Sumaida + Khurana and Bizzi & Partners Reveal 'THE FIFTH MIAMI BEACH' Class A+ Office Designed By Spanish Master Architect Alberto Campo Baeza

Sumaida + Khurana and Bizzi & Partners, two internationally recognized real estate development firms, have received approval from the City of Miami Beach to proceed with the construction of a new Class A+ office building designed by renowned Spanish master architect Alberto Campo Baeza. The project is named THE FIFTH MIAMI BEACH and it will be Baeza’s first commercial building in the United States. Sumaida + Khurana is led by Founding Partners Saif Sumaida and Amit Khurana. Bizzi & Partners is led by CEO Davide Bizzi and Managing Director Alessandro Pallaoro, the firms expect to start construction imminently.

"We are very fortunate to have received unanimous design approval by the Historic Preservation Board of Miami Beach in less than one year since we acquired the property. We have treated THE FIFTH MIAMI BEACH as a labor of love and greatly appreciate how positively the City has responded to the design of our project. The collaboration among multiple world-class team members and stakeholders in Miami Beach has been extremely rewarding. We are excited to deliver a very special building that provides an exceptional offering to our tenants and the community," said Saif Sumaida, Founding Partner, Sumaida + Khurana.

The firms have tapped global commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield to lead their leasing efforts. The building is ideally situated at the entrance to Miami Beach from the MacArthur Causeway, located in the exclusive enclave of South of Fifth, at the corner of Michigan and Fifth Street. The Class A+, LEED Certified office building will seek to take an innovative approach by delivering on the singular quality, craftsmanship and architectural pedigree that Sumaida + Khurana and Bizzi & Partners are renowned for delivering on their residential condominium projects.

“The pandemic has completely changed the relationship between employees and the built office environment. With THE FIFTH MIAMI BEACH, we have an exciting opportunity to set a new benchmark for modern office development by creating a dynamic ecosystem for tenants that is focused on both work and well-being by incorporating extensive wellness amenities within an architectural masterpiece designed by one of the world's great master architects, Alberto Campo Baeza, with an elevated interior design concept by the renowned architectural firm, Gabellini Sheppard Associates," said Alessandro Pallaoro, Managing Director, Bizzi & Partners.

World-renowned architecture firm, Gabellini Sheppard Associates is designing the interiors, award-winning firm Cube 3 is the executive architect and Miami-based Urban Robot Associates is the project’s landscape architect.

The project will be akin to an exquisite jewel box, wrapped in glass, white marble and white concrete. The biophilic design approach incorporates many elements that bring the outdoors inside and also provides expansive spaces that are ideal for tenants to design creative work environments. The building features a monumental marble lobby with 35-foot ceiling heights, 14-foot ceilings throughout office floors, open and flexible floorplans, floor-to-ceiling windows and every office includes expansive private outdoor terraces. Located in the center of the building is a large outdoor atrium that opens up all of the offices to a dramatic experience of light, air, and outdoor space. In addition, the building features multiple amenities for tenants to share including a private landscaped rooftop with expansive, unobstructed water views. This offering will be further complemented by a state-of-the-art fitness center and spa, multiple food and beverage options, and valet parking. The building will also offer advanced air quality and filtration systems that will be part of the focus on sustainability and health.

Based in Spain, Baeza has been widely recognized for his work including winning his country’s National Prize for Architecture in 2021. Some of his notable projects include the Houses Turégano and de Blas, both in Madrid, the Gaspar House, Asencio House in Cádiz, the Olnick Spanu Museum in Garrison, New York, the BIT Center in Inca-Mallorca, the Museum of Memory of Andalucía in Granada. In 2020, he won the competition to design a new bridge over the Piave River in Belluno, Venice.

