Miami Design District Appoints New Director of Personal Shopping for the Neighborhood’s Exclusive Shopping Concierge Service, Styled by MDD

The Miami Design District, Miami’s premier luxury shopping Mecca, dedicated to innovative fashion, design, art, culture, architecture and dining, has tapped seasoned fashion maven and celebrity stylist Danielle Merollo to lead the neighborhood’s emblematic personalized shopping and style curating service, Styled by MDD. Styled by MDD is an exceptionally novel luxury concierge program that offers clients an extensive range of complimentary resources from wardrobe consultations and contactless virtual styling, to white glove at-home delivery services and customized gifting assistance.

Adding a compelling new chapter of distinct luxury services to the area, Styled by MDD was originally brought to life in 2019 by Dani de Cespedes, Miami Design District’s dedicated Personal Shopper and Stylist. Characterized by its impressive reach into all avenues within the world of luxury, Styled by MDD offers impeccably tailored, one-on-one experiences with complimentary styling consultations, a dedicated shopping suite with services spanning closet curating, alterations, delivery within the U.S., suitcase packing, and more. Miami Design District, home to the most globally-recognized and influential brands, devised the program alongside Dani de Cespedes to support its array of over 120 luxury boutiques, shoppers, and guests with its specialized clienteling services, providing an exclusive one stop direct connection to access all the stores have to offer. Bringing over 30 years of experience and knowledge into the neighborhood, Merollo now joins the Miami Design District with plans to refine Styled by MDD to even greater heights. 

“I couldn’t be more excited to have this opportunity to call the Miami Design District my new home-base and to support expanding this already remarkable program in some really unique new ways,” says Danielle Morello. “I’ve watched this neighborhood grow so much, from afar, over the last eight years, which has only motivated my own efforts in personalized fashion and styling further. Coming from New York and witnessing the influx of New Yorkers making Miami their new home as well, I’m looking forward to being able to accommodate new clientele and to be a part of all the profound developments happening within the neighborhood as Miami itself is becoming a true epicenter for fashion, culture and opportunity.” 

Merollo has over 30 years of experience as an accomplished stylist that has forged the reputation she has today. Beginning her career at Manhattan’s Saks Fifth Avenue, she acquired over 13 years of highly-valued experience before joining Americana Manhasset as the luxury center's sole personal shopper. Working under the mentorship of esteemed real estate developer and philanthropist Frank Castagna, Merollo developed the department into a full-service experience, leading a team of three additional personal shoppers, four assistants and two seamstresses. Danielle and her team supported over 60 of the world’s most impressive brands and provided impeccable service to hundreds of personal shopping clients. Danielle also helped spearhead top-tier events in partnership with stores and charitable organizations, developing genuine long-lasting relationships with a plethora of celebrity clientele, which she plans on bringing to the Miami Design District. 

By Katya Demina

Maison Margiela and Palm Angels Open Miami Design District Boutiques

Instagram influencer hotspot Miami Design District is continuing to expand and attract some of the hottest luxury and fashion brands. A selection of new retailers including Maison Margiela, Palm Angels, ARES Design and KREWE have opened in Miami Design District. The brainchild of Miami-developer Craig Robins, Miami Design District is a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, lined with luxury boutiques, fine dining destinations and rich art and cultural programming.

Palm Angels is an italian luxury streetwear fashion house founded by designer and photographer Francesco Ragazzi. The Palm Angels location is their first store in Miami, located at 173 NE 40th St. The design recreates the atmosphere of a swimming pool, through materials, graphic interventions and evocative messages. The pool theme expands to the shop-windows fixtures, characterized by round corners and mosaic cladding. A special counter, covered in ceramic tiles, displays a “No Diving” warning. While displays are designed to highlight the products 'artworks' qualities, the spatial container is devised to be re-programmable and flexible: furniture and displays are mobile and can be rearranged to accommodate exhibitions, live performances, talks and events. The new store design has been developed by the Milan based creative agency April, in tight collaboration with Palm Angels founder and creative director, Francesco Ragazzi.

