Construction Update: PARAMOUNT Fort Lauderdale Completed, 56 Units Already Closed

PARAMOUNT Fort Lauderdale has been completed and closings have already begun. 56 units have closed so far in the building which is set to sell out for $210 million. PARAMOUNT Fort Lauderdale is being developed by Dan Kodsi, Art Falcone and Nitin Motwani who launched sales in 2014. The 18-story luxury condo tower features 95 units, of which 3 units remain, including two penthouses asking $9 million and a unit on the amenity level asking $2.8 million. Residences are priced form $1 million to over $9 million for penthouse units and they range from 1,910 SF to 3,500 SF. Penthouse units feature private pools and over 6,000 SF of outdoor space. Amenities include a lounge, club room, massage and steam room, oceanside restaurant, poolside bar and cabanas, gym and outdoor summer kitchen areas. PARAMOUNT Fort Lauderdale was designed by Revuelta Architecture with interiors by ID & Design International. Bank of the Ozarks financed the project with a $63.6 million construction loan. PARAMOUNT Fort Lauderdale is located at 701 South Atlantic Boulevard on Fort Lauderdale Beach. 

Tour The Model Units From Related Group's Icon Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale's Tallest Residential Luxury Tower

Icon Las Olas has officially hosted its Grand Opening party on October 24, 2017 as Fort Lauderdale's Mayor Jack Seiler thanked Jorge Perez and Related Group for filling in one of the final pieces on the Las Olas waterfront. Icon Las Olas is now Fort Lauderdale’s tallest building, topping out at 455', bringing luxury apartments to Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Related Group has released new images of their luxurious model units with views of Downtown Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale Beach and The Intracoastal Waterway. Icon Las Olas is a rental only tower with leasing starting at $2,500 and ranging up to $7,000. The tower was designed by Sieger Suarez Architects with interiors by Steven G. and construction by Moss & Associates. Icon Las Olas was co-developed by The Related Group with Rabina Properties and Perella Weinberg Partners and features 272-apartment units. Check-out PROFILEmiami's tour of Icon Las Olas' amenities and common spaces.

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.”

Featured Listing: Elevate Your Life With a Beachside Residence In The Newly Redesigned W Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale Beach has been hot, with over $1.5 billion of new development in the area over the past 3 years. One of the most iconic hotels on the A1A strip is W Fort Lauderdale Hotel & Residences which recently underwent a $60 million renovation. Residence 802 features everything that you could want in a turn-key beachfront condo. The residence features 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a den spread over 1,463 SF. The unit also includes 9' floor-to-ceiling glass for immaculate views of the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal, spacious balconies, and turn-key design and furnishings from the hot Meyer Davis Studio who headed up the $55 million renovation of the property overseen by Related Group and Related Companies. Meyer Davis took a nautical theme in the redesign with sailing rope and knots, wood, gold, blues, etc. which connects the hotel's style with the amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean throughout the property. Residences also have access to the hotel's redesigned amenities including pool with sundeck overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, beach club, updated porte cochère, Bliss Spa, WET pool deck, Sushi Bar, a concept from Sushi Chef Shuji Hiyakawa, a protégé of Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto; The Living Room indoor/outdoor lounge and terrace, 2 Stephen Starr restaurants including Steak 954, and 40,000 SF of meeting and event spaces. 

Condo-hotel residences have the unique ability to be put into the Starwood Hotel Program which allows the residence to perform higher returns through higher income short-term rentals with the management expertise and ease of Starwood. "Most of the people who buy at the W use their condo as a combination of a second home and rental property. When owners are not in town, they sign a management contract with Starwood and Starwood manages the unit as a “hotel residence” which generates income for the owner," explained Craig Studnicky in an exclusive interview with PROFILEmiami. When you are out of town, your residence in W Fort Lauderdale will be producing income for you while taking none of your time or effort. The perfect second home or income investment you can enjoy yourself as well. 3101 Bayshore Drive Residence 802 is currently listed for $1,080,000 with Related ISG.

