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MIAMI | Downtown, Brickell, Omni, Edgewater

bobliocatt

By bobliocatt
in Miami/South Florida

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Brickell Burg

Brickell

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Posted

This is a great old building, i'm suprised they sold. Furthermore I don't trust this developer. His work on the Capitol Lofts (one of my favorite buildings in Miami) project has been slow as molasses. I see nothing but trouble for this one.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/11085641.htm

Posted on Wed, Mar. 09, 2005

MIAMI

Landmark clubhouse sold for condo

Some members of the Miami Women's Club approved selling their historic bayfront building. The buyer plans to renovate and put up a condo.

BY ELINOR J. BRECHER

[email protected]

A handful of Miami Woman's Club members voted Tuesday to sell the club's historic building on Biscayne Bay for $15 million to a developer who has done renovations and new construction from Miami Beach to Cutler Ridge.

Haim Einhorn plans to renovate the club's twin, five-story Spanish Renaissance towers at 1737 N. Bayshore Dr., between Margaret Pace Park and the Doubletree Grand Hotel and build a 300-unit condo tower behind them, according to Kathryn Reid Kassner, a club member who attended a luncheon meeting at which the vote was taken.

9-7 VOTE

Kassner, administrator of the nearby Bay Oaks Home for the Aged, said nine members voted for the sale. Seven, including herself, voted against it, after a presentation by an attorney for Einhorn.

Neither club president Betty T. Lasch, 71, whose website lists her as broker/owner of Miami Shores Realty, nor Einhorn would comment last night.

Christopher Saia of Jupiter, Einhorn's lawyer, couldn't be reached.

Einhorn's website lists him as ''manager and principal'' of Arbel, a development, property management and consulting firm.

Other Arbel projects include the 17-story Capital Building Lofts at 117 NE First Ave. downtown; Galilee Gardens, a 433-unit South Miami low-rise; the Everglades Apartments and the Nassau Hotel and Apartments on South Beach.

Eileen Cubillas, a past club president and director of the building, said no contract had been signed and that the club was working to improve the deal. Cubillas declined to provide details.

Built in 1926 on a two-acre site and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, the Woman's Club building has been the object of developers' desires for years.

In October, nine developers pitched their ideas to club members.

At the time, Lasch told The Herald that any deal would have to permit the club to remain in the building. She said proceeds of a sale would be deposited in an endowment.

The club, chartered in 1900 as the Married Ladies Afternoon Club, has seen membership dwindle to about 60 from its peak of 900 -- the cream of Miami society -- in the 1920s.

Its major project now is scholarships to Miami-Dade Community College.

According to Kassner, 53, a longtime Miamian whose great-grandmother, Mary Moore, was club president from 1911 to 1915, ``the club would retain the fourth and fifth floors; the developer would have condo rights to the first three floors. He plans to put up a 300-unit condo in what's now the parking lot and will retain water rights.

UNRESOLVED DETAILS

Kassner, a preservation advocate who joined the club last year, thinks the unresolved details might have something to do with getting a variance for the new construction on property designated as historically significant.

Kassner said members hadn't been told that the matter would come up for a vote and that she lost a request to postpone it until more members could attend.

''This is only the most significant issue in the 105-year history of the women's club, yet it went unnoticed,'' she said.

In comparison, Knight Ridder, The Herald's parent company, has just sold 10 acres surrounding the newspaper building -- four blocks south of the club -- for $190 million.

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pawnmaster Unincorporated Area

pawnmaster

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Whhhhooaa, 190M eh?

Anyone know who bought and what the plans for those lots are yet?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

OK had to do my own research as this will totally :angry: up my view!!

Here is the scoop so far...anyone else find anything?

http://www.macon.com/mld/miamiherald/business/11056650.htm

REAL ESTATE

Knight Ridder sells 10 acres adjacent to Herald building

Knight Ridder is selling land around The Herald's headquarters but is holding onto the bayfront Herald office building.

BY MATTHEW HAGGMAN

[email protected]

Knight Ridder is selling the 10 acres surrounding The Herald's bayfront building in downtown Miami for $190 million, the company said Friday.

