Blackstone Acquires MiamiCentral Office Buildings For $230 Million To Build Downtown Miami Technology Hub

The New York City-based global investment firm Blackstone has acquired the 2 and 3 MiamiCentral office buildings from Shorenstein Properties for $230 million. The office complex, which was developed in 2017 and 2018, spans 317,939 square feet, breaking the transaction down to $723.41 per square foot. The office buildings are located at 161 NW 6th St. and 700 NW 1st Ave.; additionally, they are connected to MiamiCentral Station, which offers the Brightline train service to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Shorenstein Properties initially acquired the properties for $170.5 million in May 2019.

Blackstone leased 41,000 square feet at 2 MiamiCentral in January 2021 for Blackstone’s in-house technology team BXTI before committing to buying the buildings. Blackstone plans to build a technology hub in Downtown Miami and will use the new acquisitions as part of its initiative. The firm plans to hire over 200 technology employees in Miami.

Other tenants at 2 & 3 Miami Central include Ernst & Young, Regus, Moss & Associates, Atlantic Pacific Corporation, Publix, Brightline, CONCACAF, MTV, Einstein Bros. Bagels and Florida East Coast Industries.

Blackstone Group Signs Long-Term Lease At MiamiCentral For South Florida Expansion

Blackstone Group has signed a long-term lease at 2 MiamiCentral in Downtown Miami as the investment group moves forward with their South Florida expansion which was announced in October 2020. Blackstone will occupy 41,000 square feet over two floors in the recently completed 2 MiamiCentral where the group plans to have over 200 employees who will be focused on tech. The lease was overseen by Alan Klebar and Ryan Nunes of JLL, who represented Blackstone, as well as Danet Linares and Andres del Corral of Blanca Commercial Real Estate, who represented the landlord. The newly signed lease brings 2 MiamiCentral, which is owned by Shorenstein Properties, to 98% occupied with other tenants included Ernst & Young, Carlton Fields and New Fortress Energy. Asking rates at 2 and 3 MiamiCentral are $40 NNN.

“Miami is a vibrant city with a pipeline of top technology talent available from best in class university programs, as well as an experienced workforce that will enable us to diversify our talent pool and grow our technology team. 2 MiamiCentral’s prime downtown location and access to mass transit make it an ideal office location,” said John Stecher, Blackstone’s Chief Technology Officer.

MiamiCentral was developed by Florida East Coast Industries and completed in 2018. The 2 MiamiCentral and 3 MiamiCentral office buildings have highly efficient, open rectangular floor plates, floor to ceiling windows boasting unobstructed views, market leading amenities, and direct access to local and multi-city mass transit. The 17-story 2 MiamiCentral is located at 700 NW 1st Avenue and features 190,000 square feet of Class A office space with a 288-stall valet parking garage that sit adjacent to Miami Central Station, the transportation hub serving four rail lines including the Brightline. Combined 2 and 3 MiamiCentral feature 320,000 square feet of Class A office-space and were acquired by Shorenstein Properties for more than $159 million in 2019.