Explore Related Group, Related Companies & Meyer Davis Studio's $60 million renovation of W Fort Lauderdale. 

NHL Star Jacob Trouba Of The Winnipeg Jets Purchases Residence in Auberge Beach Residences and Spa Fort Lauderdale

Winnipeg Jets star Jacob Trouba has joined Miami Dolphins legend Dan Marino as celebrity and athlete buyers at the under-construction Auberge Beach Residences & Spa Fort Lauderdale. Trouba has purchased a $1.4 million unit in the South Tower. The residence is a 1 bedroom + den with 2 bathrooms which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Amenities include a spa, restaurant, wine cellar, state-of-the-art fitness center, golf golf simulator, a children’s playroom, and a club room with multimedia facilities, billiards and gaming tables.

"After a long season, I am looking forward to having a place to relax and recharge my battery. Auberge offers the beachfront lifestyle I was looking for in my South Florida home. I can't wait for the day I move into this spectacular building," says Trouba. 

"The Related Group is thrilled to offer buyers like Jacob Trouba the finest in design, amenities and luxury services," said Patrick Cambell, Vice President at The Related Group. "Our project is setting a new standard of luxury living for buyers that are seeking an unmatched lifestyle in Fort Lauderdale."

Located at 2200 North Ocean Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, Auberge Beach Residences and Spa Fort Lauderdale is a collaboration between The Related Group, Fortune International Group and the Fairwinds Group. Jacob Trouba was drafted in the 1st round, 9th overall in the in the 2012 NH Entry Draft. He has since added 31 NHL goals and 74 assists to his resume. 

Jimmy Tate Closes On $50 Million Loan for Bahia Mar Resort in Fort Lauderdale Beach

Jimmy Tate and Tate Capital has locked in a $50 million loan for Bahia Mar in Fort Lauderdale Beach from Florida Community Bank and has boosted its mortgage on the property to $135 million. The project includes a $7 million redesign of the Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach – a DoubleTree by Hilton, which is a 40-acre, 296-key resort. Bahia Mar was redesigned by Kobi Karp and is expected to be completed in October (2017). Tate Capital is planning to invest close to $500 million in redeveloping the property into a mixed-use project which will also include 7 apartment buildings, dock space, restaurants, a 250-slip marina with docking for 100 mega-yachts, etc. They have also secured that the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show will remain at Bahia Mar through 2050.

PROFILE Exclusive: Exploring W Fort Lauderdale & The Fast Growth of Fort Lauderdale Beach with ISG Principal Craig Studnicky

PROFILEmiami had the exclusive opportunity to sit down with Craig Studnicky, Principal and Co-Founder of ISG Realty and leads sales at The Residences at W Fort Lauderdale. Take a look inside Related Group and Related Companies $60 million renovation of the iconic property and find out how the Fort Lauderdale Beach real estate market is on the move.

PM: Fort Lauderdale and Fort Lauderdale Beach have seen an influx of high-end condo and hotel developments in recent years. What sets The Residences at W Fort Lauderdale apart?

CS: The W Fort Lauderdale was completed in 2009. It was designed and developed as part hotel and part condo, essentially a condo hotel. A lot of the developments on the ocean in Fort Lauderdale, like Auberge and Paramount, are being developed for the end-user. Auberge and Paramount have typical rental restrictions for end-user condominiums. The Residences at W Fort Lauderdale, by contrast, has the ability to be rented short-term. The original developer designed the W as two towers, with the hotel in the east tower, and the condo residences in the west tower. 

What really sets The Residences at W Fort Lauderdale apart is the flexible use of the units. You can buy a unit as a second home and never rent it, buy it as your permanent residence and live there year-round, or you can buy it as a combination second home and rental property. Most of the people who buy at the W use their condo as a combination of a second home and rental property. When owners are not in town, they sign a management contract with Starwood and Starwood manages the unit as a “hotel residence” which generates income for the owner.

