Ken Griffin Acquires $1.1 Billion Mana Wynwood Portfolio in Largest Land Assemblage Deal in Florida History

Wynwood is set for another major transformation following the $1.1 billion sale of the Mana Wynwood portfolio to billionaire Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin, marking the largest land assemblage transaction in Florida history and paving the way for a new 35-acre Carnegie Mellon University campus in Miami.

The transaction transfers one of Wynwood's largest consolidated property assemblages from investor and developer Moishe Mana to Griffin. Rather than pursuing a conventional mixed-use redevelopment of the sprawling portfolio, the property is planned to become Carnegie Mellon University Miami, establishing a major new academic, research and innovation hub within the neighborhood.

The Miami campus is part of Griffin's newly announced $3 billion commitment to Carnegie Mellon University, with approximately $2 billion dedicated to establishing the university's Miami presence, including the value of the Wynwood real estate.

Carnegie Mellon plans to begin enrolling students in Miami in 2028, with the campus eventually expected to accommodate more than 3,500 students, approximately 300 faculty members and more than 600 staff. Construction could begin as early as next year.

The new campus is planned to incorporate research facilities and spaces connecting academia with industry and entrepreneurship. Carnegie Mellon is internationally recognized for programs including computer science, artificial intelligence, engineering and robotics.

The acquisition encompasses approximately 35 acres in Wynwood, including the property associated with Mana Wynwood at 318 NW 23rd Street. The existing complex is anchored by a convention center and has become a major destination for events including the III Points music festival.

The transaction arrives as Wynwood continues its evolution from an industrial and arts district into one of Miami's fastest-growing mixed-use and residential neighborhoods. New condominium and multifamily developments, offices, hotels, restaurants and retail have introduced a growing permanent population to an area once dominated by warehouses, galleries and nightlife.

A university campus of this scale introduces another major component to that transformation. Thousands of students, faculty and staff could establish a substantial year-round population while generating additional demand for housing, restaurants, retail and businesses throughout Wynwood and surrounding neighborhoods.

Griffin had already expanded his presence in Wynwood earlier this year through the acquisition of the 545Wyn office building at 545 NW 26th Street for more than $180 million alongside Goldman Properties.

The $1.1 billion acquisition and planned 35-acre Carnegie Mellon University Miami campus represent a significant new chapter for Wynwood, adding education, research and technology to a neighborhood already undergoing substantial residential and commercial growth.

Past PROFILEmiami articles about Ken Griffin and Moishe Mana’s Miami real estate investments:

Moishe Mana Closes On Five Properties In Downtown Miami's Flagler District For $59.62 Million

Moishe Mana is steaming forward on plans for Downtown Miami’s Flagler District after closing on five properties in the past week for $59.62 million. Construction is progressing at several other of his properties in the neighborhood as the demand for office, retail and entertainment spaces in Miami increases. Moishe Mana first acquired three buildings at 100 N Miami Avenue, 173 NE 1st Street and 124 NE 2nd Avenue for $25,375,000. Together the properties total 50,197 sq. ft., situated on 28,750 sq. ft. of land. One week later Mana acquired the Shoreland Arcade building and 1 West Flagler following the acquisition of another three buildings in the neighborhood just last week. The Shoreland Arcade is located at 120 NE 1st Street. and spans 89,994 sq. ft., situated on a 37,994 sq. ft. lot of land. It was acquired for $29.5MM and 1 West Flagler, a 7,900 sq. ft. building was acquired for $4,750,000.

“The Flagler District is the only destination fully equipped to respond to the sky-rocketing demand for office, retail and entertainment space. We’re moving forward with development and approaching completion of key assemblages, adding historic pieces that are central for carrying out our vision for this neighborhood,” said Moishe Mana.

Colliers Urban Core Division Executive Managing Director Mika Mattingly and Senior Associate Cecilia Estevez represented both the buyers and sellers in each off-market transaction. The sellers of the first three building assemblage were SG&S Inc and Flexini Investments Inc. and the second properties were sold by Broks Center LTD.

