Dubai-Based DAMAC Properties Closes On $120 Million Surfside Site Of Collapsed Condo, To Build Cavalli-Branded Condo

The Dubai-based DAMAC Properties, who was revealed as the she stalking horse bidder for the site of the former Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida which tragically collapsed in June 2021, has closed on the site for $120 million. DAMAC Properties, led by billionaire developer Hussain Sajwani, is planning to develop a Cavalli branded condo project on the site.

The developer agreed to a $120 million bid for the oceanfront property located at 8777 Collins Ave. via one of their US entities, East Oceanside Development, LLC. in September 2021. Court-appointed trustee Michael Goldberg issued the deed for the site at 8777 Collins Avenue which spans ±1.88 acres or ±81,886 square feet. The proceeds from the sale will go toward the $96 million settlement for the Champlain Towers South unit owners who lost their home in the tragic collapse.

The Cavallli Surfside condo will be DAMAC Properties’ first project in the United States. Sajwani’s private equity firm Vision Investments purchased the Cavalli luxury fashion brand in 2019. DAMAC Properties launched a 70-story Cavalli Tower in Dubai in 2021.

Honorable Judge Michael A. Hanzman and the court appointed receiver Michael Goldberg tabbed Avison Young, led by Michael T. Fay, to market the property in late-August 2021. Avison Young’s Michael T. Fay and his team John K. Crotty, David Duckworth, Brian C. de la Fé, and Berkley K. Bloodworth oversaw the sale, pro bono.

The Dubai-Based DAMAC Properties Revealed As $120 Million Stalking Horse Bidder Of Site Of Collapsed Surfside Condo

The stalking horse bidder for the site of the former Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida which tragically collapsed in June 2021 has been revealed as the Dubai-based DAMAC Properties, led by billionaire developer Hussain Sajwani. The developer agreed to a $120 million bid for the oceanfront property located at 8777 Collins Ave. via one of their US entities, East Oceanside Development, LLC. East Oceanside Development will be required to submit a $16 million deposit with $150,000 non-refundable and the developer will now begin two months of due diligence on the site. The Surfside land at 8777 Collins Avenue spans ±1.88 acres or ±81,886 square feet.

Once the initial bid is finalized by Honorable Judge Michael A. Hanzman other developers will be able to submit bids on the property to potentially push the price higher. Judge Hanzman has the final decision over which developer wins the bidding considering input from the lawyers overseeing the class-action negligence case with the final decision expected in the spring of 2022. Hanzman wants the sale to produce as much proceeds as possible in order to help compensate the families of the 98 people who lost their lives in the collapse and countless others who lost their homes. The victims and their families will also be the beneficiaries of a $49 million insurance payout.

Honorable Judge Michael A. Hanzman and the court appointed receiver Michael Goldberg tabbed Avison Young, led by Michael T. Fay, to market the property in late-August. Avison Young’s Michael T. Fay and his team John K. Crotty, David Duckworth, Brian C. de la Fé, and Berkley K. Bloodworth are spearheading the sale, pro bono.

Avison Young's Michael T. Fay Launches Marketing For The Former Site Of Champlain Towers South In Surfside

Pursuant to the direction of the Honorable Judge Michael A. Hanzman and the court appointed receiver Michael Goldberg, Avison Young, led by Michael T. Fay, has officially launched the marketing process for the sale of the Champlain Towers South site in Surfside, Florida. Efforts to establish a suitable memorial immediately adjacent to or near the site honoring the cherished memories of the victims of the horrific tragedy of June 24, 2021, are ongoing. The news comes as the reported stalking horse bidder continues to review their $120 million contract.

Avison Young’s Michael T. Fay and his team John K. Crotty, David Duckworth, Brian C. de la Fé, and Berkley K. Bloodworth are spearheading the sale, pro bono. The team welcomes all inquiries regarding the property and will soon announce the date and time for a live bidding process to take place in the courtroom in the coming weeks. Additionally, a contract for $120 million is in review by an undisclosed stalking horse bidder.

“It’s an honor for our team to sell this site through Receiver Michael Goldberg and Judge Michael Hanzman for all the families and victims of this sad tragedy,” said Michael T. Fay, Principal, Managing Director - Miami, Chairman, U.S. Capital Markets Executive Committee at Avison Young.

The Surfside land at 8777 Collins Avenue spans ±1.88 acres or ±81,886 square feet. The offering memorandum is available to the public and can be downloaded via the following link: http://properties.avisonyoung.com/surfside

Distressed Office Building In Lake Worth Auctioned On Ten-X For $5.5 Million

A distressed office building in Lake Worth, FL has successfully been auctioned on the Ten-X online auction platform as the sale reflects the low inventory yet high demand for distressed and medical office assets. JFK Medical Building, located at 4801 South Congress Ave. in Lake Worth, closed for $5.55 million in the online auction.

JFK Medical Building is a four-story, multi-tenant medical office building totaling 35,078 rentable square feet. The property is located at 4801 South Congress Ave in Lake Worth, situated in one of the two primary office nodes of Palm Beach County’s Palm Springs/Lake Worth submarkets.

Avison Young Principals John K. Crotty, CCIM; David Duckworth; Michael T. Fay, who is also Managing Director of the firm’s Miami office; Vice President Brian de la Fé; and Associate Berkley Bloodworth completed the sale of the foreclosure property on behalf of the owner, JPMCC 2006-LDP7 OFFICE 4801, LLC. BD 4801, LLC was the buyer.

“As REO [real estate owned] distressed asset inventory remains low, the 30-percent-occupied JFK Medical Building represented a significant investment opportunity at a considerable discount to replacement cost,” said Crotty. “The asset’s recent renovations, coupled with it’s proximity to the JFK Medical Center, will provide the buyer with tremendous upside from lease-up opportunities.”

Located within a half-mile of the main campus of the JFK Medical Center, a 486-bed medical and surgical facility, and HCA East Florida-affiliated hospital, JFK Medical Building boasts excellent frontage, access, and visibility on Congress Avenue, and is just one mile west of Interstate 95. Over the past two years, ownership invested over $500,000 in major capital expenditure work including, new elevator cabs, a new common-area HVAC system, new flooring in the lobby, a resealed parking lot, new exterior landscaping, refaced monument signage, and a partial ceiling tile replacement.

Leasing activity has been strong in Palm Beach County to date in 2021, with strong in-migration coming from the Northeast contributing to the market’s economic growth. As a result, average base rents the county continue to climb and are among the highest in the country, according to Avison Young.

For more information about commercial sales or leasing in the Palm Beaches, private showings or availability/ pricing information please fill out the form below:

AB Asset Management Acquires Residence Inn Coconut Grove From Hersha Hospitality Trust

AB Asset Management has acquired the Residence Inn Coconut Grove, a three-building, 140-unit hotel at 2835 Tigertail Avenue in Miami’s vibrant Coconut Grove neighborhood. The 2 acre property sold for $31 million, which breaks down to roughly $221,429. The seller was Hersha Hospitality Trust, led by Neil and Jay Shah. The transaction was overseen by Avison Young’s Florida Capital Markets Group led by Avison Young Principals John K. Crotty, CCIM; Michael T. Fay, who is also Managing Director of the firm’s Miami operations; David Duckworth; Vice President Brian C. de la Fé; and Associates Emily Brais and Berkley Bloodworth. AB Asset Management LLC is managed by Getzy Fellig and Sam Zalmanov.

“The Residence Inn received strong interest because of its Coconut Grove location near the newly renovated CocoWalk retail and dining destination, the 750,000-square-foot mixed-use Mayfair in the Grove development, and several other exciting new projects that contribute to the area’s live-work-play appeal,” said Crotty.

Situated at the intersection of Tigertail Avenue and Mary Street, the property sits on over two acres at the entry-point of the Grove’s business district, just a few minutes walking distance from shopping, dining venues, and multiple parks overlooking Biscayne Bay. The neighborhood has proven itself as a destination for high-end condominium use, with recent high-rise developments Park Grove, Grove at Grand Bay, and Mr. C Residences.

DRA Advisors Lists Pinnacle Corporate Park Portfolio In Fort Lauderdale

A fund managed by DRA Advisors LLC has entrusted Avison Young’s Florida Capital Markets Group to sell Pinnacle Corporate Park, a two-building, class A office portfolio at 500 and 550 W. Cypress Creek Road in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Avison Young Principals John K. Crotty, CCIM; David Duckworth; Michael T. Fay, who is also Managing Director of the firm’s Miami operations; Greg Martin, and George Vail will lead the sale. The transaction team also includes Avison Young Vice President Brian C. de la Fé and Associates Berkley Bloodworth and Emily Brais.