W Fort Lauderdale was acquired by Related in 2014. Related has developed more than 80,000 condos over the past thirty years, and are clearly the largest condo developer in the U.S. After taking ownership, Related decided to do a $60 million renovation to the entire property. The W, Starwood and Related agreed to use New York-based design firm Meyer Davis to head up the redesign. Meyer Davis has also been hired by Related for Auberge Beach Residences & Spa, the Paraiso Bay Beach Club in Edgewater, Park Grove in Coconut Grove and 1 Hotel & Homes in South Beach.  

PM: Do you see a need for more hotel branded residences in Fort Lauderdale?

CS: Absolutely. We are welcoming the Four Seasons, just two blocks north of the W, which promised to break ground this fall. The Four Seasons is the most recent addition to the high-end branded residences in the area, including W Fort Lauderdale and Ritz-Carlton.

PM: So, you guys were selling strong when a lot of other projects were slowing down?

CS: We are selling strong because Fort Lauderdale Beach is selling strong. The pricing gap between oceanfront properties in Miami Beach vs. oceanfront properties in Fort Lauderdale Beach has never been greater, and developers and buyers from around the world have noticed. Historically, the price difference from Miami Beach to Fort Lauderdale Beach has been about 25 to 30 percent, with Miami always getting the premium. Today, Miami Beach is about 200 percent more expensive than Fort Lauderdale Beach.  

In the last three years, $1.5 billion in new development has taken place in Fort Lauderdale, 70 percent of which has already been sold. 

PM: Where do you see most of the buyers coming from? Are there a lot of New Englander’s and New Yorkers who want a second home and like the supplemental income and the ability to show up with their golf clubs?

CS: The United States is the number one market for The Residences at W Fort Lauderdale. The overwhelming majority of buyers are from the northeast, including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Chicago but also Canada, Toronto and Montreal. The next market after that is Brazil. Brazilians have discovered Fort Lauderdale and the price difference between Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale is very appealing to them. They love the beach, and the beach in front of the W is the nicest beach in Fort Lauderdale. Even though the dollar is high, they love the idea of buying into a condo hotel because they get their rental income in U.S. dollars, which is valuable for Brazilians. 

PM: So how did you start to connect with Chinese buyers?

CS: I have owned my company for 25 years and we have done lots of work for developers, but I can honestly say, this is the first time I have ever sold to Chinese buyers. About 18 months ago, I started a division called ISG Asia and currently have 20 Mandarin-speaking agents working with me. A majority of China has not been exposed to South Florida and needs a lot of education on what Florida is and the different markets it includes. They are starting to discover South Florida and interest is rising because Florida is a bargain compared to pricing in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. The Chinese are only investing so far, mostly looking for income-producing properties. Of all of the properties I show them, The Residences at W Fort Lauderdale is one that they like the most because of its brand. 

When President Xi visited President Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach in April, travel websites from China were completely sold out of availability for Florida. The visit was really big for Florida real estate in terms of introducing Florida to the biggest country in the world. By the end of 2017, we are supposed to have a non-stop flight from Tokyo, and by the end of 2018, we are supposed to have non-stop flights from Beijing and Singapore, which will be a real game changer for South Florida real estate. 

PM: Can they move money freely out of China? How easy is it for them to invest their capital in the United States? 

CS: Currently there is a $50,000 restriction per individual on foreign investments annually, which is a challenge. There are ways of getting around it, but it is very challenging. The Chinese government is watching them very closely at the moment. 

PM: What else does Related Group and Related Companies have in store for Fort Lauderdale Beach?

CS: I think you will see Related develop more high-end condos like Auberge Beach Residences & Spa. The value difference between Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale Beach makes this Fort Lauderdale’s time.

About Craig Studnicky:

Craig Studnicky is a principal of International Sales Group, ISG, and has been a real estate broker for more than 25 years. Studnicky began his career in New York City as a sales associate in residential real estate for JPS Associates. In 1984, he founded Steven Craig Realty in Atlantic City  where his firm became Atlantic City’s leader in real estate, cornering two thirds of the market. In 1992, Studnicky relocated to Florida to work as Director of Sales for Country Club Estates in Aventura from 1992 to 1994. In partnership with Philip J. Spiegelman, he co-founded International Sales Group. Under Studnickys’ leadership, ISG maintains the areas top-producing sales force who have posted record real estate sales. Studnicky is a licensed real estate broker in states of New Jersey and Florida. He holds a degree from Virginia Tech.

