CocoWalk Announces New Fashion-Focused Retailers Ahead of Fall Reopening In Coconut Grove

CocoWalk, one of the most highly anticipated mixed-use projects in Miami, has announced new clothing concepts to join their lineup. The open-air lifestyle center is bringing new tenants and energy to the Coconut Grove neighborhood. It is slated to begin its phased reopening later in the Fall along with new fashion-focused tenants. CocoWalk features 150,000 sq.ft. of prime retail and dining space that is currently 80% leased. New brands include Free People Movement, Europann and Late Night Gypsy.

“Our aim is to return CocoWalk to its former vitality by bringing in carefully curated tenants attuned to the wants and needs of the local community and surrounding neighborhoods,” said Stuart Biel, senior vice president of regional leasing at Federal Realty Investment Trust. “FP Movement, Europann, and Late Night Gypsy are cool and original apparel concepts that will not only enhance the center Grove’s retail offerings but will bring the community together for unique experiences.”

CocoWalk offers new tenants the opportunity to launch new concepts and test the market in prime retail space. Free People Movement is by the Philadephia based boho fashion house Free People. Their new line will offer customers fashionable athletic wear from a brand they already know and love. Europann is a men’s clothing line from Saint-Tropez, introducing the French Riviera style of prints and bold colors to Miami. Late Night Gypsy will offer trend-setting vintage clothing concepts from Los Angeles. Their brands include For Love and Lemons, Lavish Alice, Jen’s Pirate Booty and Band of Gypsies. 

“I’m excited to bring the trendy, street chic style of Los Angeles to the colorful spirit of Miami,” said Allegra Wynne-Kaplan, founder and owner of Late Night Gypsy. “Growing up in Miami, I always loved Coconut Grove’s enchanting vibe and unique energy – and after 15 years in Los Angeles, I’m ready to return to my roots, by opening my first storefront location at CocoWalk in the Grove. The artsy and free-spirited nature of the neighborhood perfectly aligns with Late Night Gypsy’s brand, mission, and image, and I look forward to being part of the Grove community once again.”

The three new retailers will join CocoWalk’s existing list of chic, diverse and international shops and restaurants. The list includes Planta Queen, Sushi Garage, Mister 01 Extraordinary, Botanico Gin & Cookhouse, Salt & Straw, Sweetgreen, Narbona Natural Foods & Farm Market, Bluemercury, Edward Beiner, Edite Mode, Palma de Leon, The Spot Barbershop and The School of Rock. The bespoke lineup of CocoWalk brings a new age of fashion, beauty and lifestyle to Coconut Grove. 

Fontainebleau Miami Beach Reveals New Renderings Of NBWW-Designed Addition

Jeffrey Soffer’s Fontainebleau Miami Beach has revealed its proposed Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe-designed expansion across the street at 4360 Collins Ave, which is currently a surface parking lot. The buildings would be connected via a 90’-long pedestrian sky bridge that would cross West 44th Street. The addition would rise 5-stories and would feature convention space including two levels of ballrooms, a rooftop deck and three floors of parking offering 500 parking spaces. The parking lot to be developed at 4360 Collins Ave. was acquired by Soffer in 2005 for $15 million, the same year his family acquired the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel.

The Fontainebleau Miami Beach opened in 1954 and was designed by architect Morris Lapidus. The property spans more than 15 acres with 11 pools, a 40,000 SF spa, and 12 different restaurants and bars including Hakkasan and LIV Nightclub. The hotel is made up of four towers including the Chateau and Versailles towers with 846 hotel rooms as well as the Tresor and Sorrento towers with 748 condo-hotel units. It was acquired by Turnberry Associates for $325 million in 2005 before undergoing a $650 million gut-renovation.

