Forest Development Closes On $269 Million Construction Loan For Palm Beach County Condo

Forest Development has locked down a $269 million construction loan for Nautilus 220, a 330-unit luxury condominium project that is the first of its kind in Palm Beach County’s Town of Lake Park. Nautilus 220 will be 24-story twin condo towers on the water with a restaurant from renowned chef David Burke and many amenities in the once-overlooked town just across the Intracoastal Waterway from Singer Island. Nautilus 220 is already 60% pre-sold. Prices range from the $800,000s to more than $3 million.

The loan was arranged by Concord Summit Capital, LLC (“Concord Summit”) and provided by Fortress Investment Group to the Peter Baytarian-led Forest, which recently brought on Daniel Kodsi of Royal Palm Companies as a co-general partner in Nautilus 220. Concord Summit Director Justin Morrow and Managing Director Kevin O’Grady, both of Concord Summit’s Miami office, sourced the financing on behalf of the borrowers. Construction is underway, with an estimated completion in the second quarter of 2024. The project’s floating sales center is located on a barge in the Lake Park marina.

“This was an exciting transaction to work on, given the unique nature of this project,” Morrow said. “The borrowers are visionary developers who are bringing a resort-style waterfront living experience to Lake Park. Nautilus 220 truly has no counterpart in the market.”

“It has been a pleasure working with Concord Summit Capital over the past two years as they guided us through more than 13 financing opportunities for our Nautilus 220 mixed-use development in Lake Park,” said Baytarian, Managing Partner, Forest Development.” “The team saw the value of this project at the outset, and with their professional and invaluable expertise, as well as relationships in the industry, secured the perfect lender for us and this project.”

“We successfully leveraged our strong relationship with the team at Fortress to complete the transaction,” O’Grady said. “It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to work with them again. Nautilus 220 should continue to experience brisk sales activity, as the one-of-a-kind project fills a void for brand-new waterfront condos in northern Palm Beach County.”

Nautilus 220’s residences include a mix of one-to-four-bedroom condos ranging from 1,100 to 3,400 square feet, with a variety of floor plans offering unobstructed water views. Penthouses come with 2,000-square-foot private rooftop terraces, plunge pools, summer kitchens and 12-foot ceilings. The project includes a one-acre outdoor amenity deck and additional amenities including mini-bowling, billiards and card tables, a multipurpose soundproof studio for music and podcasts, golf simulator, theater lounge, club room and more.

The towers are being constructed alongside an active marina with 100 slips accommodating boats up to 100 feet. The development also has easy inlet access for water sport recreation from snorkeling and scuba diving to jet skiing, kayaking and paddle boarding.

Burke, the acclaimed restaurateur, selected Nautilus 220 as the location for his first Florida restaurant. The two-level, 7,500-square-foot waterfront restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating will feature modern American cuisine.

Kast Construction is the project’s general contractor. Interiors by Steven G. is the project’s interior designer.

Todd Michael Glaser And Partners Buy Palm Beach Penthouse Atop Tiffany & Co. On Worth Avenue For $15.5 Million

Spec home developer Todd Michael Glaser and his partners have closed on the penthouse on top of the Worth Avenue Tiffany & Co. building in Palm Beach for $15.5 million. The residence was delivered as an unfinished shell and the investors plan to complete the residence and list it at potentially $40 million. The penthouse occupies the buildings second floor and rooftop and spans 13,000+/- SF. The sellers were a JV between Fortress Investment Group, Hyde Retail Partners and Kean Development.

The original design called to offer five bedrooms, seven and a half baths, master suite, maid's quarters, three fireplaces, state of the art technology, elevator and a private rooftop overlooking panoramic views of Worth Ave. The rooftop’s distinctive exterior spa will boast an infinity edge swimming pool, sunbathing areas, putting green, outdoor bar, dining area and fire pit for the ultimate outdoor entertaining space.

The Tiffany & Co. building is located at 259 Worth Avenue and was purchased in late 2018 by the Fortress Investment Group, Hyde Retail Partners and Kean Development Joint Venture for $20 million before selling for $26.4 million in January 2021 to the London-based real estate investment firm Motcomb Estates.

Worth Avenue Tiffany & Co. Building Sells For $26.4 Million

A joint venture led by an entity tied to Fortress Investment Group has sold 259 Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, anchored by luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co., for $26.4 million to Motcomb Estates, a London-based real estate investment firm. The selling price breaks down to $1,612 PSF. The selling joint venture acquired the property for $20 million in 2018 and is made up of the New York-based Fortress Investment Group, Kean Development Co. and Hyde Retail Partners.

The joint venture gained approvals to build a 5-bedroom, 13,000 +/- square foot penthouse atop the property which would a private rooftop with infinity edge swimming pool, dining area and fire pit, as well as easy access to fine dining, world class fashion and art, and is a short stroll away from the beach. Kean Development Company was leading the renovation and Douglas Elliman listed the pre-construction penthouse for $17.5 million.

259 Worth Avenue was first developed in 1950. The retail building spans 16,374 square feet and is located on a .22-acre site on Worth Avenue, an upscale shopping and dining destrict spanning four blocks in Palm Beach.

License Agreement Ends Between Brightline And Virgin Trains USA Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The partnership between Brightline and Virgin Trains has been terminated amid the COVID-19 pandemic and South Florida’s new commuter train service will go back to using the Brightline brand. The train service which runs between Downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, has not run since March 25 and has laid off 250 employees. Virgin Trains USA was expected to make a minority investment into the Brightline train system which was set to complete their rebrand to Virgin Trains by mid-2020. Brightline and Virgin Trains had signed a Licensing Agreement in November 2018 although Brightline’s parent company, Fortress Investment Group, reportedly sent a termination notice in July of this year.

Palm Beach Approves Plan For Luxe Condo Atop Tiffany & Co. Building On Worth Avenue

The Town of Palm Beach has approved plans for a luxury condo atop the iconic Tiffany & Co. building on Palm Beach’s Worth Avenue, one of the ritziest, most expensive streets in the United States. The addition would include the conversion of the existing 2nd floor as well as adding a 3rd floor spa and pergola which would not be visible to pedestrians on the street. The condo conversion was designed by Keith Spina and when complete will offer buyers a 10,000 SF spread complete with the 3rd floor terrace. The proposal comes on the heels of Tiffany & Co. downsizing to only the ground floor where they plan a major renovation. The project’s final design is still pending a few approvals though as the Town of Palm Beach deferred a decision until December 2019 on a variance to increase the allowable lot coverage of the 3rd floor to 33% from the allotted 25%. The Tiffany & Co. building is located at 259 Worth Avenue and was purchased in late 2018 by Fortress Investment Group for $20 million.