An art director trained in fashion communication and a photographer, Milan-born Francesco Ragazzi started Palm Angels in 2011 as a photographic documentation of LA's skater culture. The endeavor evolved into a book, published by Rizzoli in 2014, and subsequently into clothing in 2015. Palm Angels stems from an Italian take on American culture and subcultures. It merges an appreciation for sartorial codes and a joy for fabric with a proclivity for using clothing as identity tropes and cultural signifiers.

Maison Margiela introduced its new store concept in the US with a flagship boutique at 142 NE 41 St. in Miami Design District. The store concept is developed by Dutch architect Anne Holtrop and reflects the evolved visual language established at the house by creative director John Galliano. The design was first introduced in the gypsum-cast set at the Artisanal Autumn/Winter 2018 show, and it interprets the Maison’s iconoclast codes in façade and interiors. The store is an abstract and inviting environment rooted in the notion of appropriating the inappropriate.

The 2,615 SF boutique spans over two levels and displays the complete range of Maison Margiela’s Co-Ed collections, men’s and women’s ready to wear, accessories, shoes, small leather goods, as well as jewelry, eyewear and fragrances. The flagship boutique features defining structures of architecture including walls and columns which appear as detached objects.

Artisanal furnishings reflect and alter ideas of familiarity. Hand-cast individually in textile molds, the surfaces of the plaster walls and columns retain the memory of fabric texture and evoke the notion of an irreproducible hand-spun tactility. Misfit furniture is designed in the memory of classic objects, deconstructed in form. The technique of décortiqué further materializes in shelves, display tables and seats carved in stained travertine, the natural indentations filled with colour-contrasting epoxy resin in optical white.

Maison Margiela is a fashion house founded in Paris in 1988 by Belgian designer Martin Margiela. Iconoclast and irreverent, the Maison presents Haute Couture, women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, its contemporary line MM6, accessories, fine jewellery, fragrances and interior design. In 2014, John Galliano took over the creative direction of the Maison. Mysterious and unconventional, a radical core intertwined with a non-standard elegance, Maison Margiela remains classic yet visionary, daring yet ambiguous.

Other new concepts to open in Miami Design District include luxury Italian coachbuilder ARES Design, who merges traditional hand craftsmanship with advanced technologies to create limited editions and one-off bespoke cars and motorbikes, and Children’s retailer Kids Atelier, who curates the world's most fashion-forward children's brands including Dolce and Gabbana, Versace, Moncler, Stone Island, Givenchy, DSquared, Comme des Garçons. New York based Broadway, film, television and acting coach and renowned theatre director, Matthew Corozine recently debuted the Matthew Corozine Studio, Inc. Miami (MCS), offering acting classes based on the transformational work of the Meisner technique, with classes taking place on an ongoing basis. Additionally, The New Orleans-based Eyewear brand KREWE has brought their traveling Tiny House to Miami Design District where guests will be able to browse a sampling of their handcrafted sun, optical and ACTIVE collections.

Major Food Group Continues Miami Expansion Opens ZZ's Sushi Bar In Miami Design District

Coming off the heels of the opening of Carbone Miami in the South of Fifth neighborhood, critically acclaimed global restaurant company, Major Food Group, is continuing to grow their presence in Miami with the recent opening of ZZ’s Sushi Bar, in the heart of the Miami Design District. Having officially unveiled this past Thursday, April 22, ZZ’s Sushi Bar is a Japanese restaurant and membership club, presided over by Masa Ito and Kevin Kim, two of New York City's most revered and beloved sushi chefs. ZZ’s Sushi Bar offers cuisine of the highest caliber, personalized hospitality, and unmatched amenities. ZZ’s Sushi Bar remakes the former Ember space into a high-end Japanese restaurant with a private 16-seat omakase chef’s choice sushi bar with ingredients flown in from Tokyo. An adjacent dining room serves modern Japanese cuisine with an a la carte menu, from raw dishes to cooked plates of premium Japanese beef on custom-built charcoal grills. Additional restaurants are set to open in the Miami Design District and Brickell later this year.

