by a new garage for the two towers, three spaces per 1,000 square feet, said Pete Harrison, senior vice president of Transwestern, 396 Alhambra's leasing agent.
Mr. Harrison said leasing rates for the redeveloped building will be $40 to $43 gross per square foot and for the new office tower $50 to $55 gross per square foot.
Developers hope to start building the 185,000-square-foot tower in May to be ready for occupancy in two years, said Hector Fernandez, developer of 396 Alhambra. He is seeking silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the building. About 30,000 square feet are reserved for retail in the ground floor.
Mr. Fernandez heads Agave Florida Investments — the affiliate real estate arm of Mexico's leading tequila producer, Jose Cuervo — a major developer in Mexico City with a portfolio of 1 million square feet of office space and two office towers under construction, he said.
Agave bought the property, former headquarters of Exxon Mobil Corp., in March.
Mr. Fernandez said he hopes to attract Latin American businesses to move their headquarters to Coral Gables. "We are committed to provide Coral Gables an amazing office building."

man look at the gables grow, I'm dying to visit when I'm down there for christmas break...that stretch between lejuene/bird/ us-1 I feel could see alot of vertical growth in the future...too bad traffic was always horrible around there especially when I was trying to get to/from school

Wow. I wonder how the building will look. I guess we really like to build on speculation here in Miami, because they continuously talk about the overstock of office space we will have starting in 2009, but yet more office projects keep being announced.

thanks to mexico we get another office buidling

Article with a small image of the new 396 Alhambra buiding:

http://www.globest.com/newspics/mia_396alhambra.jpg

http://www.globest.com/news/1300_1300/florida/175556-1.html

Anyone have any updates on the Gables Station retail/parking building that is supposed to go along Metrorail and US-1? It's being done by Berkowitz Development, the same people building 5th & Alton. Here's the information:

http://www.berkowitzdevelopment.com/gablesstation.htm

Anyone have any updates on the Gables Station retail/parking building that is supposed to go along Metrorail and US-1? It's being done by Berkowitz Development, the same people building 5th & Alton. Here's the information:

http://www.berkowitzdevelopment.com/gablesstation.htm

Its "on hold". The following article was about 5th and Alton but had this nugget about Gables Station:

http://www.miamiherald.com/business/real-estate/story/882587.html

GABLES STATION

But plans are stuck on hold for Gables Station, another vertical retail project Berkowitz has been trying to build on the Ford of Coral Gables site.

''No one is going to pull the trigger in this environment,'' Berkowitz said. ``We have to wait for the market to get healthy.''

Berkowitz, who has been through a few of these cycles before, isn't worried because he jokes: ``I specialize in complicated projects with significant brain damage.''

This time, Berkowitz is not alone. The fallout is already starting to show up everywhere in the local retail industry.

''Anything that's not out of the ground, isn't happening,'' said Stephen Bittel, chairman of Terranova, a Miami Beach firm that owns and manages shopping centers. ``We've got a lot of things to fix before we need to add retail capacity.''

The car to people floor space ratio of this bldg is crazy. Like 65-70% of the bldg is for cars. That cant be cheap.

The new 396 Alhambra office tower has its permits and is beginning construction:

http://www.cggazette.com/index.cfm/index.cfm?dsp=news.view&nid=1250

Another office building opens:

http://www.globest.com/news/1485_1485/florida/180745-1.html

New Office Building Ready for Tenants

By Carl Cronan

CORAL GABLES, FL-The developer of 2020 Ponce, a 14-story office building located along Ponce de Leon Boulevard, says the building has received its certificate of occupancy and is ready for its first occupants to move in. The 130,000-square-foot building includes seven floors of premium office space, a six-level parking garage and ground-level retail.
Miami-based Florida East Coast Realty has offered space at 2020 Ponce for sale or lease, with 40,000 square feet currently available. The customizable spaces range from 500 square feet to a full floor of 16,500 square feet, and column-free floor plans allow up to 30% greater efficiency in space planning.

Colliers Abood Wood-Fay, also based in Coral Gables, is leasing agent for the Mediterranean-style class A building. Amenities include technology and security systems, wireless capabilities, and concierge and valet service.

The building opens ahead of nearly two million square feet of new offices slated for completion this year in Miami-Dade County, plus 740,000 square feet in 2010. Coral Gables' office vacancy rate was 18.8% at midyear, though average asking base rents remain just under $40 per square foot, according to Cushman & Wakefield. Full-service rents at 2020 Ponce range between $46 and $51 per square foot.

