Bilzin Sumberg Renews 85K SF Office Lease At 1450 Brickell In Miami's Financial District

Nearly 25 years since launching in the heart of Downtown Miami, preeminent law Firm Bilzin Sumberg is doubling down on its Florida growth strategy with a major office lease that will preserve the firm’s position as one of the major tenants at the 1450 Brickell office tower. The Firm has renewed its lease for nearly 84,000 square feet of space at the Class A building, representing one of the largest law firm footprints in Miami’s urban core. Bilzin Sumberg’s renewal of its lease coincides with an influx of residents, companies, and investment into South Florida, with the Firm pursuing a strategy of steady growth that has solidified its role as a catalyst for business and wealth migration.

Bilzin Sumberg became the first office tenant to sign a lease at 1450 Brickell when the tower was nearing completion in 2009. The development of 1450 Brickell led the transformation of the entrance to Brickell Avenue, elevating the area into a walkable hub for business, dining, hotels, and residential living. Since then, the 625,000 square-foot Class A tower has attracted best-in-class tenants including multinational companies, finance firms, and professional services firms. The unique building features include a curtainwall glass system comprised entirely of large missile impact glass and two major generators that provide tenants with over 4,000 kw of power during electrical outages, making 1450 Brickell the country’s most storm-hardened office tower.

“For more than two decades, Bilzin Sumberg has presided over the evolution of Downtown Miami and the Brickell Financial District, from a 9-to-5 business center, into a vibrant 24-7 city,” explains Managing Partner Al Dotson. “Our office at 1450 Brickell has put our attorneys at the center of one of the most dynamic business, residential and lifestyle districts in the United States. Along the way, Bilzin Sumberg has been a key figure in transformative projects that have taken shape in our backyard, while also serving a national and international clientele from our homebase at 1450 Brickell.”

Bilzin Sumberg was represented by the JLL brokerage team led by Barbara Liberatore Black, Matthew Goodman and Jeff Gordon. “After spending over a year reviewing all options in Miami’s office market, Bilzin Sumberg decided to renew its lease and remain as one of the major tenants at 1450 Brickell for all of the same reasons they initially chose the building over 10 years ago,” said JLL’s Barbara Liberatore Black. “With the business growth Miami’s Brickell Financial District continues to experience and the 1450 Brickell office tower’s strategic location at the entrance to Brickell, it made all the sense for the law firm to maintain a presence in the center of the city’s premier live-work-play district.”

Tere Blanca and Danet Linares of Blanca Commercial Real Estate represented building owner 1450 Brickell, LLC.

“From the time of its development through today, 1450 Brickell has attracted prestigious domestic and international tenants,” added Tere Blanca, whose firm has exclusively leased 1450 Brickell since its conception. “While there were two other office towers under construction at the time it was being built, 1450 Brickell’s location and unique features helped drive strong pre-leasing with top quality tenants. Bilzin Sumberg, with deep roots in South Florida and an international clientele, first saw the value of locating in 1450 Brickell, a LEED Gold certified trophy tower designed to stand the test of time. The Firm’s tenancy set the wheels in motion for what would become one of the most successful pre-leasing campaigns in Miami history.”

Bilzin Sumberg counsels clients whose business and legal opportunities and challenges span the United States and cross borders to Europe, Latin America, Canada, the Middle East, and Asia. The firm's growth has paralleled that of its Miami home base, a region known for its rich cultural, social, and professional diversity. Bilzin Sumberg lawyers concentrate on services at the heart of both regional and international commerce, including real estate, land development and government relations, environmental, corporate law, joint ventures, domestic and international tax and estate planning, business litigation, finance, and public-private partnerships.

Leading Crypto Firm Blockchain.com Signs Lease At Tricera Capital and LNDMRK Development's Cube Wynwd

Leading crypto firm Blockchain.com has finalized a lease to occupy the top two floors of Tricera Capital and LNDMRK Development’s Cube Wynwd as its new Miami office. The ~22,000-square-foot lease brings Cube Wynwd to full occupancy less than 10 months after Tricera and LNDMRK acquired the Class A, 100,000-square-foot office and retail building. The deal also gave Blockchain.com naming rights for the building. Blockchain.com, one of the most widely used consumer crypto products and the leading institutional solutions provider, will soon begin designing its permanent office on the seventh and eighth floors.