But the San Jose, Calif.-based publisher and information company, which owns The Herald, is not selling its bayfront office building that houses The Herald's editorial and printing operations, said Knight Ridder Vice President Larry Marbert.

After a lengthy negotiation, Knight Ridder agreed to terms late Thursday with Pedro Martin, a veteran lawyer who has burst onto the scene in recent years as a real estate developer. Martin's Miami-based Terra Group has purchased a host of high-profile properties in Miami, on which it is building high-rise condominiums.

The deal gives Terra a rare opportunity to develop a significant swath of land in the downtown area of a major U.S. city.

''It is a critical and very important piece,'' said Otto Boudet-Murias, senior advisor for economic development in the Miami city manager's office. ``With the synergies of the Performing Arts Center, Museum Park, the redevelopment of Omni Mall and that pending redevelopment, it will transform that whole area.

``Whatever they build there, we want to make sure it is a quality project, quality design and enlivens the street-level activity in the area.''

Contracts inking the deal between Martin and Knight Ridder were signed Friday. Edie Laquer of Laquer Corporate Realty in Miami brokered the sale of the property.

''Terra did everything well from the start,'' Laquer said. ``Their presentation was outstanding, and they understood the operational needs of The Herald.''

Under the deal's terms, Terra must provide some 740 parking spaces for Herald employees and not interfere with newspaper delivery trucks.

The announcement culminates a highly anticipated real estate sale. The process started in November when Knight Ridder put the property, which is primarily surface parking lots, up for sale.

Martin is joined in the purchase by New York developers Michael Fuchs and David Edelstein, who is building a W Hotel in Miami Beach.

Martin said he would also like to bring real estate investor Hank Sopher and development group Leviev & Boymelgreen into the deal, which are each eagerly pursuing Miami real estate. Martin will remain the lead developer, he said.

Plans for the parcel are preliminary but could include residential, office, hotel and retail components, Martin said Friday. Terra, which is led by Martin and his son David, plans to audition architects from around the world and develop a master plan.

''Nowhere in the country do you have this amount of downtown property near the water and next to a performing arts center,'' said David Martin, Terra's chief operating officer. ``We have to be sensitive to the community, creating something with public spaces, that is pedestrian friendly, something the city of Miami can be proud of.''

The historically protected Boulevard Shops on Biscayne Boulevard, which are included in the deal, will be preserved, David Martin added.

As much as six million square feet of space can be developed on the property. But Pedro Martin said the project will be ``considerably below the maximum amount.''

There had been rampant speculation and a news report that Knight Ridder would include The Herald office building in the deal. The Herald's headquarters sits on prime waterfront land.

But Knight Ridder's Marbert, who handled the sale for the company, scotched the rumors.

''It was not for sale throughout this process, it is not currently for sale, and we don't see it for sale in the foreseeable future,'' Marbert said.

But Martin was granted right of first refusal, meaning he can meet any offer should Knight Ridder decides to sell the building, both Martin and Laquer said.

Nine bidders offered $150 million, the minimum amount Knight Ridder said it would accept for the property.

The group included Swire Properties, SunVest Communities and Colonial Development.

The deal will give a significant boost to Knight Ridder finances. The company, which was formerly based in Miami and publishes 32 daily newspapers, had $3.01 billion in revenues and net income of $326.2 million in fiscal year 2004.

Closing on the 10 acres will ''probably be in a few months,'' Pedro Martin said.

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Aessotariq Burg

Aessotariq

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Posted on Wed, Mar. 16, 2005

PARKS & EXHIBITS

Miami Circle site plans shape up

It may take two more years, but with the help of federal officials and a developer, the Miami Circle finally could open for visits by the public.

BY MARTIN MERZER

[email protected]

It may take at least two more years before taxpayers who paid $26.7 million to save the Miami Circle can visit the ancient stone carving, but talks are under way between government officials and one of South Florida's largest developers to break the six-year bureaucratic logjam that has blocked public access.

The discussions involve the National Park Service, state archaeologists, local cultural leaders and representatives of the Related Group, the Miami-based development company that recently bought the Sheraton Biscayne Bay hotel, which looms over the site.

''What we are seeing is progress on literally all fronts,'' said Michael Spring, director of the Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs.

Still, even if everything proceeds according to plan, the 38-foot-wide stone carving could remain closed to the public until at least 2007 as contracts are negotiated and the site is prepared for exhibition, according to state officials.

The persistent problem: Money to design, build, secure and staff a visitors center has been scarce and more than a dozen groups -- including federal, state and local officials, scientists and representatives of Indian tribes -- have been unable to agree on a plan to open the site.

''It is sort of slow,'' said Ryan J. Wheeler, chief of the state's Bureau of Archaeological Research and the pivot point for the complicated parallel, and occasionally intersecting, discussions. ``But I'm glad we didn't do something at the site and then have the redevelopment of the Sheraton come along, because now we see an opportunity to really do this right.''

EAGER TO ACT

Wheeler and Spring have been talking to Related Group representatives, who seem eager to plan and build visitor amenities for the circle and its 2.2-acre site as they demolish the adjacent Sheraton and redevelop the property on Brickell Avenue just south of the Miami River.

The dream: The developer will design and pay for the visitors center on its property, and the state and county would retain control of the circle site, which would remain protected from development.

In addition, the National Park Service would incorporate the circle into Biscayne National Park. That would allow federal park rangers to manage the site and run tours there, relieving state or local officials of that expense and responsibility.

''That is not only the dream, it is our very real hope,'' Wheeler said.

More than 2,000 years old, formed by 26 carved basins and created by the now-extinct Tequesta Indians, the circle was quite the sensation when archaeologists discovered it on a prominent downtown Miami construction site in November 1998.

A campaign by private citizens and, later, local officials to save the artifact ultimately led to a termination of development and purchase of the circle and its site using state and county funds.

Then . . . nothing much happened.

Small groups of experts or others visited it, after making special arrangements, but it remained closed to the public pending creation of a pathway, explanatory exhibit and security plan.

Committees and task forces formed, but the site on the southern bank of the Miami River just east of the Brickell Avenue bridge remained closed. In October 2003, the circle was reburied under limestone, tarpaulin and sand to protect it from the elements.

NATIONAL LANDMARK

Since then, the state has budgeted $250,000 for a study that could lead to the circle's designation as a national landmark, which could aid its inclusion in Biscayne National Park, and $400,000 to rebuild a crumbling 50-year-old seawall that keeps the land from falling into the river.

A representative of the Related Group did not return several calls for comment, but Spring said the developer believes that a publicly accessible Miami Circle would bring more attention to its mixed-use project, which will include high-rise condos.

''My impression is that they were absolutely serious and this is one of those happy moments when there is mutual benefit,'' Spring said.

Wheeler said the delay in sharing the discovery with the public is unfortunate but not unusual. It often takes as long as 10 years to clear bureaucratic hurdles associated with such sites, he said.

''The circle is such a high-profile thing,'' Wheeler said. ``There were probably a dozen groups represented on the planning group for this.

``Of course, everybody won't be happy with whatever happens there, but I think it's better to be conservative and cautious and take our time and wait until the stars are aligned, which it seems like they are now.''

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Aessotariq Burg

Aessotariq

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Posted on Thu, Mar. 17, 2005

Construction begins on new townhomes

At a groundbreaking last week, the city of Miami unveiled plans for more than two dozen townhomes units in the Allapattah neighborhood.

By awarding a $1.65 million loan to the Allapattah Business Development Authority, the city helped make the project happen.

The money comes from a federal Community Development Block Grant and the state's HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds, the city said in a press release.

Ralph Plaza II -- the second phase of the Ralph Plaza project just south of State Road 112 -- will offer prospective homeowners the opportunity to purchase one of 30 three-bedroom town homes in four separate buildings located at the corner of Northwest 17th Avenue and 39th Street.

The size of the homes will range from 1,000 to 1,060 square feet and prices will run from $125,000 to $145,000.

The project is expected to be completed this fall.

The first phase of Ralph Plaza, comprising 21 townhomes, was completed in 2003.

Founded in 1983, the ABDA aims to offer housing in the Allapattah neighborhood and also serves as a liaison between local businesses and Miami's commercial facade program in order to improve the area's appearance and boost the local economy.

Interested townhome buyers are urged to call Victor Seijas at the ABDA, 305-635-3561, ext. 103.

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Aessotariq Burg

Aessotariq

Posted
Posted

^ ha... how true... just out of curiosity, here's what babynames.com has to say:

RALPH

Gender: Male

Meaning: Wolf Counselor

Origin: English

Some books I've read say "Ralph" is a variation of "Raphael":

RAPHAEL

Gender: Male

Meaning: God Has Healed

Origin: Hebrew

Take your pic. :)

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whiteeclipse Unincorporated Area

whiteeclipse

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Posted on Tue, Mar. 22, 2005

DEVELOPMENT

Office tower planned for Brickell Avenue

A new 32-story office high-rise is planned for 1450 Brickell Ave., the first luxury tower to be built on Brickell Avenue in five years.

BY BEATRICE E. GARCIA

[email protected]

Coming to South Florida's condominium-crowded building boom: a luxury office tower on Brickell Avenue in the heart of Miami's financial district.

This addition to the Miami skyline is the first office building planned since 2000, when the Mellon Financial Center, which includes the J.W. Marriott Hotel, was completed.

The $150 million, 32-story building at 1450 Brickell Ave. will have 500,000 square feet of office space and will complement the upscale rental tower next door. Park Place will have 371 units and should be completed this summer.

Both the office and the rental towers are being developed by the Rilea Group, headed by Alan Ojeda. This developer already is familiar with the Brickell Avenue corridor. The Rilea Group and MDM Development Group cooperated on the Mellon Financial Center.

''We're a true office building, not mixed-use,'' said Ojeda, noting it will offer premier space for such clients as law firms, banks, brokerages and accounting firms.

He also referred to the Four Seasons tower and the Espirito Santo Plaza mixed-use projects across the street, which have condos, hotel and office space.

Ojeda doesn't have a signature tenant for the building but said several major tenants are interested.

An anchor tenant would get naming rights, said the developer.

''It's about time for a new major building to be considered,'' according to Edgar Jones, senior manager for the Rockefeller Group Development Cos.'s Miami office.

Jones noted that anchor tenants require amounts of contiguous space. There aren't many large chunks of office space available in today's market.

Ojeda said he has a long-term investment, so he's not bothered by the cyclical short-term swings in the ever-changing office real estate market.

The 3.5-acre site on the northwestern corner of Brickell Avenue and Southeast 15th Road had been part of a major tract of land assembled by developer David Blumberg in the late 1980s.

Blumberg had planned to build a major complex with retail, office and residential space that would have straddled Brickell Avenue.

But an economic slowdown and a glut of office and residential space in the area in the early 1990s ended Blumberg's dream, and the land was never developed.

Ojeda, who said he is lining up financing for the project, expects to break ground next summer and have the building completed by late 2008.

He says he owns the land free and clear, having purchased it from a Spanish investor group in 2000.

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miamistreets Whistle-Stop

miamistreets

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An article in Miami Today News

Three mixed-use projects seek city approval

By Yeleny Suarez

Three high-rise condo projects containing 1,072 units and to cost $482 million were to go before the Miami City Commission today (3/24).

Developers of Paramount Bay at Edgewater Square - a $150 million tower at Northeast 21st Street, 20th Terrace and Bayshore Drive - seek zoning and land-use changes. It's to include 364 condos and 26,465 square feet of retail and a total of 647,301 square feet.

The proposed changes would cut the project from 3.7 acres to 2.72, residential from 614,588 square feet to 609,345 and commercial from 45,781 square feet to 29,766. They would shift the tower 30 feet east, cut the height from 503 feet to 496 and parking from 501 spaces to 452.

Members of the planning and zoning department back the changes, saying they would give greater flexibility to future development and increase waterfront access along Bayshore Drive.

Luciana L. Gonz

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