“Transformative developments taking shape in downtown Miami, along with organic growth of quality retail and restaurants in the area, have resulted in a migration of people seeking a true work, live, play environment,” said Mattingly. “After years of being ignored by the investment community, everyone is rushing to own a piece of downtown Miami, fueling an insatiable desire for real estate in this submarket. Transactions like this are reducing the inventory available for investment, with very few opportunities of this size and scale remaining in downtown.”

Moishe Mana, CEO of Mana Common, is the largest private landowner in Miami with a significant assemblage of over 60 properties spanning more than 1.3 million square feet in downtown Miami’s Flagler District. Under his real estate division, Mana Properties, the visionary entrepreneur has begun construction on several sites in downtown Miami including at the Nikola Tesla Innovation Hub, the first building on track for completion.

“The Flagler District is on its way to becoming the best neighborhood in America,” said Moishe Mana. “We are turning the downtown core into Miami's economic engine. What the people of Miami really need are jobs-- high-paying, long-term, wealth-creating jobs, so those that built Miami into a global destination can benefit from its prosperity.”

As downtown Miami continues to flourish with the return of global capital and major developments underway, Moishe Mana intends to transform the neighborhood into a global hub for tech and innovation, connecting North and Latin American markets. The vision comes from a thoughtful intent to support commercial development in the downtown core as the demand for office and retail spaces in Miami increases.

‘The sleeping giant that was Downtown Miami is finally roaring awake after a hundred years of slumber,” said Mika Mattingly. “Downtown is evolving organically into the coolest place in Miami. What other location has those exquisite historical buildings?”

Moishe Mana's Mana Common Adds To Downtown Miami Portfolio With $12.375 Million Development Site Acquisition

Moishe Mana’s Mana Common has added to their Downtown Miami portfolio with the acquisition of a development site located at 49 NW 1st St. for $12.375 million. The 22,500 SF site is currently a parking lot. Andrew Mirmelli Company: M&M Parking was the seller. Colliers' Executive Managing Director Mika Mattingly of Colliers’ Urban Core Division represented both sides of the transaction.

“This transaction showcases how high the demand is for property in downtown Miami,” Mattingly said. “The transformative projects that are beginning to take shape in the area, along with the influx of residents and jobs, are attracting investors from all over the world. It continues to prove that now is the time to invest in the future of downtown Miami.”

Moishe Mana, CEO of Mana Common, is the largest private landowner in Miami with a significant assemblage of over 60 properties spanning more than 1.3 million square feet in Downtown Miami’s Flagler District. The visionary entrepreneur recently acquired two additional properties in the area that is being transformed into a global hub for tech and innovation. In addition to the recent purchases, Mana Common has begun construction in several sites in downtown including at the Nikola Tesla Innovation Hub.

“We’re committed to reviving the Flagler District through sustainable revitalization,” says Moishe Mana. “We are using the existing structures to preserve the character of the neighborhood while building a tech ecosystem that prioritizes the community’s needs.”

South Florida has continued to see an influx of residents from New York, California and other states seeking lower taxes, better weather, and a higher quality of life. Greater Downtown’s population was 92,235 people in 2018, a jump of 38% since 2010, according to a study from Miami’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA). Downtown and Brickell have also emerged as the top choice for the largest technology and financial firms. According to a recent report from the DDA, at least 700 new jobs are expected in the area over the next few years.

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'Le Rouge Lounge' Cabaret-Themed Nightclub Opens At Moishe Mana's Mana Wynwood Campus

Le Rouge Lounge, a new luxury, cabaret-themed nightclub, opened June 11 at a new event venue in Moishe Mana’s six acre Mana Wynwood campus. Mana Wynwood’s new event venue , which is located across from the Mana Wynwood Convention Center, is a French-inspired live entertainment venue which is the only Miami nightclub with a 360-degree, DJ "in the round" experience.

Led by MANA Common, the Convention Center is also undergoing a series of renovation include increasing the fiber optic capability, enlarging the entryways, adding more public restrooms, and improving service corridors and loading docks. The updates will also improve the flow of attendees and allow the Convention Center to better accommodate events. The renovations are expected to be completed by November.

“We see Wynwood as a prime destination for arts, culture and entertainment,” says Moishe Mana, CEO of Mana Common. “Events are key to breathe life into a neighborhood and sustain its vibrancy. We’re looking forward to unveiling these new improvements that facilitate social and cultural exchanges.”

