Brightline Breaks Ground On Boca Raton Station As Eco-Friendly Railway Continues To Connect South Florida

Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America, has broken ground on its new Boca Raton station with Kaufman Lynn Construction, Inc. as the construction manager for the garage and train station. Once completed, the station will be Brightline’s fifth operational in the state, connecting travelers in Boca Raton to Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and soon Orlando. Located on a 1.8-acre site across from Mizner Park and adjacent to the downtown library, Brightline’s Boca station, designed by Zyscovich Architects, will feature approximately 38,000 square feet of space which will include its signature autonomous MRKT and premium lounge among other station amenities. The station will offer a seamless travel experience through modern technology, including a cashless environment, touchless turnstiles and high-speed WiFi. Brightline's Boca station is expected to be complete in the fall of 2022.

Brightline’s president, Patrick Goddard, was joined at the groundbreaking ceremony today by Congressman Ted Deutch, Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer, Jorge Pesquera of Discover the Palm Beaches, in addition to members of the Boca city council and elected officials. The groundbreaking of Brightline’s Boca station follows the commencement of construction for the station's parking garage, announced in December of 2021.

“As a premier business and leisure destination, Boca Raton is a perfect fit for Brightline and will be an integral part of our network that will further connect the state of Florida,” said Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. “Brightline stations help enhance the local communities and economies where we operate and provide travelers with quick access to state-wide lifestyle and tourist destinations. We look forward to building a long and productive partnership with the Boca community.”

In 2021, Brightline was awarded a $16.3 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) Grant from the FRA to fund a portion of the construction of the Brightline Train Station, parking garage and associated rail infrastructure. In addition to the CRISI grant, the City has provided a commitment of $9.9 million towards funding the parking garage. The balance of the project, approximately $30 million, will be funded by Brightline. Construction of the Boca Raton station is expected to create more than 480 jobs during construction while contributing more than $23 million in wages.

The station is expected to strengthen ties between Boca Raton and South and Central Florida. By connecting to the broader Brightline system, local employers will have access to a bigger employee pool and workers will gain access to an additional 89,000 office jobs within average commute times. This investment will continue to make Boca Raton one of the most desirable and vibrant places to live, work and visit. In addition to benefitting commuters and other local residents, Brightline will serve a broad leisure travel population, and will spur increased tourism to Boca Raton.

“Brightline will be a game-changer for Boca Raton, and especially our downtown,” said Mayor Scott Singer. “We look forward to welcoming the many riders who will work at our thriving businesses and visit our cultural, dining, and shopping attractions, and for our residents to connect to a major transportation network from Miami to Orlando. Thanks to our strong partnership with Brightline and support of our Congressional delegation for an FRA grant, we can’t wait to say all aboard in Boca Raton!”

Also under construction is the 455-space parking garage that will service Brightline’s Boca station and visitors to the downtown library, who will have dedicated, covered, and complimentary spaces on the first floor. In October 2021, Brightline completed construction of the new Community Garden for the Junior League of Boca Raton, as well as a temporary parking lot for the downtown library. Brightline managed and funded the construction of both projects as part of the agreement to build the new station.

“Kaufman Lynn Construction is excited to be building this new station and garage with Brightline, the City of Boca Raton and the Federal Railroad Administration,” said Michael Kaufman, CEO of Kaufman Lynn Construction. “The entire team is excited to help connect South Florida and Central Florida with this Brightline rail stop.”

Brightline currently serves Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, with its expansion station in Aventura opening in 2022. Brightline’s current construction project to Orlando is more than 70 percent complete with over 1,300 daily workers on the job tallying more than four million hours of work. In January of 2022, Brightline began daily crew training and qualifying test runs between West Palm Beach and Cocoa. Over an eight-year period, Brightline’s corridor between Miami and Orlando will result in $6.4 billion in economic impact while creating more than 10,000 jobs. Construction of the highly anticipated expansion to Orlando is on track to be complete by the end of 2022, ​​with service to begin in early 2023.

Miami Design District To Host Fifth Annual Miami Concours Where John Hennessey Set To Debut New Hypercar

The Miami Concours is set to host the fifth annual automotive showcase which will take place on Sunday, February 20th in the Miami Design District and celebrate American supercar visionaries. The 2022 Miami Concours will honor legendary collector, Motorsport innovator, and automotive manufacturer James Glickenhaus and will feature a selection of historic cars from his personal collection, two new Glickenhaus production cars, and the Miami unveiling of a one-of-a-kind racing car.

Celebrating Iconic American Hypercar Manufacturers, the Miami Concours has invited John Hennessey to unveil a new one-off version of the Hennessey Venom F5. The $2.8 million, 250mph+, Limited Edition Venom F5 Hypercar, is one of only 24 cars to be produced for the world. In addition to the iconic American Hypercars, the Miami Concours plans feature 60 hand-picked entries of the most sought-after exotic post-war automobiles entered by some of the country’s most significant collectors. Uniquely, all cars will be presented on a spectacular red carpet which will run throughout the Design District from Northeast 39th Street, continuing north via connecting walkway Paseo Ponti to Northeast 41st Street and into Paradise Plaza.

Miami Design District is one of the hottest neighborhoods in the world, 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 and became the first neighborhood in the world to achieve the Gold level (LEED ND: Built v4 Gold). The Miami Design District is owned and operated by Miami Design District Associates, a partnership between Dacra, founded and owned by visionary entrepreneur and developer Craig Robins, and L Catterton Real Estate, a global real estate development and investment fund specializing in investing in luxury shopping destinations. The neighborhood was inspired by the worlds leading shopping districts including Fifth Avenue and Rodeo Drive and visitors can enjoy mature canopy-covered streets and walkways, sculptural specimen trees, and extensive rooftop gardens.

Images via Miami Design District

OpenStore, The Platform Where Entrepreneurs Can Sell Their Shopify Businesses, Leases Office Space In The Gateway at Wynwood

As tech companies continue to rapidly expand and enter the Miami market, OpenStore has moved into its new office space in the Kobi Karp-designed The Gateway at Wynwood. Founded by Keith Rabois of Founders Fund, Jack Abraham of Atomic, and Michael Rubenstein, the former President of AppNexus, OpenStore is a platform that allows entrepreneurs with Shopify businesses to sell their companies and receive liquidity for what they’ve built. The tech company now occupies 14,914 square feet at The Gateway at Wynwood, located at the intersection of the iconic Wynwood and Midtown Miami neighborhoods. It is the first tenant to move into the recently completed building.

R&B Realty Group, the developer behind The Gateway at Wynwood, was represented by Colliers’ Executive Managing Director Stephen Rutchik, Managing Director Tom Farmer and Director Tyler de la Pena. OpenStore was represented by JLL’s Adam Bernstein and Jeffrey Gordon.

“We are very excited to welcome OpenStore to The Gateway at Wynwood,” said Shelby Rosenberg, R&B Realty’s Head of Development and Acquisitions, Asset and Property Manager, US Portfolio. “OpenStore is a fantastic fit for our spec suite program, offering the tech company flexibility as it continues to scale up and grow. We are continuing to see strong leasing activity and continued interest from a variety of sectors. We expect to have more exciting news to announce soon.”

OpenStore connects merchants and customers into a single unified shopping experience through access to data, information, and capital. The company announced in July that it raised $30 million in Series A funding, with a valuation of $250 million. OpenStore’s goal is to offer instant liquidity for eCommerce entrepreneurs.

OpenStore’s founders, Keith Rabois and Jack Abraham, helped fuel the rise of Miami’s tech scene when they were among the first high-profile executives to announce their move to Miami. The Miami tech movement, which was sparked by City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez’s now infamous tweet - “How can I help?” - has transformed the city’s office market. Companies and executives in search of a better quality of life, lower taxes and great weather have descended upon Miami, now dubbed the “Silicon Valley of the South.”

R&B Realty devoted the entire 10th floor of The Gateway at Wynwood to fully built-out and ready for move-in office space, dubbed ‘spec suites.’ Designed by Gensler, the spec suites take the stress out of the office leasing and build-out process, providing companies flexibility in their space, and the ability to move in almost immediately upon completion of the building. OpenStore’s lease occupies the remainder of the spec suites available on the 10th floor. Due to its success, the spec suites program has been expanded to the 9th floor. The move-in ready suites, starting at 2,000 square feet, can be combined to form bigger units as well.

The Gateway at Wynwood offers about 195,000 square feet of leasable Class A office space and nearly 25,900 square feet of prime street-level retail space. Designed by renowned architect Kobi Karp, the environmentally responsible building features flexible floorplans, a private rooftop terrace, gym, unique bay window system, 24/7 on-site security, vibrant exterior cladding, and 2:1,000 on-site covered parking. This summer, R&B Realty Group announced the building's first office lease with biotech company Veru Inc. The eight-year, 12,155-square-foot lease will serve as the company's global headquarters and triple Veru's current office space

Check Out This Ultra-Luxe Jupiter Estate In The Coveted Admiral's Cove Club Asking $17.4 Million

Admiral’s Cove is one of the most exclusive marina, golf and country clubs in the U.S., home to countless high profile residents, including Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guifoyle. This one-of-a-kind waterfront estate asking $17.495 million is like nothing else in the community, featuring intricately designed individual spaces which juxtapose one another with the use of marbling and the chic artwork incorporated in each room. The palatial home spans 6 bedrooms and 9.5 bathrooms and 10,123 SF.

The home nestled behind an immaculately landscaped entrance driveway leading straight past the 6-car garage to the grand foyer which greets guests with lush greenery and fountains. It features the finest finishes including rare stone and wood craftsmanship. The master suite features his and hers baths and closets with the “hers” bathroom featuring a shoe wall. A super chic pink home office, pink stone shower, a morning bar with a little library nook and book wardrobe, a regal home theater, home gym, gift wrapping room and more are among some of the other luxury features of this estate.

The outdoor space features a huge patio area surrounded by a summer kitchen, grand pool, a dock with space for entertaining and incredible sunset views of the Intracoastal. The property also features an extended guest house plus 115 feet of waterfront.

372 Regatta Dr Jupiter, Florida is listed for $17.495 million by Chad Carroll & Matthew Dugow with Compass.

Images via The Chad Carroll Group

PROFILE Exclusive Podcast Season 1 Episode 9 Featuring Jacques Bessoudo of Galium Capital

Season 1 Episode 9 of the PROFILE Exclusive Podcast by PROFILEmiami features Jacques Bessoudo of Galium Capital. Jacques serves as Managing Partner of Galium Capital, a Miami-based private equity group which he founded in 2018. Galium Capital invests in and manages over $600 million of commercial property in major markets across the United States. Galium Capital’s portfolio comprises of multifamily, office, and retail assets across various major national markets including Houston, Palm Beach and Washington DC, amongst others.

Previous to founding Galium Capital Jacques oversaw the management of over 200 single-family homes across South Florida and spent eight years with The Boston Consulting Group, one of the top global strategy consulting firms. Jacques holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a BA in Finance from ITESM.

The PROFILE Exclusive Podcast by PROFILEmiami, the leader in South Florida residential and commercial real estate news and content, profiles and gets intimate with the movers and shakers in the South Florida real estate industry. Throughout the series we will interview and get inside the minds of South Florida's top developers, investors, brokers, architects, designers, etc. The PROFILE Exclusive Podcast is hosted by Demetri Demascus Co-Founder of PROFILEmiami and Director of Business Development at private equity group Galium Capital as well as Katya Demina, Co-Founder of PROFILEmiami and Development Associate at development firm Royal Palm Companies.

This Podcast is Presented By:

AMIRI Opens Flagship Store In Miami Design District

AMIRI has opened its Miami flagship store marking the brand’s fourth retail location in the United States. Situated in the heart of Miami Design District, this environment of contemporary art and craft reflects AMIRI’s own and is imbued in the store’s design language, articulated by an all-white minimalist façade that sits in harmony with its neighborhood. Designed by CEO and Creative director Mike Amiri in collaboration with Paris Design Studio NOCOD and architectural design firm TwoOneTwo, the new boutique brings the spirit of AMIRI to Miami, expanding the house’s codes in harmony with the city’s stylistic roots.

The Miami Design District location spans 1,972 square feet spread over two floors. The interior plays with materials that highlight the house’s codes of dualism and craftsmanship, pairing industrial suspended brushed stainless-steel rails with natural solid wood details. A monolithic spiral staircase crafted in white concrete acts as an ambitious architectural centerpiece. Custom plastered and hand-finished by New York-based Kamp Studios, the design draws smooth curves that nod towards Miami’s modernist character.

The flagship features furnishings curated by Mike Amiri in partnership with interior designer Katherine Waronker, and plants from AMIRI’s native California. Continuing AMIRI’s strong relationship with Los Angeles artist Wes Lang, whose work proudly hangs in AMIRI’s Rodeo Drive, SoHo and Las Vegas stores, two site-specific works by Lang greet visitors on the ground level: ‘Yes, The River Knows’, 2019, and ‘One Winter,’ 2018. Upstairs, ‘We Got Drunk Here / We Danced Here’, 2020, by Columbian-born, Spanish-based artist Armando Mesías, who is represented by LA’s Galerie Ground, frames the space.

The ground floor is devoted to menswear, housing the ready-to-wear collection alongside footwear and accessories, while the second level carries AMIRI womenswear, acting as an exclusive preview before the line’s global launch on 27th January.

Alongside AMIRI’s core collections, the flagship hosts an exclusive Miami capsule distinguished by crisp, summer colorways that echo the heritage Art Deco hues synonymous with Miami’s Design District and the city’s tropical personality. Soft jersey staples are offered alongside bone appliqué jeans, Crochet Bandana knits and silk Cabana Sets drawn in clay, alabaster and Miami blue tones, while paint-splatter swim trunks speak of Miami's famous South Beach and a new logo is introduced, written in neon pastel with incorporated palm tree imagery.

AMIRI Miami is located at 106 NE 39th Street, Miami and is open Monday - Saturday 11 AM - 8 PM and Sunday 12 PM - 6 PM.

Photography: Kris Tamburello

The Allen Morris Company And Xenel International U.S.A. Launch The Residences At Xentury City In Osceola County

The Allen Morris Company, one of the largest diversified real estate firms in the Southeast, and Xenel International U.S.A., a diversified company and long-term landowner, have launched Residences at Xentury City, a $75 million multifamily development located in Osceola County. The project will transform the current site into a thriving multifamily destination. Groundbreaking for the project is scheduled for Q1 2022 and is slated for completion in Q2 2023.

The 293,000 square feet of space will contain five garden-style buildings, 311 residential units, a leasing center and world-class amenities throughout. The project site is located adjacent to the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center.

Dwell Design Studio, an award-winning architecture, planning and interior design firm, and Shim Studios as interior designer will spearhead the project.

“The Osceola corridor has seen some of the largest net in migration in the nation generating demand for quality housing,” said Spencer Morris, Chief Investment Officer of the Allen Morris Company. “The Residences at Xentury City are the first phase of a larger mixed-use vision that will transform this area within Osceola County into a dynamic live, work, play neighborhood with first-class dining, entertainment and residential offerings.

Xenel International U.S.A. and its affiliates own Xentury City which sits on 380 acres of land in Orlando, FL. Tenants of Xentury City include the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center which includes over 1,700 rooms and suites as well as 500,000 sq ft of convention and meeting space.

Xentury City is close to all the theme parks including Disney World and Universal Studios and has developed a major transportation network to access the site. The site is also 30 minutes from Downtown Orlando and 20 minutes from Orlando International Airport.

The Allen Morris Company is one of the largest real estate firms in the Southeast U.S., completing their 85th development project and specializing in office buildings, multi-family residential, hotels, mixed-use developments, leasing and brokerage, and property management. The Allen Morris Company was founded in 1958 and has offices in Miami, Coral Gables, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Atlanta.

Xenel International U.S.A. is a holding company headquartered in Westlake Village, California. It was founded in 1979 and developed and led numerous business ventures. The team has taken companies through all phases of development from conception to maturity in a variety of industries.

Mast Capital Breaks Ground On Second Phase Of Waterline Miami River Multifamily Development

A partnership between Mast Capital and global real estate investment firm AEW Capital Management has launched the second phase of Waterline Miami River, which will bring the full development to a combined 688 apartment units. The second phase will consist of 342 rental units on a 2.7-acre development site with over 400 feet of unobstructed water frontage along the Miami River. The joint venture has secured financing from Wells Fargo for the project’s construction set to begin in January 2022.

One of the early developers to recognize the Miami River’s potential as an active waterfront community, Mast Capital acquired its first piece of land along the riverfront in 2018, developing the initial phase of Waterline Miami River with AEW, and since then, the Miami River District has continued to thrive with restaurants, outdoor entertainment and residential living. Mast Capital delivered the first phase of Waterline Miami River, a 346-unit luxury multifamily community, in late 2020 and reached stabilization just eight months after its completion. 

The second phase will be comprised of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units spanning approximately 280,000 rentable square feet and masterfully crafted community amenities. The project’s general contractor is Kaufman Lynn and the architect is Corwil Architects.

Residences will feature European kitchens, modular European closets, washer and dryer, private large balconies, premium quartz countertops, and stainless-steel appliances. Residents at Waterline Miami River will enjoy breathtaking views of the Miami River and the Downtown and Brickell skyline.

Amenities will include state-of-the-art fitness center, a one-acre park, a dog park and open recreational area, 24/7 package and dry-cleaning lockers, tech hub and flex office spaces for residents working remote, conference rooms, WiFi in social hubs, private access parking, pet spa with washing station, and secure bike room with repair station.

“The Miami River has long been seen as a working waterway, but it’s also becoming a thriving residential neighborhood. The population growth and strong demographics Miami is experiencing will continue to fuel growth along the riverfront,” said Camilo Miguel, Jr., CEO and Founder of Mast Capital. “Since pre-leasing commenced at Waterline Miami River, we saw high demand for the apartment community given the lifestyle offerings in the surrounding neighborhood and strategic location near Miami’s thriving urban core. We are confident that phase two will experience similar demand given the need for additional rental housing and the increased desirability of the Miami River District.”

Waterline Miami River is located just half a mile south of the Miami Health District, which employs 45,000 and draws 160,000 annual visitors and is recognized as the second largest health district in the U.S., and within 1.5 miles of Downtown Miami and the Brickell Financial District.

According to the Miami River Commission, Miami River’s shorelines feature public river walks, nine major parks, five major hotels, over 11,910 new residential units, 25 restaurants and over a dozen boatyards, marinas and historic sites. There’s also an additional 6,667 approved units, five planned hotels with 1,200 new rooms and 22 planned restaurants in the works.

Cantina La Veinte Space In Icon Brickell Trades For $18.8 Million In Off Market NNN Deal

The waterfront retail condo in Icon Brickell that is home to hotspot Mexican restaurant Cantina La Veinte, or Cantina La 20, has sold for $18.8 million. The tenant will remain in place with a brand-new 15-year lease, with 2 and 5-year renewal options. The two story retail condo spans 11,176 SF and is located on the Brickell Baywalk. Fabio and Sebastian Faerman of FA Commercial represented both the buyer and the seller in the off market NNN transaction.

The transaction brings the property full circle for FA Commercial as they initially represented the current seller when they first acquired the property pre-construction. FA Commercial later leased the property to Cantina La Veinte, then sold the retail condo with the tenant in place and now has sold retail property once again.

Icon Brickell is a waterfront 3-tower complex situated in the financial district of Miami which is also home to the W Miami Hotel and Cipriani Downtown Miami. Icon Brickell is located on the Brickell Baywalk and is a few blocks from Mary Brickell Village. Cantina La Veinte is located in Tower 2 at 495 Brickell Ave.

Images via FA Commercial

Kushner Cos. And Aimco Acquire Fort Lauderdale Development Site For $49 Million, To Build City's Tallest Tower

A partnership between Kushner Cos. and Aimco (NYSE: AIV) has acquired a development assemblage in Fort Lauderdale for $49 million and plan to develop Fort Lauderdale’s tallest tower. The development partnership acquired a 1.87-acre site at 520 W Broward Blvd. for $35.5 million from Swire Properties as well as a 2.31-acre site at 300 W Broward Blvd. for $13.5 million. The acquisition was financed with a $40 million mortgage provided by MSD Partners.

The towers would rise 48-stories, 546’. The tallest building in Fort Lauderdale is currently the 46-story 100 Las Olas. The project would feature 956 rental apartments, 23,752 SF of commercial space and 1,031 parking spaces. The tower was designed by ODA Architecture and features two towers joined by a 10-story base which will house the amenities including a fitness center, library and resident’s lounge. Atop the landscaped podium will be sunrise and sunset pools, cabanas and a yoga deck. Plans for the project were submitted to the City of Fort Lauderdale for approval in late 2021.

Renderings via ODA Architecture