Fontainebleau Miami Beach Exits Special Servicing On $975 Million CMBS Loan

Jeffrey Soffer’s Fontainebleau Miami Beach has exited special servicing on its $975 million commercial mortgage-backed security loan (CMBS). When issued in November 2019, the loan was the largest CMBS hotel loan in South Florida. The loan entered special servicing on March 30 amid the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and following a modification request. The loan was returned to its master servicer on September 23 and payments reportedly remained current throughout the special servicing period, although as part of a forbearance agreement monthly reserve payments have been deferred to 2021; additionally, the hotel’s 2020 financials will not be used when calculating the property’s debt yield.

CMBS loans, which are secured by a mortgage on a commercial real estate property, are among the hardest to restructure as under the typical CMBS structure. A loan is transferred into a CMBS pool and a Master Servicer administers the loan. The Master Servicer is generally not permitted to enter into a loan modification or restructuring agreement and a Special Servicer is needed to potentially modify or restructure an individual loan in a CMBS pool. When loans are in special servicing the borrower cannot take out new debt or refinance their property.

South Florida’s hotels have bit hit with some of the hardest economic impact from COVID-19 where the industry must meet nearly $4.2 billion in CMBS payments. Miami Beach hotels, motels and short-term rentals were ordered shut on March 23 and have laid off thousands of employees. Fontainebleau Development also owns the JW Marriott Turnberry Miami, Turnberry Isle Marina, Turnberry Ocean Club and The Big Easy Casino in Hallandale Beach.

The Fontainebleau Miami Beach opened in 1954 and was designed by architect Morris Lapidus. The property spans more than 15 acres with 11 pools, a 40,000 SF spa, and 12 different restaurants and bars including Hakkasan and LIV Nightclub. The hotel is made up of four towers including the Chateau and Versailles towers with 846 hotel rooms as well as the Tresor and Sorrento towers with 748 condo-hotel units. It was acquired by Turnberry Associates for $325 million in 2005.

$800 Million Sale of Second Largest Hotel in South Florida Falls Through

An $800 million deal between Jeffrey Soffer’s Fontainebleau Development and Brookfield Property Partner’s Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood was called off on May 8 as the effects of COVID-19 on South Florida’s hotel and tourism industries continues to cause havoc. The 1,000 room Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood, located at 3555 South Ocean Drive in Hollywood, FL, is the second largest hotel in South Florida following Soffer’s 1,600 room Fontainebleau Miami Beach, whose $975 million CMBS loan entered special servicing in March 2020. Fontainebleau Development is reportedly still in discussions with Brookfield Property Partners and may revisit the acquisition in the future.

The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood was first marketed for sale in January 2019 asking $1 billion, $1 million per room. Brookfield Property Partners, which is the real estate division of the Toronto-based Brookfield Asset Management, acquired the hotel for $460 million in 2014 and rebranded the flag from a Westin hotel to a Curio Collection by Hilton. In 2017 Brookfield completed a $100 million renovation and in September 2019 led a $168 million refinancing of the hotel with the funding provided by Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan and Wells Fargo.

Fontainebleau Miami Beach's $975 Million CMBS Loan Entered Special Servicing March 30

The $975 million commercial mortgage-backed security loan (CMBS) issued in November 2019 for the 846-room Fontainebleau Miami Beach, located at 4441 Collins Ave., entered special servicing on March 30. When issued the loan was the largest CMBS hotel loan in South Florida. Fontainebleau Development is reportedly in talks with its loan Master Servicer and Special Servicer to modify the loan terms and documents and was not behind on any payments. CMBS loans, which are secured by a mortgage on a commercial real estate property, are among the hardest to restructure as under the typical CMBS structure. A loan is transferred into a CMBS pool and a Master Servicer administers the loan. The Master Servicer is generally not permitted to enter into a loan modification or restructuring agreement and a Special Servicer is needed to potentially modify or restructure an individual loan in a CMBS pool. When loans are in special servicing the borrower cannot take out new debt or refinance their property.

South Florida’s hotels have bit hit with some of the hardest economic impact from COVID-19 where the industry must meet nearly $4.2 billion in CMBS payments. Miami Beach hotels, motels and short-term rentals were ordered shut on March 23 and have laid off thousands of employees. Fontainebleau Development also owns the JW Marriott Turnberry Miami, Turnberry Isle Marina, Turnberry Ocean Club and The Big Easy Casino in Hallandale Beach.

The Fontainebleau Miami Beach opened in 1954 and was designed by architect Morris Lapidus. The property spans more than 15 acres with 11 pools, a 40,000 SF spa, and 12 different restaurants and bars including Hakkasan and LIV Nightclub. The hotel is made up of four towers including the Chateau and Versailles towers with 846 hotel rooms as well as the Tresor and Sorrento towers with 748 condo-hotel units. It was first acquired by Turnberry Associates for $325 million in 2005.