Miami Design District has been a hotspot for new restaurant openings. COTE, the Michelin-starred and James Beard Award-nominated KOREAN STEAKHOUSE™ and vision of proprietor Simon Kim, officially unveiled in February 2021 and is considered one of New York’s most coveted reservations. Pastry sensation Antonio Bachour will debut Bachour Restaurant and Bakery in the neighborhood in Summer 2021. Tacombi, a hospitality company born on the balmy beaches of the Yucatan in 2005, will be opening a brand-new local taqueria, sharing its love of Mexican taco culture in the Miami Design District at the end of 2021. Santa Fe News & Espresso will unveil a cozy cafe in the neighborhood later this year, French market Biltoki is slated to open up shop in 2022, and a new two-story Italian trattoria from Major Food Group will also debut in the coming future.

Miami Design District Becomes The First Neighborhood In The World To Achieve LEED Gold Certification

The Miami Design District has achieved the prestigious LEED Gold certification, becoming the first neighborhood in the world to achieve the Gold level (LEED ND: Built v4 Gold). Miami Design District marks the third neighborhood in the world to achieve LEED certification, which means “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,” for Neighborhood Development (version 4 Built). The trendy, luxury shopping, art and entertainment enclave is setting the bar for sustainable development in communities across the country.

Miami Design District is home to a number of luxury fashion houses, art galleries, fine dining experiences, and cafés. The open-air, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, known for its many distinct and artistic façades, notably boasts a highly energy-efficient infrastructure.

Amongst the many sustainability aspects of the neighborhood’s redevelopment focus, several to highlight include: the re-infiltration of rainwater and restored natural hydrology made possible by the additions of expansive vegetated and high-albedo white roofs and tree-shaded streets, enhanced walkable streets and pedestrian walkways that promote community connectivity and encourage visitors to spend more time outdoors, and the integration of innovations from other Green Building Standards, including the WELL's feature "Beauty and Mindful Design," which incorporates different design elements and artwork that lend to a more calming environment.

In 2011 Island Planning Corporation (IPC) was brought in by DACRA and L Catterton Real Estate to design the Landscape Masterplan for the neighborhood. Miami Design District was inspired by the worlds leading shopping districts including Fifth Avenue and Rodeo Drive. IPC helped to establish a sophisticated visual continuity throughout the neighborhood, with mature canopy-covered streets and walkways, sculptural specimen trees, and extensive rooftop gardens.

Spinnaker Group, one of the most respected leaders in the green-building movement, provided LEED for Neighborhood Development consulting and energy modeling for this distinctive project, marking the neighborhood’s 4th earned LEED certification. Spinnaker Group also provided LEED Consulting, Building Commissioning and Energy Modeling for three other landmark projects within the Miami Design District including the Garden Building, featuring an intensive rooftop garden lounge designed by Island Planning Corporation (LEED Gold certified in 2013) - Palm Court, featuring underground parking to allow for a large open courtyard above for pedestrians and artwork, such as the Buckminster Fuller’s futuristic Fly’s Eye Dome (LEED Gold certified in 2015) - and most recently, Paradise Plaza, featuring intensive green roofs and underground parking with a large plaza above for pedestrians and artwork (LEED Gold certified in 2020).

Michelin-Starred Korean Barbecue Restaurant COTE Opens In Miami Design District

COTE, the Michelin-starred and James Beard Award-nominated Korean Steakhouse™ by Simon Kim, has opened at 3900 NE 2nd Ave in Miami Design District. The opening is COTE’s first location outside of New York City since opening in 2017. COTE in Miami Design District spans a 5,892 square foot location offering 100+ seats in the dining room.

The interior was designed based on the New York City location by MNDPC and includes a lavish oval-shaped bar, red light dry-aging room, blue chip modern art and two private dining rooms. COTE offers an interactive dining experience with table-side smokeless grills with an exhaust system which ventilates air at 6.6X more frequently than standard restaurants. COTE has also installed a state-of-the-art Paragon Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS), which continuously replaces indoor air with fresh air from the outdoors.

COTE’s menu includes 45-day, dry-aged beef which is prepared at the table on the smokeless grills. The menu also includes the highest grade of prime cuts and American wagyu that is dry-aged in the restaurant’s on-site red light dry-aging room. Meats are seasoned with COTE’s Signature Gastronome’s Salt, a proprietary salt blend composed of British Maldon salt, Himalayan pink salt, and Korean thousand-day sea salt. COTE also offers two tasting menus, The Butcher’s Feast® and a 10-course Steak Omakase™. COTE also offers an award winning beverage program curated by James Beard Award-nominated beverage director Victoria James and master sommelier Mia van de Water.

