Melo Group Completes The Arquitectonica-Designed Aria on the Bay In Downtown Miami

Construction of Aria on the Bay, Melo Group’s new Arquitectonica-designed luxury condominium in Downtown Miami, is now complete with more than 90% of its 648 units already sold and under hard contract. The 53-story waterfront tower, located at 1770 N. Bayshore Drive along Biscayne Bay, becomes the latest condominium to deliver in Downtown’s growing Arts & Entertainment District. The news prompts the start of closings as residents take ownership of their units, begin interior build-outs, and prepare to move into the building over the coming days.

“When we broke ground on Aria on the Bay three years ago, we envisioned a tower that not only offered first-rate amenities in an ideal location but one whose design would convey elegance and sophistication. We are confident that Aria will take its place among Miami’s most iconic landmarks,” said Carlos Melo, principal of the Melo Group.

Units at Aria on the Bay range from 1 to 4 bedrooms and $400K to $6 million and sold around $550 per square foot. Residences feature floor-to-ceiling glass, expansive wrap-around terraces, private elevator access, open-plan living areas, designer finishes and fixtures, European-style kitchens, and modern custom-designed cabinetry. Amenities include a 14th floor resort amenity deck with 2 sunrise/sunset swimming pools, a jacuzzi, custom-seated fire pits, barbecue grills and outdoor summer kitchens, a private spa with massage treatment facilities, a state-of-the-art fitness center, yoga studio, entertainment lounge, and a screening room. 

“Two blocks north of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Aria on the Bay’s semi-circular balconies make reference to those inside the classic opera houses. They playfully stagger creating a series of cylinders in performance. The arrangement could also be interpreted as a musical score, or a series of curves dancing to a tune,” said Architect Bernardo Fort-Brescia, founding principal of Arquitectonica.
 
Aria on the Bay launched sales and construction in 2015 and became an instant favorite among international and domestic buyers in the market for spectacular design, panoramic water views and luxury amenities in a walkable, urban setting. Baseball superstar Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankee slugger who was recently named the National League’s Most Valuable Player, purchased one of Aria on the Bay’s triplex penthouses in 2017 and Grammy Award-winning record producer and rapper Timbaland also purchased two units at the building.
 
“Beyond its prime waterfront location, magnificent bay views, and high-quality design features, Aria on the Bay benefits from the expertise of one of Miami’s strongest developers,” said Alicia Cervera Lamadrid, managing partner of Cervera Real Estate, the project’s exclusive sales and marketing brokerage. “Melo Group’s success is the result of more than sixty years of experience in the real estate industry and the firm’s track record for uncovering and investing in emerging neighborhoods. We are proud to be a part of their achievements in the U.S. and know that their keen and efficient business sense will ensure they continue to develop in Miami for many more years to come.”

Since arriving in Miami from Argentina in 2001, Melo Group’s father-and-sons team, which is led by Jose Luis Melo and his two sons Carlos Melo and Martin Melo, has been a driving force behind Miami's real estate resurgence. Aria on the Bay marks the developer’s 14th residential tower delivered over the last decade and a half, with a total of more than 5,000 units completed and in development throughout the Greater Downtown Miami area. Melo Group is also building market-rate apartment buildings to meet the needs of young professionals looking to live within close proximity to Miami’s largest employment districts such as Brickell, Downtown’s CBD and the Health District. The firm’s next residential project, the 710-unit Square Station Apartments, will open to tenants this month as part of a larger three-phase development plan to bring nearly 2,000 transit-oriented rental units to Downtown Miami.

Remaining units currently available for sale include a range of one- to four-bedroom condos priced from the $400,000s up to $1.8 million.

Samantha Yanks Named Chief Marketing Officer at Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Douglas Elliman, the third-largest residential real estate brokerage company in the United States, has announced that Samantha Yanks, an award-winning editor and branding expert with over 18-years of experience in the luxury real estate, fashion and lifestyle publishing industries, has been named the firm’s new chief marketing officer. In this role, Yanks will be responsible for the strategic leadership of Elliman’s fully-integrated national marketing program, and will be the creative force behind brand creation, digital marketing, brand management and positioning. Yanks was most recently the editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury’s Gotham and Hamptons magazines.