The asset totals 259,458 square feet on 14.31 acres in Broward County’s Cypress Creek submarket. Pinnacle Corporate Park is positioned in the heart of Fort Lauderdale’s Uptown Urban Village, a master plan that supports the development of a thriving, transit-supportive, mixed-use neighborhood. Its offices are less than a mile from Interstate 95 and directly accessible from the Cypress Creek Tri-Rail station.

“Pinnacle Corporate Park is the most desirable property in the Cypress Creek submarket due to its strong occupancy, rental rate growth, and immediate potential for lease-up,” said Crotty. “In addition to the existing value, the offering provides the opportunity to maximize land on the site in the coming years through residential development.”

Pinnacle Corporate Park coming to market represents the trend of large funds and institutional owners’ confidence to sell large office assets again, as sales declined immediately following the pandemic. The deal would be similar to the recent $78.42 million Plantation Crossroads three-building portfolio sale.

“We are seeing an uptick in demand for investors looking to deploy capital in well-located South Florida office assets,” said Duckworth. “Pinnacle Corporate Park is ideally situated near major expressways, transit, and amenities, and provides the perfect opportunity.”

Avison Young’s Florida Capital Markets Group Oversees Sale Of Concept II Towers In Lake Worth

Avison Young’s Florida Capital Markets Group has overseen the sale of Concept II Towers in Lake Worth for $10.9 million to local real estate investor Allen Chelminsky. The 6.6-acre complex, located at 2290-2328 10th Ave., features a pair of office towers which were developed in 1985. The recently renovated complex offers a total of 96,674 square feet of office space overlooking Lake Worth. The seller, KAS Lakeworth, was represented Avison Young’s Florida Capital Markets Group lex by David Duckworth, John K. Crotty, Michael T. Fay, Brian C. de la Fé, Emily Brais and Berkley Bloodworth. KAS Lakeworth acquired the property for $7.4 million in 2015.

“The buyer for Concept II Towers secured an outstanding value-add office asset which consistently performed well during the pandemic and increased occupancy to 82.5%,” said Duckworth. “Situated in an ideal central Palm Beach County location with Lake Worth in the midst of revitalization, the property boasts strong in-place cash flows with a synergistic mix of quality medical and professional tenants, and there is and tremendous upside potential through lease-up.” 

“The Concept II Towers sale is a sign of growing investor confidence in the commercial real estate market,” said Crotty. “Many investors are looking to get back to the business of buying assets that fit their overall strategy. The office market remains incredibly resilient, and collection rates are tracking similarly to pre-pandemic levels.” 

Avison Young Oversees Zaragon Acquisition of RAM Steel Framing Headquarters For $7.55 Million

Avison Young’s Florida Capital Markets Group closed the $7.55 million industrial sale-leaseback of the 105,000 SF RAM Steel Framing headquarters location at 7400 N.W. 37th Ave. in Miami. Zaragon, Inc., purchased the property. With the sale, Zaragon secured a long-term, absolute triple net (NNN) lease with a single tenant that is a leader in supplying manufactured steel products to South Florida’s robust pipeline of active commercial developments. Avison Young Principals David Duckworth; Michael T. Fay, who is also Managing Director of the firm’s Miami operations; John K. Crotty, CCIM; Vice Presidents Brian C. de la Fé; David F. Spillers, SIOR; and Associates Emily Brais and Berkley Bloodworth facilitated the transaction on behalf of RAM Steel Framing.

“The sale-leaseback represents a trend of single-tenant industrial deals having the highest chance to close in the current market environment,” said Duckworth. “With the investment appeal of RAM Steel Framing as a high-quality tenant, we successfully negotiated and closed the deal during the COVID-19 shutdown without any pricing adjustments.”

RAM Steel Framing is a full-line manufacturer of drywall and structural framing for commercial and residential construction, with recent high-profile projects including the Miami International Airport expansion, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino guitar-shaped tower in Hollywood, and the luxury Aston Martin Residences in Downtown Miami. The company is one of the fastest-growing steel manufacturers in the country and the largest manufacturer in South Florida, with additional manufacturing facilities in Orlando, Florida, and Chesapeake, Virginia.

“The absolute NNN investment opportunity was ideal in that all of the building’s structural and operating expenses will be the responsibility of the tenant,” continued Duckworth. “RAM Steel Framing is considered an essential business, and therefore offers great stability as a tenant.”

Located within an Opportunity Zone along Miami’s Hialeah industrial corridor, the industrial asset is approximately three miles from the Miami International Airport to the south and six and a half miles from Port Miami to the east.

Miami’s industrial market continued to outperform all other asset classes through 2019 and into 2020. According to research by Avison Young, overall vacancy in Miami-Dade County was 3.86%, with vacancy in the Hialeah submarket at 2.90% as of first-quarter 2020. Industrial rental rates hold firm due to low vacancy rates and strong fundamentals across the South Florida region.

Moishe Mana Closes On Acquisition of Former City National Bank In Downtown Miami For $25 Million

Billionaire real estate investor Moishe Mana has closed on the $25 million sale of 25 West Flagler Street, an assemblage of three adjacent parcels totaling 29,000 SF of land in Downtown Miami’s Central Business District (CBD). The property features redevelopment potential of up to 80 stories and ±696,000 SF, as of right. The transaction was overseen by Avison Young’s Florida Capital Markets Group with Avison Young Principals John K. Crotty, CCIM; Michael T. Fay, who is also Managing Director of the firm’s Miami operations; David Duckworth; Vice President Brian de la Fé; and Associates Berkley Bloodworth and Emily Brais in collaboration with Dan Carlo negotiated the disposition on behalf of the seller, City National Bank. The existing 139,448 SF office building was City National Bank’s former flagship headquarters.

Moishe Mana is one of the most prolific private investors in Miami who owns a significant number of properties along the Flagler Street corridor, including the property immediately to the east of 25 West Flagler, and in Wynwood.

“The sale of 25 West Flagler is a major deal in Miami, as the property has become part of a long-range redevelopment play,” said Crotty. “Ideally located and designated with Miami’s most favorable and aggressive zoning, the asset is a valuable addition to the buyer’s portfolio and overall plan in the area.”

Located between West Flagler Street and Northwest First Street, 25 West Flagler advantageously sits across from the Miami-Dade County Courthouse, within walking distance to Brightline’s MiamiCentral Station. A recently completed segment of the massive $27 million Flagler Street renovation and beautification project to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment, fronts the property. 

New developments are encouraged by the Miami Downtown Development Authority’s 2025 Master Plan, which aims to maximize the potential of the Greater Downtown area and its waterfront through the implementation of projects that will increase livability, encourage private sector investment and ensure the proper expenditure of public dollars. Possible redevelopments of 25 West Flagler include a variety of mixed-use options such as office, multifamily or condo residential, hotel and retail.

Avison Young Oversees Sale Of $70 Million Transformco Distribution Center To Reich Brothers

Avison Young’s Florida Capital Markets Group has overseen the sale and closing of the Transformco Distribution Center, the largest single-building industrial asset in Florida spanning nearly 2 million SF, to Reich Brothers. The transaction closed for $70 million for the 1,937,892-square-foot Transformco Distribution Center, located at 655 SW 52nd Ave. in Ocala. With a sale-leaseback agreement, Transformco continues to occupy the property to operate its main distribution center for the entire Southeast U.S. region supporting Sears, Kmart, and Hometown stores. The transaction brings Avison Young’s Capital Markets Group’s investment sales closed in the past 60 days alone to more than $300 million

Avison Young Principal and Miami Managing Director Michael T. Fay; Principals Jay A. Ziv, CCIM, SIOR, ALC; John K. Crotty, CCIM; and David Duckworth; Vice President Brian C. de la Fé; Associate Berkley Bloodworth; and Associate Emily Brais negotiated the sale on behalf of Transform Holdco. The buyer was Reich Brothers, a national industrial real estate firm specializing in manufacturing and distribution facilities across the U.S.

“Industrial continues to be the hottest asset type for investment in Florida, with Ocala standing out due to its quick access to every major market in the state as well as Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama,” said Fay. “The Distribution Center offered Reich Brothers the opportunity to acquire a substantial, in-demand, cash-flow property in Central Florida.”

Despite new construction, Central Florida’s distribution market maintains a vacancy rate in the low single-digits. In addition to Transformco, major distribution users in Ocala include ClosetMaid, Chewy, AutoZone, FedEx, and several others. Less than five minutes from Interstate 75, the Sears Distribution Center is within a four-hour drive time of 14 million people.

Avison Young’s Florida Capital Markets Group also completed the disposition of the 126,336-square-foot Sears location at 9409 U.S. Hwy 19 in Port Richey, Florida.