Driftwood Acquisitions and Development Breaks Ground on Canopy by Hilton West Palm Beach

Driftwood Acquisitions and Development (DAD) officially broke ground on their new 150-room Canopy by Hilton West Palm Beach. The project, located at 704 S. Dixie Highway, marks the first hotel project in Palm Beach County for the Coral Gables-based firm. The hotel will be located 2 blocks away from City Place, Downtown West Palm Beach's retail, dining and entertainment hub. Canopy by Hilton West Palm Beach will rise 14-stories and feature 150 hotel rooms, 5,000 SF of event space, fitness center, 2 full-service restaurants and rooftop swimming pool. Driftwood Acquisitions and Development financed construction with a $27.7 million loan from First American as well as an additional $19 million that was raised via foreign investors through the Federal EB-5 Visa Program. The Canopy brand launched in October 2014 with a concept focusing on energizing neighborhoods by incorporating local design and food elements into each unique location. The first Canopy location in North American was Canopy by hilton Washington DC The Wharf. Construction on Canopy by Hilton West Palm Beach is expected to be completed by Q1 2019.  

“West Palm Beach is a lively and entertaining area for all ages, and we are confident that this thriving neighborhood is the perfect fit for the Canopy brand. We’ve always wanted a hotel that was close to our management headquarters and we are now living that dream,” said Carlos Rodriguez, CEO of DAD, an affiliate of North Palm Beach-based Driftwood Hospitality Management.

Construction Update: Alta Developers Goes Vertical on Quadro at Miami Design District

After completing foundation work, Alta Developers has begun vertical construction on Quadro. Located at 3900 Biscayne Boulevard, Quadro is located adjacent to the Miami Design District and is the second residential building to open with direct access to the district following Eve at the District; which opened earlier this year, and connects Midtown Miami to Miami Design District. Quadro will feature 198 residential rental units, 27,000 SF of retail and 387 parking spots. The development was designed by Revuelta as the design architect and Behar Font & Partners as the architect of record. Banco de Crédito e Inversiones of Chile financed the project. Alta Developers acquired the site, which was previously home of WPLG-Channel 10, in 2015 for $18.36 million.

G&G Business Developments Officially Breaks Ground on Aston Martin Residences On The Miami River

G&G Business Developments alongside Aston Martin, officially broke ground on Aston Martin Residences at 300 Biscayne Boulevard Way on October 18, 2017. Aston Martin Residences is designed by BMA & Revuelta Architecture and will rise 66-stories, featuring 391 condominium units. Coastal Construction Group is the general contractor on the project.

“Aston Martin is on a growth trajectory globally and across the United States. Our partnership with G&G Business Developments to create Aston Martin Residences Miami, forms an important part of that growth story and of our desire to bring our brand to new audiences across the world,” said Simon Sproule, Aston Martin Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer

“In October 2016 we announced the partnership with Aston Martin and our plan to break ground in October 2017. Exactly one year later we are here to celebrate the start of construction which is confirmation of our commitment to follow our own strict timeline. This development has been extremely well received, in part due to the unique offer but also due to the outstanding job our official broker Cervera is doing. I am confident we will deliver on our promise to create the ultimate residential tower and I’m looking forward to admiring the view from the top of this special building when it is complete,” said German Coto, CEO of G&G Business Developments. “The success of this collaboration is a testament to the team work, mutual trust and dedication of everyone involved, both at G&G and Aston Martin.”

The tower's interiors will feature signature carbon fibre reception desks in each of the tower’s two private lobbies, lighting and handmade detail based on the car, and residence doors hand-adorned door numbers from the same jewelers that place the logo on the hood of Aston Martin cars along with bespoke artisan Aston Martin door handles, and kestral tan leather door tabs. The tower's design will features floor-to-ceiling glass with no visible concrete, including glass encased support beams. Units range from 1 to 4 bedrooms with a 19,000 SF, 6 bedroom crown-jewel penthouse on the 63-65 floors. Pricing starts at $600,000 and range up to $7,000,000 for the "River and Panoramic Residences" part of the building and $14,000,000 to $35,000,000 for the "Penthouses." Amenities include a 42,000 SF “Sky Amenity” deck which features a state-of-the-art fitness center with spin room and boxing facilities, golf simulator, multiple theaters, and a curated art gallery. Sales have passed over $100 million in deposits since the on-site Sales Gallery opened in early July (2017). Aston Martin Residences is expected to be completed in 2021. 