Yanks' past publishing experience focused on markets that match Elliman’s including New York City, Los Angeles, the Hamptons, Boston and Aspen to help with a seamless brand message across all Elliman markets. She will also work with each region to tailor each sub-brand’s relevant messaging. Her position also includes overseeing agent and property marketing, Elliman Magazine and the firm’s blog Elliman Insider as well as major sponsorships such as the Hampton Classic and Art Basel Miami.

Some 43,336 deals were performed by Douglas Elliman agents in 2017 for a total sales volume of $26.1 billion, up 6% from $24.6 billion in 2016. The firm expanded to new markets in California, Florida, Massachusetts, Brooklyn, Long Island and the Hamptons and now boasts over 7,000 agents in 113 offices nationwide. Yanks’ expertise will help grow Elliman brand awareness and market share as the brokerage continues expansion efforts across the country.

“Samantha’s focus throughout her illustrious career has been the crossroads of the real estate, fashion, beauty, travel, entertainment, culture, hospitality and interior design sectors,” said Scott Durkin, President and COO of the firm. “With this, she brings a unique and strategic vision to our brand, a wealth of experience, and a tremendous network. She has also herself become a strong social influencer and built a substantial and highly-admired online presence with followers around the world. We are very happy to have her on board at Elliman as she helps further propel the brokerage to the top of the real estate industry in all of our markets from Malibu to Montauk and from Manhattan to Miami.”

“Samantha is an extraordinary talent and we are very fortunate to have her join Douglas Elliman’s leadership team,” said Howard M. Lorber, Chairman of Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC. “She is a powerful marketer and branding expert and we are thrilled to welcome her to the team.” 

“I am beyond thrilled to join Douglas Elliman and for the opportunity to work with this powerful global brand,” said Yanks. “I’ve always had a passion for real estate as it is so much about lifestyle, design, art and culture, and I look forward to bringing my strengths, knowledge and relationships in these areas to Elliman.”

Check Out The Dalmar, Fort Lauderdale's Newest Luxe Smart Hotel Opening Summer 2018

From Wurzak Hotel Group comes The Delmar, a new luxe four-star independent boutique smart hotel in Starwood's Tribute Portfolio in Downtown Fort Lauderdale expected to open August 30, 2018. The Delmar will be the first luxury hotel to open in Downtown Fort Lauderdale in some time and will offer 209 rooms upgraded with smart home technology such as Amazon Alexa, iPad's, rain-showers, and keyless room entry. The Delmar will also offer an array of entertainment and amenities including five restaurants/ bars including Fort Lauderdale's second rooftop bar, to be known as Sparrow, which will offer tremendous views of the Fort Lauderdale skyline and South Florida coastline. Other amenities including a pool with cabanas and pool bar, 14,000 SF of indoor/ outdoor meeting space, fitness center, yoga studio, ballrooms, sky deck, and lobby bar. The Delmar is located at 299 N Federal Highway.

Related Group & Block Capital Group Break Ground On The Bradley In Wynwood

Related Group and Block Capital Group have broken ground on The Bradley in Wynwood, one of Miami's first projects to feature micro-units. The project was designed by Arquitectonica and features interiors by Lenny Kravit's Kravitz Design. When complete The developers expect to close on a $33 million construction loan over the next few weeks. The Bradley will rise 5-stories and will bring 175 rental apartments, 32,000 SF of ground floor retail and a 179 spot parking garage to Wynwood. The units will range in size from 480 SF studios to 1,000 SF 3-bedroom units and monthly rents are expected to range from $1,400 to $2,800. Amenities include a gym and a rooftop deck with grill area and cabanas. The project was first introduced as Wynwood 26 and developers were able to secure a 30% reduction in parking, decreasing the amount from 254 zoning requires to 179 spaces via contributing to the Wynwood Parking Trust Fund. The Bradley is located at 51 Northwest 26th Street. Construction is expected to be completed in 2020. 

G&G Business Developments & The Luxury Collection Celebrate A Fusion Of Art And Fashion At Aston Martin Residences

G&G Business Developments, the developers of Aston Martin Residences in Miami, and The Luxury Collection recently hosted an exclusive event showcasing a fusion of works by renowned Miami-based Argentine artist Griselda Lechini and Miami fashion designer Tammy Apostol of TA Couture. Over a hundred special guests gathered at the Aston Martin Residences sales gallery to view the showcased a fusion of artworks and fashion designs. Aston Martin Residences is located on the Downtown Miami waterfront where the mouth of the Miami River meets Biscayne Bay. The striking 66-story sailboat shaped tower will feature 391 luxury residences priced from the $700,000s to $8.5 million, with penthouses ranging from just over $14 million to $50 million. Construction is now underway and expected to be completed in 2021. 