Take our tour of Related Group & Related Companies' $60 million renovation of W Fort Lauderdale HERE

Inside Related's $55 Million Renovation of W Fort Lauderdale by Meyer Davis Studio

Related Group and Related Companies have nearly completed a $55 million renovation on W Fort Lauderdale, a hotel/ hotel-condo on Fort Lauderdale Beach under the watchful eye of Meyer Davis Studio. W Fort Lauderdale was developed as a joint venture between Related Group and Related Companies and the 2 tower development features both oceanfront hotel suites rooms and condo-hotel residences which are for sale and can be put into the Starwood Hotel Program. All of the amenity and public spaces as well as the rooms were redesigned by the New York-based design firm Meyer Davis Studio. Meyer Davis took a nautical theme in the redesign with sailing rope and knots, wood, gold, blues, etc. which connects the hotel's style with the amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean throughout the property. Redesigned amenities include updated porte cochère, Bliss Spa, WET pool deck, Sushi Bar, a concept from Sushi Chef Shuji Hiyakawa, a protégé of Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto; The Living Room indoor/outdoor lounge and terrace, 2 Stephen Starr restaurants including Steak 954, 40,000 SF of meeting and event spaces. The renovations are in the final homestretch and are expected to be completed in the fall. 

Tour the Penthouse Collection at Riva Fort Lauderdale Which is Aiming for September Completion

Riva Fort Lauderdale is powering towards completion and sales have continued to be strong, reported to be over 55% sold in May with a penthouse unit recently selling for $3.75 million. Construction is in the home stretch after topping off in February 2017 and is expected to be completed in September. Riva is being developed by Premier Developers who obtained a $65 million construction loan to finance completion of the tower in May. Riva will rise 15-stories and feature 100 condo units ranging in size from 1,538 SF to 8,788 SF and in price from $645,000 to $1.75 million with penthouses starting at $2 million. Amenities include water taxis, state-of-the-art fitness center, ground floor retail with a restaurant, a private dock and a watersports center. Riva is located at 1180 North Federal Highway. 

Upper Penthouse(s)

The recently sold penthouse was located as part of the collection located on the upper half of the building. The 2 story unit has 4,479 SF of interior living space spread over 3 bedrooms with 2 master suites and an additional 2,600 SF of outdoor space including a rooftop deck with a spa and summer kitchen. The unit also features private elevator within the residence, an enclosed garage, and a 35' boat slip with direct river access to the intracoastal. The unit is under contract for $3.75 million. 

River Loft

Riva's premier unit is its unique, 12,085 SF River Loft, which is asking $5.25 million. The 2-story, 4 bedroom, loft-style penthouse unit is located on the 2nd and 3rd floors, just 25' above the Middle River with over 250' of riverfront and 83' of outdoor-space. The unit features an outdoor dining room, summer kitchen, private pool terrace, private 2 car garage, gourmet kitchen, story master suite, and library.

Construction Update: 321 at Water's Edge in Fort Lauderdale to Begin Infrastructure Development on July 31

321 at Water's Edge in Fort Lauderdale has announced that they will begin infrastructure development on July 31 and will go vertical soon after. The 11 story building is being developed by Jeffrey and Samuel Sobel and features 23 condo units with interiors by Steven G. Sales are reportedly over 20% and units are priced starting at $2 million. Units range from 2,600 SF to over 4,100 SF with 3 penthouses that feature an additional 1,434 SF. Units feature floor-to-ceiling glass, expansive living areas, designer kitchens with exclusive Italian furniture, Hansgrohe faucets, quartz countertops and Gaggenau appliances. Amenities include pool with pool bar, jacuzzi, wine tasting room, fitness center with sauna, docks for yachts up to 70'. 321 Water's Edge is located at 321 N Birch Road which is walking distance to the beach and just across from Las Olas Boulevard.