Terra Closes on $127 Million Refinancing Loan for Natura Gardens Development

Terra and New Valley, the development partners behind Natura Gardens, a new multifamily community in Northwest Miami-Dade County, have secured $127 million in permanent financing for the development. The loan, issued by an affiliate of MF1 Capital, will be used to pay off and refinance an existing $65 million construction loan, which was provided in 2021 by Bank OZK. Completed in Summer 2023, Natura Gardens includes 460 garden-style rental apartments across 23-acres in Miami’s West Hialeah neighborhood.

At more than 97% leased, Natura Gardens’ one- to three-bedroom apartments measure between 727 and 1,603 square feet in size, with rental rates ranging from approximately $2,000 to $3,350 per month.

“Our ability to refinance Natura Gardens reflects the leasing success we’ve experienced at the property as well as the increasing demand for market-rate rental housing in the West Hialeah area,” said David Martin, CEO of Terra. “Natura Gardens continues to fulfill an unmet need for quality suburban living for thousands of working families seeking to minimize their daily commutes.”

Walker & Dunlop’s New York Capital Markets team, led by Keith Kurland, Aaron Appel, Jon Schwartz, Adam Schwartz, and Michael Diaz arranged the loan proceeds to refinance the existing construction loan of Natura Gardens.

Situated along NW 170th Street between I-75 and Florida’s Turnpike, Natura Gardens is located immediately south of the planned American Dream retail and entertainment complex, and a short drive from several large employers, including Boeing, Royal Caribbean International, Preferred Freezer Services, and The Home Depot.

Natura Gardens was designed by Pascual, Perez, Kiliddjian Architecture (PPK), with the development’s clubhouse and model units imagined by tennis champion Venus Williams’ design firm V Starr Interiors.

 Apartments have high-end finishes and fixtures, expansive balconies, custom shaker-style kitchen cabinetry, spacious built-in pantries, kitchen islands with breakfast areas, stainless steel appliances, full-size washer and dryers, spacious living and dining rooms, walk-in closets, and en-suite bathrooms.

Amenities at the gated community include a two-story clubhouse with a resort-style pool and spa; a covered kitchen prep area and grilling station, sink and refrigerator; outdoor tiki hut areas with hammocks, tables and umbrellas, and lounge chairs on comfortable beach sand; a media room, billiards and children’s playroom; a sophisticated lounge with a bar and kitchen; a state-of-the-art fitness center with yoga, aerobics and spinning studios; a business center with co-working spaces and a coffee bar; a children’s tot-lot with recreational equipment and electronic car charging stations, and a residents-only dog park.

Inspired by the area’s natural surroundings, the community features lush landscaping, open lawns, lakes and preserves. Residents also have access to lush, green spaces with sitting areas and mobile device charging stations throughout the entire community.

Natura Gardens is the latest among Terra’s portfolio of newly completed multifamily developments across South Florida, which includes Grove Central, a transit-oriented mixed-use development with residential and retail uses in Coconut Grove; and Pines Garden at City Center, a garden-apartment community in Broward County’s City of Pembroke Pines. Terra is also currently developing CentroCity, which will include up to 1,200 apartments as part of a larger 38-acre mixed use development in central Miami-Dade County, just west of Little Havana; and Upland Park, which will include up to 1,700 apartments as part of a 47-acre mixed use transit-oriented development at the Miami-Dade County Dolphin Park-and-Ride Station.

Nuveen Acquires LaVida Lakefront Class-A Multifamily In Miami's Blue Lagoon For $98 Million

The Chicago-based global real estate investment management company Nuveen Real Estate has acquired LaVida for $98 million. LaVida is the first Class-A lakefront multifamily apartments within the prominent Blue Lagoon corporate park. The project was developed by Pinnacle and Ascend Properties, who were also the sellers. The sale of the 272-unit apartment breaks down to $360,294 per unit.

The Cushman & Wakefield team of Robert Given, Troy Ballard, Zachary Sackley, and Mike Mulkern led the marketing efforts and brokered the transaction.

Designed by Behar Font & Partners, LaVida, which opened in 2019, consists of two eight story residential buildings containing 272 units of one, two and three-bedroom homes ranging from 728 to 1,295 SF, each with an outdoor terrace, with top floors offering magnificent south-facing views of Downtown Coral Gables. The elegant apartment residences boast a warm, natural palette with custom details including porcelain flooring throughout, dramatic designer-inspired kitchens and bathrooms, quartz counter tops, energy star-rated appliances, and full-size stackable washer and dryer. Floor-to ceiling exterior doors provide incomparable sunrise, lake and downtown city views with balcony apartments overlooking the lake.

“With the increasing demand for luxury rentals in South Florida and many returning to work in the nearby Blue Lagoon offices, we determined this was the right time to sell,” said Richard Finkelstein and Michael Wohl, partners, Ascend Properties. “LaVida’s central location caters to working professionals and business travelers as well as those looking to live the luxurious Miami lifestyle without having to sacrifice easy access to everything Miami has to offer.”

Located at 6600 NW 7th Street, adjacent to the intersection of the Dolphin and Palmetto Expressways, LaVida offers a live/work option for the 12,000+ working professionals and corporate executives in Blue Lagoon and convenient access to Downtown Miami, Miami International Airport and Doral’s growing business center. LaVida features expansive city and lake views, luxurious design curated by Venus Williams’s V Starr Interiors and a two-story resort-style clubhouse and pool.

“With first-class units, high-quality amenities and a central Miami lakefront location, LaVida continues to transform the way professionals view the Blue Lagoon community,” said David O. Deutch, co-founder, Pinnacle. “The success of LaVida represents the strength of this unique luxury lakefront product in a corporate center in the growing South Florida market.”

Unparalleled community amenities include two covered garages; dog park; two-story lakefront clubhouse with grilling stations; oversized hourglass-shaped pool and jacuzzi with a resort-style sun deck and southern exposure making it the ideal pool experience with poolside cabanas and day beds; state-of-the-art fitness facility with yoga studio and group class space; gourmet coffee bar; media room; Wi-Fi in all common areas, and more.

“LaVida is a Class-A apartment deal, fully occupied, in a high barrier to entry market with access to major employment centers such as Waterford Business District, West Doral and Miami International Airport,” said Carlos Burneo, Senior Director and Florida Housing Sector Lead at Nuveen Real Estate. “South Florida’s continuous employment and population growth is a clear match to Nuveen Real Estate’s investment strategy. We are excited to continue expanding our investments in the Waterford – Blue Lagoon market.”

“The outstanding execution quality and strong operating performance of LaVida led to significant investor demand,” noted Robert Given. “We continue to see robust activity in the market throughout South Florida.”