Vladislav Doronin's OKO Group Breaks Ground on Missoni Baia in Edgewater in Style

Vladislav Doronin's OKO Group officially broke ground on Missoni Baia in Edgewater on October 12 in a stunning style that has set the stage for the first-ever Missoni branded residences. The event was attended by some of Miami real estate's biggest players and featured speeches by Edgardo Defortuna & Vladislav Doronin, capped off with a live flyboard performance and live saxophone. Missoni Baia will be a 57-story luxury condominium tower which will rise 649'. The tower represents the first of OKO Group’s four Miami projects as well as their first residential development. Missoni Baia will also be the first-ever branded residences from the legendary Italian fashion and design house, Missoni. Check-out the video and gallery of the swanky groundbreaking below. 

Construction Update: Ocean Land Investment's AquaBlu Tops Off In Fort Lauderdale at Over 70% Sold

AquaBlu, a boutique condo development located at 920 Intracoastal Drive in Fort Lauderdale, has officially topped off. AquaBlu is under development by Ocean Land Investments and is the fifth Aqua-branded project by the developer. The boutique condo project is over 70% sold and aims to open by Q2 2018. AquaBlu rises 17 stories and was designed by Borges + Associates Architects. The building will feature 35 luxury residences priced from $1.7 million to $3.9 million and range in size from 2,136 SF to 4,295 SF. Amenities include a heated saltwater pool, deep-water yacht slips, a fitness center, game room, outdoor barbecue area and private elevator foyer entry.

“AquaBlu’s modern residences and luxurious amenities offer an idyllic lifestyle, with easy access to the popular shops and restaurants along Las Olas Boulevard, yet within walking distance of our beautiful beaches,” said Jean Francois Roy, founder and President of Ocean Land. “Coupled with per-square-foot pricing starting at $530 makes AquaBlu’s overall value-proposition unprecedented in the area.”

G&G Business Development Announces Aston Martin Residences to Break Ground October 18

Aston Martin Residences at 300 Biscayne Boulevard Way, under development by G&G Business Development, has announced that they will break ground on October 18, 2017. The news follows last month's announcement that G&G Business Development had filed a Notice of Commencement with Miami-Dade County. Aston Martin Residences is designed by BMA & Revuelta Architecture and will rise 66-stories, featuring 391 condominium units. Amenities include a 42,000 SF “Sky Amenity” deck which features a state-of-the-art fitness center with spin room and boxing facilities, golf simulator, multiple theaters, and a curated art gallery. Sales have passed over $100 million in deposits since the on-site Sales Gallery opened in early July (2017). Construction is expected to be completed in 2021. Check-out the most recent group of renderings that were released earlier this summer.

Construction on Mixed-Use River Landing Shops and Residences To Begin By End-Of-Year

Construction on River Landing Shops and Residences is set to begin by the end of the year (2017) in Miami's Health District. Foundation work began earlier this year at the 8.14-acre site on the Miami River located at 1400 NW River Drive. River Landing Shops and Residences will include 475 apartment units and 426,000 SF of retail and restaurant space. Balfour Beaty PLC won a $260 million contract to build the project which is being developed by H&R REIT, Urbanx Co. and Matthews Southwest; who reached a settlement with Andrew Hellinger's River Landing Development which originally purchased the land in 2014 for $26 million before taking a $38.2 million mortgage on the property from an affiliate of New York-based Northstar Realty Finance, Eastwatch Holdings T LLC. Eastwatch Holdings T LLC. filed a $38.19 million foreclosure lawsuit against River Landing Development to which the mortgage was sold to River Landing Acquisitions, an affiliate of Canada-based retail developer H&R REIT. Major tenants will include a Publix, TJ Maxx, West Marine, At&T, Burlington Coat Factory, and an AMC Theater, amongst others. Completion is expected in Fall of 2019. 