COTE is part of the influx of New York-based restaurants to recently open in Miami including Carbone and Osteria Morini.

PROFILE Exclusive: Developing In Miami's Ever Changing Urban Landscape With Raimundo Onetto of Alta Developers

With over 30 years of development experience and having developed more than 3,500 units in the South Florida market, Raimundo Onetto of Alta Developers has been a driving force in the region’s massive transformation. Onetto has been involved in some of the most impactful projects in Miami’s hottest neighborhoods such as One Paraiso, Le Parc at Brickell, 900 Biscayne, Quantum on the Bay, etc. Now, Onetto has turned his attention to the fast-growing hotspot Miami Design District, where he recently completed and launched sales of Quadro at the Miami Design District. The two-tower, 198-unit project is the newest addition to the city’s trendsetting creative hub and is only a short walking distance to many premier attractions in the fashionable Design District.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Onetto has been able to keep the gas pedal down on sales at Quadro and was able to welcome us to the site for an exclusive tour of the newly completed project. When walking the building with Onetto, his hands-on approach to the design and development becomes evident from the building’s layout to the design and finishes of the units. After the tour we were able to catch-up with Onetto to find out more about how he got involved in development and where Miami real estate is heading:

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PROFILE: How did you get into real estate development? What is your background?

Raimundo Onetto: I’m an architect by trade. I actually began my career as the Founder & Partner of Archiplan, a global architecture, design & planning firm in Chile. I also founded a development company in Chile, called Exxacon, a Chilean-Spanish real estate development company that started with projects in Chile and Spain. In 2002, I came to Miami with my family, and partnered with Terra International to introduce Archiplan USA and we became Terra Group.

PROFILE: Did you have any mentors that helped shape your life or career?

RO: Not necessarily. I just know that since high school I dreamt about becoming an architect. In college/university I was even more drawn to architecture, creating spaces and becoming a professional architect. I made my dream come true and through the years I became intricately involved in the entire development and creation process. 

PROFILE: You mentioned that your background is as an architect, when and why did you take on the developer role? 

RO: I had been an architect but I was always deeply involved in the development process and worked closely with the different developers of Chile throughout all the phases of projects and since I was so close to these projects through all of their stages, the next natural fit for me was to become a developer myself. It was a seamless transition. 

PROFILE: As a developer where do you draw your inspiration from?

RO: Back in 1987 when I completed plans for my first building in Santiago, that only fueled my passion to do more and to plan for more projects and developments that would create impacts in cities. This project ultimately fueled my desire to go beyond planning and designing buildings in Chile.

PROFILE: When did you start building and investing in Miami? What was the attraction to the area? 

RO: In 2001, I began really studying the different markets and identifying where the opportunities existed in Miami. A year later, in 2002 we created Terra Archiplan with Pedro Martin and his son David. We analyzed different areas and carefully watched market demands and behavior of buyers. We began developing in the core areas of the city. Our first development together was located in the Dadeland area building out Metropolis, and then went to downtown Miami, and then west to Doral.

PROFILE: When did you acquire the land for Quadro? How did Miami Design District look at that time? 

RO: Alta Developers acquired the land where Quadro sits in the Miami Design District six years ago, in 2014. The Miami Design District at the time was just starting to take off. They had created pedestrian walkways, they brought in a new group of restaurants, luxury condominiums, and new retail stores with renowned brand names, including Tom Ford, Pucci, Berluti and Fendi.

PROFILE: Where did the concept for Quadro come from? Tell us about the design. 

RO: Designed by Behar Font & Partners, the two-tower 12-story, urban resort-style condominium building offers just 198 residences that are truly imaginative. While the entire premise is adorned with more than 542 site-specific works of contemporary art created by Francisco Del Rio of ART with DNA, Quadro offers fully- furnished, art-infused residences that are located at the cross sections of Miami's premier fashion districts, where names like Gucci, B&B Italia and the de la Cruz Collection can be found. Quadro, was also designed as a distinct condominium asset since it offers high-end turn-key residences with resort-style amenities at compelling price points in the Design District. These residences provide complete flexibility for permanent residents, the seasonal snowbird and the vacationing short-term guests. At Quadro, buyers also have the flexibility to purchase units with tenants or place units into a short-term rental program, all within a central location near Miami’s premier attractions.