Danet Linares, Tere Blanca and David Valdez of Blanca Commercial Real Estate, Inc. represented Blockchain.com in the Cube Wynwd lease. JLL’s Eric Groffman, Cameron Tallon and Edward Quinon represented Tricera and LNDMRK.

“We are thrilled to welcome Blockchain.com to Cube Wynwd and the Wynwood neighborhood,” said Tricera Co-Founder and Managing Principal Ben Mandell. “Blockchain.com’s leadership shares our long-term belief in Wynwood, which still has vast potential on top of the incredible growth and activity that has already occurred.”

In 2021, Blockchain.com announced its intentions to relocate its national headquarters from New York to Miami and aggressively hire throughout the local Miami job market. It also committed to make a significant investment to support the South Florida STEM community.

“As Miami solidifies its status as a mecca for crypto, we couldn’t be more excited to announce the location for planting our permanent roots in the city,” said Peter Smith, Blockchain.com CEO. “The speed at which our business is growing matches that of Wynwood and Miami itself, creating the perfect backdrop for us to continue scaling worldwide from our very own Blockchain.com building.”

Tricera and LNDMRK purchased Cube Wynwd, which also includes ground-floor retail space and a verdant rooftop terrace occupied by popular Japanese restaurant Kissaki, in an April 2021 off-market transaction. The 222 NW 24th St. Cube Wynwd, the neighborhood’s first boutique office-over-retail building, was just ~35% occupied at the time of Tricera and LNDMRK’s acquisition.

The joint venture partners rapidly stabilized the building with a compelling mix of tenants, including Ecuadorean fintech firm Kushki, Shaolin Capital Management, Brazilian footwear manufacturer Grendene, office supply and furniture online retailer Poppin, tech firm Transmit, and more.

Coworking operator Spaces occupies about 30% of the office space and about 1,700 square feet of the retail space in Cube Wynwd’s lobby. Renowned chef Gabriele Bonci’s Rome-based Bonci Pizza and Mini Market are among the existing retail tenants. The building features loft-style office space with expansive floorplates.

“Cube Wynwd is a case study for how we identify off-market opportunities and move quickly to execute our hands-on ownership approach,” Tricera Co-Founder and Managing Principal Scott Sherman. “We are proud of the building’s dynamic tenant roster, with Blockchain.com joining numerous new-to-market companies. Wynwood will continue to experience intense corporate relocation demand from the technology and finance sectors.”

Tricera and LNDMRK are frequent collaborators on real estate investments and developments. The companies are partnering with The Related Group to develop The Dorsey, a 12-story apartment building with a parking garage and nearly 95,000 square feet of office and retail space on a former Coca-Cola plant in Wynwood.

Image via Richard Novak

The CocoWalk Mixed-Use Property Reaches 100% Leased in Miami’s Vibrant Coconut Grove

Less than a year since its reopening, the newly renovated CocoWalk mixed-use property announces its retail and office components are fully leased in Miami’s vibrant Coconut Grove neighborhood. Following an extensive multimillion-dollar renovation, the property now features 150,000 square feet of prime retail space leased to leading local, national and international restaurant and retail brands and a newly built, 85,745-square-foot office building that is home to regional and global businesses. The mixed-use property is owned by a joint venture comprised of Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT), The Comras Company and Grass River Property.

“The office and retail leasing success CocoWalk has achieved demonstrates how Coconut Grove is becoming a leading destination for business and leisure,” said Stuart Biel, senior vice president of regional leasing at Federal Realty Investment Trust. “The diverse mix of service-oriented retail, chef-driven restaurant concepts and entertainment the reimagined CocoWalk offers will serve locals and visitors alike, while also providing onsite amenities to the daytime population occupying our office spaces.”