Take A First Look Inside The Shoreline At LeFrak & Turnberry's Solé Mia Mega-Project

The Shoreline, Solé Mia’s first two residential towers, has revealed a first look at the completed project where move-ins have begun. Jointly designed by Miami-based Arquitectonica and Robert M. Swedroe Architects, the Shoreline consist of two 17-story towers with 397 rental residences with studios, one, two and three-bedroom layouts. The Shoreline overlooks Sunny Isles, Oleta State Park, Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Amenities include two residential lounges, fitness center, business center, automated package rooms, a pool deck with jacuzzi, and access to South Florida’s first 7-acre Crystal Lagoon, Laguna Solé, which is set to open this Spring 2019.

The Shoreline is the first two towers of what will be 12 towers, 500,00 SF of retail and commercial space, a 225,000 SF University of Miami Health Center, all anchored around South Florida’s first 7-acre Crystal Lagoon, Laguna Solé, at the $4B, 184-acre master-planned community, Solé Mia. Solé Mia will ultimately be a 183-acre master-planned community with the entire development expected to take over 10 years to complete. In total Solé Mia will feature 4,300 residential units, retail, entertainment and recreation. Solé Mia is being developed by the NY-based LeFrak in collaboration with the Miami-based Turnberry Associates led by Jeff Soffer.

Jeff Soffer's Lavish Turnberry Ocean Club Reveals Its Ultra-Luxe Amenities In Sunny Isles Beach

Turnberry Ocean Club, currently under construction in Sunny Isles Beach, has revealed new renderings of its ultra-luxe amenities as well as unveiled its new amenity, the in-residence hotel guest suites. Laid out just like a grand hotel suite at Turnberry Isle, residents of Turnberry Ocean Club have access to two complimentary guest suites within the tower that can be reserved in advance. They are the only residential tower to house complimentary guest suites for resident’s guests.

Other resort style amenities include sunrise and sunset infinity-edge pools, an on-property coffee café, three on-site upscale residents-only restaurants, game room, kids club, and kids room. On floors 30-32 will be a Sky Club which will offer private dining and event space with over 1,585 SF and an equally sizable terrace, flanked by a catering kitchen and capable of entertaining up to 150 guests. The Sky Club will also offer a cantilevering infinity-edge sunset pool, indoor and outdoor fitness centers, fine dinging, a sunset lounge, hydrotherapy, cabanas with ocean views, a salon, "sky theater" and a "pet retreat." On the beach residents have access to a full-service beach club with chairs, umbrellas, towels, refreshments, snacks, meals and libations from the pool bar and restaurant. There will also be beach cabanas with attendants. Buyers will also receive complimentary membership to Turnberry Isle Country Club with access to Tidal Cove. The state-of-the-art outdoor recreation area will add five-acres of pool deck to the resort with features that include a 60’ tower with seven water slides, a 4,000 SF kids pool with an aquatic play structure, and the first-ever FlowRider® Triple surf simulation pool in the nation.

When complete Turnberry Ocean Club will rise 649’ tall, 54-stories, and will offer 154 units. Units range from 2,900 SF to over 10,645 SF. Pricing ranges from $3.9 to $35 million with the higher-end of the scale consisting of duplexes that come complete with their own swimming pools and start at $19.5 million. Turnberry Ocean Club Residences is being developed by Beach Club Acquisitions LLC, an affiliate of Turnberry Associates led by Donald Soffer, Jeffrey Soffer, and Jackie Soffer. The building will be designed by Carlos Zapata and Robert Swedroe. The tower broke ground in November 2016 at 40% sold and construction is nearing halfway complete.

Check out the December 2018 construction update and new renderings below:

Residences

For more information about Turnberry Ocean Club, private showings or purchasing/ leasing information please fill out the form below:

Soffers Aim To Expand Fontainbleau Aviation & Turnberrry Airport Holdings at Opa-Locka Executive Airport

The Soffer family is seeking a $5 million bond from Miami-Dade County’s Economic Development and Tourism Committee for expansion of Turnberry Airport Holdings at Opa-Locka Executive Airport. The bond would be used for a $28 million project that would renovate public infrastructure, including a 30,000-square-foot hanger and 57,000-square-foot executive and maintenance office for Fontainebleau Aviation. According to the South Florida Business Journal, the billionaire family currently leases 41.4 acres on site. In order to benefit from the taxpayer incentives, Turnberry would need to meet certain job creation requirements. The project is currently estimated to create 120 jobs and would increase the company’s revenue to $26 million in 2020 if the expansion is completed. 

Article by Katya Demina | Images by Turnberry Media & Fontainbleau Aviation