July 2018 - Mkotler

Mixed-use Wynwood office building ‘Forum’ gets a city thumbs-up

July 25, 2018/0 Comments/in Events, Location, Real Estate/by mkotler

A New York based development company has teamed with a globally-recognized and award-winning architect to bring a stand-out mixed-use office building to the heart of the ever-growing Wynwood Arts District.
RedSky Capital plans to construct an eight-story mixed-use building called Forum at 2700 NW Second Ave. in Wynwood.
The developer’s team presented details July 18 to the city’s Urban Development Review Board, which recommended approval of the project with some suggestions.
RedSky Capital LLC and its affiliate RS JZ 2700 NW2 LLC own the 1.25-acre site north of Northwest 27th Street, south of Northwest 27th Terrace, and west of Northwest Second Avenue.
Forum is designed to include up to 144,781 square feet of offices, about 36,072 square feet of commercial-retail space, parking for 370 vehicles, and significant outdoor amenities and plaza spaces including pedestrian paseos connecting all frontages through the site.
Steve Wernick, an attorney representing RedSky, said the site is long and narrow; it extends more than 495 feet.
The goal in designing the building was to emphasize public space, he said, and give as much attention to the public space as the private spaces.
Forum will be an open and communal gathering space, and “visitors will be drawn into the building,” Mr. Wernick said.
“It unlocks the potential of this part of Wynwood,” he said.
Shari Neissani, senior vice president with RedSky Capital, told the board her company has a reputation of investing in emerging neighborhoods.
In a letter to the city, Mr. Wernick wrote: “With RedSky’s experience in the evolution of neighborhoods in Brooklyn, they have paid special attention to understand the surrounding context of the neighborhood and put together a top-notch design team, spearheaded by Enrique Norten, award-winning architect and principal of TEN Arquitectos. Forum is a testament to RedSky’s commitment to the long-term revitalization of Wynwood. The Project elevates the public realm through the building, while delivering class A office space that will attract creative office tenants looking at Wynwood as Miami’s emerging office district and help support the continued evolution of new retail, F&B, hotel, and residential buildings within the district.”
Since 2013, RedSky has acquired and now owns and operates roughly five acres in Wynwood, with a significant footprint along Northwest Second Avenue.
Wynwood Block is a fully renovated warehouse at 2621 NW Second Ave., and one of the first legacy structures in Wynwood under the NRD-1 Neighborhood Conservation District zoning. Read more here:Miami News Today

The week in luxury: A map of Miami-Dade’s priciest condo sales Closing prices in the top 10 deals ranged from $1.5M to $5.5M

July 12, 2018/0 Comments/in Buying Properties, Real Estate/by mkotler

Miami-Dade condo sales fell back down again last week, likely thanks in part to the July 4 holiday.

The county recorded 109 closings for a total of $55 million, up from the previous week’s $79.2 million sales volume. Condos last week sold for an average price of about $503,000 or $366 per square foot.

The priciest deal was the $5.45 million sale of unit 1002 at Mansions at Acqualina. The 4,609-square-foot condo traded hands for nearly $1,200 per square foot. It was listed with Yansy Checa. Marla Cohen brought the buyer.

The second most expensive condo closing last week was the $3.5 million sale of unit 1204-S at Oceana Key Biscayne. The 1,873-square-foot condo was on the market for slightly over a year. Bruno Ricci represented the seller, and Giulietta Ulloa brought the buyer.

Closing prices in the top 10 deals ranged from about $1.5 million to the $5.5 million Mansions at Acqualina unit.

Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 sales from July 1 to July 7. Click on the map for more information:

Foreign investment in South Florida homes totaled $7B in ’17. Here’s where the money came from.

July 5, 2018/0 Comments/in Real Estate/by mkotler

Venezuela outspent other countries in Miami-Dade for second-straight year

Despite the residential market’s lackluster year, foreign investors spent $7.1 billion on South Florida homes in 2017, up nearly 15 percent from the previous year’s $6.2 billion.

Leading the pack in South Florida was Argentina with 15 percent of all foreign purchases last year, according to the Miami Association of Realtors. Venezuelans spent the second most in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties with 11 percent, followed by Canada and Colombia with 9 percent each, and Brazil with 8 percent.

Foreign buyers picked up 15,400 residential properties last year, up more than 40 percent from the 10,900 homes international buyers closed on in 2016, according to the report.

In Miami-Dade, which captured 51 percent of foreign deals in South Florida, Venezuelans spent the most of any other country with 12 percent, as the wealthy continue to move their money to the U.S. amid the political and economic crisis in their home country. The South Florida cities of Doral, nicknamed “Dorazuela,” and Weston, also known as “Westonzuela” are home to large Venezuelan populations. Read more here:The Real Deal

Miami Beach’s short-term rental fines challenged on constitutional grounds Property owner is claiming city’s fines are “excessive punishment

July 2, 2018/0 Comments/in Location, Real Estate/by mkotler

A Miami Beach property owner is accusing the city of engaging in discriminatory practices when it comes to cracking down on short-term rentals.

Natalie Nichols filed a civil rights lawsuit in Miami-Dade Circuit Court on Wednesday, alleging the city’s practice of levying five-figure fines on some residents who list their properties on Airbnb and other home-sharing websites violates the Florida Constitution.

Nichols wants a permanent injunction that would prevent the city from fining property owners like her who want to offer short-term rentals. “I feel strongly that this is a violation of my constitutional rights,” she said. “There is a silent majority in Miami Beach that want short-term rentals. But people are afraid to come forward.”

Nichols’ complaint hinges on an exception the city carved out for a section of North Beach. Specifically, properties fronting Harding Avenue from 73rd to 87th streets, including buildings east of Harding and an alley on the west side of the avenue, the lawsuit states.

In October 2016 — ten months after the city raised short-term rental fines from $1,000 a day to $20,000 for the first offense — Miami Beach made it legal for owners of historic buildings along Harding to offer short-term rentals. Preservationists and developers supported the measure, believing it would motivate property owners to renovate and maintain old buildings.

Same location for over 50 years.

Same location for
over 50 years.