Fontainebleau Miami Beach Exits Special Servicing On $975 Million CMBS Loan

Jeffrey Soffer’s Fontainebleau Miami Beach has exited special servicing on its $975 million commercial mortgage-backed security loan (CMBS). When issued in November 2019, the loan was the largest CMBS hotel loan in South Florida. The loan entered special servicing on March 30 amid the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and following a modification request. The loan was returned to its master servicer on September 23 and payments reportedly remained current throughout the special servicing period, although as part of a forbearance agreement monthly reserve payments have been deferred to 2021; additionally, the hotel’s 2020 financials will not be used when calculating the property’s debt yield.

CMBS loans, which are secured by a mortgage on a commercial real estate property, are among the hardest to restructure as under the typical CMBS structure. A loan is transferred into a CMBS pool and a Master Servicer administers the loan. The Master Servicer is generally not permitted to enter into a loan modification or restructuring agreement and a Special Servicer is needed to potentially modify or restructure an individual loan in a CMBS pool. When loans are in special servicing the borrower cannot take out new debt or refinance their property.

South Florida’s hotels have bit hit with some of the hardest economic impact from COVID-19 where the industry must meet nearly $4.2 billion in CMBS payments. Miami Beach hotels, motels and short-term rentals were ordered shut on March 23 and have laid off thousands of employees. Fontainebleau Development also owns the JW Marriott Turnberry Miami, Turnberry Isle Marina, Turnberry Ocean Club and The Big Easy Casino in Hallandale Beach.

The Fontainebleau Miami Beach opened in 1954 and was designed by architect Morris Lapidus. The property spans more than 15 acres with 11 pools, a 40,000 SF spa, and 12 different restaurants and bars including Hakkasan and LIV Nightclub. The hotel is made up of four towers including the Chateau and Versailles towers with 846 hotel rooms as well as the Tresor and Sorrento towers with 748 condo-hotel units. It was acquired by Turnberry Associates for $325 million in 2005.

Vladislav Doronin and Len Blavatnik Receive Approval For Aman Hotel & Residences In Miami Beach's Faena District

Vladislav Doronin and Len Blavatnik have received approval from Miami Beach City Commissioners to build Aman Hotel & Residences in Miami Beach’s Faena District. The developers will build a new 250’ tall tower adjacent to the historic Versailles Hotel located at 3425 Collins Avenue, in addition to restoring the Versailles Hotel back to its former splendor. Aman Hotel & Residences Miami Beach will feature a 56-room hotel and 23 condominiums.

The approvals required a zoning change for height increase from the permitted 203’ to the proposed 250’. The height increase had been met with community opposition from several Historic Preservation Board members, including chairman Jack Finglass, as well as residents of the King David Condominium across the street. The final plans still must be submitted and approved by Miami Beach’s Historic Preservation Board.

Len Blavatnik is an American industrialist and philanthropist whose firm, Access Industries, owns a diverse portfolio of over 6 million square feet across iconic hotels and other commercial and residential properties in the United States, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. Along with Alan Faena, Blavatnik developed the neighboring, ultra-luxury condo tower, Faena House.

Aman Hotel & Residences Miami Beach would be the first Aman Resort in South Florida. Vladislav Doronin is the chairman of Aman Resorts, in addition to being CEO of real estate development firm OKO Group. OKO Group’s Miami portfolio also includes luxury waterfront residential towers; Missoni Baia and Una Residences; and 830 Brickell, Miami’s first new office skyscraper in over a decade

Ness Realty Proposes The Gateway Mixed-Use Project In Aventura

An entity tied to Raphael Ammar and Ness Realty have proposed The Gateway, a mixed-use project that would feature office space, retail and a hotel. The developer has filed an Administrative Site Plan Review Application with Miami-Dade County for the 1.35-acre site located at 2630-2600 NE 203rd Street. The developer is seeking a zoning change to move the property entrance from NE 203rd Street to NE 26th Avenue. The property sits across Biscayne Boulevard (US-1) from Aventura Mall, adjacent to Beacon Tower, and is located within the Ojus Urban Area District. There is currently an older office and apartment buildings on the site.