Check out the newly revealed renderings of Aston Martin Residences amenity spaces

Photos via RodrigoGaya.com

JDS Development Group Secures $137 Million In Construction Financing For The Jean Nouvel-Designed Monad Terrace

The New York-based JDS Development Group has secured $137 million in construction financing for the Jean Nouvel-designed Monad Terrace, their new luxury condo overlooking Biscayne Bay in South Beach. The New York-based Madison Realty Capital funded the $137 million construction loan. The financing indicates conviction in the development team, the high-design product by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel and the South Beach market’s extremely limited new development inventory and viability. The financing will fully capitalize the project, which features 59 individually-designed waterfront residences. 

JDS was represented by Douglas B. Heitner, Erik Nygaard, and Albert J. Delgado of Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP. Madison Realty Capital was represented by Jerold C. Feuerstein of Kriss & Feuerstein LLP. The financing was placed by a JLL team led by Aaron Appel.

“This is a unique assemblage of land within a prime waterfront residential enclave in South Beach, Miami and we are excited to close another transaction with an esteemed developer like Michael Stern,” said Josh Zegen, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of MRC. “In addition, there’s virtually no new development product coming out of the ground in South Beach right now, so we offered a customized financing solution for JDS’s needs given our knowledge of the market. It was a special opportunity to support an A-team in one of the most attractive markets for real estate.”

“Securing this loan demonstrates the strength of the project, the attractiveness of the Miami Beach market and the overall demand for luxury housing in Miami,” said Michael Stern, Founder and Managing Partner of JDS Development. “Monad Terrace serves as a landmark for thoughtful and innovative development that is also beautiful and has a strong architectural identity. This product is like nothing else in Miami Beach, which the MRC team recognized. It was a pleasure to work with them on this, they provided a swift and professional execution.”

“There is already sales momentum, and we expect this will continue on a steady upward trajectory until sell-out,” said Jay Phillip Parker, CEO of Douglas Elliman Florida.

Residences range from two- to five-bedrooms and 1,453SF to 5,350 SF of interior space. Features include private elevator access, custom kitchens and bathrooms by Jean Nouvel and sprawling outdoor terraces. The building offers a true indoor-outdoor living experience, featuring climbing gardens and reflecting pools that complement the property’s central lagoon and ocean views. 

Construction on Monad Terrace is already underway, with the foundation nearly complete. The project's design, which was designed in collaboration with the Miami based Kobi Karp fuses environmental responsibility with innovative climate resilience features into the architecture, starting by elevating the building 11.5', well over Miami Beach standards.The tower is expected to go vertical in Spring 2018 and estimated to be completed in Fall 2019. 

Sales at Monad Terrace are reportedly averaging almost $2,000 SF, and a penthouse unit is under contract for $2,700 SF, a record for the neighborhood. Sales and marketing for Monad Terrace is managed exclusively by Douglas Elliman Development Marketing. 

ROVR Development Breaks Ground On The Fairchild Coconut Grove Designed By Max Strang

On April 10th, ROVR Development officially broke ground on The Fairchild Coconut Grove. To celebrate the milestone, the developers welcomed guests to the ground breaking ceremony for their new waterfront luxury development which is now rising in Coconut Grove. The project is currently 60% sold, with the majority of buyers coming from South Florida and Latin America. The Fairchild Coconut Grove is located at the end of a quiet residential community at 3581 E. Glencoe Street, directly on Biscayne Bay. The boutique development is designed by acclaimed local architect, Max Strang, offering a tropical-modern sanctuary of curated waterfront living that perfectly fuses contemporary elements with the natural surroundings as well as the history, charm and character of Coconut Grove.

During the private event, the developer along with the exclusive sales team, ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, were joined by Mayor Francis Suarez, Commissioner Ken Russell, local architect Max Strang and esteemed guests and brokers to commemorate this momentous milestone for the project. Attendees enjoyed mimosas and breakfast while listening to Mayor Suarez, developer Oscar Rodriguez and ONE Sotheby’s Daniel De La Vega as they discussed the positive impact The Fairchild Coconut Grove will have on the community.

“We are thrilled to share our vision for The Fairchild Coconut Grove and mark this significant occasion with our esteemed guests,” said Oscar Rodriguez, Principal of ROVR Development. “We are raising the bar for luxury waterfront life in Coconut Grove and look forward to being a part of the area’s revitalization and growth.”

“The great thing about a project like The Fairchild Coconut Grove is, aside from the fact that it’s going to enhance the beauty of Coconut Grove, it will deliver a high-end product that will help the entire community,” said Mayor Francis Suarez

The Fairchild Coconut Grove offers the feel of a single family home within a boutique waterfront development. Residences are expansive and feature natural stone floors; lanais with views of Biscayne Bay and verdant neighborhood landscapes; gourmet chef-inspired kitchens; spa-inspired bathrooms; spacious living areas and private outdoor showers in select units. All homes will be pre-wired with Smart technology and Crestron packages.

Amenities are designed by Rafael de Cardenas and include a holistic wellness spa with Hammam, steam room and sauna; high-tech training gym; rooftop pool with private cabanas; and exceptional lobby with full-time concierge, 24-hour security and valet. Lush landscaping complete with serenity gardens, bay walk and jungle rainforest path offer consummate outdoor experiences that include a bayside lounge; sunset deck; outdoor cinema; full-time porter; private on-site dog park; private boat slips; resident bicycles; a floating dock with resident paddleboards; and kayak storage.

The Gap & Ann Taylor CEO Steven Newman Lists Delray Beach Estate For $8.595 Million

 Steven Newman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Board Member for some of the world's top global women's and men's multi-channel retail brands, including The Gap, Ann Taylor, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer and Loehmann's is selling his Delray Beach estate for $8.595M.
 
The expansive 2.5 acre property is located in Stone Creek Ranch, known as a new CEO haven, and features 8 bedrooms, 7 full baths, and 2 half baths in total. The 6 bedroom main house offers 9,974 SF of living space with everything you could imagine including a a movie theater, wine cellar, gym, chef's kitchen, formal dinging room, expansive 7 car garage and game room. The estate also includes a large guest house, tennis court, multiple outdoor lounge areas, summer kitchen and pool. 

16091 Quiet Vista Circle, Delray Beach, FL is currently listed for $8,595,000 with Laurie Dietz and Maureen Murtaugh of Douglas Elliman.
 
Over his career Steve Newman has been chosen as CBS Television's first "Undercover Boss" representing the retail industry, as well as serving as a Bloomberg News Advisor providing commentary and insight on current retail industry topics and trends. 

Artefacto CEO Paulo Bacchi Lists His Stunningly Designed Coral Gables Home For $3.4 Million

Paulo Bacchi, CEO of famed Brazilian furnishings house, Artefacto, and his wife, Lais, have just listed his lakeside Coral Gables home in the lavish neighborhood of Hammock Oaks for just over $3.4 million with One Sotheby’s International Realty. The Bacchi's first purchased the home 16 years ago upon their move from Brazil to Miami. 

Located in the tranquil community of Hammock Oaks. The home is fully designed by Artefacto, offering 5 bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms, is spread over 4,182 SF of open concept living. The exquisite home offers is finished with marble floors and features high ceilings along with expansive indoor-outdoor spaces throughout the lakeside property. The master suite is privately located on the 2nd floor. The home also offers a 2-car garage and 3 carports.

Check Out The Newly Revealed Renderings of OPUS Bay Harbor Designed by Bermello Ajamil

A new luxury condo is coming to Bay Harbor Islands, as OPUS Bay Harbor has revealed new renderings of the Bermello Ajamil-designed boutique waterfront building. The ultra-exclusive offering features only 7 full-floor units and rises 8 stories. Residences range in size from 4,225 SF to 5,000 SF and pricing ranges from $4.436 million and range up to $6.351 million. Amenities include a gym, dock, bike storage and rooftop terrace complete pool, sundeck and an outdoor kitchen. OPUS Bay Harbor is being developed by Congress Group and sales are being exclusively overseen by Compass. The project is expected to be delivered in 2020.