Rieber Developments Closes On $36 Million Construction Loan For Ivory 214

The Aventura-based Rieber Developments has announced that they have closed on a $36 million construction loan for Ivory 214. The loan was provided by the Miami-based BridgeInvest and was formally granted to the property’s development LLC, Shalev Development Group. Ivory 214 is already under construction after general contractor Winmar Construction, an affiliate of Coastal Construction, broke ground in March 2018 and is on schedule to complete the project in the first quarter of 2020.

When complete Ivory 21 will be a 10-story medical and professional office building with an accompanying Tapestry Collection by Hilton™ hotel. Along with its recently announced sister project, 12|12 Aventura, the projects will serve as the epicenter of the ‘Aventura Medical District.’ Ivory 214 is a Class A+, state-of-the-art facility featuring an independent hotel and medical office space. The contemporary building is comprised of 10,942 SF of retail, 38,191 SF of offices, 100 hotel rooms, and 313 parking spaces.

The significant project milestone comes on the heels of the extraordinary sales interest for the project’s office condos, which has just four office spaces remaining, from the original 34. Sales of the Ivory 214 office condos has been led by Cervera Real Estate as the exclusive broker.

“Securing the construction financing for Ivory 214 is an especially proud moment and a key step in delivering this compelling project to Aventura,” said Bernardo Rieber, principal of Rieber Developments. “Today’s closing is an endorsement of the continued strength and market appeal of Ivory 214 as we continue our forward momentum.”

Driftwood Hospitality Management will serve as the hotel operator of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton™ hotel which will feature 100 extended stay rooms complete with kitchenettes, and premium amenities including a fitness center, pool and cabanas, meeting rooms, a lounge area, restaurant and bar, rooftop terrace, valet parking, and 360-degree views of Aventura.

Located at 2820 NE 214 St, Aventura, FL 33180, Ivory 214 boasts a prime central location, less than one mile from Aventura Mall, and directly adjacent to Aventura Hospital.

Rieber Developments Reveals Mixed-Use 12|12 Aventura In The New Aventura Medical District

The Aventura-based Rieber Developments, led by Bernardo Rieber, has revealed plans for 12|12 Aventura, a mixed-used project with offices for medical professionals, a luxury senior living component and vibrant dining and shopping. Set to be among the first of its kind in South Florida, the visionary project, along with its sister development, the under-construction Ivory 214, a medical and professional office building with an accompanying Tapestry Collection by Hilton™ hotel, will serve as the epicenter of the ‘Aventura Medical District.’ 12|12 Aventura is situated in a prime location at 21290 Biscayne Blvd, Aventura, FL 33180, less than one mile from Aventura Mall, and directly adjacent to Aventura Hospital. The centrally located development will serve as a destination for dining and shopping for area guests and locals alike, while offering a unique mix of medical and professional office condos, a luxury senior community and commercial retail complete with a Chelsea Market-style food hall on the ground floor. Designed by Arquitectonica, 12|12 Aventura will be a 12-story complex consisting of 30,000 SFof commercial retail space, 30,000 SF of offices, a 150-residence luxury senior living component and a structured parking garage. ID & Design International is outfitting the interiors of the common areas throughout the project.

“Our vision for 12|12 Aventura and the Aventura Medical District is to meld community, culture, health and wellness with unmatched convenience for our tenants, patrons and residents. We believe healing begins with architecture, and when we set out to develop this project we ensured every element was thoughtfully designed with this in mind,” said Bernardo Rieber, principal of Rieber Developments. “Offering a state-of-the-art food hall, lively contemporary restaurants, enticing retail and offices as well as modern-style luxury senior living where residents can interact more, this project was truly created to complement the surrounding community.” 

Sales of the 12|12 Aventura office condos recently launched with Cervera Real Estate as the exclusive brokerage. General contractor Winmar Construction, an affiliate of Coastal Construction, will break ground on the project in December 2019 with completion slated for 2021.

Metronomic Officially Acquires Properties For Phase 1 of Grand Plaza, Coconut Grove's New $74 Million Sustainable Development

Miami-based sustainable real estate developer Metronomic has acquired an assemblage of properties in Coconut Grove to commence development of their “Grand Plaza” mixed-use project. The four-parcel portfolio along Grand Avenue consists of 0.77 acres and was purchased for $6.3 million ($186.67/psf). The acquisition is Phase One of Grand Plaza: A $74 million mixed-use, mixed-income revitalization development aimed at building a stronger, well-balanced and vibrant community. 

Grand Plaza Phase One will consist of multiple new buildings; comprised of 50 affordable housing units, 20 deluxe apartments, 11,000 SF of ground floor retail, and underground residential and public parking. The Grand Plaza development, as planned by Metronomic President Ricky Trinidad, will “extend the vibrancy of a beautiful and historic corridor that connects Miami’s City Hall at the waterfront only blocks away, through the business and entertainment district of Coconut Grove with the City of Coral Gables, also only blocks away.  Grand Plaza is the centerpiece of this important connection.”

Located at 3364-3384 Grand Avenue, the first of the Phase One mixed-use buildings will be built on an 18,789 SF site offering 20, one- and three-bedroom luxury apartments spanning 995-2,486 SF, 49 parking spaces and two retail spaces spanning 2,533-2,744 SF. The five-story rental building will include a car-lift parking garage for residential and public parking, community outdoor plaza, pool and pool deck. The second assemblage of properties within the Phase One development will include a five-story affordable housing development offering quality living for area residents within close proximity to the workplace. Set to rise on a vacant 20,044 SF site located at 3341-3461 Grand Avenue, the 10,117-SF development will consist of 50 one-, two and three-bedroom rental units spanning 570-1,228 SF with 65 private parking spaces and three retail spaces from 1,302-1,412 SF.

“Grand Plaza will be a community-oriented, technology-driven, sustainable and innovative development that will create a significant social and economic impact on the community of Coconut Grove,” said Ricky Trinidad, President of Metronomic. “And as a mission-oriented company, we are committed to creating a well-balanced and thriving corridor along Grand Ave for all its residence to enjoy.”

Upon completion of all phases, the Grand Plaza project will add 12 new buildings in the West Grove that include luxury and affordable housing apartment rentals, street retail, office space, farmers market, entertainment venue, community park plazas, and much more. Designed by architecture firm Burgos Lanza & Associates, the project will offer 38 furnished micro units, 82 luxury apartment rental units, 50 affordable housing apartments, 44 hotel lodging units, and 76 commercial units (office and retail). Additionally, Metronomic has announced plans to facilitate rooftop passenger drone landing/take-off sites pending federal and local government approvals of the technology.

Metronomic will be hosting a groundbreaking event in June 2019 to celebrate the launch of the project.

Alta Developers and Bacardi Foundation's South Miami Town Square Approved In South Miami

Alta Developers and the Facundo and Amalia Bacardi Foundation have been awarded approval by city commissioners to change the zoning needed to move ahead with South Miami Town Square, located at 5850 SW 73rd Street and 7331 SW 59 ave. The mixed-use project will feature 301 residential units, 24,391 SF of market space and 22,808 of retail. The developers will also build a plaza connected to the pedestrian walkway system and enhanced streetscape design to activate the surrounding public spaces. South Miami Town Square is designed by Corwil Architects.

Simon's Sawgrass Mills, The United State's Largest Outlet Mall, To Undergo Major Renovation

Simon's 2.3 million SF Sawgrass Mills, the largest outlet mall in the United States, is undergoing a major renovation as the Simon’s tries to boost brick-and-mortar shopping versus customers tendency to shop online. The renovation also looks to capitalize on Metropica, the $1.5 billion mixed-use project across the street which will feature both residential and retail components. The renovation will include a major facelift including a new entrance, the installation of public art throughout the property, new porcelain tile flooring with marble and stone accents, modern seating, an open-skylight and updating both food courts. The renovation is expected to be unveiled in 2020, the 30th anniversary of Sawgrass Mills. Sawgrass Mills has over 350 stores. Malls in operation are up 6% nationwide since 2015 with over 215 currently open to shoppers. Outlet malls have also grown with over 6.8 million SF opening since 2015.

Publix Receives Construction Permit For New Location In Downtown Miami At 3 MiamiCentral

Publix has received a construction permit to begin work on their newest supermarket location at Three MiamiCentral, just one block from MiamiCentral Station. Publix will buildout their 27,935 SF location in the ground floor retail space of the recently completed building which also features 90,000 SF of Class A office space and parking. Construction costs are estimate around $3.3 million and Hawkins Construction will be the General Contractor on the project. Three MiamiCentral was the first building to open as part of the 11-acre, mixed-use MiamiCentral initiative by Florida East Coast Industries in Downtown Miami.

Coral Rock Development Group & Arena Capital Holdings Break Ground On Pura Vida Hialeah

Miami-based Coral Rock Development Group and Arena Capital Holdings have broken ground on Pura Vida Hialeah, a nine-acre mixed-use project set to be the first of its kind in Hialeah in more than 20 years. When complete, the project will transform the area’s aging retail and residential offerings with the first new sleek contemporary designed vertical towers, and will boast a vibrant mix of popular restaurants, shops and other conveniences while providing an exceptional pedestrian-friendly lifestyle, adding a much-needed benefit to the densely populated community.

Held on April 25th at the future site of Pura Vida Hialeah, the ceremonial groundbreaking was hosted by the project’s development team, comprised of industry veterans Stephen A. Blumenthal, David Brown, Victor Brown and Michael Wohl of Coral Rock Development Group, as well as Oscar Rodriguez, Ana Rodriguez and Sebastian Roiter of Arena Capital Holdings. Dozens of industry leaders, project partners, top city officials and numerous other dignitaries were in attendance including City of Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez, Hialeah City Council President Vivian Casals-Munoz and City of Hialeah Councilman Paul Hernandez, who all provided remarks to celebrate this project milestone.

Mayor Carlos Hernandez commended the developers for their vision and acknowledged how Pura Vida Hialeah is already sparking other innovative developments in the city. Known as the City of Progress, Mayor Carlos Hernandez said “Hialeah is the new Brooklyn.”

“We’re incredibly proud to officially break ground on Pura Vida Hialeah,” said Stephen Blumenthal, principal of Coral Rock Development Group. “A new paradigm for living in Hialeah, we’re extremely pleased that Pura Vida Hialeah will be a positive catalyst and usher in a new era in the community.”

“This is an exciting beginning to what will soon be an extraordinary and vibrant urban environment for Hialeah,” said Michael Wohl, principal of Coral Rock Development Group. “We’re very grateful to Mayor Carlos Hernandez and the City of Hialeah who have supported us in making this community-driven development a reality.”

Located at 2901-3099 W 16th Avenue and 1571 W 29th Street, Pura Vida Hialeah will feature 3-eight-story residential towers consisting of 260 apartment units, with one tower offering approximately 11,000 SF of ground floor retail; as well as three separate outparcels consisting of approximately 40,000 SF of commercial retail space. Floorplans for market rate residential apartments range from 538 SF to 1,099 SF, ranging from studios, one, two, and three-bedroom units. Featured amenities will include a resort-style pool, state-of-the-art gym, BBQ area, dog park, and 24-hour security staff for the convenience of residents. Confirmed retail tenants include a Wawa convenience store and gas station, representing one of the first outposts in Miami-Dade County for the rapidly expanding chain, a Taco Bell restaurant, a Dollar Tree store and a two-story YouFit Health Club.

Sunset Place Redevelopment Proposal Finally Gets Approved By South Miami

Nearly two years after the South Miami voted against the redevelopment of Sunset Place, the city has now approved the proposal after a special commission meeting where the South Miami City Commission voted unanimously to approve ordinances that allow will give the go-ahead to the developers to revitalize the aging mall. A partnership between Federal Realty Investment Trust, Grass River Property and The Comras Company will redevelop the 500,000 SF shopping mall into a mixed-use development with a renovated 440,000 SF mall, 32,000 SF of office space, 2 apartment buildings with 414-units and a 182-room hotel.

