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.

Laure Tirouflet and Jose Carlo-Designed Boutique Hotel Approved on Indian Creek Drive in North Beach

The City of Miami Beach’s Design Review Board and Planning Board approved a newly proposed hotel to rise at 7128 Indian Creek Drive in North Beach. The hotel will be developed by IC Property Capital Corp and is being designed by Miami Beach-based architects Laure Tirouflet and Jose Carlo. The hotel will be built with "future street raising in mind" and the design includes 16-hotel rooms, underground parking, a rooftop pool deck, and graphic mosaic pattern on the front façade masking the garage and architectural treatments running along the spine of the elevator shaft. The community has an upcoming ballot in which Miami Beach voters will have the chance to approve or strike down the master plan to reenergize North Beach with a new downtown from 71st Street between Collins Avenue and Indian Creek Drive. 

“This is the type of beautifully designed, boutique hotel that people have been waiting to see in North Beach and dovetails nicely with the community’s Master Plan vision for this area,” said Greenberg Traurig Miami Real Estate Shareholder Ethan B. Wasserman, who represented IC Capital before the board. “Its location is ideal: in the Town Corridor just north of 71st Street and within walking distance of the ocean and park, as well as the local commercial sector that includes restaurants and other venues.”

Habitat Development Releases New Renderings of Smart Brickell Condo-Hotel

Habitat Development's planned condo-hotel Smart Brickell, designed by Hernando Carrilo, has released new renderings as the project gears up to break ground. Smart Brickell is located in West Brickell and is expected to break ground in the spring of 2018. The project will feature 3 towers with 170 condo residences and 150 hotel rooms. Condo pricing starts at $290,000 and ranges up to $490,000 while condo units size starts at 558 SF and ranges up to 878 SF. Smart features include Nest thermostats, Lifx Wi-Fi-enabled LED smart bulbs, Samsung’s digital home appliances, and a concierge app. Sales launched in phases and the first condo tower is now 35% sold with sales for the second condo tower expected to launch in Q1 2018. Smart Brickell is targeting a 2020 completion. 

“Our goal is to develop a new Brickell for a new generation,” said Santiago Vanegas, President of Habitat Development. “We want to lead the pack for futuristic living in Miami. Combining the elements of Smart Design, Smart Technology and Smart Use, we are providing a Smart solution to residents and guests in Miami. Everybody wants to be Smart.”

Construction Update: The Astor Companies' Merrick Manor Tops Off Early in Coral Gables' Merrick Park

Astor Companies' Merrick Manor has now seen construction top-off on the 10-story building early. The project was anticipated to top-off at one point in early 2018. Located at 301 Altara Avenue behind Merrick Park in Coral Gables, the 227-unit condo building was designed by Behar Font & Partners with interiors by Steven G. Units come in one to five bedroom floor plans, ranging from 747 SF to 3,400 SF. Pricing starts around $500,000 and ranges up to $2.5 million. Residences will feature custom wood doors, spacious terraces and gourmet kitchens with white quartz waterfall island and countertops and Bosch and Duravit appliances. Merrick Manor will feature resort style amenities including pool, state-of-the-art gym, 24-hour valet, 24-hour concierge, business center and 19,000 SF of ground-floor retail and restaurant space. Merrick Manor is currently over 55% under contract and completion is now expected in Q4 of 2018.

“We are excited to celebrate this important milestone for our project,” said Henry Torres, President, CEO, and Founder of The Astor Companies. “It is a testament to the incredible team at general contractor Jaxi Builders that we were able to reach this stage so far ahead of schedule – even with the recent interruption from Hurricane Irma. Our buyers will now be able to enjoy the unparalleled lifestyle Merrick Manor offers sooner.”

Check-out more renderings from our March 2017 Construction Update on Merrick Manor. 

Check-Out The Zyscovich Architects-Designed Proposal To Redevelop The Shops at Sunset Place

A Zyscovich Architects-designed proposal to redevelop the Shops at Sunset Place is under review by the City of South Miami's Special Planning Board. The developers goal is to reenergize the existing, aging, Shops at Sunset Place into a lively mixed-use, urban district. The proposal calls for the addition of a "substantial residential component" including a hotel, restaurants, retail, offices and outdoor parks/gardens. Among the residential towers include a 17-story hotel with 182 hotel rooms, and two 14-story residential rental buildings with 442 units total. The first phase of the project would include demolishing and rebuilding large sections of the existing shopping center to update it with a more up-to-date, modern design. The second phase is to add a "true resident population." The redevelopment is being designed by Zyscovich Architects and Developed by Federal Realty, Grass River Realty and Comras Company.

La Lechuza, A 62-Acre Equestrian Compound in Wellington, Sells for $17.1 Million

La Lechuza, the 62-acre estate which is home to the Lechuza Caracas Polo Team, has sold for $17.1 million. The estate was asking $28,900,000 and the deal was brokered with Tom Baldwin of Equestrian Sotheby's International Realty. The buyer is PBC Polo Properties, LLC., an entity owned by Nate Ward, who is partner and co-founder of Palm Beach Capital, a private equity investment firm based in West Palm Beach. The sale was financed with a $14.1 million mortgage from Stifel Bank & Trust. The seller was PF Polo Properties, LLC. an entity owned by Emma Cisneros, who is connected with Venezuelan banker and polo player Victor Vargas. Vargas owns Banco Occiental de Descuento, the 4th largest bank in Venezuela, and the La Lechuza Polo Team. 

