The Canopy In The Grove Answers The Call For More Luxury Boutique Office Space Posted on April 19, 2024April 21, 2024 by Sarah Elles Boggs The ongoing renaissance of Coconut Grove is continuing, with new restaurant, hotel and luxury residential developments popping up all around the waterfront downtown area, and now the circle is becoming complete with new commercial office space. After all, the elite new Grovites will also need a place to nurture their careers. To answer this call, many of the Coconut Grove office spaces have undergone restorations in order to offer the amenities that today’s professionals have come to expect. The newest addition to this lineup is The Canopy in the Grove, which offers move-in-ready office spaces and flex spaces at 2982 Grand Avenue. Rendering of The Canopy in the Grove The Canopy in the Grove Staying true to Coconut Grove’s boutique feel, The Canopy in the Grove offers an intimate atmosphere with ground-level retail, a second floor with over 16,500 square feet of leasable space and a third floor with just over 5,000 square feet of space that includes a rooftop terrace overlooking CocoWalk and the historic Peacock Park on over to the Biscayne Bay and various marinas. Office configurations are available anywhere from 2,500 square feet up to 21,650 square feet with marquee office signage. Inside the development, professionals will enjoy a choice of elevators or escalators when traveling between the floors, a dramatic glass-enclosed lobby and onsite coffee bar near the FedEx location. The offices themselves feel spacious and airy with standard ceiling heights at 14 feet and new impact glass for added street noise insulation. This type of move-in-ready flex space is answering the need for small startup firms to global empires as well. Just last year, Banco Santander added to their already immense Miami offices with a Coconut Grove tech hub in… you guessed it. They chose a Downtown Grove flex space that is walking distance to everything The Grove has to offer entertainment-wise. Rendering of The Canopy in the Grove Rendering of The Canopy in the Grove Cafe The Canopy in the Grove Location Just as in residential real estate, commercial real estate centers around the universal selling feature. Location, location, location. Taking this to heart, Miami is not a city of office warehouses located on the outskirts of civilization. Rather, our offices are intimate and nestled in culturally significant enclaves within the heart of the city. The Canopy in the Grove’s location at 2982 Grand Avenue is just across the street from practically anything a modern, thriving professional could want. There are plenty of chic hotels for traveling guests including Mr. C Miami and the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove as well as The Mayfair House. Those professionals who have families with school-age children will be pleased to see world-class institutions nearby including Coconut Grove Elementary as well as Ransom Everglades, Sacred Heart and Vanguard School. Foodies will be impressed with the culinary offerings including a list of Michelin starred-outposts and a variety of cuisines to choose from. Rendering of The Canopy in the Grove Carrot Express Within the development, the ever-popular healthy cafe Carrot Express is taking residence in the ground level with an indoor/outdoor restaurant that serves many as a daily lunch haunt. The Future of Downtown Coconut Grove We are so pleased to see the recent growth of Coconut Grove. As Groveites ourselves, Jaimee and I are proud to be a part of the positive changes in the area, experiencing the new and luxurious feel without sacrificing the character that Coconut Grove is famous for. In the coming years, this renaissance will no doubt continue with the addition of Ugo Colombo’s Four Seasons Residences in Coconut Grove, Vita at Grove Isle and filled in with more culinary options that add to Coconut Grove’s allure and new status as a destination community. If you are interested in learning more about life in Coconut Grove, please contact Michael Light, Grove resident as well as Broker and Executive Director of Luxury Sales at Douglas Elliman Real Estate. We would love to have you as a neighbor. Coconut Grove Marina Aerial Coconut Grove Downtown Condos Coconut Grove Aerial