PROFILE: Why did you guys wait until the building was completed to launch sales?

RO: Our mission is to build sustainable communities and integrate them into the destinations and districts they reside in. Our plan was to build Quadros’ residences as condominium homes and in 2019, the City of Miami modified code regulations offerings short-term rentals within the district and that was when we began looking at ways in which we could capitalize on market opportunities this modification presented for us as well as prospects. We identified the demands of the market were changing so that was when we permitted for condominiums documents, which some renters are currently benefitting from today.

PROFILE: How have sales been? Where are your buyers coming from? 

RO: We launched sales in late February and began accepting reservations. Shortly thereafter in March, Covid hit and we had to halt in-person tours as well as cancel the official sales launch event we had planned. Sales and interest continue coming. We are seeing that there is tremendous interest but serious foreign buyers want to wait until they can travel to Miami to sign contracts, which we expect to see soon. Currently, we are in the process of converting reservations into contracts. We are also seeing that several buyer inquiries that want to come to Miami have been coming in from across Central and Latin America, including Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina and Peru.  

PROFILE: What did you guys do during the COVID-19 shut down to keep sales moving forward? (Drive through closings, virtual tours, etc.)

RO: Like many, we had to adapt our efforts and shift the selling process to a virtual one. This resulted in a number of virtual presentations, live and recorded virtual tours via Zoom, FaceTime, or WhatsApp, and several webinars and live interviews, both with brokers and buyers. We now have most of our model residences available for 360 virtual tours, which can be viewed at any time through a link, where prospects virtually walk through a residence just as they would in a physical tour, with the added flexibility of them being self- guided and easily accessible. Additionally, when Stay Home orders were lifted, we did begin booking private appointments and tours with implemented social distancing and health practices in place. Earlier in July, we began setting appointments for those that made reservations to sign contracts. In some cases, we have had some contracts being signed through e-documents. 

PROFILE: Tell us about the short-term rental program? 

RO: The two-tower, resort-style condominium building with 198 residences also provides buyers the flexibility to purchase units with tenants or place units into a short-term rental program, which provides immediate long-term opportunities for buyers that cannot move upon purchase, or that simply want to have a home in Miami on a seasonal basis. We have seen some owners prefer to manage their own short term rentals, and others that choose to place units into the Nomada destination residences program.

The first benefit, is the immediate opportunities residences present with the rental program available to them. The other immediate benefit is that they are turn-key and move-in ready now. They also enjoy the amazingly styled spaces, unique amenities and a prime location, which is steps away from the Miami Design District, Wynwood, Downtown Miami, and only a short drive to Miami Beach and Miami’s International Airport. Quadro truly provides an exclusive lifestyle destination that is in walking distance to shop, dine or enjoy the outdoors.

PROFILE: When a buyer closes on their unit and you turn over the keys, what are some of the features that will stand out to them as an owner at Quadro?

RO: The boutique building boasts an expansive amenities deck with a pool, summer kitchen and cabanas, all of which provide ample space for outdoor recreation with breathtaking panoramic views of the city and Biscayne Bay in the Miami Design District. The sprawling poolside club room, yoga and spinning rooms create a private setting fit for relaxation or spending time with loved ones. Advanced home technology in each residence includes NEST smart home thermostats as well as a Latch Bluetooth keyless entry system with cameras that offer complete control through a homeowner’s mobile phone. Quadro also features electric car charging stations and a state-of-the-art pet washing facility. 

PROFILE: Where do you see the future of Miami development? What does Miami lack?

RO: I see most developments happening in areas that are already very concentrated like Downtown Miami, Dadeland, Coral Gables and I think we will continue to see those areas expand outward.

I think Miami lacks impactful projects like Brickell City Centre and that has a global appeal and that are synonymous with world-renowned names. I feel projects like that will make big impacts much like they do in big cities across the globe. Internationally recognized brands, make cities more appealing like the Miami Design District has done. 