In a related note, Florida East Coast Realty recently broke ground on its latest development, Villa Majorca, a 36-unit luxury rental townhome complex at Majorca Avenue and Le Jeune Road. "Following the recent delivery of 2020 Ponce, our premier office condominium that now stands as a landmark in this prestigious city, we are extremely pleased to be moving forward with our next development here in Coral Gables," Tibor Hollo, the company's chairman and president, stated in a release.

http://www.frej.net/news/south-florida/2011-02-02/396-alhambra-tops-phase-ii

http://www.frej.net/sites/default/files/396%20Alhambra%201-28-11.jpg

396 Alhambra tops off Phase II

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

CORAL GABLES - 396 Alhambra, the $140-million mixed-use office complex moving toward completion at the corner of Alhambra Circle and Le Jeune Road, threw a big topping-off for the nearly 400 workers, contractors, builders, subcontractors, managers, consultants and investors who are transforming the property into a gateway office destination in Coral Gables.

Just eight months after breaking ground in late May, crews from Balfour Beatty Construction, the construction management company, have worked their way to the top of the 15-story tower that will be Phase II of the development.

RTKL, the global architecture and design firm, will move there in late May, leasing more than 14,000sf, joining Citibank on the ground floor. The project is on the east side of LeJeune Road, between Alhambra Circle and Giralda Avenue.

Phase I, which includes a complete transformation of the seven-story Citibank building into Class A luxury space, and an 884-space garage, is on track to open this spring.

When both phases are complete late this year, the complex will include 273,000sf of luxury Class A office space, 30,000sf of retail, a terrace and a concierge, with dining, fitness and spa facilities in the plans.

The United States Green Building Council has pre-certified Phase II with the Gold LEED and Phase I with the Silver LEED designation.

New decidedly non-mediterranean office building coming to Coral Gables at 2990 Ponce De Leon Blvd. Its only 6-stories.

http://www.thebuildingonponce.com/index.html

Looking back at the beginning of threads like these and seeing the hayday and excitement from 05 to 07 makes it feel like a Route 66 ghost town now :lol:

Nice looking little building, though.

10-story rental building to break ground on corner of LeJeune and Ponce De Leon Blvd a block from US-1 near Merrick Park

Rendering:
http://www.gables.com/gablesliving/community.aspx?Region=21&CommunityId=149


http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2011/06/10/coral-gables-project-gets-50m.html
Coral Gables project gets $50M construction loan
South Florida Business Journal - by Brian Bandell

Date: Friday, June 10, 2011, 12:06pm EDT - Last Modified: Friday, June 10, 2011, 2:12pm EDT


PNC Bank granted a $50 million construction mortgage to an affiliate of Atlanta-based apartment developer Gables Residential for a project in Coral Gables.

The loan by PNC (NYSE: PNC) to LG Coral, the affiliate of Gables Residential, covers the 2.3-acre site at the northeast corner of Le Jeune Road and Ponce de Leon Boulevard near South Dixie Highway. It was purchased for $21 million in 2007.

Gables Residential President and CEO David Fitch said the project, with 250 units and 26,000-square-foot of retail space, would break ground this summer. It should begin opening in fall 2012 and it could have a new name by then. He plans to lease apartments at $2 to $2.50 per square foot per month.

The great location, near the Merrick Park mall, the University of Miami and a Metrorail station, helped convince the lender that this was a good project, Fitch said.

"The capital markets have eased up a bit and things are moving in the right direction from a capital flow standpoint," Fitch said. "The rental market has firmed up and there is growth."

Gables Residential already has about 16 South Florida projects, according to a map on its website.

On May 31, LG Coral filed a notice of commencement for the construction of a mixed-use residential and commercial building that has the working title of Gables 4585 Ponce. The contractor is Facchina Construction of Florida, of Fort Lauderdale.

Anyone have any updates on the Gables Station retail/parking building that is supposed to go along Metrorail and US-1? It's being done by Berkowitz Development, the same people building 5th & Alton. Here's the information:

http://www.berkowitzdevelopment.com/gablesstation.htm

Well it took a while, but the project finally gets the green light.

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/110721/story1.shtml

This is a great project for the area. It's located right along the metrorail and US-1. It will most likely be big box retailers (think Best Buy, Target, ect.) like Dadeland station. This is going to make living in Coral Gables and even Brickell/Downtown even better.

For example they already started construction on Gables Residential which is next door. It's going to be primarily residential with a few shops on the ground floor. So say for example that you work in Brickell/Downtown but you rather live in Coral Gables instead. You can live at Gables Residential where you'll have ground floor retail, big box vertical retail next door, Merrick Park on your other door step, miracle mile only minutes away (and a free trolley) and then you can simply take the metrorail 3 stops to Brickell.

Or vice versa if live in Brickell you can now get to a big box retail are on the metrorail that is only 3 stops away. When I used to ride the metrorail from Brickell to UM the Douglas Station stop (5 minute walk from this development) was about a 7 min ride. So you're talking about a 15-20 minute commute to work. Far better than fighting US-1.