La Lechuza is located at 4360 South Road in Wellington and features polo and show jumping facilities. The compound features a 2 regulation size Polo fields, 1/4 mile exercise track, 160" x 255" sand ring, 160" x 255" Grand Prix grass ring, 60-stall polo barn, 12-stall show jumping barn, tack rooms, feed rooms, an aquatic horse walker, fitness center, large car collector's garage, owner’s living quarters, nine apartments with a kitchen and a manager’s office. The property last sold for $4.4 million in 2002.

Shoma Group Unveils Its Eleven on Lenox Sales Gallery In South Beach

Real estate development firm Shoma Group announced the opening of its new on-site sales gallery at Eleven on Lenox on October 23, 2017. Located in South Beach on Fifteenth Street and Lenox Avenue, Eleven on Lenox will be an ultra-luxe boutique project that will feature a bespoke collection of 11 beach-inspired homes designed as the collaborative vision of internationally recognized firm, ZyScovich Architects and five-time Architectural Digest’s Top 100 Interior Designers, Charles Allem.

“The collection of these 11 well-appointed beach houses capture the spirit of a luxurious coastal retreat, and the vibe of South Beach infused with the style sophistication and comfort of a private home,” said Masoud Shojaee, President and Chairman of the Board at Shoma Group. “The buyer at Eleven on Lenox prefers the privacy and exclusivity of a townhome over a sky-rise.  Also, for those that are health enthusiasts they will see the value of this central neighborhood. Where else do you have the ability to walk out the door of a modern home with more than 4,400 square feet, for under $700 per square foot and be at the footsteps of the best that Miami Beach has to offer?”

Residences at Eleven on Lenox start at $2.9 million and range from 4,403 SF to 4,669 SF. Residences will be three floors and future Gaggenau appliances, smart lighting system, Poliform kitchens, four parking spaces, private elevators, rooftop terrace, summer kitchen and a pool. Eleven on Lenox is walking distance from both Lincoln Road and the beach and will emerge residents in the heart of South Beach, one of Miami's most desirable neighborhoods. Click here to check-out renderings of the Charles Allem interiors.  

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.

HES Group Secures Loan $9.5 Million Loan For Triptych Hotel in Midtown

HES Group has secured a $9.5 million loan for Triptych Hotel, in Midtown Miami, adjacent to Miami Design District. The loan was provided by a Panama-based lender 21 Brands S.A. Triptych Hotel was approved earlier this year, after HES Group sold JQ Group shares in the project for undisclosed terms. Previously it was reported that HES Group was looking for $120 million in construciton financing. The plans feature 20-story mixed-use tower with 252-hotel rooms, 38,000 SF of retail, 41,000 SF of office space, and 300 parking spots. The hotel will be operated as part of Hilton Worldwide's Curio Collection. HES Group, which is managed by Francisco Arocha, purchased the site for $12.25 million in 2014 under the affiliate-entity Aventura Hotel Properties, LLC. HES Group also owns and manages Aloft West Palm Beach and Hotel Indigo in Brickell. 

Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach Reveals Renderings of Doo Architecture-Designed Penthouses

Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach has revealed new renderings of their penthouse units, designed by interior architect Alexis Cogul Lleonart, founder of Doo Architecture. There are 5 penthouses are available at the project which range in price from $8.8 million to $40 million duplex combination unit. The 2 penthouses which would combine to create the monster are priced at $20.625 million and $16.9 million.The featured penthouse has 10,000 SF of interior space and an additional 8,000 SF of balconies and terraces. Outdoors space features a hot tub and water feature sculpture in addition to a 6,000 SF rooftop terrace with an Exteta pergola and wet bar. Inside, the unit features 3 sepearte living areas that includes an interior topography space with a garden; a double-height library system that wraps around the main area; a 20' wine cave with a climate-control custom shelving system for 2,000 bottles and a jellyfish tank; an interior fire pit; and a private elevator leading to the roof.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach is being developed by 4701 North Meridian, LLC, a partnership comprising of Lionheart Capital and Elliott Management Corporation. Lionheart Capital is a Miami-based real estate investment firm engaged in the investment, development and repositioning of Miami new construction and existing commercial, hospitality and residential assets. The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach features 111 ultra-luxurious condominium residences that come in 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5-bedroom layouts and range from 1,700 SF to more than 10,000 SF; additionally, there are 15 private single-family villas. The project was designed by Italian architect Piero Lissoni, his first full-scale project in the United States, and sits on over 7.5 acres along 4701 Meridian Avenue. Amenities include 2, 24-hour attended lobbies, 24-hour valet parking services, a waterfront social room with bar and catering kitchen, and on-site private car to chauffer residents to surrounding destinations, a world-class pool and amenities deck with spacious cabanas and poolside grille, lush meditation garden, deeded boat slips on a private waterway, club room with a pool table and virtual golf, full-service spa, state-of-the-art fitness center, a first-of-its-kind art studio and a fully equipped kid's room. Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach is expected to be completed this winter, Q1 2018.