“Mana Wynwood is a symbol of Miami’s arts and entertainment culture,” says Bruce Fischman, Wynwood Business Improvement District (BID) Board Member, Senior Advisor to Moishe Mana and Mana Common General Counsel. “We’re excited to present renovations that contribute to the neighborhood’s evolution and offer an improved cutting-edge experience to residents and visitors.”

Mana Common Partners With Plug And Play To Bring Global Tech Accelerator To Downtown Miami

MANA Common, led by CEO and visionary entrepreneur Moishe Mana, has announced that it will partner with the global innovation platform, Plug and Play, to establish a presence within Downtown Miami’s Flagler District. Plug and Play, based in Silicon Valley, is the world’s largest global innovation platform and investor.

“Miami has always had the components to make it a global technology hub,” says Moishe Mana. “Now that remote work has allowed tech workers and founders to live nearly anywhere, we’re seeing an acceleration of Miami’s emergence as a leading city for tech.”

The collaboration aims to unite the most promising startups with the world's impactful corporations to drive investment, foster innovation, and secure collaborative partnerships across an array of verticals within the Miami tech ecosystem.

This marks the first Miami office for the tech platform, which besides its headquarters in the Silicon Valley has offices in dozens of cities including Paris, Tokyo, Chicago, São Paulo, and Shanghai.

"We look forward to being a dynamic part of the growing tech community in Miami,” says Saeed Amidi, Founder and CEO of Plug and Play. “Our partners will bring their knowledge, expertise, and experience to help our startups grow. Connecting these key stakeholders and industry experts will expedite the digital and cultural transformation in a location ripe for explosive growth. We will work hand-in-hand with Mana Tech to find the founding partners to further develop the tech community.”

For Mana Common, the partnership is one of the first steps in executing their vision for the Flagler District as the economic center of Miami. Mana is Miami’s largest private landowner and their current efforts are focused on their dozens of properties surrounding Flagler Street in Miami’s Downtown core.

“This marks a huge milestone and opportunity for the Miami tech scene,” says Michelle Abbs, Managing Director of Mana Tech, one of the six divisions of Mana Common. “We’ve been actively listening and responding to the local tech community, and we’re excited to deliver a solution like this with Plug and Play who has successfully built complete innovation ecosystems multiple times. It’s the connection that the Miami tech and business communities have been lacking, until now.”

The annual program is designed to host two cohorts per year. Mana Common will co-host the first event with Plug and Play in Miami on February 16, 2021 intended to gather interest from the initial founding members that will jointly work in this project. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami Mayor Francis Saurez, and other corporate partners have confirmed their attendance.

Plug and Play’s platform includes an array of innovation protocols and a curated selection of startups, including the Miami tech entrepreneurs, that will help corporations bridge the gap to bring new products and services to market faster. Plug and Play will offer business development opportunities, mentorship, and networking for startups, investors, and corporations. Twice per year, the founding corporations will choose 10 to 15 startups to benefit from these opportunities.

Moishe Mana Closes On Acquisition of Former City National Bank In Downtown Miami For $25 Million

Billionaire real estate investor Moishe Mana has closed on the $25 million sale of 25 West Flagler Street, an assemblage of three adjacent parcels totaling 29,000 SF of land in Downtown Miami’s Central Business District (CBD). The property features redevelopment potential of up to 80 stories and ±696,000 SF, as of right. The transaction was overseen by Avison Young’s Florida Capital Markets Group with Avison Young Principals John K. Crotty, CCIM; Michael T. Fay, who is also Managing Director of the firm’s Miami operations; David Duckworth; Vice President Brian de la Fé; and Associates Berkley Bloodworth and Emily Brais in collaboration with Dan Carlo negotiated the disposition on behalf of the seller, City National Bank. The existing 139,448 SF office building was City National Bank’s former flagship headquarters.

Moishe Mana is one of the most prolific private investors in Miami who owns a significant number of properties along the Flagler Street corridor, including the property immediately to the east of 25 West Flagler, and in Wynwood.

“The sale of 25 West Flagler is a major deal in Miami, as the property has become part of a long-range redevelopment play,” said Crotty. “Ideally located and designated with Miami’s most favorable and aggressive zoning, the asset is a valuable addition to the buyer’s portfolio and overall plan in the area.”

Located between West Flagler Street and Northwest First Street, 25 West Flagler advantageously sits across from the Miami-Dade County Courthouse, within walking distance to Brightline’s MiamiCentral Station. A recently completed segment of the massive $27 million Flagler Street renovation and beautification project to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment, fronts the property. 

New developments are encouraged by the Miami Downtown Development Authority’s 2025 Master Plan, which aims to maximize the potential of the Greater Downtown area and its waterfront through the implementation of projects that will increase livability, encourage private sector investment and ensure the proper expenditure of public dollars. Possible redevelopments of 25 West Flagler include a variety of mixed-use options such as office, multifamily or condo residential, hotel and retail.

New Tropical Modern Residence Planned On Hibiscus Island Lot Recently Sold By Moishe Mana

Plans have been filed for a new tropical, modern residence on Hibiscus Island after Moishe Mana recently sold the lot, complete with a historic home, located at 420 South Hibiscus. The home is designed by DOMO Architecture + Design and will be elevated above ground to combat rising seawaters and flooding. The home will be accessible by an escalator, elevator and grand staircase along with a glass atrium at the center of the home. The home will also feature 2 guest houses which will be separated from the main house via an elevated water lily pond with sunken seating. On the ground level there will also be a Bayfront infinity pool along with lush landscaping matched with additional water features. The home will be full of resort style amenities including a spa with steam room as well as offer unrestricted views of the Downtown Miami skyline. The developer is seeking approval from the Miami Beach Design Review Board to demolish the existing home as it was built in 1937 along with a waiver to surpass the 24’ height restriction.

New Renderings Revealed Of The Proposed Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce In Wynwood

New renderings have been revealed of the Berenblum Busch Architects-designed proposal for the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, to be located in Wynwood. Located at 2900 NW 5th Ave., the project is being developed by Moishe Mana and will feature 43,466 SF of total development. It is expected to cost around $8.4 million for the build-out and will be part of a land swap between Mana and Miami-Dade. The Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce will be used as a county district office and Puerto Rican Community Center; additionally, the development will offer artist studios, a cafe, community spaces, offices and parking.

Moishe Mana Gets $20.13 Million Loan To Build Mana Wynwood Americas-Asia Trade Center & International Financial Center

Moishe Mana has secured a $20.13 million construction loan to build Mana Wynwood Americas-Asia Trade Center & International Financial Center. The financing was provided by Centennial Bank to Malux Realty, Malka Realty and Mizrachi Holdings for properties at 2337 Northwest Fifth Avenue, 375 Northwest 23rd Street, 394 Northwest 24th Street and 382 Northwest 24th Street. Mana plans to build Mana Wynwood Americas-Asia Trade Center & International Financial Center which will feature 10 million SF of commercial space as a trade hub to encourage and facilitate trade between China, Asia, Latin America, North America and the Caribbean. The project will be built in multiple phases with phase 1 including developing 8.5 acres of Wynwood with 4.68 million SF of Class A office space, showrooms, retail, hotels and public space. The total project In 2016 Mana's special area plan for Wynwood was approved covering nearly 40 acres including 51,000 SF of civic space, 3,500 residential units, 8,500 parking spots, the 2.5 acre Mana Commons private park.  

Moishe Mana's Pedestrian Friendly Vision For Redeveloping Flagler Street Unveiled

Construction has been stopped on Downtown Miami's redevelopment of Flagler Street, a project which has seen over 7 years of planning, to discuss pivoting to a new plan proposed by Moishe Mana. Mana, one of Downtown Miami's major land holders, has proposed a new for the the transformation of Flagler Street. Mana is calling for a "curbless" street  with no raised sidewalks in addition to the removal of on-street parking. The changes would allow for a pedestrian friendly outdoor, high-street retail concept with outdoor restaurant seating and entertainment. The streets would also include lush landscaping and bollards for pedestrian safety. Changes to the original plan would cost Miami-Dade tax payers $6 million with funding coming from city, county, DDA and private investors but should the project get delayed county funding may be pulled. Construction is anticipated to take between 36-42 months.