PROFILE: Do you have anything else in the pipeline? 

RO: Yes, we have several projects in the pipeline throughout South Florida, including: 

• Phase 2 EON Flagler Village 

• 250 Bird Road

• Pinecrest Views 

• 6075 Sunset Drive

• Vesta at Neovita Doral

About Raimundo Onetto:

Onetto has 30 years of development experience, bringing more than 3,500 units to the South Florida market. Onetto has been involved in some of the most noteworthy additions to the South Florida real estate landscape, including One Paraiso, Le Parc at Brickell, 900 Biscayne, Quantum on the Bay, Metropolis at Dadeland, among others. Onetto and his innovative team at Alta Developers are the masterminds behind some of the South Florida’s most highly acclaimed projects including the recently completed Quadro at the Miami Design District, EON Flagler Village, Pacifica Boynton Beach and Neovita Doral. Onetto prides himself on being very hands on with all of Alta’s projects and their design stages, which gives their products a truly competitive edge.

About Alta Developers:

Alta Developers is a South-Florida based real estate development firm, whose Principal & CEO Raimundo Onetto has been involved in some of the most noteworthy additions to the South Florida real estate landscape, with current projects such as EON Flagler Village, Pacifica Boynton Beach, Quadro at the Miami Design District, Neovita Doral, Vesta at Neovita Doral, and past projects such as One Paraiso, Le Parc at Brickell, Quantum on the Bay, Metropolis at Dadeland, among others. These properties have been ahead of the curve from the start of each project often leading the way for future development in the areas and neighborhoods they occupy. Through advanced aesthetics and technology, Alta Developers develop with a commitment to environmental sustainability and cultural integrity, ensuring a continued stature as landmark properties in a particular destination. To date, this smart, thorough approach to development has lead the way to pursue future opportunities in emerging neighborhoods throughout Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boynton Beach, and beyond. Alta is continuing to curate and design new developments in key markets, including, Pinecrest Views, Alta 9600, EON Flagler Village Phase II, and 250 Bird as well as 1400 Biscayne.

OFF-WHITE c/o VIRGIL ABLOH™ Opens Flagship Store In Miami Design District

OFF-WHITE c/o VIRGIL ABLOH™ has opened in Miami Design District (MDD). The new two-story flagship location is located at 127 NE 41st Street and will feature seasonal men's and women's collections of the luxury brand’s ready-to-wear streetwear. The Miami Design District store was designed by Virgil Abloh in collaboration with OMA’s Director of Architecture Samir Bantal to operate as a flagship retail store, fulfillment center, cafe and multipurpose event space that can host a runway fashion show or art show.

COVID-19 reportedly contributed to Abloh and Bantal’s decision to make the location flexible and cater to customers who are shopping online as opposed to in-store. In addition the walls are modular and can be compressed or opened up to change the space for different uses as well as opening up the front facade the outdoors. The store was designed with an industrial aesthetic with concrete floors, corrugated metal walls and mesh ceiling panels. Apparel will be displayed on stainless steel shelving with black marquina and white Carrara marble platforms, all of which, including the furniture, is modular and on wheels to be easily moved.

In addition to being the founder of OFF-WHITE c/o VIRGIL ABLOH™, which he founded in 2012, Abloh is also the artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear collection. OFF-WHITE c/o VIRGIL ABLOH™ goods are manufactured in Milan with a core value of the brand to be made from the best available and particular opinion regarding fabric, fit and fabrication.

Miami Design District was developed by Miami Design District Associates, led by Craig Robins, in a partnership between his firm Dacra and L Catterton Real Estate, a global real estate development and investment fund that was established in 2016 by Catterton, LVMH and Groupe Arnault. MDD is a creative neighborhood with shopping, dining, contemporary art, design and events. MDD is home to over 120 flagship stores like Balenciaga, Hermes, Rolex, Fendi, Panerai, Tag Heuer, Dior, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Tesla, etc. MDD also offers three cultural and art institutions being ICA Miami, the de la Cruz Collection and Locust Projects.