Along with reaching 100% leased, CocoWalk has completed leasing its office spaces attracting seven companies representing the financial and investment, hospitality and cruise industries, amongst the fastest growing in the region. The latest businesses to ink office leases are: cruise line Azamara; Creating Culinary Communities, or C3, a company led by Sam Nazarian, the founder of global hospitality firm sbe Entertainment Group that operates multiple SLS, Mondrian and Delano hotel locations; Uno Management Services; Lagoon Advisors, an investment banking advisory firm; Baymount Management, an investment management firm; The Jordan Company, a private equity firm with offices in New York, NY; Stamford, CT and Chicago, IL; and OC Investment Management, LLC.

Following the extensive remodel, CocoWalk now features three levels of prime retail space, the newly built class A office building One Cocowalk and renovated office space on the property’s west side known as Two Cocowalk. New-to-market tenant The Jordan Company is leasing 12,717 square feet; Uno Management Services will occupy 8,273 square feet; Lagoon Advisors will take 3,510 square feet; Baymount Management 1,928 square feet; and OC Investment Management, LLC another 1,247 square feet at One Cocowalk. Meanwhile, upscale cruise line Azamara inked a 9,286-square-foot lease; and C3 will occupy 9,205 square feet that will be home to its headquarters, a test kitchen, and culinary institute at Two Cocowalk.

The newly signed companies join an office tenant roster that includes American Land Ventures, international law firm Weinberg, Wheeler, Hudgins, Gunn & Dial, LLC, private equity firm Boyne Capital, and creative co-working pioneer Spaces. Amenities at the office building include dedicated elevators connecting office users with private parking, 24/7 security, a full-service, on-site gym and access to the building’s rooftop terrace and event space that overlook Coconut Grove’s lush tree canopy and bay views.

The exclusive leasing agent for the office space at CocoWalk is Blanca Commercial Real Estate led by Founder, Chairman and CEO Tere Blanca, Executive Vice Chairman Danet Linares and Vice Chairman Juan Ruiz.

“The successful leasing of CocoWalk’s office component has been a result of the quality office space, strategic location and direct access to dozens of dining and shopping options that the property offers,” said Tere Blanca, Chairman and CEO of Blanca Commercial Real Estate.

Among the restaurant and retailer concepts already signed at CocoWalk are Planta Queen, Sushi Garage, Mister 01 Extraordinary, Botanico Gin & Cookhouse, Salt & Straw, Sweetgreen, Narbona Natural Foods & Farm Market, Bluemercury, Edward Beiner, Edite Mode and The Spot Barbershop.

Five New Tenants Including Bradesco BAC Florida Bank Sign At The Plaza Coral Gables

Five notable new tenants have signed leases at The Plaza Coral Gables, a Class A office building currently under construction in Downtown Coral Gables, developed by Agave Holdings. The tenants include Bradesco BAC Florida Bank, who leased 63,009 square feet for their headquarters; the Naples, FL-based digital payments firm ACI Worldwide Corp., who leased 27,712 square feet; private equity firm H.I.G. Capital, who leased 22,227 square feet; PNC Bank, who leased 7,039 square feet; and Raymond James, who leased 4,396 square feet.

Tere Blanca, Danet Linares and Andres del Corral of Blanca Commercial Real Estate represented Agave Holdings overseeing the new lease signings. Patrick Duffy of Newmark represented Bradesco BAC Florida Bank, Shay Pope of CBRE represented ACI Worldwide Corp and PNC Bank, Alan Kleber of JLL represented H.I.G Capital, and Todd Brandon of Cushman & Wakefield represented Raymond James.

Located in the heart of Coral Gables’ central business district, The Plaza Coral Gables consists of approximately 2.1 million square feet of mixed-use real estate on approximately seven acres and spans three city blocks. Construction on the North tower was completed in late 2020 and the South tower is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

Located at 2801, 2901 and 3001 Ponce de Leon Blvd, just south of Miracle Mile in downtown Coral Gables, The Plaza Coral Gables features a 4.5 star 242-key Loews Hotel, two office towers, dining, retail and entertainment space, approximately 174 residential rental units, and +/-2400 parking spaces. The office component features 455,008 square feet, which is 30% leased. Other tenants include Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse, Next Level Lounge and The Butchery.