The developers have agreed to several climate change resistant modifications to the proposal including rooftop solar panels, a reflective or white roofing system, green roofs and the elimination of underground parking. The developers will also fund $250,000 to the city for a new streetscape on Sunset Drive, $1.5 million for pedestrian safety measures and a public amphitheater.

13th Floor Investments & Adler Group Break Ground On The Transit Oriented Link at Douglas

13th Floor Investments and Adler Group have broken ground on one of Miami’s most anticipated transit oriented development, Link at Douglas. The development team is beginning site work this month and vertical construction of the development’s first phase is expected to begin this summer (2019). The 7- acre development will redevelop Miami’s Douglas Road Metrorail station and will be comprised of rental units (including workforce housing), retail and office space, and a public plaza. The project will deliver privately-funded infrastructure upgrades at a critical connection point within the County’s transit system and is expected to generate $500 million in new revenue for Miami-Dade County. The development team has also pledged over $17 million in public infrastructure improvements including $1 million for The Underline linear park.

Link at Douglas is set to be built in phases over the next five years and will include 1,500 residential units including a workforce housing component, 25,000 SF of retail space, a 250,000 SF office building, and a public plaza that connects with The Underline, a 10-mile-long linear park running from Downtown Miami through neighborhoods to the south. The development’s first tower, designed by Corwil Architects and comprising 312 apartment units and 6,000 SF of retail in 22-stories, will break ground in July. The development of tower two, a 36-story building designed by Arquitectonica including 421 apartment units and 17,000 SF of retail, will begin in October. Approximately 100 of the 733 units will be designated as workforce housing units.

“As Miami-Dade’s population experiences rapid growth, we need to come up with forward thinking ways to reduce road congestion and that begins with connecting people with alternative forms of transit,” said Arnaud Karsenti, Managing Principal of 13th Floor Investments. “Link at Douglas will set a new standard for urban living in this part of Miami-Dade County, improving access to jobs, attainable housing opportunities, everyday amenities, retail and office space for our residents and neighbors.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Miami Dade County in further enhancing the community through this pedestrian and transit-oriented development,” said Michael M. Adler, CEO of Adler Group. “By focusing on design, public spaces and the connection to transit we feel that this project will enrich all of Miami Dade County.”

Link at Douglas marks the second transit-oriented development spearheaded by 13th Floor Investments and Adler Group. Motion at Dadeland, a 294-unit rental community adjacent to the Dadeland North Metrorail station, opened to residents in April 2019.

De Beers, the Legendary Home of Diamonds, Opens New Showroom At Bal Harbour Shops

The legendary Home of Diamonds, De Beers, has opened a new South Florida showroom at the Bal Harbour Shops. The new showroom marks De Beers’ third U.S. store location. The new store, full of airiness and light, will showcase wondrous pieces by De Beers, with 600 SF of space devoted to the legendary Home of Diamonds.

In celebration of its new Bal Harbour store opening, De Beers will be unveiling a new Enchanted Lotus malachite pendant in a world premiere ahead of its global launch in September. Sparkling with pristine diamonds, the serene flower blooms within verdant malachite, symbolic of abundance and growth, in natural synergy with the lush, green oasis that is Bal Harbour Shops. The Enchanted Lotus Malachite Pendant, featuring 18K white gold and approximately 0.3 carats of diamonds, will be exclusively available at the new Bal Harbour location for $2,750.

“There is much to celebrate with our reopening at the Bal Harbour Shops, the most inspiring mall in Florida” says Francois Delage, Chief Executive Officer, De Beers Jewellers. “Our clients in the US are some of our most loyal and Bal Harbour caters towards a very discerning international clientele that we wanted to delight in the right space.”

“Whilst our clients engage more and more across our digital platforms, we believe that our stores complement the overall experience and allow a very intimate and informative moment. After all, seeing the diamond with your own eyes inspires the emotion that we invite all our clients to feel. It is also here that you can benefit from the expertise and passion of our in-store Brand Ambassadors,” explains Delage.