Gatsby Florida Secures $100.4 Million Refinancing Facilitated by Berkadia For DiVosta Towers Class A Office Campus in Palm Beach Gardens

Berkadia, a distinguished leader in the commercial real estate sector, has facilitated a $100.4 million loan for Gatsby Florida to refinance DiVosta Towers, a 220,000-square-foot Class A office campus in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. One of the newest trophy office towers in Palm Beach County, DiVosta Towers consists of two 11-story office towers and a connected structured parking facility. The property is fully leased and home to a diverse roster of national and global tenants.

Senior Managing Director Charles Foschini, Managing Director Scott Wadler and Associate Director Shannon Wilson of Berkadia Miami arranged the loan on behalf of the sponsor, Gatsby Florida.

Cirrus Real Estate Partners provided a three-year, floating-rate, interest-only loan. Proceeds will refinance the existing loan Berkadia arranged in 2022 and position the asset for continued performance.

“In today’s lending environment, office is the most scrutinized asset class, and refinancing even high-quality properties has become increasingly selective,” said Foschini. “DiVosta Towers stands apart. With full occupancy, institutional-caliber tenancy, and a location where new supply is effectively constrained, this was exactly the type of asset lenders are still willing to back.”

“Palm Beach Gardens has emerged as one of the strongest office submarkets in the country, supported by strong in-migration and massive corporate investments in and around West Palm Beach,” added Wadler. “Office rents are up more than 90% over the past decade, and that growth is being driven by real fundamentals. The building’s location and performance coupled with best-in-class ownership and management made this deal possible. The Gatsby Florida team has employed a class-leading tenant program in the building and continues to outperform in the state.”

“Since taking ownership of the properties in 2020 and completing the full lease-up and construction of the towers we have been able to attract, and continue to attract, some of the best global firms to our property,” added Isaac Schalom, Vice President, Gatsby Florida. “By having a hands-on approach to the management, leasing and all other aspects we continue to add value to this strategic asset in Palm Beach County.”

Located at 3825 and 3835 PGA Boulevard, DiVosta Towers was completed in 2019 and 2020 and is a highly visible landmark along I-95, distinguished by its two Louvre pyramid-inspired architectural frameworks. It was the first new office development delivered in the submarket in more than a decade. Tenants include JP Morgan, Wealthspire Advisors, Virtu Financial, and others.

The campus features floor-to-ceiling glass, 10-foot ceiling heights, and a best-in-class amenity package, including structured parking with direct lobby access, tenant conference and event space, high-speed elevators, EV charging stations, and outdoor gathering areas. DiVosta towers in the newest office building in the submarket in over 15 years.

“These buildings are visible 24/7 from I-95, A1A, PGA Boulevard, and other streets throughout Palm Beach Gardens. They are iconic in design and an example of our firm’s brand. We are very happy with their performance and look forward to maintaining this standard across all of our properties. We are excited to begin construction this year on the newest office tower in this underserved market—The Modern. This building will complement what we have achieved at DiVosta Towers and serve best-in-class global tenants relocating to Palm Beach County,” said Babak Ebrahimzadeh, President of Gatsby Florida. Tenants benefit from immediate access to more than 2.5 million square feet of surrounding retail, including The Gardens Mall, as well as a 130,000-square-foot Life Time fitness facility directly across the street. The property is prominently positioned along PGA Boulevard and State Road A1A, one of the region’s most sought-after commercial corridors.

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Neology Life's No.17 Residences Allapattah Locks Down $31.456 Million Refinancing

Berkadia has secured a $31 million loan to refinance No.17 Residences Allapattah, a 192-unit attainable luxury apartment rental building in the Fruit Packing District of Allapattah. Senior Managing Director Charles Foschini, Managing Director Christopher Apone, and Associate Director Shannon Wilson of Berkadia South Florida secured the financing on behalf of Neology Life Development Group, a lifestyle-driven residential and commercial real estate firm, led by Lissette Calderon, that specializes in the transformation of overlooked and undervalued communities into vibrant urban neighborhoods. Fannie Mae originated the 10-year loan with five years of interest-only.

"Lissette Calderon and her company, Neology, have once again demonstrated their exceptional vision and expertise in transforming the Allapattah neighborhood with the refinancing of No.17 Residences. It's been a remarkable journey working alongside Neology Life on this project. Lissette Calderon's dedication to 'attainable luxury' and the development's success in the heart of Allapattah truly stand out, aligning perfectly with the community's needs.”

Located at 1569 NW 17th Avenue, No.17 Residences Allapattah was completed in April 2021 and leased up in record time. It offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 600 square feet to 1,125 square feet. Individual units feature smart home technology, open floor plan kitchens, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, washer and dryer, full-length windows, balconies, and walk-in closets. Building amenities include an expansive urban park, lobby lounge with co-working and social spaces, a TV lounge area, art-inspired pool deck, pool side cabanas, indoor/outdoor clubroom, fitness center, on-demand virtual fitness classes, a rooftop garden with a summer kitchen, an outdoor movie theater, bark park, bike storage, electric car charging stations, a zoom room, on-site parking, and 24-hour secure package rooms.