For more information about commercial leasing at The Plaza Coral Gables please fill out the form below:

One CocoWalk Signs Creative Coworking Pioneer & Operator Spaces As Anchor Tenant

As the redevelopment of CocoWalk continues, the joint venture behind the project, comprised of Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT), Grass River Property and Comras Company, has announced that it has signed its anchor tenant, co-working company Spaces, to occupy 42,883 SF at the new Class A office building One CocoWalk. Spaces’ long-term lease is comprised of 2,029 SF on the building’s ground floor and 40,854 SF on the second and third floors. The anchor tenant brings the 5-story centerpiece office building to 50% leased, with other leases in advanced negotiations. Spaces is an international creative coworking company operating over 160 locations in 80 countries worldwide. This deal marks the third location for Spaces in South Florida. Randy Carballo and Gavin Macphail of JLL in Miami represented the tenant, Spaces, in the lease transaction while the landlord, One CocoWalk, was represented by Tere Blanca, Danet Linares and Juan Ruiz of Blanca Commercial Real Estate.

“As new ways of doing business emerge, the flexibility coworking facilities offer is gaining popularity. Spaces is a great fit for freelancers, energetic entrepreneurs, mobile workers and startups as well as project teams or regional headquarters of well-established companies,” said Jan Sweetnam, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Federal Realty Investment Trust. “Coconut Grove, renowned as Miami’s bohemian enclave since the 1960s, appeals to the nomadic, non-traditional mindset of the millennial generation now comprising the lion’s share of the workforce, making it a perfect site for Spaces.”

“South Florida is experiencing an entrepreneurial surge and Coconut Grove is quickly becoming one of the area’s premier destinations for startups to call home,” said Michael Berretta, Vice President of Network Development for IWG, which owns Spaces. “It’s an exciting time to be entering the market and One Cocowalk was a natural choice for our next Spaces location within the region. It embodies the vibrant spirit and ethos of our brand and provides the amenities and type of neighborhood environment that will help further foster our members’ growth and creativity.”

The coworking concept offers tenants a variety of workspace options, from dedicated desks to traditional office configurations to open areas that foster collaboration, on flexible contract terms. Special events and other perks conspire to create a shared work environment that is fun, efficient, inspiring and productive.

One CocoWalk is one of three office buildings under development for the first time in 30 years in the Coconut Grove office market. All three buildings are experiencing strong leasing activity that has solidified the Grove’s position as a highly desirable location for companies seeking class A office space. Amenities at the 85,762 SF One CocoWalk will include dedicated elevators connecting office users with private parking, 24/7 security, and a visitor entrance and lobby as well as access to a full-service gym inside CocoWalk. Perhaps the most unique amenity for tenants will be One CocoWalk’s rooftop terrace and event space, an urban oasis overlooking Coconut Grove’s lush tree canopy and historic brick sidewalks.

The transformation of CocoWalk will create a premier lifestyle destination with experiential retail, dining and entertainment spaces along with public spaces for the community to enjoy. When complete CocoWalk will be home to a total of 100,000 SF of office space and 150,000 SF of experiential retail, dining and entertainment space, along with welcoming public spaces throughout. Completion of the retail and office components are slated for the first quarter of 2020.

“In addition to offering entrepreneurs a fully-amenitized co-working space in the heart of Coconut Grove, the arrival of Spaces will bolster the Grove’s fast-growing daytime population, driving even more foot traffic to area shops and restaurants with CocoWalk at the center of this action. This is a big win for Coconut Grove,” said Tom Roth, principal of Grass River Property.

The upscale shopping center, which first opened in 1990, was purchased in 2015 by Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT), Grass River Property and Comras Company. The JV is now under construction with a redevelopment plan that will enhance CocoWalk’s connection to surrounding streets, aligning the property with the area’s changing demographics and revamping its commercial offerings.

For more information about One Cocowalk, private showings or purchasing/ leasing information please fill out the form below: