Vladislav Doronin and Len Blavatnik Receive Approval For Aman Hotel & Residences In Miami Beach's Faena District

Vladislav Doronin and Len Blavatnik have received approval from Miami Beach City Commissioners to build Aman Hotel & Residences in Miami Beach’s Faena District. The developers will build a new 250’ tall tower adjacent to the historic Versailles Hotel located at 3425 Collins Avenue, in addition to restoring the Versailles Hotel back to its former splendor. Aman Hotel & Residences Miami Beach will feature a 56-room hotel and 23 condominiums.

The approvals required a zoning change for height increase from the permitted 203’ to the proposed 250’. The height increase had been met with community opposition from several Historic Preservation Board members, including chairman Jack Finglass, as well as residents of the King David Condominium across the street. The final plans still must be submitted and approved by Miami Beach’s Historic Preservation Board.

Len Blavatnik is an American industrialist and philanthropist whose firm, Access Industries, owns a diverse portfolio of over 6 million square feet across iconic hotels and other commercial and residential properties in the United States, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. Along with Alan Faena, Blavatnik developed the neighboring, ultra-luxury condo tower, Faena House.

Aman Hotel & Residences Miami Beach would be the first Aman Resort in South Florida. Vladislav Doronin is the chairman of Aman Resorts, in addition to being CEO of real estate development firm OKO Group. OKO Group’s Miami portfolio also includes luxury waterfront residential towers; Missoni Baia and Una Residences; and 830 Brickell, Miami’s first new office skyscraper in over a decade

OKO Group and Access Industries To Develop Aman Hotel & Residences At Versailles Hotel Completing Faena District

OKO Group and Access Industries announced today a joint venture to develop and build an Aman hotel and Aman-branded residences on Miami Beach, on the site of the former Versailles Hotel, in two buildings at 3425 Collins Ave. 

The Miami project will be Aman’s latest urban development in the United States, joining Aman New York, a hotel with residences under construction in Manhattan’s iconic Crown Building and scheduled to open in Q4 2020. Aman also operates Amangani in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Amangiri, a hotel and resort in Canyon Point, Utah. Aman is led by Chairman and CEO Vladislav Doronin, whose Miami-based OKO Group will develop the Miami project in partnership with Access Industries. 

The Aman Miami project will be a major economic catalyst for the area. The Collins Avenue site is in the iconic Faena District, a prime four-block stretch of Miami Beach that Access Industries turned into a vibrant cultural neighborhood. The more than 1 million-square-foot mixed-use district features top-flight residences, the Faena Hotel Miami Beach, innovative and immersive entertainment, shopping at the Bazaar, restaurants and the Forum, an arts venue. Since opening in 2015, the District has become the epicenter of Miami Beach activity. 

“My strategy for Aman places focus on expanding the urban destinations for the brand after success with similar projects such as Aman Tokyo. As a major global hub, Miami always has been a key location, particularly since I founded OKO Group and already have a number of developments in the thriving city of Miami,” Doronin said. “The Miami and Aman lifestyles are highly compatible. Both are energetic, easy-going and embrace the outdoors. I have been looking for the perfect location for many years, and I am thrilled to find it and to partner with Access Industries.”

Access Industries, founded by American industrialist and philanthropist Len Blavatnik, owns a diverse portfolio of over 6 million square feet across iconic hotels and other commercial and residential properties in the United States, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean.

“Transformational neighborhood investment is a hallmark of Access Industries’ real estate strategy.  The Faena District is now a renowned hospitality and lifestyle destination, and positively contributes to Miami Beach. Versailles expands this mission even further, and we are thrilled to find a partner who shares Len’s insight. OKO and Aman are the ideal partners to develop Versailles and complete the vision for the Faena District,” said Jonah Sonnenborn, managing director and head of real estate at Access Industries. 

OKO Group’s Miami portfolio also includes luxury waterfront residential towers; Missoni Baia and Una Residences; and 830 Brickell, Miami’s first new office skyscraper in over a decade

Faena Versailles Classic on Hold, Pending Opening of Faena Forum

Yet another condo project has been put on hold, this time Alan Faena's proposed Faena Versailles. Faena is discussing building another hotel on the site as opposed to the condo building as reported by The Real Deal. The Versailles site is just blocks from the new Rem Koolhaas' Arts and Cultural Venue, the Faena Forum, which is slated to draw demand to the immediate Faena neighborhood upon its opening November 27. Wanting to wait to see the demand to stay in the area created by the Faena Forum in addition to the condo market slowdown have been factors influencing Faena's decision. “Because of the market and success of Faena (Hotel) we’re not in a hurry to decide. We’re pulling the Versailles project to see how many rooms we will need and the reaction of the market.” he stated in an interview with The Real Deal. 

Faena Versailles was slated to be a two-tower condo project that would include the renovation of the 1940's classic Versailles Hotel. The two towers would be Faena Versailles Classic and Faena Versailles Contemporary. Classic would have consisted of 22 units in the old Versailles Hotel, which his currently standing and gutted waiting for the decision. Contemporary, will still be a 41-unit condo tower but will be named Faena Mar. The site is now clear and 11 units or so have sold. The goal was to bring new world luxury to old world art-deco style. In the Faena neighborhood their are currently 10 of 12 penthouses in the Faena Hotel availible for sale, 30 units at the pre-construction Faena Mar.  

Faena Versailles Classic

Faena Versailles Classic will bring new world luxury to old world art-deco style. Faena Group has transformed the Versailles Hotel on 35th St. and Collins Ave. Miami Beach into a 22 luxurious units by William Sofield. The renovation has preserved the 1940's facade, grand lobby, terrazzo flooring among other features in it's historic art-deco style. Units range from 1 to 4 bedroom at 1,034 SF to 2,753 SF with two duplex penthouse units at 7,300 SF each with their own pool. The residences already include luxurious, Miami style features including the classic terrazzo floors and custom lighting. Additionally high-end Italian kitchens and stone counters add to the quality of the residency. Amenities include pool, fitness center, 24 hour security and valet, stylish club rooms and access to the entire exclusive Faena neighborhood.