The property is situated in Miami’s centrally located Allapattah neighborhood, which is just a short walk, bike ride, drive or public transit trip from some of Miami’s largest employment centers, including the Health District, Civic/Government Center, Downtown Miami, Wynwood and the Brickell Financial district, and offers easy access to the Dolphin Expressway and I-95. As home to the flagship location of Superblue, the Rubell Museum and El Espacio, Allapattah has quickly become an important arts and culture destination.

Kobi Karp Designed Gateway at Wynwood Class A Office Complex Refinanced With $113 Million Loan

Berkadia has arranged a $113 million loan to refinance Gateway at Wynwood, a 220,000-square-foot, Class A office and retail project designed by Kobi Karp in Miami’s Wynwood District. Senior Managing Director Charles Foschini, Managing Director Christopher Apone and Associate Director Robert Iudice of Berkadia South Florida arranged the loan on behalf of New York-based Rose & Berg Realty Group LP (“R&B Realty”), a family-owned real estate management, leasing and construction company. The property is leased to a diverse tenant roster including BoConcept, OpenStore and Veru. A10 Capital, a vertically integrated, full service commercial real estate lender, provided the three-year loan, with two, one-year extension options.

Berkadia also secured the original construction loan for the project in early 2020 through lender 3650 REIT. This time,

"The volatility in the lending environment made this office refi transaction challenging, but our relationships with the lending community and the strength of this asset helped us secure one of South Florida's largest office refis in recent times," said Foschini. "We are proud to have played a key role in helping our client move forward with its plans as it continues to attract strong office and retail tenants to the trophy property in the highly desired Wynwood area north of downtown Miami."

Designed by ‘starchitect’ Kobi Karp, Gateway at Wynwood is located at 2616 North Miami Avenue, in the epicenter of Miami’s Wynwood corridor, one of the most desirable 24-hour submarkets in the nation. It features approximately 220,000 square feet of Class A office space encompassing roughly 27,700 square feet of space on each of its floors. It features a private rooftop terrace with panoramic views, as well as 512 on-site parking spaces. The project also features 24,000 square feet of retail space and is centrally located at the convergence of the Midtown and Wynwood submarket’s’ high-traffic retail corridor, with immediate access to thousands of new residential units.

Gateway at Wynwood is just minutes away from Miami’s Central Business District (CBD), Midtown, Edgewater, the Arts and Entertainment District, Brickell, Miami Beach, and a variety of mass transit options including I-195, the Miami Metrorail and the new Brightline commuter rail line connecting Miami to Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach.

Neology Life Development Group Locks Down $57.5 Million Construction Loan For 'Fourteen Residences Allapattah'

Lissette Calderon’s Neology Life Development Group has locked down $57.5 million in construction financing for Fourteen Residences Allapattah, a two tower, 237-unit apartment community located in Miami, Florida. Senior Managing Director Charles Foschini, Managing Director Chris Apone and Senior Analyst Shannon Wilson of Berkadia Miami secured the financing on behalf of Neology Life Development Group, a lifestyle-driven residential and commercial real estate firm led by Lissette Calderon. The property is located in a Qualified Opportunity Zone in the historic Allapattah section of downtown Miami.

Churchill Real Estate’s direct originations platform, led by Jeff Rosenfeld and Sean Robertson, originated the 24-month loan with two extension options.

“Our client Neology continues to dominate the Allapattah skyline with an innovative team and projects whose ‘attainable luxury’ concept serves the needs of the community and integrates nicely within it,” said Foschini. “While the market continues to be extremely volatile, the lender recognized the strength of the sponsor, Neology’s track record in Allapattah, where this is its third project, and Lissette Calderon’s personal vision for the evolution of the Allapattah community.”

“This deal further solidifies Churchill’s commitment to support the development of workforce housing in Miami,” added Robertson, Churchill’s Director and Co-Head of Originations. “We are thrilled to execute this deal with Neology amid unstable market conditions.”

“Churchill continues to build on, and augment, its presence in the greater South Florida market,” added Rosenfeld, also Director and Co-Head of Originations at Churchill. “Despite macro headwinds, South Florida continues to benefit from favorable factors that give us the confidence to double down in this market.”

Located at 1470 NW 36th Street, Fourteen Allapattah Residences will consist of a 14-story building with 180 apartment units connected via a pool deck to a five-story building with 57 apartments including ground floor walk ups. It will offer studio, one- and two-bedroom units ranging 450 to 900 square feet. Apartments will feature European-inspired cabinetry, quartz countertops, energy efficient kitchen appliances, in-unit washer and dryer, energy efficient AC and heating systems, and smart home technology adaptors. Lifestyle amenities will include curated original artwork, a multipurpose lobby, media lounges and living rooms, a rooftop pool and clubhouse, poolside cabanas, coworking spaces, conference rooms, outdoor movie screen, an indoor and outdoor fitness and wellness center, with a yoga and cardio studio, dog park with dog wash area, bike storage, virtual concierge and smart package lockers, and a parking garage with electric car charging stations as well as a ride share lobby.

