Adrienne Arsht's Bayfront Estate Sells For Record $106 Million Becoming First Residential Property To Break $100 Million Threshold

For the first time in Miami-Dade County history, a residential property sale has crossed the $100 million threshold. The Arsht Estate, a four-acre waterfront compound owned by Adrienne Arsht, one of the most revered business leaders and philanthropists in the United States, sold today for $106,875,000.

Top-producing Senior Vice President Ashley Cusack with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty represented Arsht. Jill Hertzberg of The Jills Zeder Group with Coldwell Banker represented the buyer, who is undisclosed.

“As the steward of this beautiful property, I am proud to leave its legacy to the next generations of caretakers,” said Arsht. “May they also enjoy the breathtaking view!”

“It has been an honor to represent this landmark estate, which is truly one of the most magnificent in the U.S. -- fully steeped in Miami’s history,” said Cusack. “Pairing that prominence with Ms. Arsht’s commitment to community has been all the more impactful.”

Neighbored by the historic Vizcaya Museum, The Arsht Estate encompasses more than 25,000 square feet of exquisitely detailed structures. Overlooking Biscayne Bay from atop one of Miami’s highest bayfront elevations, it features more than 400 feet of water frontage, as well as panoramic views of Key Biscayne and downtown Miami. Throughout the years, the property -- often referred to as South Florida’s “embassy” -- has been the backdrop for numerous important events and gatherings involving international luminaries, including U.S. presidents, ambassadors, and world leaders.

The Arsht Estate’s primary residence, known as Indian Spring, was built by Arsht in 1999 and designed by Jose A. Gelabert-Navia, the former Dean of the University of Miami School of Architecture. All living areas in the home offer views of the grounds and Biscayne Bay. Built to accommodate grand-scale entertaining, additional highlights include a Great Room, expansive courtyard entryway, formal dining room with seating for more than 20 guests, a primary bedroom suite with a full gym, and a grand foyer with a sweeping staircase. Indian Spring also has a six-car garage with an upstairs apartment and private office, bayfront swimming pool, and a lighted tennis court.

The second residence, Villa Serena, was built in 1913 by former U.S. Secretary of State and three-time U.S. presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by architect August Geiger, the home also has unobstructed Biscayne Bay views and was carefully restored by Arsht to reflect its original glory. Its unique design includes two ornate staircases, which access private upstairs sleeping quarters, as well as a detached guest house situated above a three-car garage.

Arsht, a native Delawarean, divides her time among Washington, DC, Miami, and New York. In Miami, she was Chairman of the Board of TotalBank. Arsht’s vast philanthropy includes the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami; The Atlantic Council's Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center and Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, each located in Washington, DC; the Adrienne Arsht Stage at Alice Tully Hall in New York's Lincoln Center; and funding for the first all-paid internships at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

“This will be a very important day for future Miami historians,” said Ron Shuffield, President & CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty. “The first residential property in Miami to surpass the $100 million sale mark will forever hold a prominent place in Miami’s history. Today’s record sale is a testament to the ever-increasing global interest in our hometown.”

Indian Spring

Villa Serena

Photos via 1 Oak Studio

Adrienne Arsht's Bayfront Estate Hits Market As Miami's Most Expensive Listing Ever At $150 Million

The Arsht Estate, a magnificent waterfront compound owned by business leader and philanthropist Adrienne Arsht, will be coming to the Miami market for $150 million, setting a record as the most expensive single-family listing ever for Miami-Dade County and one of the highest-priced offerings currently for sale in the country. Neighboring Vizcaya, Miami’s landmark museum, the property, encompasses two homes and is ideally situated on more than four pastoral acres and overlooks Biscayne Bay from atop one of Miami’s highest bayfront elevations. The property features more than 400’ of water frontage with panoramic views of the Bay, Key Biscayne, and Downtown Miami. Senior Vice President Ashley Cusack with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty will be listing the estate which is located in the estate section of Brickell Ave.

“Being the steward of such a magnificent haven has been a true honor,” said Arsht. “This property has been the cherished site of some of our country’s most memorable gatherings. It is, without a doubt, one-of-a-kind and so quintessentially Miami. As a decades-long Miami resident, I am pleased to have been a part of preserving this treasure, and I look forward to having a continued positive impact on the community.”

The stately gates of the Arsht Estate lead to a pair of separate, two-story homes and several standalone structures, totaling more than 25,000 square feet. The primary residence, known as Indian Spring, was built by Arsht in 1999 and designed by Jose A. Gelabert-Navia, the former Dean of the University of Miami School of Architecture. The five-bedroom manse is crafted to accommodate elegant, grand-scale entertaining, with all living areas featuring sublime views of the verdant grounds and Biscayne Bay. Indian Spring has 20-foot ceilings, a formal living room and a Great Room, and an expansive, lush courtyard entryway. Adding to the inimitable elegance of the home, a formal dining room with seating for up to 20 guests is flanked by French doors on both sides. Further highlights include a primary bedroom suite with two full baths and a full gym; a grand foyer with a sweeping staircase offering direct views of the pool and Biscayne Bay; a handsome sunlit office with rich wood paneling; a sprawling family room, affectionately known as the “Garden Room;” a tranquil covered patio, which is an ideal space for entertaining guests or enjoying rest and relaxation; a Chicago brick drive; and an elevator.

Indian Spring additionally has a six-car garage with an upstairs two-bedroom, two-bath apartment, as well as a private oversized office for the owners’ use. The bayfront swimming pool includes two full baths with easy access to accommodate guests for outdoor entertaining. There is also a lighted tennis court.

The second residence, known as Villa Serena, was built in 1913 by former U.S. Secretary of State and three-time U.S. presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan. Designed by venerated architect August Geiger, the iconic manse has endless Biscayne Bay views and was meticulously and lovingly restored by Arsht to reflect its original glory. Villa Serena was furthermore designated “historic” by the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. Its unique design includes two ornate staircases accessing private upstairs sleeping quarters and, reflective of the era, a hidden doorway, allowing for seamless passage between rooms. The home also has a detached guest house, situated above a three-car garage.

“This is a compound that invites prominence – one that is not only connected to Miami’s earliest roots, but now to the world’s future of finance, technology, and global conglomerates, all operating and conducting their business just minutes away from this exceptional time-honored property,” said Cusack. “Thanks to its refinement and world-class amenities, the Arsht Estate is a residence with absolute global appeal. Its setting and size will be a draw for the most sophisticated of buyers.”

Throughout the years, the Arsht Estate, often referred to as South Florida’s “embassy,” has been the backdrop for numerous important events and gatherings involving international luminaries, including U.S. presidents, ambassadors, and world leaders.

“The sheer splendor of the Arsht Estate cannot be overstated,” added Ron Shuffield, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty. “This is an extraordinary offering – a ‘unicorn’ for the market…one that simply cannot be duplicated.”

Arsht, a native Delawarean, divides her time among Washington, DC, Miami, and New York. In Miami, she was Chairman of TotalBank. Arsht’s philanthropy includes the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, the Arsht Centers for Latin America, and for Resilience, at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, and funding for the first all-paid internships at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Indian Spring

Villa Serena

Photos via 1 Oak Studio

MG Developer Partners With Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices In Coral Gables To Complete The Final Phase Of The Biltmore Square Community

MG Developer has recently partnered with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices (BHHS) EWM Realty to lead sales and marketing for Althea Row and Biltmore Row. These are the last two projects that will complete the developer’s community, Biltmore Square, in Coral Gables. 

Althea Row and Biltmore Row include fifteen grand townhomes featuring 4-bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms starting at $3.4 million. The residences are near the Coral Gables Business District and within walking distance of Miracle Mile, Riviera Club and The Biltmore Hotel. Five of the townhomes are in Althea Row and will be completed in 2021, the remaining ten will be in Biltmore row which will be completed in 2022.

“We are extremely proud to be working with BHHS EWM Realty,” says Alirio Torrealba, CEO of MG Developer. “As we enter a new era in real estate and a new era of the development of Biltmore Square, I have the deepest respect and admiration for Ron (Shuffield) and the team he built in the community. I look forward to growing the future of Coral Gables with him and his team of experts, who have been such an integral part of The City Beautiful.”

“MG Developer has done great things in Coral Gables and we highly regard Alirio’s confidence in our expertise as we finalize his unique neighborhood’s final phase,” said Ron Shuffield, President and CEO of BHHS EWM Realty. “Alirio and the MG team are an integral part of the Coral Gables community and we look forward to watching his vision for the city evolve.”

A finance team led by Jeffrey Donnelly and Dmitry Levkov has structured about $16 million in equity financing for the Althea Row and Biltmore Row projects. MG Developer, being based in Coral Gables, has taken on many projects in the area. The luxurious townhomes they are currently working on fit in perfectly with Coral Gables’ charm and feature design elements that blend into the city’s aesthetic. 

Miami Luxury Real Estate Leader EWM Realty International Joins Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, part of the HSF Affiliates LLC family of real estate brokerage franchise networks, has announced that South Florida luxury real estate leader EWM Realty International has joined its network operating as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty. The 55-year-old, full-service brokerage is led by CEO Ron Shuffield, one of South Florida’s most respected operators in the business. It has been a wholly owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc. since 2003, the country’s largest residential real estate company for transactions and parent to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is among America’s fastest-growing real estate brokerage networks with nearly 50,000 agents and 1,500 offices joining the network in less than six years, including global network members in Berlin, Germany; London, England; Milan, Italy; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“EWM Realty is at the heart of Miami’s luxury real estate market and its reputation for serving this market is unequaled,” said Ron Peltier, executive chairman of HomeServices of America. “Joining the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network, recognized for its luxury focus and expertise and now its global connections, represents a truly unique opportunity for the brokerage, its associates and its buyers and sellers. EWM has been a valuable member of the HomeServices family for 16 years and we look forward to the company’s continued growth and success as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty.”

Gino Blefari, CEO of HomeServices of America and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, welcomed EWM Realty to the brand. “Ron Shuffield and his team are highly respected across South Florida and their presence as a luxury leader will benefit our network,” Blefari said. “We are proud to welcome their brokerage and eager to help it grow.”

Shuffield said he and his team look forward to a new era of growth. “As a proud member of the HomeServices of America family, we are excited to join the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network,” said Shuffield. “The brand has a strong presence in Florida with other fine brokerages throughout the state. In addition, we believe the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brand is wonderfully suited for the luxury, resort and second-home markets we serve.”

EWM Realty gains access to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ active referral and relocation networks, and its “FOREVER Cloud” technology suite, a powerful source for lead generation, marketing support, social media, video production/distribution and more. The brand also provides global listing syndication, professional training and ongoing education and the exclusive Luxury Collection marketing program for premier listings. Its Prestige Magazine showcases network members’ premium listings with a strong lineup of feature stories covering topics that appeal to high- end real estate consumers.

“South Florida is a global hub for business, travel and real estate investment,” Shuffield said. “We are eager to connect our brokerage with even more luxury clients from the northeast, Atlantic seaboard as well as from Europe and Dubai, where the brand is quickly growing. We believe that Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty will be a compelling option for those buying and selling luxury property.”

Shuffield said the same message applies to South Florida’s luxury real estate professionals. “We want to grow our brokerage by adding more of the region’s skilled and seasoned luxury agents,” he explained. “Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty will stand as the symbol for high-end real estate in our region and the company at which top agents may expand their businesses.”