The Gateway is designed by International Design Engineering Architecture (IDEA) and would be built in two phases. The current proposal calls for 100,800 square feet of office space, 7,200 square feet of retail, 21,760 square feet of convention space, 167 hotel rooms and 492 parking spaces. Phase 1 would include the construction of the 6-story office building and Phase 2 would include the 12-story hotel. The Gateway is expected to break ground in Q3 2021 pending approvals and obtaining building permits.

Miami, Palm Beach County and Fort Lauderdale recover about 28,000 jobs since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

Almost 28,000 jobs have been recovered since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Miami, Palm Beach County and Fort Lauderdale.  Majority of these jobs fall into the government, hospitality and retail sectors.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics released data showing the Miami market has gained  over 16,000 jobs in August, Palm Beach has gained about 7,000 and Fort Lauderdale has gained over 5,000.  The largest growth in the job market over the last few months is coming from the government sector.  The majority of these jobs are temporary positions tied to the 2020 Census, but has helped the unemployment rate fall to single digits for the first time since COVID-19 hit.  

Hospitality and retail are industries that have suffered considerably from the COVID-19 pandemic across the Country.  Miami has lost about 70,000 jobs in hospitality and about 22,000 jobs in retail since March and April.  As stores and restaurants continue to open up operating at limited capacity, both industries combined have recovered an average of 55% of the jobs lost.  This has significantly boosted Miami’s total COVID-19 job recovery rate to about 45%. 

Palm Beach County’s hospitality and retail industries are slowly making a comeback but not at the same rapid pace as Miami.   At the beginning of the pandemic hospitality in Palm Beach County lost about 48,000 jobs and retail lost almost 10,000.  Since April, hospitality has recovered about 30% of jobs lost and retail has recovered about 45%.  Palm Beach County has regained about 35% of the 100,000 total jobs lost from the pandemic. 

Fort Lauderdale’s hospitality industry lost over 3,000 jobs and retail lost about 14,000 since March and April.  Hospitality has recovered about 44% of the jobs lost and retail has recovered about 60%.  Fort Lauderdale has a total recovery rate of about 36% of the 130,000 jobs lost from the pandemic.  Overall even though job loss from COVID-19 remains down, it is hopeful to see industries slowly coming back as customers begin to leave their houses and support local communities.   

ESJ Capital Partners Proposes 300-Room Hotel At Jungle Island Redevelopment On Watson Island

ESJ Capital Partners have proposed to bring a 300-room hotel designed by the Miami-based EoA Group to Watson Island as part of the redevelopment of Jungle Island. Voters approved the hotel development in August 2018 which will transform Jungle Island’s property including the parking garage and add an additional 12,000 square feet of meeting space while leaving the botanical gardens undisturbed. The hotel will rise 11-stories and will feature a 4-story parking garage with 787 parking spaces and 9,500 square feet of restaurant space. The lobby and porte-cochere will be located the 5th floor above the parking podium along with a restaurant, lobby, gym and pool deck with an outdoor bar and fire pits. The 10th floor will feature a restaurant and outdoor bar. Hotel rooms will range from 380 square feet to over 1,600 square feet. There is no time frame for a potential groundbreaking of the project.

Reuben Brothers Acquires 25% Stake In The JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa

The British-based private equity and investment firm, Reuben Brothers, led by David and Simon Reuben, have acquired a 25% stake in the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa from Jeffrey Soffer’s Fontainebleau Development. The price of the transaction was undisclosed. The JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa recently completed a $300 million renovation including the addition of 300 hotel rooms, a 3,000-visitor capacity waterpark known as Tidal Cove Waterpark and the expansion of its convention center. The hotel property is one of the largest in South Florida, featuring 685 hotel rooms and a 36-hole golf course. Reuben Brothers and Fontainebleau Development are reportedly exploring additional partnerships on investments.

SHVO Wins Approval To Move Forward With The Development of The Raleigh Hotel Masterplan In South Beach

Real estate owner and developer Michael Shvo, chairman and CEO of the NYC-based real estate investment and development firm SHVO, has won approval from the Historic Preservation Board (HPB) of the City of Miami Beach to move forward with the three-acre master plan development of The Raleigh Hotel. The three-acre site includes the neighboring South Seas and the Richmond, located on Collins Avenue and 18th Street in Miami Beach.

"The Raleigh Hotel is the crown jewel of Miami Beach,” said Shvo. “This approval marks a new milestone in the partnership between SHVO, South Beach and the surrounding community. SHVO will continue to honor Miami's rich history and culture. We vow to play a significant role in the city’s continued growth and transformation.”

The board approved The Raleigh Master Plan to fully restore the three properties and to unify them as one site in order to operate them as a luxury hotel and condominium building, as presented by developer Michael Shvo and his partners. The approved plan includes construction of a new 175-foot oceanfront residential tower designed by Kobi Karp behind the Richmond and South Seas.

The plans, which were submitted to the board in April, will restore The Raleigh Hotel and its iconic pool, and the historic frontage of the Richmond and South Seas Hotels to their original 1941 grandeur, conceived by legendary architect L. Murray Dixon.

Shvo and his team worked diligently over the past 18 months with the HPB and held over 100 meetings with Miami Beach stakeholders to ensure that the proposed plans would maintain the building’s original façades, effectually restoring the streetscape. Shvo describes the redevelopment will restore the existing façades “exactly the way it was when it was originally built.” This includes the removal of the penthouse floor that was added to The Raleigh in 1961, the restoration of the original façades of the South Seas and the Richmond hotels. 

SHVO purchased The Raleigh Hotel from Tommy Hilfiger in February 2019 for $103 million and later purchased the Richmond and South Seas for a combined $140 million in August 2019.

Given The Raleigh’s storied history, SHVO is committed to returning it as a cultural beacon for the greater Miami community. Last year, SHVO installed The Raleigh Gardens, an immersive and free temporary installation on the grounds of the hotel, featuring extraordinary sculpture from Les Lalanne.

AirBNB Announces Global Party Ban And Occupancy Cap

One of the leading homesharing platforms, AirBNB, has announced a global ban on all parties and events at Airbnb listings, including a cap on occupancy at 16. This party ban applies to all future bookings on Airbnb and it will remain in effect indefinitely until further notice.

Unauthorized parties have always been prohibited at Airbnb listings. 73% percent of AirBNB listings globally already ban parties in their House Rules, and the vast majority of our guests behave in manners that show respect for House Rules and for neighbors. AirBNB has historically allowed hosts to use their best judgment and authorize small parties, such as baby showers or birthday parties, if they’re appropriate for their home and their neighborhood. 

Last year, AirBNB began imposing much stricter limits, starting with a global ban on “party houses,” meaning, listings that create persistent neighborhood nuisance. AirBNB also launched a 24/7 neighborhood support hotline in the U.S. and Canada, with plans for global expansion, to communicate directly with neighbors and help effectively enforce the party house ban.

Since the pandemic was declared, and social distancing became an important element in promoting public health and responsible travel, AirBNB updated their policies including the removal both the “event-friendly” search filter from their website as well as “parties and events allowed” House Rules from any event-friendly listings. AirBNB also introduced a new policy requiring all users to adhere to local COVID-19 public health mandates.

However, in many large jurisdictions, public health mandates on gatherings have changed in response to the changing rates of COVID cases. Some have chosen to take bar and club behavior to homes, sometimes rented through AirBNB’s platform. AirBNB has tagged the conduct is incredibly irresponsible and has chosen that they do not want that type of business, and anyone engaged in or allowing that behavior, on their platform. Based on these developments, AirBNB feels that instituting a global ban on parties and events is in the best interest of public health.