Sumaida + Khurana is led by Founding Partners Saif Sumaida and Amit Khurana. Bizzi & Partners is led by CEO Davide Bizzi and Managing Director Alessandro Pallaoro. Both firms are individually known the world over for developing some of the most significant real estate projects in the world, collaborating with critically acclaimed and architects and designers. New York-based Sumaida + Khurana collaborated with Pritzker Prize winning architect, Tadao Ando to design 152 Elizabeth Street, as well as Pritzker Laureate, Alvaro Siza for 611 West 56th Street. Bizzi & Partners, which has offices in New York, Milan, São Paulo, and Tallinn, worked with Pritzker Prize winning architect Renzo Piano to design both 565 Broome SoHo in Manhattan and Eighty Seven Park in Miami. The firm also developed the Langham Hotel in New York, designed by Charles Gwathmey.

Limestone Acquires PLANTA Property In Miami Beach's Ritzy South-Of-Fifth For $12 Million

Miami-based Limestone Asset Management has acquired the flagship South-of-Fifth property which is home to PLANTA in Miami Beach for $12 million. The 7,835 SF building was completed in 2018 as the first built-to-suit and the first PLANTA in the state of Florida and sits on a 9,148-square-foot (0.21-acre) lot. The property is located at 850 Commerce Street, Miami Beach, FL, 33139 in the affluent South of Fifth neighborhood.

Kevin Sanz of Orion Real Estate Group represented the buyer, Limestone Planta, LLC. Alex Sharrin of JLL represented the seller, Commerce Street Properties, LLC. First National Bank of South Miami is providing financing. Limestone Asset Management is led by Ibrahim Al-Rashid and invests in and acquires real estate properties over all asset classes throughout North America. Limestone Asset Management is an affiliate of Orion Real Estate Group, its joint venture partner in the deal. Limestone Asset Management uses Orion Real Estate Group's expertise to complete all of its North America-based transactions.

PLANTA, a David Grutman project led by Founder and CEO Steven Salm and Co-founder and Executive Chef David Lee, is Miami’s premier location for innovative plant-based fine dining. Its goal is to expand the acceptability, enjoyment, and celebration of the power of plants. The restaurant’s owners are the lessees and will remain in the building until 2028.

Champions of plant-based living for better health, community, and the planet, the restaurant has locations in New York, Toronto, and Maryland, in addition to Florida, with plans of expansion in Chicago and California. Additionally, PLANTA offers nationwide delivery of its plant-based signature dishes, desserts, condiments, and sauces.

“PLANTA is a unique restaurant concept, and we are excited to purchase their flagship property located in the South of Fifth neighborhood,” said Ibrahim Al-Rashid, chairman of Limestone Asset Management. “Rarely do opportunities present themselves in this neighborhood. A block from Joe’s Stone Crab, one of America's most iconic restaurants, is a place every landlord would love to be.”

Urbanica Sells Meridian Hotel To Miami-Based Investment Firm

The Urbanica Meridian Hotel, located at 418 Meridian Ave on Miami Beach was recently sold by Urbanica, the group responsible for facilitating the revitalization of the dwindling Fifth Street Corridor through their development of staple lodging, food, and beverage establishments. The hotel sold to Miami-based investment firm, Cambridge Lansdowne, for $30.5 million. Paul Weimer and Christian Charre of CBRE represented both the buyer and seller.

The Urbanica ownership team, Charlie Porchetto and Diego Colmenero, are now focusing on their new flagship projects, the largest within their hotel portfolio, including Urbanica Beach located in the North Beach neighborhood at 6747 Collins Avenue. The development, which includes 200 rooms and two pools, will be home to multiple restaurants and entertainment facilities. Urbanica has also acquired a property in the up and coming Edgewater area of Miami, Urbanica Biscayne at 3200 Biscayne Blvd. The hotel also offers 200 rooms for guests, 7,000 square feet of event space, and a number of conference, dining, and leisure options.

“We had a great opportunity to bring Urbanica Hotels to Miami seven years ago and contribute to the revitalization of Fifth Street, and did so with our first location of Meridian Hotel,” says Charlie Porchetto. “We’re proud of what this location has done for the neighborhood, and are looking forward to stepping into Edgewater and North Beach with these new properties, areas that have the same potential for growth as we saw with Fifth Street on Miami Beach.”

In Miami, Urbanica continues to own and operate the Urbanica Euclid and Urbanica Fifth hotels, both located on Fifth street on Miami Beach.

Black Lion Investment Group Acquires Commercial Units In South of Fifth's Marea Featuring RED Steakhouse And KoSushi Spaces

Black Lion Investment Group (“Black Lion”) has acquired an entire block of commercial condo units at the base of the iconic Marea building in the heart of Miami Beach’s South of Fifth (“SoFi”) neighborhood. The six-story building at 801 South Pointe Drive was originally developed by the famed Related Group and features 30 luxury residential condos atop the commercial units. Black Lion purchased the 19,100 square feet of premium commercial real estate space for $19,000,000 on December 17, 2021. President and Chief Executive Officer, Fabio Faerman, and Executive Director, Sebastian Faerman, of FA Commercial facilitated the transaction.

Existing tenants include RED Steakhouse, a Miami Beach mainstay for over a decade, and KoSushi, the establishment that debuted the Michelin-starred restaurant in the United States after being awarded the distinction in Brazil upon its opening in 2015. Black Lion has the intent of introducing additional flagship restaurants to the property.

“The entire Miami market has rapidly evolved into the epicenter for fine dining and high-end nightlife experiences over the last several years,” said Robert Rivani, president of Black Lion. “Our objective for the investment in Marea is to invite more fine dining restaurants to this culinary and cultural mecca to further elevate Miami’s reputation on a global scale. We have multiple world-renowned food and beverage concepts in the works and anticipate that even more international and domestic visitors will be attracted not only to our restaurants but to the vibrancy of this burgeoning market overall.”

Other notable restaurants in the SoFi neighborhood include Joe's Stone Crab, Smith & Wollensky, Carbone, Papi Steak, and Estiatorio Milos. Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey recently announced that he'll be opening his first-ever Miami restaurant, Lucky Cat, just steps from the Marea building.

Continuum South Beach Announces Mandatory Vaccination Requirement For Entire Workforce

Continuum South Beach, a resort-style oceanfront condominium residences located in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood, has implemented a mandatory vaccination requirement among its employees and contractors. Continuum’s Master Board of Directors, together with Associa/Marquis Association Management, the industry’s largest community management company, announced it would be stepping up its vaccine requirements by mandating that all employees and contracted/third party personnel are vaccinated or provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to continue employment. The management team and Board has established a target date to have all employees fully vaccinated by November 15th this year, a move considered to be the first of its kind for staff among the region’s vast number of residential properties.

“Our requirement falls in line with many major companies requiring a vaccine mandate,” says Rishi Idnani, Managing Director at the Continuum. “By Grandfathering in this most essential new protocol, we are convinced that this approach will reinforce our commitment in keeping our residents and employees as safe as possible, as we charter a new course to battle the pandemic ahead of the upcoming high season. We hope it sets a good example and an industry standard, or best practice, for other residential communities to follow suit. We have been fortunate to have the majority of our residents and employees vaccinated in the recent months, and having vaccinated more than 500 residents to-date is a colossal achievement and first program of its kind thanks to our dedicated partners. I believe that making the vaccination as easy as possible enables people to make the right decision and we are delighted to offer this service to our residents.”

The Continuum has implemented state-of-the-art technologies for the health, safety and security of its residents. With the help of today’s most advanced security company, iDentyTech Solutions, the property has successfully phased its reopening of all amenities and common areas seamlessly for homeowners, strictly adhering to state and local guidelines, while minimizing the risk of exposure to COVID-19. To heighten the level of “contactless living” throughout the development, the latest facial recognition and biometric technology has been introduced, allowing residents to enjoy the benefits of personal authentication as they move around the property.

Modern Chinese Dinner Club Concept Jia Opens in Miami Beach's South of Fifth Neighborhood

A brand new modern Chinese Dinner Club bringing elevated Cantonese-style cuisine and eclectic elegance has opened in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood in South Beach. Led by local restaurant veteran and hospitality entrepreneur, Ken Ray, Jia, is the first concept to introduce elevated Chinese cuisine to the area, spearheaded by award-winning internationally renowned Executive Chef Weng Choon “William” Lai, with notable expertise in the Modern Cantonese Culinary Arts. Jia extends the ultimate upscale South Beach dining and nightlife experience, in a relaxed and welcoming setting that fuses high-style design with an edgy yet sophisticated ambiance.

“We are beyond thrilled to finally be able to open the doors to Jia and bring such a unique experience to the South of Fifth area – a genuine synergistic fit,” says Ken Ray, Owner of Jia. “From the very start, we let the neighborhood and space dictate the Jia concept. The South of Fifth community has the heart of a small island in the Pacific, and the vibrancy of an exceedingly electric city. There couldn’t be a more ideal spot for Jia’s introduction in Miami.”

Jia’s menu presents an elevated combination of authentic Cantonese-style Chinese dishes with a contemporary spin on the classics, that exudes an elegant fusion of ingredients and flavor profiles. The restaurant’s executive chef, Weng Choon "Wiliam" Lai, has earned him many awards, including the Gold Award at the Chinese Cuisine World Championship Competition (2016), the Gold Award at the 19th FHC China International Culinary Arts Competition (2017), and the Asian Gourmet Chef Individual Special Gold Award (2017). Having held lead roles in multiple prestigious restaurants in Beijing, Thailand, Cambodia, and Macau, including the Michelin guide-listed Pak Loh Chiu Chow restaurant in Macau, Jai’s culinary focus is poised to raise the bar for modern Chinese cuisine standards, beyond that of just South Beach.

One of Jia’s standout dishes is Chef’s Master Char Siew, an iconic honey-roasted pork dish representative of authentic Chinese BBQ culture, that has long been a staple of tradition in Chef Weng Choon’s hometown. Chef adds his own creative take to the dish by infusing white wine as the star ingredient, to replace the norm Chinese Rice Wine.

There is also a specialty late-night menu available Thursdays through Saturdays, from 11PM-1AM, featuring a diverse selection of delicious bites such as Edamame Dumplings, Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken, Prawn Siew Mai, and many more.

“Jia’s menu fuses authentic Chinese delicacies with a contemporary twist that emboldens each dish with a variety of seasonings and spices to create that strong depth of flavor,” says Chef Weng Choon “William” Lai, Executive Chef of Jia. “It’s a really exciting menu that doesn’t fall short on offerings for guests to enjoy from Jia’s Crispy Mushroom Salad, to Black Truffle Sticky Rice, Short Rib Dumplings, Pekin Duck, Alaska Crab Cream Egg, and so much more!”

Jia’s cocktail program is led by acclaimed local bartender and internationally-recognized Bartender of the Year Finalist at the 2013 United States Bartenders’ Guild and DIAGEO World Class U.S. Bartender Competition, Michael Parish. Having worked alongside some of the city’s top bartenders at two of Miami’s local’s favorite establishments, Broken Shaker and Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Co., Parish has designed a uniquely elevated cocktail menu to perfectly complement Jia’s signature Chinese cuisine.

One of the menu’s headliner cocktails is the delicately crafted Jungle Bird, made with Baijiu, Mezcal, Strawberry-Infused Apertivo, Grilled Pineapple, and Fresh Lime. Guests can also look forward to a tableside cocktail service and an extensive champagne pairing program, available by the glass and bottle.

Jia’s ambiance embodies the playfully polished vibe of its South of Fifth neighborhood home, with a design that reflects Jia’s bold personality and inherent cultural definition of appreciation and affection. An inspired fusion of Chinese, Art Deco, and Tropical Flair, merge to emit a high-energy spirit that reflects edgy modern elegance throughout the 2,500 sqft. space. International design consultation firm, Casa Conde & Associates, worked hand-in-hand with Jia’s founder, Ken Ray, to conceptualize every minute detail of the venue, from the Chiang Mai Dragon veiled walls to the rustic natural wood accents and focal bamboo chandeliers.

At the middle of the dining room area lies an inviting 12 person seated wrap-around marble bar. Here, Ray tapped famed Miami Ink tattoo artists, Ami James and Morgan Pennypacker to create custom hand-painted Asian tattoo-styled murals to complement the bar’s Raffia backdrop adorned with vibrant detailed Chinoiserie decorative art.

The restaurant features a glamorously decorated private dining lounge and spacious outside dining patio. The private lounge area/dining room lives in the back of the restaurant, with seating for up to 25 guests, offering a closed-off space for exclusive dinner parties and elevated entertainment scheduling such as Karaoke night, which will soon roll out as one of Jia’s weekly night programs.

Jia is located at 808 1st St. in Miami Beach.

Images via World Red Eye/ Seth Browernik

Former Owner of Club Space Acquires South Beach Multifamily In South of Fifth For $5.567 Million

Louis Puig, the former owner of Club Space, has acquired a multifamily property in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood and plans to convert the space into a boutique hotel. Puig payed $5.567 million for 333 Jefferson Ave., a gated 24 unit multifamily property which was developed in 1939. The multifamily property sits on two lots spanning .32 acres. The current structure is 12,371 SF but zoning allows for over 21,000+ SF.

Susan Gale & Serena Joaquim with ONE Sotheby's International Realty represented the seller, 333 Jefferson Holdings. Gema Ruiz of Cedano Realty Advisors and Jose Maria de Guzman represented Puig, the buyer.

Puig plans to renovate the property and will offer a mix of studio, one-bed and two-bed units licensed for short-term rental.

For more information about commercial sales or leasing in South Beach, private showings or availability/ pricing information please fill out the form below:

Tour A One-Of-A-Kind Sky Mansion Triplex Which Just Sold For $30 Million At Continuum South Beach

A one-of-a-kind, combined three unit “Sky Mansion” condo at Continuum South Beach in Miami Beach’s exclusive South-of-Fifth neighborhood has sold for $30 million. Unit 3602-3604 in Continuum South was listed on the market just 52 days before selling for a record most expensive price per square foot in the building at roughly $3,645 PSF. The residence is also the fourth most expensive condo ever sold in Miami Beach. The sale follows a trend of closings of large, luxury condos in Miami and follows the sale of Continuum developer Bruce Eichner's own unit in April for $35 million.

The triplex in Continuum South spans three combined units on 36th floor resulting in 8,229 SF with an additional 3,704 SF of outdoor balconies. The residences offers 6 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms with a two-story master suite, two kitchens and a theater. The home also features 300-degree views and two story windows with luxurious custom design and finishes throughout.

The residence was listed with Sheila Michelle Rojas of Brown Harris Stevens and Constantin Gorges of Compass. Talita Pinheiro of Compass represented the buyer.

The sellers, William M. Osborne III and Karen H. Bechtel, are former Morgan Stanley Managing Directors, art collectors and philanthropists. While living in the home during Covid-19 the couple established Meals for Heroes, a non-profit to provide hospital emergency rooms and ICUs, EMS and first responder teams, and mobile testing centers with dinner cooked and prepared by local Miami restaurants and caterers.

Photography by Jerome Louden / Courtesy of Sheila Michelle Rojas / Brown Harris Stevens Miami

For more information about Continuum South Beach, private showings or purchasing/ leasing information please fill out the form below:

Multiplan R.E.A.M. Breaks Ground On Luxe Boutique Condo Ocean Park South Beach In South of Fifth

On February 25, Florida-based Multiplan Real Estate Asset Management, broke ground on Ocean Park South Beach, an exclusive boutique condominium featuring a limited collection of 10 luxury beach residences in the prestigious South of Fifth enclave. MultiplanREAM executives in attendance included Managing Partner Marcelo Kingston and Project Executive Orlando Carrillo, alongside the Feoli Construction Team, Jay Phillip Parker, CEO of Douglas Elliman Florida brokerage, and Douglas Elliman top-producers and Ocean Park South Beach sales team Eloy Carmenate and Mick Duchon.

Ocean Park South Beach, is slated to be delivered by the second quarter of 2022. With four units remaining, the project has seen an immense amount of interest from domestic and global buyers, including celebrity broker of Douglas Elliman’s Eklund | Gomes Team who is in contract to purchase a 2 bedroom unit. Ocean Park South Beach was designed by globally acclaimed architect Revuelta Architecture International, with interiors by Marcela Lombana and landscaping by Gardner Semler Landscape Architecture.

The exclusive four-story project will not only be located on the famed Ocean Drive thoroughfare and across from the sparkling Atlantic Ocean and its powder-white beaches, but it will be just steps from the lush green gardens of Marjory Stoneman Douglas Park, which feature paved promenades, outdoor exercise areas, and children’s play areas -- perfect for families, friends, and pets.  Thanks to the unparalleled location of the boutique building, both the ocean and the park will double as two of the most coveted and accessible amenities for residents’ year-round enjoyment, essentially giving well-heeled homebuyers the rare ability to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Residences at Ocean Park South Beach come in Two- to three-bedroom residences, starting at $1.5 million, and will range in size from 1,117 SF to 1,715 SF, with large terraces providing an additional 267 SF to 1,194 SF feet of outdoor living space. Highlights will include private elevators that open directly into home foyers, 10’ ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows with 10’ sliding doors, light solid oak wood and natural stone flooring, and kitchens by Poliform with Matte Touch cabinets, Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, and Silestone Calcatta Gold stone grooved waterfall edge countertops and backsplashes. Sumptuous master baths will be complete with floating vanities with marble showers, floating European-designed standalone bathtubs and double-sinks.

Two four-bedroom penthouses, priced upwards of $6 million, will comprise 2,393 SF of interior space as well as 1,564 SF of expansive terraces.  Each will additionally be marked by 12’ ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows with 12’ sliding doors, an upgraded appliance package with a tower wine cooler and double-fridge unit, and a rooftop deck with a private spa pool, summer kitchen, and dedicated powder room.

Ocean Park South Beach will also offer amenities and services which will be lavish and state-of-the-art. In addition to lushly landscaped tropical outdoor areas, replete with vibrant species of flora and fauna, there will be a 36’ pool with Italian-designed poolside chaise lounges and umbrellas, an outdoor relaxation spa with a Jacuzzi, a poolside summer kitchen and outdoor dining area, a relaxation lounge on a sunset pool deck, and beach service. The property’s central location will furthermore put residents well within reach of Oceanfront Park and South Beach’s myriad of gourmet restaurants, nightlife venues, and boutique shops.

The property’s beautifully-appointed sales gallery loft is located at 135 Ocean Drive in Miami Beach. Douglas Elliman is the exclusive residential brokerage for the project with Eloy Carmenate and Mick Duchon overseeing sales.

Images via Lifestyle Production Group (LPG)

For more information about Ocean Park South Beach, private showings or purchasing/ leasing information please fill out the form below:

Terra Group's Proposal To Develop Bjarke Ingels-Designed Tower At 300 Alton Road Denied By Voters

Just days after we reported on Terra Group proposed 385’ Bjarke Ingels-designed tower at 300 Alton Road in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood, voters have denied the sale of a parcel of land and air rights necessary to develop the project. Terra Group had offered $55 million for .3 acres and the air rights at 300 Alton Road but local opposition held that the offer was too low and Miami Beach is already too dense. Despite this the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and Ocean Drive Improvement Association supported the proposal. The sale of the .3-acre site and air rights was voted down by a 51.1% to 48.9% margin; although voters approved the long term lease on the city owned marina and management to Suntex by a margin of 52.4% to 47.6%.

“The results of yesterday’s vote make it clear that Miami Beach voters support our vision for a revitalized Miami Beach Marina alongside a package of community benefits and resiliency improvements to develop a ‘world class’ marina. Our team will now work with the City to determine the path forward,” said David Martin, President of Terra Group.

The project, which would have been called Marina Park, would rise 30-stories and would feature 60 luxury residential units which would be sold as condos in addition to 45,000 square feet of commercial space. The project would have a total development size of 225,000 square feet and would be the first Bjarke Ingels-design in Miami Beach.