Tour Gucci's recently opened Miami Design District Boutique 

Check out Dolce & Gabbana’s new MDD Flagship Location

Check out the newly opened St. Roch Market in Miami Design District

Check out PROFILEmiami's coverage of the newly opened Bottega Venneta boutique in Miami Design District

Check out the newly opened Aranguren + Gallegos Arquitectos-designed Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami Design District

Alta Developers' Quadro At Design District Now Signing Contracts

Alta Developers, led by Raimundo Onetto, has announced that the two-tower, 198-unit residences at Quadro in Miami Design District, which officially launched sales in March, is now signing contracts and paying 25 percent of the total commission to outside brokers. Quadro at the Miami Design District is a distinct resort-style condominium. The 12-story boutique was built in 2019 and is the newest addition to the city’s trendsetting creative hub and is only a short walking distance to many premier attractions in the fashionable Design District.

Quadro’s residences, which start at $398,000 and are exclusively marketed and sold by Fortune Development Sales, are ready for immediate purchase and allow for buyer flexibility in purchasing units with tenants or placing units into a short-term rental program. The turn-key units range in size from 762 square foot large studios to 1,199 square foot two-bedroom residences with terraces. All units have their own spacious balcony and or terraces, while select units have oversized outdoor patios ranging from 86 square feet to 898 square feet.

“We are certainly seeing a major uptick in prospects inquiring about Quadro and making appointments to see this remarkable project. Prospective home buyers have been waiting to make a decision until they can see residences for themselves and now that we have opened, we are signing contracts,” said, Edgardo Defortuna, President, CEO and Founder of Fortune International Group.

The towers reopened its sales gallery on June 1st and have attracted interest from the local market which has been steadily growing with buyers now looking to sign contracts. Inquiries have been coming in from across Latin America, including Ecuador, Mexico, Argentina, and Peru. Fortune International Group expects prospective out-of-state buyers to head to Miami this summer to sign contracts.

“We are seeing that buyers, locally and internationally are eager to buy a home in South Florida now more than ever. We have warm weather, great outdoor spaces, several places to enjoy cultural attractions, and a myriad of dining venues. Buyers also want to ensure purchasing a home that presents attractive opportunities for the future and Quadro checks all the boxes,” adds Edgardo.

The resort-style complex has one-of-a-kind artworks integrated throughout which anchor a multifaceted series of experiential programs and walking tours tailored for residents and guests of the two luxury condominiums. Alta Developers and Art with DNA’s Francisco Del Rio, the lead architect and artist who embedded 542 site-specific pieces throughout the premises, have truly shaped the concept of contours of Quadro, all of which serve as an ode to South Florida’s seashore.

The project offers an expansive list of amenities, including a pool, a sprawling poolside club room, yoga and spinning rooms, and summer kitchens and cabanas with abundant space for outdoor recreation with panoramic views of the city and Biscayne Bay. Each residence has advanced home technology, including NEST smart home thermostats and a Bluetooth keyless entry system with cameras that homeowners can access through their mobile phones. Residents with electric cars can power their cars at charging stations, while those with pets can take them to a state-of-the-art pet washing facility on-site.

“Quadro is ideal for buyers looking to purchase and move-in now – it offers high-end turn-key residences with resort-style amenities at compelling price points in Miami’s Design District. Not to mention, these residences provide complete flexibility for permanent residents, the seasonal snowbird, and the vacationing short-term guests,” said Raimundo Onetto, Principal and CEO at Alta Developers.

By Isabella Zimmermann    

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

Malls Across Miami Are Reopening Today As Miami Enters Phase 1 Of Reopening From The COVID-19 Shutdown

“Although we live in a city without seasons, this feels like Spring,” said Miami Design District visionary Craig Robins as Miami enters Phase 1 of its reopening plan. As per approval by Governor Ron DeSantis, Miami-Dade and Broward County can begin to reopen as of today, May 18, 2020, following the COVID-19 lockdown that has marred the United States since early March. Golf courses and marinas opened several weeks ago with restrictions, and now retail, restaurants, barbershops and salons may open - with restrictions. Bars, nightclubs, movie theaters and beaches are not part of the Phase 1 reopening plan and have no set reopen date.

