KIPANY Marketing To Relocate To Downtown Fort Lauderdale After 40 Years In NYC

KIPANY Marketing, the firm which handles marketing for The New York Times, Disney, Comcast, Verizon and Sears, is relocating to Fort Lauderdale after 40 years in NY as the exodus of business and wealth from high-tax northern states continues as they gravitate towards Florida’s income tax-free structure. The company purchased 2,143 SF office space on the water in Nu River Landing for $2.15 million, $1,003 SF, at 511 SE 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, marking the highest price sold in the building. Filippo Incorvaia of Douglas Elliman Real Estate represented the buyer, Kip Colligan, Co-Founder & COO of KIPANY, in the real estate purchase. The original listing price was for $3,200,000 offered with pre-approved plans to build a mezzanine level which would have extended the area to 4,923 SF but KIPANY purchased the property without the plans. After a substantial build out, the space will serve as the new executive headquarters for the company who handles direct marketing services.

The Borges Architects + Associates-Designed Megacenter Brickell Gearing Up To Go Vertical

Megacenter Brickell is gearing up to go vertical as foundation work is nearing completion and the developer has filed with the FAA for crane installation. Megacenter Brickell is being developed by Red Megacentro and is designed by Reinaldo Borges of Borges Architects + Associates. The project will feature 74,790 SF of storage space, 57 residential units spread over 45,080 SF, 16,670 SF of office space, 9,134 SF of retail and 111 parking spaces. Megacenter Brickell is located at 420 SW 7th Street, Miami.

Crescent Heights Proposes 60-Story Mixed-Use Project At 1370 NE 2nd Ave. In Downtown Miami

Crescent Heights is nearing a final agreement to bring a 60-story mixed-use project to 1370 NE 2nd Ave. The proposal is expected to bring 1,100 residential units split between condos and rentals, 100,000 SF of office space and 1,100 parking spaces. The office space will be used by Miami-Dade County Public School Board and 600 parking spaces to be dedicated to the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency. The proposal was designed by Perkins + Will and John Moriarity & Associates would be the general contractor. In March 2017 details surfaced that Crescent Heights had put a $64 million purchase value on the 1.13 acre site. The deal would represent $40 million in cash and $24 million in paid in-kind consideration. Crescent Heights is led by Chairman and CEO Sonny Kahn, Managing Principal Russell Galbut and principal Bruce Menin. 

The 1.2 Million SF Zyscovich Architects-Designed Aventura ParkSquare Receives TCO

Aventura ParkSquare has received its Temporary Certificates of Occupancy (TCO) from Miami-Dade County as the mixed-use projects gears up to open to residents and commercial tenants. Aventura ParkSquare is being developed by Integra Investments and was revealed in 2014 before breaking ground in 2016. The project was designed by Zyscovich Architects and the 7.4 acre project, which is located at Waterways Boulevard and NE 207th Street, is designed to promote a walkable lifestyle with ground floor activity and a shaded, interior main street pedestrian promenade. The project includes 1.2 million SF of total development spread over 5 buildings featuring a 9-story office and condo building, a 45K SF medical center, a 207-key Aloft Hotel, a senior housing building and a parking garage. Tenants include Starbucks, Doc B's, Barry's Bootcamp, and Delicious Raw Kitchen and Juice Bar. 

Metronomic Place Mixed-Use Hotel Designed By CLAD Revealed In Coconut Grove

Metronomic Place, a new mixed-use project coming to 3280 Grand Avenue, has been revealed in Coconut Grove. The project is being designed by local architecture firm CLAD and will feature interiors by One Design Build. Metronomic Place will rise 5 stories and will feature 5,000 SF of office space, 3,200 SF of ground-floor retail and a 44-key hotel. The hotel component will be all suite offering larger rooms with terraces and full kitchenettes. Amenities will include a landscaped roof terrace with pool deck. The project is being developed by Metronomic, Inc. who acquired the former car was property for $4.1 million. The office space will become Metronomic, Inc.'s new headquarters. Metronomic Place plans to break ground in September 2018 with an expected completion in 2019. 

Construction Underway On Magic City Innovation District As Leasing Of Commercial Space Kicks Off

Magic City Innovation District (MCID), a 17.7-acre Innovation District in Miami’s Little Haiti and Little River neighborhoods, has commenced renovations on 17 of its 21 commercial buildings. The project's first phase of commercial development features 200,000 SF of leasable space spread through several modernized warehouses. Designs for the commercial spaces, which range from 300 to 14,000 SF, are spearheaded by a variety of local design firms, including McKENZIE and ELM Architects. MCID anticipates being ready to receive office, retail and other commercial tenants as early as September 2018. Metro 1, South Florida’s leading real estate brokerage, management and development firm, will handle leasing efforts for the 17 spaces, geared toward creative-style tenants that align and shape MCID’s atmosphere and further promote foot and auto traffic throughout the neighborhood.

“The majority of our team has been working behind the scenes for over a decade, and now, it’s finally a reality,” said Tony Cho, founder and CEO of Metro 1 and a MCID founding partner. “Soon you will be able to walk through Phases 1 & 2 of Magic City and experience how the vision behind the property interacts and attracts a true innovation ecosystem to Miami, while preserving Little Haiti’s unique character.”

MCID spans 6 city blocks and intends to redevelop the Little Haiti and Little River neighborhoods to create a walkable, campus-like neighborhood where individuals from all demographic backgrounds can enjoy a high-quality live, work, play lifestyle. With an emphasis on technology, sustainability, health and wellness and art and entertainment, MCID will contribute to the economic vitality of the area and enhance the appeal of the community. Phase two of the MCID development is the Forest of Curiosities park created in partnership with Lune Rouge, the Montreal-based enterprise founded by Cirque de Soleil founder, Guy Laliberté. The park promotes innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship and will have a central role in the curation and creative direction of Magic City’s arts and entertainment venues. 

“Magic City’s long-term development schedule and unique large-scale format makes the leasing process totally different from what you’d typically see at a new construction project elsewhere in the city. We’re looking for retail partners who not only share our desire to reinvigorate the surrounding community with new energy, but also complement the area’s existing vibe,” said Andres Nava, Vice President of Commercial Leasing at Metro 1. “Finding the right balance can be challenging, but we’re determined to fulfill our promises and create something that will benefit the entire community, not just the development team.”

MCID is also offering short-term lease opportunities, with spaces ranging from 300 SF to 30,000 SF. One of the few large-scale event venues in the City of Miami, these spaces are now available to host local community events as well as large-scale national/international conferences. 

Robert Wennett Proposes Bjarke Ingels-Designed Special Area Plan For Miami Produce Center In Allapattah

Robert Wennett has submitted a Special Area Plan to build a mixed-use complex, Miami Produce Center, in Allapattah designed by none other then the starchitect Bjarke Ingels and his firm BIG Architects. The project is proposed on 8.54 acres located at Northwest 21st and 22nd Streets, and between Northwest 13th and 12th Avenues. The proposal will feature 8 buildings will offer over 860,000 SF of residential; 231,000 SF of office space; 114,000 SF of hotel; 76,000 SF of school, 75,000 SF of retail and 1,149 parking spaces. Wennett, who developed the iconic Herzog & de Meuron-designed 1111 Lincoln Road parking garage, purchased the property in 2016 for $16 million and closed on $20.6 million of financing for the properties via SunTrust Bank in August 2018. 

Check Out The New Renderings of David Beckham's Proposed Freedom Park

New renderings of David Beckham and Jorge Mas' controversial proposal to build one of the biggest private office and retail parks in the U.S. on city owned land, known as Freedom Park, have been revealed. The Arquitectonica-designed proposal includes 400K SF of office space and 600K SF of  restaurant, retail and entertainment space; along with 750 hotel rooms and a 25,000 seat soccer stadium with only 3,750 parking spaces. The city would be on the hook to redevelop and maintain the remaining land at the site at the expense of tax payers. The developers would pay $20 million to the city over 30 years, amounting to a net present value of roughly $4 million. Last week commissioners decided to delay the vote on city referendum that could send the proposal to the voting ballot for taxpayers to decide its fate. 2 of the 5 commissioners are in favor but the public backlash has been vocal with charities such as The First Tee Miami staging protests and Related Group's Jorge Perez, amongst others have made their opposition public. Commissioners will vote again this week. 

MiamiCentral Featuring Brightline Tabs Tony Cho’s Metro 1 Commercial As Exclusive Retail Brokerage For Development

Florida East Coast Industries (FECI) has hired leading commercial brokerage firm Metro 1 Commercial, LLC to spearhead retail leasing efforts for the state-of-the-art development, MiamiCentral, Miami's most connected, mixed-use transportation hub. Metro 1 will target approximately 130,000 SF of MiamiCentral’s newly constructed retail space, with a focus on food & beverage, health & wellness and other lifestyle-driven tenants.

Andres Nava, VP of Commercial Leasing and Grace Chance, a leasing associate who recently joined Metro 1 after several years leasing Brickell City Centre, will lead efforts on behalf of Metro 1. Metro 1 Commercial’s emphasis on transit-oriented development (TOD) and proven track record for successfully utilizing retail to differentiate and elevate emerging neighborhoods played a key role in the firm’s selection.

“Metro 1 has been a catalyst in the evolution of South Florida’s most engaging projects and neighborhoods,” said Tad Templeton, vice president of retail leasing for FECI. “We are eager to have Tony and his team on board and look forward to working together in delivering that same dynamic to MiamiCentral.”

Located in the heart of Downtown, MiamiCentral aims to address the steady increase in demand for walkable, retail-driven centers caused by the area’s sharp increase in population. A recent report published by Miami’s Downtown Development Authority shows a nearly 40% increase in Downtown residents since 2010, with an average of 1,500 new residents per year. This growth not only positions MiamiCentral as the focal point for downtown commerce, but also primes the project to have far-reaching effects on the entire district.

“More than a leasing agreement, we see this as an opportunity to play a key part in downtown’s rebirth,” said Tony Cho, Founder and CEO of Metro 1 Commercial. “Finding retail partners who bring something new and exciting to an area while staying true to its historic identity is a unique challenge, but one that inspires our entire team. We’ve had incredible results throughout neighborhoods like Wynwood and Magic City, and look forward to bringing our unique approach to MiamiCentral.”

"MiamiCentral is poised to become one of Miami’s most connected, mixed-use hubs featuring transportation, retail, residences and offices. Its status as one of the city’s most high-profile transit-oriented projects, the built-in rental units and, of course, the thousands of people already using Brightline, makes this a dynamic property with huge potential,” said Nava.

MiamiCentral represents the city’s most central, multimodal transportation center considering its  proximity to I-95 within the Central Business District and several key neighborhoods including Park West, Biscayne Corridor, Arts and Entertainment District, Brickell and the Health District. In addition to its connection to Metromover and Metrorail, MiamiCentral serves as Brightline’s southern terminus featuring inter-city, express passenger rail service between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Future mass transit expansion plans and upcoming developments—including Brightline’s Orlando service, integration of Tri-Rail’s Downtown Miami Link within MiamiCentral and the delivery of the Miami Worldcenter Marriott Marquis World Convention Center Hotel. Additionally, MiamiCentral will house Downtown Miami’s only food hall, Central Fare, set to feature unique and authentic vendors and well-crafted experiences focused on bringing food and beverage concepts that build community.

Beckham Turns His Sights To Redevelop Melreese Golf Course Into Office Space Masking Proposal As "Public Park"

Be careful what you wish for. Activists who brought lawsuits against David Beckham's Overtown Soccer Stadium proposal may have derailed that initiative which would have energized the Overtown community. The developers of a proposal led by David Beckham known as Miami Freedom Park now seek to remove one of Miami's last affordable public golf courses, Melreese Country Club, home of "The First Tee Miami,"one of the most respected youth golf organizations in South Florida serving individuals of all ages, capabilities, and backgrounds; in exchange for developing over 1 billion SF on the site if the proposal passes. The proposal includes 400K SF of office space and 600K SF of  restaurant, retail and entertainment space; along with 750 hotel rooms and a 25,000 seat soccer stadium with only 3,750 parking spaces. A 400,000 SF office park would be one of the largest office parks in the United States of America. 

Mayor Francis Suarez has received both praise and backlash on Twitter after his tweet:

"Wow. A beautiful vision! 110 acres of true green public space open and accessible for our neighbors! This will be a vibrant park, entertainment complex, and soccer facility for ALL Miamians. #FutbolMiami" - @FrancisSuarez

Many of the proponents of the proposal are backing the soccer aspect of the proposal, but do not mention that the 110 acres of true green public space. Other bring to attention that the proposal is an office park, not a public park as Mayor Suarez had stated. Additionally the sit is a former waste dump and is only maintained to keep golfers safe but not for real estate development. The costs to clean the land would be astronomical to the city. What would happen should the proposal go through would be the city would lose its biggest public park (Melreese Golf Course), traffic would build up around the airport and the city would get hit with massive bills in which they would issue debt to cover as the $20 million contribution from the development is paid over 30 years and has a net present value near $4 million. The partnership of developers is in a rush to try to get the public to vote by pushing the potential of bringing pro soccer to Miami without even having a full developed plan to move forward with the proposal and would remove any leverage the city would have. ‏The project is expected to cost over $1 billion.