Royal Palm Companies Acquires 1.53-Acre Future Site of Legacy Hotel & Residences In Miami Worldcenter For $33.9 Million

Miami Worldcenter Associates, the master developer behind Miami Worldcenter, the $4 billion, 27-acre mixed-use development under construction in the heart of Downtown Miami, has sold a 1.53-acre parcel to Royal Palm Companies (RPC). The transaction includes 66,656 square feet of developable land that was sold for $33.9 million. The property, which is situated at 942 Northeast First Avenue, will be home to the Legacy Hotel & Residences, a 50-story mixed-use tower with 274 branded residences atop a 256-room hotel. The Cushman & Wakefield team of Robert Given, Troy Ballard and James Quinn represented the seller, Miami Worldcenter Associates, in the transaction.

Legacy Hotel & Residences’ developer, Dan Kodsi of RPC, previously partnered with Miami Worldcenter Associates developers, led by Nitin Motwani and Art Falcone, on the newly completed Paramount Miami Worldcenter luxury condominium tower, which opened to residents in 2019 across the street.

“Legacy Hotel & Residences is one of our most anticipated developments. The project’s iconic architecture and state-of-the-art amenities featuring a world-class restaurant and medical facility are just some of the components that will make it a standout addition to our city-within-a-city at Miami Worldcenter,” said Nitin Motwani, Managing Partner of Miami Worldcenter Associates. “We’re committed to working with best-in-class developers to create a diverse and vibrant eco-system for the ultimate live, work, play Miami experience, and our recent collaboration with Dan Kodsi on Paramount is a testament to that vision.”

Legacy Hotel & Residences will feature first-of-its-kind amenities and offerings, including a sophisticated members-only international business lounge, a dramatic Singapore-inspired cantilevered pool, downtown’s largest hotel pool deck set on one acre, a highly-anticipated 100,000 square foot medical and wellness center, and stylish microLUXE residences – all topped with the project’s signature amenity: the city’s first enclosed rooftop atrium, taking up the top seven floors of the tower.

“We are looking forward to breaking ground in early 2021 on what we expect will be one of the iconic centerpieces of Miami Worldcenter,” said Dan Kodsi, CEO of RPC. “Legacy Hotel & Residences is setting the stage for the future of mixed-use developments and branded-residences that prioritize health and wellness without sacrificing luxury lifestyle experiences and resort-style amenities that discerning homeowners and travelers are accustomed to.”

The Miami Worldcenter master plan, delivering in phases, features an array of residential, commercial and hospitality uses. These include approximately 300,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space; the 60-story Paramount Miami Worldcenter condominium tower; Caoba, a 444-unit apartment tower that opened in 2019; a 348-room CitizenM hotel which is now under construction; and Bezel, a 434-unit rental tower by ZOM Living which is also underway. In addition, Hines is preparing to build a new tower that will comprise up to 500,000 square feet of Class A office space and MDM Group is planning a 1,700-room Marriott Marquis hotel and adjacent 600,000 square foot expo center.

Miami Worldcenter occupies 10 city blocks within walking distance of Museum Park, home to Perez Art Museum Miami and the Frost Museum of Science; AmericanAirlines Arena; the Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center; and Miami-Dade College’s Downtown Miami campus. It is also adjacent to Virgin Trains’ MiamiCentral station, which will soon offer direct train service to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando, together with access to TriRail, the Metromover and the Metrorail, making Miami Worldcenter the largest and most-connected transit-oriented development in Florida.

Over 6 Months Terra Signed Nearly 60,000 Sq.Ft. In New South Florida Retail Leases

Terra has been one of South Florida’s most active in real estate development through the pandemic. Within the last 6 months Terra has signed nearly 60,000 sq.ft. in new retail leases across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Newly signed tenants include Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, Mister 01 Pizza, Panda Express, Pilates Zone and more. Terra is a residential and commercial development firm and investment company that enhances neighborhoods to connect people and better the community. Courtelis Company oversees the leasing and property management for Terra’s portfolio. 

“Because COVID-19 has made a tremendous impact on the economy and will continue to reshape the market as we know it, we are committed to listening to our neighbors, collaborating with partners, and creating developments that are naturally woven into the community,” said David Martin, CEO of Terra. “We anticipate a continued need for lifestyle-centered developments that will serve at the pulse of South Florida’s neighborhoods featuring restaurants and retailers, as well as essential services such as grocers and local businesses that cater to the everyday needs of surrounding residents.” 

 “In addition to signing new leases, we’re focused on helping consumers navigate our retail centers in a responsible and efficient manner,” said Rod Castan, president of leasing and management for Courtelis Company. “We’ve provided tenants with access to take-out/short-term parking spaces, ample outdoor seating, cueing areas and temporary signage to increase tenant visibility. Although it’s been a challenging year, the hands-on approach has remained the best way for us to conduct business and maintain relationships with our retailers.”

Terra’s newly signed leases at retail developments in South Florida include: 

• 16000 Pines Market: A 135,000 sq.ft. mixed-use retail development that is now underway and is located in the City of Pembroke Pines. Publix Super Markets is the anchor tenant and has signed a 23,168 sq.ft. lease. Additional leases are signed by Verizon Wireless and Everglades Family Dental.

• Doral Square: Located in the City of Doral is the 150,000 sq.ft. retail center. Ross Dress fo Less is the anchor tenant and has signed a 24,147 sq.ft. lease. An additional lease is signed by Panda Express.

• 2811 Coral Way: Located in Miami is the newly completed mixed-use retail/self-storage development. Businesses with finalized retail leases include Pilates Zone, La Roche Beauty Salon, AT&T Wireless, and dental orthodontics laboratory Arcadlab.

• Pines City Center: Located in the City of Pembroke Pines is the 150,000 square foot mixed-use lifestyle development that spans across 47-acres and is opening their second phase of retail. A 1,525 sq.ft. lease is signed with Mister 01 Extraordinary Pizza that represents the modern pizza chain’s first Broward County location. The development’s first phase included a a Publix Supermarket.

Tricera Capital, LNDMRK and Related Group Break Ground On The Dorsey In Wynwood

The Related Group, Alex Karakhanian’s LNDMRK Development, and Scott Sherman’s Tricera Capital have broken ground on The Dorsey in Wynwood. The Dorsey is a mixed-use project which will rise 12-stories and will feature 306 apartment units; 35,000 SF of retail; 70,000 SF of office and 476 parking spaces. Units will range in size between 500 and 700 square feet with some micro-units in the 400 square foot range. The project was designed by Arquitectonica and will be located along one of the planned Woonerfs as part of Wynwood’s new ArquitectonicaGEO-designed streetscape, which open up space for pedestrians while also allowing car access.

“We are proud to partner with Related and Alex karakanian on this mixed use project in the most dynamic and growing neighborhood in Miami,” said Scott Sherman of Tricera Capital.

The Dorsey will be built at the site of the former Coca Cola plant and was previously owned by Thor Equities and Rockwood Capital who had proposed a Touzet Studio-designed project. The JV, which purchased the 2-acre site in late 2019 for $32 million, demolished existing buildings on the site, some of which were originally built in the late 1920’s including the former Coca Cola plant. The Dorsey will be located at 280 NW 28th Street.

Italian Luxury Brand Bulgari Reveals Bulgari Hotel Miami Beach At The Site Of The Seagull Hotel

Italian luxury brand Bulgari and Blue Horizon Group, led by Nabil Kobeissi, have revealed Bulgari Hotel Miami Beach. The hotel will be the brand’s first hotel in Miami and 11th location worldwide. The developer will renovate and restore the existing 7-story Seagull Hotel, located at 100 21st St., adjacent to The Setai Hotel & Residences and W South Beach. The hotel is expected to open in 2024.

“We are particularly proud to have secured such an extraordinary location for the new Bulgari Hotel in Miami,” said Bulgari Hotels & Resorts CEO Jean-Christophe Babin.

The Seagull Hotel was developed in 1950, designed by Albert Anis. The restoration will be overseen by Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel. The existing building currently has 178 hotel rooms which will be transformed into 100 hotel rooms. The redevelopment will include a new pool, spa, fitness center and restaurant led by Chef Niko Romito.

Blue Horizon Group acquired the Seagull Hotel from Lionheart Capital and Actium Development Co. for $120 million in January 2020. The sellers had acquired the hotel, which sits on a 1.34 acre property, in an auction for $31.1 million in December 2017.

Wynwood's Newest Class-A Kobi Karp-Designed Office Building, The Gateway, Tops Off

The Gateway at Wynwood has just topped off at 13-stories by R&B Realty Group. The project is a Class-A office building in Wynwood’s emerging neighborhood and new office submarket. The Gateway will feature 195,000 sq.ft. of leasable office space, private rooftop terrace and 25,900 sq.ft. of retail space on the ground floor. 

Shelby Rosenberg, Principal of R&B Realty Group, said, “This is one of the most important moments in the construction of a commercial project, especially as we are ahead of schedule amidst the pandemic. We are excited to see The Gateway at Wynwood is a step closer to reality. Our project will contribute to the transformation of Wynwood into a 15-minute city, where people can access their office, home, the grocery store, restaurants, and more within a 15-minute walk. We want to thank the city, the area’s stakeholders, our construction and design team, and all our partners for trusting us and helping The Gateway at Wynwood reach this important milestone.”

Plaza Construction is The Gateway’s general contractor and Kobi Karp is the architect. The 13-story building is estimated to be complete in the second half of 2021 and is currently ahead of schedule. 

"Despite the challenges that COVID-19 has posed across our industry, we are proud to have been able to reach this milestone on time and without incident,” said Brad Meltzer, president of Plaza Construction. "We prioritized the health and safety of all stakeholders with great success, and we look forward to continuing to deliver exemplary construction services to the South Florida market and beyond."

Wynwood is Miami’s newest and emerging office submarket and a hub for creative and innovative businesses. Many well known companies have already re-located office space to Wynwood including Spotify, WeWork, and Live Nation with other big names including Google, Apple Music and Dentsu looking to move into the area.

Stephen Rutchik, Colliers International Florida’s Executive Managing Director who handles office leasing for The Gateway at Wynwood said: “We are actively engaged with prospective tenants that are attracted to Wynwood because of its ‘live, work, play’ environment. This area has become a mecca for art, food, and entertainment just north of downtown Miami. While a few companies are hesitant to sign new leases just now, they do know exactly where they want to be … and that is Wynwood. We expect many of the deals in the pipeline for The Gateway at Wynwood will come to fruition as we get closer to completing the building later next year.”

The Gateway at Wynwood is located at 2916 N Miami Ave, a desirable location just a few minutes away from Downtown Miami, Aventura and Miami Beach. The area is also very close to Miami Internation Airport and PortMiami attracting many visitors and tourists all year round.

Carlos Mattos And Family Acquire Waterway Shoppes of Weston For $20.45 Million

An entity tied to the Mattos family, led by Carlos Mattos and his children, Nicolas and Isabella Mattos, have acquired the Waterway Shoppes of Weston for $20.45 million, roughly $501 per square foot. Waterway Shoppes of Weston was developed in 1999 and was acquired by the seller, Waterway Ventures LLC, an entity tied to Fondo Atlas and Dylan Fonseca, for $15.3 million in May 2015. The property was listed with Kirk Olson and Drew Kristol of Marcus & Millichap for $20.65 million. Gordon Messinger of Cushman & Wakefield represented the buyer in the transaction. The acquisition was financed with a $9.98 million CMBS loan provided by Deutsche Bank.

Waterway Shoppes of Weston is located at 2210-2282 Weston Rd. and spans 40,848 square feet on 4.95 acres of land. Tenants include AT&T, Hooters, Lucille’s American Café, Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream, Cyclebar, BankUnited, Lucille’s American Café, Baires Grill and Pearl Vision Center.

Family On Demand Senior Assistance Platform Papa Inc. Signs Lease For The Brickell Building

Papa, Inc., a leading technology-enabled platform that provides a service to assist older adults & families, has signed a lease for their new headquarters and will consolidate and relocate to The Brickell Building, located in the heart of Miami’s Financial District. Co-Founder of DWNTWN Realty Advisors, Tony Arellano P.A., has arranged a lease on behalf of the Brickell Building with Papa, Inc. who was represented by JLL’s Jeff Gordon and Matthew Goodman.

“This new headquarters for Papa underscores the ongoing evolution of office space,” Arellano said. “The lease is also a case study for the business models of office users are adjusting to the new dynamic of office requirements.”

Papa’s new headquarters in The Brickell Building will be 11,420 sq.ft. and will be occupied by only executive staff and offer rotating office needs. The company will utilize a working-from-home strategy for non key executives that proved to be successful throughout the pandemic. This strategy will reduce their office footprint that used to be over 25,000 sq.ft. 

Papa was founded in 2017 by Andrew Parker and specializes in “family on demand” assistance for seniors. The service helps older people remain living independent and securely at home. It offers in-person assistance and now has adapted to also offer virtual assistance through the pandemic. Papa’s new headquarters will be located at 66 SW Sixth Street. 

Affiliated Development Launches $125 Million Impact Housing Fund

Affiliated Development, a real estate development, investment and asset management firm, has announced the launch of an impact investment fund to invest in multifamily mixed-income workforce housing throughout South and Central Florida. Affiliated Housing Impact Fund, LP (or the “Fund”) will provide equity capital to finance Affiliated Development’s pipeline of workforce housing projects and investments. Affiliated Development’s principals, Jeff Burns and Nick Rojo, will be the sole general partners and managers of the Fund.

The Fund’s overall investment objective is to generate a positive social and environmental impact, while delivering attractive risk-adjusted returns for its investors. The Fund’s investment strategy is to capitalize the development of high-quality multifamily housing, offering a superior living experience at attainable rents. Each project will be constructed to meet the stringent requirements for green building certification standards.

“Over 60% of renters in the South Florida area are cost-burdened, meaning they pay more than 30% of their income on rent. Most South Florida residents are forced to either allocate too much income toward rent, live with one or more roommates, or move away from major employment centers in order to find reasonably priced housing.” Burns said. “The tremendous demand for attainably priced housing in South Florida has been compounded by the influx of new residents and businesses migrating to the area. We feel a sense of responsibility to work alongside local government to help find solutions to this growing issue.”

Affiliated Development specializes in public-private-partnerships, which typically result in the utilization of government financing incentives necessary to make these types of projects work. The company has a track record of completing workforce housing projects in various South Florida cities.

The Fund has the requisite capital commitments for an initial closing which is scheduled for December. Current committed investors include the Fort Lauderdale Police and Firefighters’ Pension Fund, West Palm Beach Police Pension Fund, Hollywood Police Pension Fund, Hollywood Firefighters’ Pension Fund, Miramar Police Pension Fund and a locally based family office.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with local public pension plans. We see an inherent alignment of interest with our pension partners who can reinvest capital back into the community while providing housing for their contributors and the local workforce. We are also attracting interest from family offices and individuals seeking a double bottom line outcome with both financial and social returns.” Said Rojo. “Having discretionary capital also provides us the flexibility to move quickly and take advantage of opportunities while focusing on what we do best, which is executing.”

MG Developer Partners With Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices In Coral Gables To Complete The Final Phase Of The Biltmore Square Community

MG Developer has recently partnered with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices (BHHS) EWM Realty to lead sales and marketing for Althea Row and Biltmore Row. These are the last two projects that will complete the developer’s community, Biltmore Square, in Coral Gables. 

Althea Row and Biltmore Row include fifteen grand townhomes featuring 4-bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms starting at $3.4 million. The residences are near the Coral Gables Business District and within walking distance of Miracle Mile, Riviera Club and The Biltmore Hotel. Five of the townhomes are in Althea Row and will be completed in 2021, the remaining ten will be in Biltmore row which will be completed in 2022.

“We are extremely proud to be working with BHHS EWM Realty,” says Alirio Torrealba, CEO of MG Developer. “As we enter a new era in real estate and a new era of the development of Biltmore Square, I have the deepest respect and admiration for Ron (Shuffield) and the team he built in the community. I look forward to growing the future of Coral Gables with him and his team of experts, who have been such an integral part of The City Beautiful.”

“MG Developer has done great things in Coral Gables and we highly regard Alirio’s confidence in our expertise as we finalize his unique neighborhood’s final phase,” said Ron Shuffield, President and CEO of BHHS EWM Realty. “Alirio and the MG team are an integral part of the Coral Gables community and we look forward to watching his vision for the city evolve.”

A finance team led by Jeffrey Donnelly and Dmitry Levkov has structured about $16 million in equity financing for the Althea Row and Biltmore Row projects. MG Developer, being based in Coral Gables, has taken on many projects in the area. The luxurious townhomes they are currently working on fit in perfectly with Coral Gables’ charm and feature design elements that blend into the city’s aesthetic. 

Avison Young Secures Office Lease At Boca Raton’s North 40 To Relocate Meisner Electric Headquarters

Avison Young has secured a new long-term lease for 15,172 sq.ft. at North 40 in the Park at Broken Sound in Boca Raton, a two-building office complex. Meisner Electric, Inc. the tenant will relocate its corporate headquarters from Delray Beach to the space at 901 Yamato Road to accommodate future growth. During the lease transaction Avison Young Principals Keith O’Donnell and Gary A. Gottlieb represented the landlord, PG Mainstreet North Forty, LLC, a joint venture between Mainstreet Capital Partners, Inc., and Partners Group. Meisner Electric also has offices in Miramar and Sarasota with a strategy to expand in other Florida markets in the future.  

“North 40 offers the opportunity for us to upgrade our corporate headquarter facilities to an ideally-located, high-quality space,” said Todd Gurne, President and COO of Meisner Electric. “After 43 years in Delray Beach, and now relocating to Boca Raton, we look forward to our continued growth as part of Palm Beach County’s business community.”

Boca Raton is one of the largest and more desirable office markets in Florida’s Palm Beach Country. According to Avison Young research, leasing activity was up countywide by a little less than 40% at the close of the third quarter following a tough second quarter with the country on a pandemic lockdown. COVID friendly office space is also now in high demand. 

“Along with its convenient location, North 40 is known for its efficient floor plate design, large air-conditioned atrium lobby allowing for social distancing, and on-site conference center, which were particularly attractive to Meisner Electric,” said Gary A. Gottlieb. “The tenant sought to consolidate its current multi-building corporate offices into one space that could accommodate future growth, and North 40 delivered.” 

Avison Young is a private company that provides value as a global real estate advisor. They provide healthy and productive workplaces for employees in cities that are prosperous.