Yes, US1 is terrible south of where 95 ends and dumps all it's interstate remnants into an urban stop and go road. It's the one route where commuting is definitely the better option. How long has it been since any idea of extending 95 got canned? I know it was brought up at one time. It would be awesome if it was built right over the top of US1 for the first few miles, making it like one of those Chicago roads, it would also having Metrorail running along side it. But of course, now that it's gone so long, it would be impossible to find a right of way for an interstate through there.

Proposal to build a 10-story, 188-unit building on the corner of Bird and LeJeune:

http://www.coralgables.com/CGWeb/documents/bnz_docs/agendas/devrevcomagenda20110826.pdf

The Gables Residential building is under construction and a couple of floors up, the new 10-story apt building at near Bird and LeJeune is progressing through permitting and now another 10-story apartment building is being proposed between Merrick Park and US-1 at 298 Granello Ave.

http://www.coralgables.com/CGWeb/documents/bnz_docs/agendas/devrevcomagenda20110916.pdf

What Is the height/floor limit for coral gables?

(There was no where else to put a Coconut Grove development)

A 20-story condo to rise at the site of the current Grand Bay Hotel in the Grove:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/22/2708923/old-grand-bay-hotel-to-become.html

Old Grand Bay hotel to become new residential tower

The Grand Bay hotel, once an icon of luxury, will be razed to make way for a residential tower designed by a prominent Danish architect.

BY HANNAH SAMPSON
HSAMPSON@MIAMIHERALD.COM

In its prime, the Grand Bay hotel in Coconut Grove was the place to be, whether you were a businessman meeting for breakfast, a celebrity seeking publicity or a bride celebrating her perfect day.

But the hotel’s heyday was a long time ago. And soon, it will just be a memory.

The only hotel south of Palm Beach to have ever earned the coveted Mobil five-star rating will be demolished to make way for a residential tower designed by an up-and-coming Danish architect, the developer confirmed Thursday.

“Our plans are to do something that’s very one-of-a-kind,” said David Martin, chief operating officer of Terra Group, which bought the property last summer for $24 million. “We wanted to really build something that people felt they could be proud of.”

For the first time since the purchase, Martin provided details on the company’s plans for the site. After a gradual decline, the Grand Bay has been shuttered for nearly four years, collecting mold, graffiti and pigeon droppings.

While full details of the new project are still to come, here’s what is known:

The building will be 20 stories high with about 96 units, all residential.

Lead design is by Bjarke Ingels Group, or BIG, which has made waves for high-profile projects near Copenhagen and in China, New York City and Utah. Ingels, a 30-something “starchitect” in-the-making, was named Innovator of the Year in Architecture by the Wall Street Journal’s magazine.

Raymond Jungles, the landscape architect who designed the grounds at 1111 Lincoln Road and the New World Symphony’s rooftop garden, will handle the outdoor space. And rounding out what Martin called a “design dream team” is Coral Gables architecture firm Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe and Associates, which has worked on Miami-area residential projects and hotels for years — including the original Grand Bay.

Developed by the late Sherwood “Woody” Weiser and Donald Lefton of The Continental Companies for $30 million, the hotel opened in 1983 in an area transitioning from artsy-hippie enclave and cocaine-cowboy hangout to major tourist destination. The 200-roomGrand Bay, at 2669 S. Bayshore Dr., was immediately hailed for its pyramid-shaped structure, its pristine service and its draw for jetsetters, especially Regine’s nightclub, which sat atop the hotel. The eponymous nightclub queen operated party spots around the world but chose the Grand Bay as only her second U.S. location.“I called it Fantasyland,” said Terry Zarikian, who worked there for 10 years in jobs including public relations director for Regine’s.“It was filled with celebrities. It was very, very classy, very chic.”

Actually they are putting in 2 20-story condos:

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/print-edition/2012/03/30/grand-bay-hotel-site-to-become-a.html

What was once the posh Grand Bay Hotel in Coconut Grove is being demolished to make way for a two-tower condominium project comprising 96 luxury units.

Nice. It's been kind of sad just seeing it sit there empty these last few years. Glad there's still some interest in the Grove. Is the office tower going to come down too?

http://www.coralcoconut.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Grove-at-Grand-Bay-1-Large.jpg
src: http://www.coralcoconut.com/coconut-grove/grove-at-the-grand-bay-raise-the-roof/

A few more buildings planned for the Merrick Park area:
http://www.coralgables.com/index.aspx?page=564

For 4535 Ponce De Leon Blvd (10 stories, 120 feet):
http://www.coralgables.com/modules/showimage.aspx?imageid=1320

Merrick Manor - 4133 Le Jeune Rd (10 stories, 125 feet):
http://www.coralgables.com/modules/showimage.aspx?imageid=1302

There is also a 278 unit building in the works at 3880 Bird Rd on the City of Miami side of the border.

http://www.miamigov.com/planning/pages/boards/120418_UDRBAgenda.pdf

Coral Gables is exemplary when it comes to urbanism and liveliness.