Following the opening of Palm Beach County over the past several weeks, malls in Miami are welcoming back patrons in Miami Design District, Brickell City Centre, Bal Harbour Shops and Aventura Mall, in addition to Broward County’s Sawgrass Mills mall leading the charge. While the malls may be open, individual businesses within them are making their own decisions as to which day and how they will relaunch operations. Robins indicated that Miami Design District will see most of their tenants open by Wednesday, May 20 along with parking, public art and centralized services. Shoppers will also be able to pick up a mask at any MDD information desk. Bal Harbour Shops and Brickell City Centre opened May 18.

Restaurant openings have been a hot topic of discussion as they begin opening their dine-in services back up at 50% capacity and with six foot social distancing between parties. Bar counters are closed to seating and a maximum of four people can be seated at a table unless they are members of the same household, which are capped at six. Patrons must wear face masks when they are not at their table and employees must wear masks at all times. All menus must be single use and restrooms must limit their capacity to one person at a time. Retail has similar restrictions limiting capacity to 50% and requiring all customers and employees to wear a mask at all times.

Authorities will monitor and assess how Phase 1 of reopening progresses over the next several weeks before approving a move to Phase 2 or instituting new restrictions to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alta Developers Launches Sales At The Recently Completed Quadro At The Miami Design District

Alta Developers, a South Florida-based real estate development firm, has announced the completion and launch of sales at Quadro at the Miami Design District. Quadro at the Miami Design District is a resort-style condominium with 198 turn-key residences where art is integrated throughout the entire development. Designed by Behar Font & Partners, international homebuyers and art lovers from across the globe can now enjoy art, designer finishes, sweeping city and bay views just across from the Miami Design District.

Quadro at Miami Design District also offers short-term rental flexibility as short-term rentals are fully permitted, residents and guests alike can wake up in the Miami Design District to enjoy the trendy lifestyle destination and shop, dine or play only a few steps away. Quadro provides owners a unique benefit of placing units into a short-term rental program especially designed for this development. The management company can arrange lodging and homestays for visitors.

“As the residential luxury market evolves in South Florida, buyers have created a demand for sensational high-end turn-key residences that provide exhilarating environments and resort-style amenities at compelling pricing points,” said Raimundo Onetto, Principal & CEO at Alta Developers. “Quadro gives buyers solid opportunities where they can list their designer residences into a short-term rental program while they are traveling. Quadro is truly redefining modern day living in Miami’s chic Design District.”

Introducing a more creative feel to resort-style living, Quadro incorporates more than 542 one-of-a-kind art pieces and installations by Art with DNA. Taking inspiration from Miami’s sparkling ocean, vibrant colors and shapes, Quadro is an ode to South Florida’s nautical environment creating a tranquil space for creativity and collaboration.

Residences at Quadro are turn-key and ready for immediate occupancy. Units range in size from large studios, to 973 SF one-bedroom residences and up to 1,280 SF two-bedroom residences with terraces. All residences are designed with hand selected color palettes for the interior walls, doors and trims, stainless steel appliances, private balconies with spectacular views, 9’ – 13’ high-ceilings with floor-to-ceiling windows, Italian porcelain tile throughout, modern-white roller shades and open concept kitchen and living room. Designer furniture packages are also available. Each residence is technology enhanced including NEST smart home thermostats as well as a bluetooth keyless entry system with cameras that offer complete control through a homeowner’s mobile phone.

“Quadro is truly distinct in many ways and it presents great opportunities for residents and buyers. The product is approved to accommodate short term rentals plus it is ready for occupancy now, providing the buyer immediate use or rental income from day one. This, coupled with its prime location in the Miami Design District and compelling price points, positions Quadro as one of the best value propositions in the city,” continued Onetto.

The 12-story boutique building offers a variety of amenities that coalesce with the urban environment of the Miami Design District and its close proximity to the bay. An expansive amenities deck with a pool, summer kitchen and cabanas provides plenty of spaces for outdoor recreation with panoramic views of Biscayne Bay, while the expansive poolside club room, yoga and spinning rooms create a private setting fit for relaxation or spending time with friends and family. Quadro also features electric car charging stations and state-of-the art pet washing facility.

Residences are exclusively marketed and sold by Fortune Development Sales and start at $399,000.

For more information about Quadro at the Miami Design District, private showings or purchasing/ leasing information please fill out the form below: