Coral Rock Development Group Announces Mixed-Use Workforce/ Affordable Housing Project Buena Vida In Little Havana

Coral Gables-based Coral Rock Development Group today unveiled plans for Buena Vida, a Little Havana-based workforce/affordable housing mixed-use project. Located at 22nd Avenue and Flagler Street, Buena Vida will encompass 175 units of workforce and affordable housing boasting a compelling mix of one, two and three-bedroom floorplans ranging in size from 471 to 1,105 square feet along with structured parking. The eight-story project will also include 15,000 square feet of retail space.

Full-service featured community amenities will include a gym, dog park, conference center, pool and BBQ area. The retail space will include a medical wellness center for the benefit of residents and the surrounding area, along with a mix of retail shops and restaurants designed to enrich the neighborhood.

Buena Vida was designed by RSP Architects. Groundbreaking on the project will begin in 2022 and is scheduled for completion in 2023.

“We are very pleased to announce Buena Vida and create a high-quality workforce/affordable housing offering for families and seniors,” said Michael Wohl, principal of Coral Rock Development Group. “We are grateful for the support of Commissioner Joe Carollo in seeing our vision come to life to add to the growth and development in the Little Havana neighborhood. His endorsement has been critical in bringing this forward. As we’ve seen throughout the pandemic and the disruption of livelihoods for so many members of our community over the past year, now more than ever there’s an overwhelming need to provide apartments for those who cannot afford the high current market rate and are as a result paying a high percentage of family income for rent.”

Coral Rock Development Group is also developing Pura Vida Hialeah, a nine-acre major mixed-use development set to be the first of its kind in more than 20 years. Pura Vida Hialeah topped off earlier this year and is on schedule for completion in Q1 2022.

Rendering via RSP Architects/ Coral Rock Development Group

Coral Rock Development Group Closes On $53.5 Million In Construction Financing For Pura Vida Hialeah

Miami-based Coral Rock Development Group has announced that they have closed on a $53.5 million participating construction, mini perm loan for the residential portion of Pura Vida Hialeah, a nine-acre mixed-use project that is transforming Hialeah and is set to be the first of its kind in the area in more than 20 years. Principal Real Estate Investors served as the lender.

“We are very proud to secure construction financing with Principal Real Estate Investors for Pura Vida Hialeah as we step closer to delivering this compelling project to the area,” said Michael Wohl, principal of Coral Rock Development Group. “Pura Vida will undeniably introduce a new lifestyle for Hialeah creating a contemporary and convenient new walkable hub for residents and the surrounding neighborhood, and this is a momentous milestone in bringing this vision to fruition.”

Pura Vida Hialeah portends to transform the area’s aging residential and retail offerings with the first new sleek contemporary designed vertical towers. Boasting a vibrant mix of popular restaurants, shops and other conveniences, Pura Vida Hialeah will provide an exceptional pedestrian-friendly lifestyle, adding a much-needed benefit to the densely populated community.

The visionary project will encompass three eight-story residential towers consisting of 260 apartment units, with one tower offering approximately 11,000 square feet of ground floor retail; as well as three separate outparcels consisting of approximately 40,000 square feet of commercial retail space. 

“Principal has worked with the Coral Rock Development team for almost two years to help make this project a reality. We believe not only in the Hialeah market, but especially in the team’s vision and experience. Pura Vida will truly be a game changing development in this community,” said Mary Scott, Senior Investment Director at Principal Real Estate Investors. 

The project is poised to become the new epicenter of Hialeah. Offering a wide array of floorplans ranging in size from 538 square feet to 1,099 square feet, the market-rate rental residences at Pura Vida Hialeah will include studios, one, two, and three-bedroom units. Featured amenities will include a resort-style pool, state-of-the-art gym, BBQ area, dog park, biking center, and 24-hour security staff for the convenience of residents. 

General contractor KAST Construction will break ground on the residential portion of the project next month and will open for occupancy in the first quarter of 2022.  

The retail portion of the project broke ground in April 2019, recently completing the first building this summer with retail tenant Dollar Tree now open, and soon to be joined by InnovaCare Health. InnovaCare Health will occupy 20,000 square feet providing Pura Vida residents and the surrounding neighborhood with accessible healthcare services. 

Additional confirmed retail tenants include a Wawa convenience store and gas station – representing one of the first outposts in Miami-Dade County for the rapidly expanding chain, and a Taco Bell restaurant, with more to be announced in the coming months.

Situated on a prime corner at 3051 W 16th Avenue, Pura Vida Hialeah boasts a central location just minutes from major thoroughfares including I-75, the Palmetto Expressway, the Florida Turnpike and Okeechobee Road, offering direct access to Greater Miami and the surrounding areas.

Coral Rock Development Group & Arena Capital Holdings Break Ground On Pura Vida Hialeah

Miami-based Coral Rock Development Group and Arena Capital Holdings have broken ground on Pura Vida Hialeah, a nine-acre mixed-use project set to be the first of its kind in Hialeah in more than 20 years. When complete, the project will transform the area’s aging retail and residential offerings with the first new sleek contemporary designed vertical towers, and will boast a vibrant mix of popular restaurants, shops and other conveniences while providing an exceptional pedestrian-friendly lifestyle, adding a much-needed benefit to the densely populated community.

Held on April 25th at the future site of Pura Vida Hialeah, the ceremonial groundbreaking was hosted by the project’s development team, comprised of industry veterans Stephen A. Blumenthal, David Brown, Victor Brown and Michael Wohl of Coral Rock Development Group, as well as Oscar Rodriguez, Ana Rodriguez and Sebastian Roiter of Arena Capital Holdings. Dozens of industry leaders, project partners, top city officials and numerous other dignitaries were in attendance including City of Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez, Hialeah City Council President Vivian Casals-Munoz and City of Hialeah Councilman Paul Hernandez, who all provided remarks to celebrate this project milestone.

Mayor Carlos Hernandez commended the developers for their vision and acknowledged how Pura Vida Hialeah is already sparking other innovative developments in the city. Known as the City of Progress, Mayor Carlos Hernandez said “Hialeah is the new Brooklyn.”

“We’re incredibly proud to officially break ground on Pura Vida Hialeah,” said Stephen Blumenthal, principal of Coral Rock Development Group. “A new paradigm for living in Hialeah, we’re extremely pleased that Pura Vida Hialeah will be a positive catalyst and usher in a new era in the community.”

“This is an exciting beginning to what will soon be an extraordinary and vibrant urban environment for Hialeah,” said Michael Wohl, principal of Coral Rock Development Group. “We’re very grateful to Mayor Carlos Hernandez and the City of Hialeah who have supported us in making this community-driven development a reality.”

Located at 2901-3099 W 16th Avenue and 1571 W 29th Street, Pura Vida Hialeah will feature 3-eight-story residential towers consisting of 260 apartment units, with one tower offering approximately 11,000 SF of ground floor retail; as well as three separate outparcels consisting of approximately 40,000 SF of commercial retail space. Floorplans for market rate residential apartments range from 538 SF to 1,099 SF, ranging from studios, one, two, and three-bedroom units. Featured amenities will include a resort-style pool, state-of-the-art gym, BBQ area, dog park, and 24-hour security staff for the convenience of residents. Confirmed retail tenants include a Wawa convenience store and gas station, representing one of the first outposts in Miami-Dade County for the rapidly expanding chain, a Taco Bell restaurant, a Dollar Tree store and a two-story YouFit Health Club.

Coral Rock Development Group And Arena Capital Holdings Reveal Pura Vida Hialeah

The Miami-based Coral Rock Development Group and Arena Capital Holdings announced the plans for Pura Vida Hialeah , a premier mixed-use project set to be the first kind in Hialeah. Pura Vida, meaning “Pure Life,” is the first major mixed-use development in the area in more than 20 years. The development is led by Stephen A. Blumenthal, David Brown, Victor Brown and Michael Wohl of Coral Rock Development Group in partnership with Oscar Rodriguez, Ana Rodriguez and Sebastian Roiter of Arena Capital Holdings. The project is spread over nine acres with the first new sleek contemporary designed vertical towers located at 2901-3099 W 16th Avenue and 1571 W 29th Street. Pura Vida Hialeah possess a central location just minutes from major thoroughfares including I-75, the Palmetto Expressway, the Florida Turnpike and Okeechobee Road, offering direct access to Greater Miami and the surrounding areas.

“As the sixth-largest city in the state and with one of the lowest vacancy levels in the metropolitan area at just two percent, Hialeah has quickly earned its place as Miami’s newest destination for investment. Recently revamped zoning and density laws in an effort to court millennials have also cemented its status as one of the most desirable and stable submarkets in Miami for development,” said Michael Wohl, principal of Coral Rock Development Group.

“We are excited to usher in a new era in Hialeah with the introduction of Pura Vida. Our goal in creating this development was to create a new paradigm for living in Hialeah,” said Stephen Blumenthal, principal of Coral Rock Development Group. “With the support of the City of Hialeah, our vision for Pura Vida Hialeah is becoming a reality, and we look forward to offering Hialeah citizens this contemporary and convenient new walkable lifestyle.”

Pura Vida Hialeah offers a wide array of floorplans ranging in size from 538 SF to 1,099 SF, and includes studios, one, two, and three-bedroom units. The featured amenities will include a resort-style pool, state-of-the-art gym, BBQ area, dog park, and 24-hour security staff for the convenience of residents. Pura Vida Hialeah will further offer a vibrant mix of popular restaurants, shops and other conveniences while providing an exceptional pedestrian-friendly lifestyle, with an densely populated community. The project is set to break ground in 2019 and is expected to be completed in 2020.

“We are grateful to Mayor Carlos Hernandez and the entire staff of the City of Hialeah for their support and invaluable assistance throughout the entitlement process,” added Oscar Rodriguez, Manager of Arena Capital Holdings. “We look forward to continue working together as we deliver Pura Vida Hialeah, which will benefit the community for many years to come.”

Article by Stephanie Warren