Ugo Colombo Speaks To Haute Residence About What Makes Vita At Grove Isle Special Posted on June 28, 2023 by Sarah Elles Boggs As the piles are being driven into the ground on Coconut Grove’s Grove Isle in preparation for the foundation of Vita at Grove Isle, developer Ugo Colombo sits down with Haute Residence to discuss his career and how this project really stands out in a sea of new projects coming to market. About Ugo Colombo Of course, most Miamians have at least heard of Ugo Colombo. He is the Italian-born powerhouse developer of such projects as Epic Residences and Brickell Flatiron. In earlier decades, he was the visionary behind such buildings as Bristol Tower and Santa Maria in South Brickell’s “Millionaire’s Row.” Looking at the projects from the 1990’s, you would never know they were constructed some 30 years ago. He even sold new projects in the 1980’s that had been taken over by the FDIC during the S&L crisis. These projects include the iconic Villa Regina (the rainbow building in South Brickell) and Imperial at Brickell (one of Arquitectonica’s first large-scale projects). He is a reserved man, quiet even. But his mark on the Miami skyline speaks up. In Coconut Grove, Colombo’s CMC Group is also responsible for the long-celebrated Grovenor House, which was constructed in 2006. Again, you would never know the age of this project by looking at it. Today, his latest endeavor is the grand finale of Coconut Grove’s Grove Isle. On the last available build site the private island has to offer, Vita at Grove Isle recently broke ground and dirt is moving as quickly as the sales. Vita at Grove Isle Boat Dock Rendering Thoughts on Grove Isle In the Haute Residence piece, Mr. Colombo mentions the fact that 5 Grove Isle Drive is not only the last waterfront development spot on the island, it is also the last waterfront development site in the Grove. Pair that with the fact that Coconut Grove is the “it” neighborhood in Miami at the moment, evolving from Birkenstocks to Billionaires, old world glamour and charm with modern amenities such as the impressive schools nearby and proximity to other places (such as the airport) that one may need to travel to plus the privacy and exclusivity that the Isle offers, of course he took on this opportunity. Speaking candidly with him, another thing he loved about the site is its sheer size. He is able to build 65 large apartment homes without having to go so far into the sky, allowing the residences to truly feel like elevated homes, each with a panoramic water view. Rendering of Vita at Grove Isle Entry Thoughts on Vita at Grove Isle Admittedly, there is a sea of new construction product coming to market currently. But Mr. Colombo does not believe in trends or quantity over quality. He believes in timeless elegance, even if it takes developing fewer homes in a given time. He will do one or two projects at a time in order to preserve his focus to not miss any details. These include materials actually sourced from Italy (as opposed to Italian-inspired), book-matched marble for the bathrooms and kitchens. CMC Group was also the first to develop estate-size apartments. When he set out to begin his first building, apartments were seen as second-class. Having been raised in an estate-sized apartment in Milan, he knew that something different could be done and the market would come to see. And here we are. The market is hungry for larger apartments, conducive of full-time living. Some of the perks that stand out about Vita at Grove Isle are also the private marina, that makes boating easily accessible. The island is only accessible via the small bridge or boat, so is incredibly secure yet convenient. You truly have all of the comforts of a single-family home in a condo residence at Vita. Inventory at Vita at Grove Isle With only 65 residences and high demand, Vita has been selling steadily. The residences each have three to four bedrooms and 2,500-square-feet to 6,500-square-feet of interior space. Penthouses range from 3,400-square-feet to 6,600-square-feet. The upper penthouses will feature private rooftop terraces with full-sized swimming pools and summer kitchens. Delivery is anticipated in late 2024. Current prices range from $5.8 million – $23 million. If you are interested in a presentation and specific pricing, please contact Michael Light, Broker and Executive Director of Luxury Sales at Douglas Elliman AND long-time Coconut Grove resident. You may reach Michael directly at (786) 566-1700 or via email at michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com. Images Courtesy of CMC Group Rendering of Vita at Grove Isle Lounge Rendering of Vita at Grove Isle Interior Rendering of Vita at Grove Isle Kitchen Rendering of Vita at Grove Isle Bedroom Rendering of Vita at Grove Isle Primary Bath Rendering of Vita at Grove Isle Balcony Vita at Grove Isle Penthouse Terrace Rendering Rendering of Vita at Grove Isle Dining Room Vita at Grove Isle Primary Bathroom Dual Vanity Rendering Vita at Grove Isle Primary Bathroom Rendering Vita at Grove Isle Pool Deck Rendering Rendering of Vita at Grove Isle Spa Rendering of Vita at Grove Isle Fitness Center
Just Listed | Waterfront Beacon Harbour Residence 101 In Coconut Grove Posted on March 1, 2023April 12, 2023 by Sarah Elles Boggs We are very pleased today to debut a true boutique waterfront oasis at Coconut Grove’s Beacon Harbour. With just 10 spacious waterfront residences, Beacon Harbour is a true boutique development. It offers a tranquil refuge from city life right on the bay complete with a waterfront swimming pool and deep water marina. Each floor of Beacon Harbour Coconut Grove is comprised of just 2 residences, with the first level being dedicated to amenities and common areas. Guests will find a serene pool area with a lanai, spa, barbecue area, and walkway to the deepwater marina. A waterfront fitness center also overlooks the pool area and marina, which is adjacent to Grove Isle. Beacon Harbour Coconut Grove Marina Beacon Harbour Coconut Grove 101 Waterfront Pool Residence 101 is a fully-customized floor plan offered at $4,495,000. It has a total of 3,812 interior square feet with 4 bedrooms and 4 baths. Three of the bedrooms feature ensuite baths, with the fourth being utilized as an office. Beacon Harbour was originally constructed in 2004 and residence 101 has been fully renovated to evoke a peaceful zen vibe throughout, starting as you step off of the elevator into your private lobby. There you will find a 10-foot water feature that welcomes you with a soothing rain shower sound and iridescent mosaic tiles. Beacon Harbour Coconut Grove Elevator Lobby Beacon Harbour Coconut Grove 101 Entry Throughout the residence, you will find floor to ceiling impact glass, allowing for both safety during storms as well as noise insulation. The zen theme carries through the kitchen and into each of the 4 renovated bathrooms with slate, stone and marble countertops and showers, all tied together with natural bamboo flooring. New berber carpeting with neutral tones has been added to each of the 3 guest bedrooms. In the primary bathroom, the new owners will experience a true spa environment complete with heated towel racks, his and hers Swedish rain showers, a steam area with seating and jets to soothe back pain, stone vessel sinks and his and hers vanities. Beacon Harbour Coconut Grove 101 Sitting Area Beacon Harbour Coconut Grove 101 Primary Suite Beacon Harbour Coconut Grove 101 Primary Spa Beacon Harbour Coconut Grove 101 Primary Shower Beacon Harbour Coconut Grove 101 Primary Vanity While entertaining, the peaceful ambiance continues in the spacious kitchen that is equipped for a professional chef, but also offers enough space for an outside catering team to feed a 7-course meal. The appliances are elegant industrial-grade Wolfe stainless steel with a double oven, gas range with warming drawer, and Sub-Zero refrigerator next to an expansive formal dining area with a direct view of the marina and Biscayne Bay. Speaking of the marina and Bay View, being located just one level above the pool allows a true residence-like feeling rather than the feeling of being located in a condo development. It truly is the lifestyle of a waterfront manse without the upkeep. Beacon Harbour Coconut Grove 101 Kitchen Beacon Harbour Coconut Grove 101 Kitchen Space Beacon Harbour Coconut Grove 101 Cooktop While the ambiance, luxury, convenience and views are all quite attractive, the residence also boasts some very important but also very practical features. As Beacon Harbour is an ultra luxury ultra boutique development, the building staff has all been with the building for many years. The property is gated and Residence 101 includes 3 secure garage spaces. Both the roof and the a/c systems were replaced in 2017, guaranteeing a long life remaining. If you would like to preview a video tour of the development, we have a Youtube tour set up here. Residents with school-age children will have the option of Coconut Grove Elementary for PreK- 5th Grade, Ponce de Leon Middle School for grades 6-8 and Coral Gables Senior High for grades 9-12. If you opt for a private school, there are even more options. La Piazza Academy, Coconut Grove Montessori School, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Day School, St. Hugh Catholic School, Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, Ransom Everglades, Immaculata LaSalle and Gulliver Prep are all located nearby. If you are interested in a private viewing of Residence 101 at Beacon Harbour Coconut Grove, please contact listing broker, Michael Light directly at (786) 566-1700 or michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com.
Coconut Grove’s Iconic Mayfair Hotel Set To Reopen As Mayfair House Next Month Posted on July 12, 2022July 15, 2022 by Sarah Elles Boggs After an extensive renovation and rebranding, the iconic Mayfair Hotel is set to reopen on August 1st as Mayfair House Hotel & Garden. The facelift is designed to preserve the original design while enhancing the guest experience. The new hotel will offer fully redesigned suites, each with a private terrace and separate living room/bedrooms. The guest suites, indoor/outdoor courtyard, hallways, and amenities will be decorated with art and newly commissioned murals that reflect on the rich history of Coconut Grove and the Bahamian culture that began it all. The interior design was headed up by Goodrich out of New York. Mayfair House Coconut Grove In addition to the new decor, Lost Boy & Co will be unveiling two new restaurant concepts. The first, Mayfair Grill, is designed as a garden cafe located in the atrium. The cuisine will feature southwest-inspired dishes and drinks from the New Mexico/Arizona/Souther California region. Yes, Coconut Grove is also getting a new rooftop restaurant/lounge. Named SipSip (which means “sharing news” in the Bahamas), SipSip will surely be a new happy hour hotspot. Craft cocktails, Bahamian-inspired dishes will be offered as you enjoy the sea breeze by the pool and share news with your friends and colleagues. This is a very exciting time for Coconut Grove as it enjoys its renaissance. CocoWalk has new life, and now so does The Mayfair. Reservations will begin August 1st and prices are listed starting at a very reasonable $275/night for opening night. You will be able to find all of this fabulosity at 3000 Florida Avenue in downtown Coconut Grove. Don’t miss it!
Why Sell Your Miami Investment Condo When Rents Are So High? Posted on April 19, 2022April 24, 2022 by Sarah Elles Boggs The party is on till the break of dawn for Miami investment condo owners and landlords, leaving tenants terrified. Rental rates have jumped 55% year-over-year according to a report by Realtor.com, and a quick scroll through the Brickell Living Facebook Group is evidence enough that everyone is getting priced out of their rented condos. So, if the rental market is so great for Miami investment condo owners, why should they sell now? We have a few reasons… Interest rates are rising While we are certainly still in a seller’s market, interest rates are climbing and thinning out the pool of potential buyers for properties. Just yesterday, the rates for 30-year mortgages jumped by more than one percentage point to 5.0%. The rate is nearly two percentage points higher than the average rate just one month ago and is the highest in over a decade. Even though these rates are still historically low, the fact that they are rising fast is a sign that you should strike while the iron is hot. Don’t chase the bubble because you never know when the market will change until after it has already begun changing, thus reducing your potential sales income. Rent control Miami has traditionally been an incredibly lax city when it comes to rent control. Landlords get a lot of leeway, but this is tightening up. As many tenants are seeing their rents jump by 55% on average, the government has stepped in. Last month, Commissioner Eileen Higgins introduced an ordinance that would require landlords to give their tenants a 60-day written notice of any rent increase of 5% or more. The ordinance also requires the notice for evictions to be extended from 30 days to 60 days. During COVID, the eviction moratoriums wiped out many smaller landlords, causing them to sell to institutional conglomerates who could handle the lack of income and lack of ability to regain control of their assets. While these changes are not very landlord-friendly, we still have it better than some other cities. Some other cities such as Portland and Oakland have prohibited the use of criminal background checks, limited the use of financial background checks, and limited security deposits. Oof. That’s scary for a landlord to hear! Changes or removal of the 1031 Exchange system Last April, Biden announced his “American Families Plan”, which proposes to change the scope of the popular 1031 Exchange program that allows real estate investors to defer their capital gains tax as long as the transactions adhered to a strict set of guidelines. The changes include limiting the tax deferral to profits that exceed $500,000. This isn’t effective just yet, but if it passes, it will absolutely disincentivize investors to put their money in the real estate market and reduce the pool of potential buyers. Additionally, the $500,000 gains limit ($1 million for married couples) might seem like a decent amount, but many people forget that many 1031 Exchanges take place on commercial properties which bring in far more than that. Speaking of commercial real estate, these properties offer property tax revenues and jobs for the locals. If investors aren’t investing, there are fewer jobs available. Without these jobs, the initial problem of tenants being priced out of the market is compounded. Not to mention that property taxes would have to increase in order to compensate for the lack of taxes that the businesses that occupy the investment properties would typically bring in. If you would like more information on the 1031 Exchange program and how it could help your tax basis for investment real estate (it works on residential real estate as well), don’t hesitate to reach out. This post is not intended to scare investors. The market is still very good and Miami is still very much in demand. But if you are on the fence about whether or not to sell your rental investment, now is an amazing time to do it. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in buying or selling in Florida. You may reach Broker and Executive Director of Luxury Sales, Michael Light, directly at 786.566.1700 or via email at michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com.
A Beautiful Nusaince: Inside the Coconut Grove Peacock War Posted on March 10, 2022March 10, 2022 by Sarah Elles Boggs As beautiful as a model on South Beach and as annoying as your ex, peacocks have certainly divided the population of Coconut Grove. They are beautiful animals, dressed with gorgeous shimmery colors and flashy tails, but they’re not going to LIV. They’re going to your backyard and they come to dominate. Once a charming addition to the area, peacocks have become a problem and Coconut Grove is not the only one. They have also migrated to Pinecrest, Coral Gables, El Portal and Miami Shores. The problem is that they overproduce and are not as charming as they initially appear. Some believe that they should be categorized as an invasive species and some think that they should remain protected. Remaining protected means that it is illegal for any person to hunt them, capture them, bother them or re-home them, even if they bring their drama to your house. Here is what their drama boils down to: They are loud. If you have never heard a peacock screech (especially during mating season), you have been blessed. They are loud. The sound is either a mating call or an alarm call. In either case, it’s a loud “Ah-AAAAAH” that can register 100+ on the shriek-o-meter and can be heard as far as five miles away. That is all the way out of Coconut Grove. Thank goodness most homes have hurricane impact windows at this point, so that blocks a lot of the sound. They are messy. While they are beautiful, they are birds. Large birds. They build nests, will absolutely tear up your flower beds, steal your avocados and mangos, and any other fruit that you might have. Let’s not even talk about the droppings. They are large birds, you can put the rest together… They are mean. Peacocks will fight anything or anyone. Even themselves. They are known to fight their own reflection in people’s cars, leaving scrape and peck marks everywhere. Your body mechanic will laugh about it, so make sure to keep your gate closed… except wait… they can fly over the gate. So keep your car in the garage when you’re not using it and by all means, don’t chase a peacock or instigate if they show you the tail feathers. Take the photo and move on, they are not here to play. They are huge birds. If a peacock flies in front of your car and you accidentally hit it, your car will get totaled. Don’t ask me how I know so much, just know that they do fly in front of your car sometimes and hitting one makes a lot of damage. They are animals after all, so are unpredictable. With all this being said, they are still beautiful creatures and we are not into killing. So what can be done? Half of the community feels that they should be officially labeled an invasive species. This would put them in the same realm as iguanas and pythons. It is fully legal to trap, hunt, remove, do whatever to these animals as long as it is done in a humane fashion. Officially, peacocks do qualify as an invasive species at this point. The other half of the community would like to see them preserved. A 2001 city ordinance declared them as safe from harm. This is sort of a fairy tale solution as (again) they are animals. They breed and this is breeding season. “Mating season is when we get the most complaints. They get very aggressive,” said the sponsor of the peacock removal bill Raquel Regalado, whose district includes neighborhoods in Coral Gables and Miami where peacocks roam freely. “They lay their eggs, they build their nests, they peck the cars.” On the opposite side Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins, who represents Palmetto Bay stated, “In my district, we learn to live with these peacocks. They almost become a part of the community. I know our residents lose it when anyone harms any of these peacocks.” Palmetto Bay has designated itself a bird sanctuary. What started as a flock of 10 or 20 peacocks being saved in 2001 has become hundreds of beautiful, loud, messy birds. While the preservation campaign has less support than the removal campaign, we remain in the middle. The only amicable resolution is to find a peacock sanctuary somewhere. The county has agreed to crack down on the population, but the peacock sanctuary campaign has also experienced challenges as there are none in Florida. We however, have found one in Texas. By no means can they handle the entire peafowl population in South Florida, they are available to take on as many as they can. If you have too many peacocks on your street, don’t hesitate to contact us for details on the Texas sanctuary. They can be re-homed to a similar climate, except rather than busy streets and luxury high rises, they can have the rural country home that they deserve. And we can also control the population of the beautiful yet annoying birds that attack our cars, mess up our yards and wake us up in the night.