The property, which will open in early 2024, enjoys a highly visible location on NW 36th Street just 5 minutes west of Wynwood and 10 minutes east of the Miami International Airport, close to the health district, which is the country’s largest concentration of medical and research facilities after Houston. It is just a short walk from the Allapattah Miami Metrorail Station, the Rubell Museum, and SuperBlue.

Neology’s portfolio now consists of more than 1,500 apartment units completed or under construction in Miami’s urban core, including The Julia, an upscale apartment community that will open in 2023, and Neology’s flagship Allapattah project, No. 17 Residences Allapattah, which opened in 2021 and leased up in record time.

Omega Real Estate Locks Down $100 Million Construction Loan For North Miami Multifamily

Omega Real Estate has locked down $100 million in construction financing to develop The Gardens Residence, a 358-unit mid-rise apartment community with 1,100 square feet of ground floor retail in North Miami, Fla. The financing was provided by Churchill Real Estate and was arranged by Berkadia. Located at 1155 Northeast 126th Street, just off the Biscayne Boulevard corridor at the gateway to Bay Harbor Islands and Bal Harbour, The Gardens Residence is the first phase of Omega’s plan to transform seven contiguous acres in North Miami into a live-work-play community called “The Gardens District.”

The project, which will break ground on July 11, was supported by the North Miami CRA which provided $15 million in subsidies. The project is expected to create an estimated 828 jobs, and 10 percent (38) of the units are set aside for families earning at or below 80 percent of area median income (AMI).

Senior Managing Director Charles Foschini, Managing Director Christopher Apone and Senior Analyst Robert Ludice of Berkadia Miami secured financing on behalf of Miami-based Omega Real Estate Management, a collection of seasoned real estate investors whose principals include Sebastien Scemla (CEO), Juan Carlos Lago (COO), Shawn Chemtov (Director of Finance), John Carlos Lago Jr. (CFO), and Anthony Hodes (Director of Risk).

Churchill Real Estate’s direct originations platform, led by Jeff Rosenfeld and Sean Robertson, provided the two-year, floating-rate loan, with two one-year extension options, interest only for the full loan term including extensions.

“The principals of Omega each have extensive experience as early investors in some of Miami’s most sought-after neighborhoods, and we came together as a result of a shared vision and belief that downtown North Miami represents Miami’s greatest future opportunity for growth,” said Omega’s CEO Sebastien Scemla. “Over the last several years, our team has quietly assembled several contiguous parcels of land in the heart of the neighborhood that will enable us to develop a true live-work-play community we’re calling ‘The Gardens District,’ anchored by this new Class A apartment community. We’re deeply grateful to the City of North Miami, including the Mayor, the Commissioners and the North Miami CRA for their ongoing support of our vision.”

“The Gardens Residences will offer the best Class A multifamily product in North Miami-Dade County, in a submarket that is currently underserved,” said Foschini. “The project will be a transformational anchor to North Miami and serve as a catalyst to the Garden’s community that will develop around it. The team’s extraordinary vision in creating The Gardens district will bring new life into one of Miami’s oldest communities.”

Added Jeff Rosenfeld, Co-Head of Originations at Churchill Real Estate, “This is precisely the kind of project Churchill is doubling down on in today’s capricious investment climate. The quality of the sponsorship team, coupled with the strength of the project, produced a compelling narrative, and we are excited to collaborate with Omega on this transformative development.”

Located on a four-acre site at 1155 Northeast 126th Street, The Gardens Residence will be a nine-story property offering studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments averaging 511 square feet to 1,270 square feet. Individual apartments will feature stone countertops, luxury kitchen cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, floor-to-ceiling windows, SPC wood floors in the bedrooms and ceramic tile in the wet areas and living room spaces. Community amenities will include a ground-floor café with outdoor terrace seating and public sculpture art, a rooftop pool with rentable poolside cabanas, a gym, yoga studio, bike lockers and workshop stations, and structured parking with 528 stalls. As previously mentioned, 10 percent of units will be set aside for families earning at or below 80 percent of AMI.

Situated in North Miami, the proverbial “hole in the doughnut” in Miami-Dade County, The Gardens Residences is located halfway between downtown Miami and Aventura, and has immediate access to the beaches via 123rd Street, along with on-ramp access to I-95, 826 and the Florida Turnpike just four miles away. It is just three blocks away from a planned Brightline commuter rail on Northeast 123rd Street that will connect Miami with Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando.

Recent zoning changes have made North Miami an incredibly attractive redevelopment area with attractive land basis. The property is close to Aventura Mall, the Florida International University Biscayne Bay Campus, Gulfstream Park, Oleta River State Park, the Jackson North Medical Center and Barry University. There are two Publix supermarkets and a Whole Foods within one mile of the property.

Omega also owns adjacent sites at 1075,1111 and1125 Northeast 125th Street that it will transform into a Class A, 28,000-square-foot office building called The Gardens Corporate Center, an 8,000-square-foot-office building called “The Creative Center”, and a new 12,000-square-F&B focused center called “The Hall” that will feature four restaurants and a gourmet grocery. The entire community, which spans seven acres, will be called The Gardens District.