Construction Update: Habitat Development's Smart Brickell to Break Ground in April 2018

Smart Brickell will break ground in April 2018 after pre-sales in the first tower reached over 35%. Smart Brickell is being developed by Habitat Development and is designed by Hernando Carrillo. The total project will feature 3 residential towers that will feature 170 condos and 150 hotel rooms with over 30,000 SF of retail in the base. Units range in size from 558 SF to 878 SF and pricing ranges from $290,000 to $490,000. Sales of the second tower are expected to launch in Q1 of 2018.

Vladislav Doronin's OKO Group Announces Groundbreaking of Missoni Baia in Edgewater

OKO Group, the Miami-based development company founded by real estate magnate and prolific international developer, Vladislav Doronin, has announced the groundbreaking of its 57-story luxury condominium tower Missoni Baia. The 649-foot-tall tower, represents the first of OKO Group’s four Miami projects as well as their first residential development. Missoni Baia will also be the first-ever branded residences from the legendary Italian fashion and design house, Missoni. The project will host a groundbreaking event to commemorate the start of construction on Thursday, October 12th.

“Missoni Baia is leading the way in Edgewater; setting a new standard for a sophisticated living with amenities worthy of a luxury resort, ” said Vladislav Doronin, Chairman and CEO of OKO Group. “We are proud to bring these distinctive, creative talents together; Hani Rashid’s expert architectural vision, the creative direction of Angela and Rosita Missoni, Paris Forino’s skilled interior design and Enzo Enea’s sensitive landscaping, to collaborate on this residential project which will define luxury in this burgeoning neighborhood. OKO Group is investing over $700 million into the Edgewater neighborhood, further bolstering this emerging, vibrant community. The Missoni Baia residences bring to the market an opportunity to invest in a unique lifestyle with a broad range of unparalleld amenities and panoramic waterfront views.”

“I could not envision a more exceptional project for my brand,” said Angela Missoni, Creative Director of Missoni. “I look forward to bringing the Missoni lifestyle to Miami and delivering a product with the timeless elegance and superlative quality that is synonymous with Missoni.”

Missoni Baia will feature 249 condo residences situated along 200' of frontage on Biscayne Bay. Prices start in the $500,000's for a 1 bedroom residence. Units range from 1 to 5 bedrooms, and 776 SF to 3,788 SF. Missoni Baia was designed by Hani Rashid of Asymptote Architecture, who are pioneers in the convergence of art and technology in architectural design. The firm is best known for its eye-catching international projects including the Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi Hotel. Missoni Baia will feature minimalist modern design and architecture to maximize natural light with exterior sculptural, structural columns wrapped in aluminum framing the building. The interior design of the building incorporates Missoni’s trademark colorful design palette and Missoni Home furniture collection in inventive ways, including in all public spaces and amenities. Amenities were designed in collaboration with Missoni and offer the comforts of a luxurious resort in a private residential setting. Features include a flow-through deck designed for all-day sunbathing with well-appointed cabanas, 5 swimming pools including an Olympic-sized lap pool, hot and cold plunge pools, a children’s pool, and an infinity-edge pool on the Bayfront Terrace, elevated tennis court and an expansive fitness center and spa overlooking the bay.

Construction Update: Melo Group Officially Tops Off Downtown's Square Station in Under 1 Year

Melo Group has officially topped off their Downtown residential rental project, Square Station, less than 1 year after breaking ground. Located at 47 Northeast 14th Street, Square Station features 2 twin towers which feature 710 units and 913 parking spaces. Square Station is located directly next to the Metromover Station in the Arts and Entertainment District. Square Station marks the first phase of Melo Group’s larger three-phase multifamily development plan to boost transit-oriented residential options for locals in the Arts & Entertainment District area of Downtown Miami. Construction of the project is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2018, with apartments now open for preleasing. Rental prices expected to range from $1,600 per month for 1-bedroom units to $2,500 per month for three-bedroom units. Just under 100 of these units will be set aside for workforce housing. Amenities include an 80' lap pool, a fitness center, and a social room.

“Square Station will continue our vision for the transformation of the Arts & Entertainment District – an area of Downtown Miami that has been residentially underserved for years – into a true live-work-play neighborhood,” said Martin Melo, principal of the Melo Group. “The project’s ground-floor retail will help to create walkable sense of community, while our transit-friendly location – with convenient access to the Metromover, Metrorail and Miami Trolley – will encourage the everyday use of public transportation and reduce traffic congestion during the workweek.”