MLH Picks | Top 8 Miami Real Estate News Stories of 2017 Posted on January 4, 2018 by Michael Light 2017 was an eventful year for the Miami and Miami Beach real estate markets, so the Miami Luxury Homes Group at Douglas Elliman Real Estate has rated its Top 8 Real Estate News Stories of 2017…in no particular order. Michael Light Shatters 2 Coconut Grove Real Estate Records With Sale of Famous ‘Hammock House’ Buyers…Don’t Be Deceived By MLS Square Footage Data 300 Biscayne | Miami’s Tallest Tower is on the Horizon New Renderings | Coconut Grove’s Iconic CocoWalk to Get a Much Needed Facelift Douglas Elliman Breaks Yet Another Miami Beach Record MLH Picks: Today’s Top 5 Miami Pre-Construction Condo Developments JUST LISTED & BITCOIN ACCEPTED | 4 Bed/5.5 Bath Oceanfront Oceana Key Biscayne Offered at $5.95M Construction Update | Icon Brickell’s Famous Pool Deck Miami remains one of the most sought-after places to live in the United States and around the globe, and it shows when records after records keep getting broken throughout Miami and Miami Beach. If you are interested in learning more about the Miami and Miami Beach real estate markets, please contact broker associate Michael Light, Senior Director of Luxury Sales at Douglas Elliman Real Estate. You may reach Michael on his cell at (786) 566-1700 or via email at michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com.
Top 6 Miami Spots to Enjoy the 4th of July, 2017 Posted on July 1, 2017 by Michael Light One of the perks of living in South Florida is the array of 4th of July festivities to celebrate America’s Independence Day. Whether you choose to celebrate and watch from land or sea or a high-rise condo, the exploding lights in the sky in Miami are quite spectacular. In many locations in Miami from boat or high-rise condos, you can see upwards of 5 or 6 different firework shows at once…we definitely live in the Magic City! Below are our top 6 picks for 4th of July celebrations this year, but first, we want to say that we are eternally grateful to those men and women who have fought and sacrificed for our country and our freedom. Miami Luxury Homes is wishing you and your family a happy, safe and peaceful Fourth of July Weekend! CocoWalk’s 4th of July Picnic & Fireworks CocoWalk, the iconic outdoor shopping center in Center Coconut Grove, has a full day of fun activities for the whole family. The Coconut Grove celebration kicks off at 11 a.m. for an old-fashioned picnic at the historic Barnacle, then onto the CocoWalk festivities beginning at 3 p.m. which include live entertainment, interactive games and the 9th Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest at 6p.m. The firework show will begin at 9 p.m. at Peacock Park. Biltmore’s 2017 Fireworks Spectacular This spectacular annual event is put on by the City of Coral Gables and includes open bar, BBQ and fireworks display with general admission (per person) for members at $145 for Adults/$45 Children and non-members at $180 for Adults/$50 Children. VIP tables of 10 people are also offered for $1,700. America’s Birthday Bash at Bayfront Park This downtown firework display along Biscayne Bay is the largest free firework show in South Florida and includes music, food, beverages and a kid’s zone opening at 3 p.m. with fireworks starting at 9 p.m. South Pointe Park This prestigious neighborhood located on the southern point of Miami Beach is cozy and surrounded by water, making it a beautiful place to enjoy the fireworks. Key Biscayne 4th of July Parade and Fireworks This Independence Day celebration is kicked off by the 57th Annual Parade on Crandon Boulevard at 11 a.m. and followed by fireworks at 9 p.m., which can be viewed from the Village Green. North Beach 4th of July Celebration This North Miami Beach celebration will take place around 73rd Street along Ocean Terrace beginning at noon with live musical performances and yummy food trucks. The firework show will begin at 9 p.m. “Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.” Abraham Lincoln.
New Renderings | Coconut Grove’s Iconic CocoWalk to Get a Much Needed Facelift Posted on June 2, 2017February 26, 2018 by Michael Light Coconut Grove’s Mediterranean-style outdoor shopping center, CocoWalk, has a much needed facelift on the horizon and renderings have been released. Coconut Grove, commonly referred to as “The Grove,” has been undergoing a major renaissance in the past few years, so it should be no surprise that the 1990’s-era CocoWalk is going to get a brand-new look and a slew of new tenants. Michael Comras, one of the owners of CocoWalk, announced earlier this year that the historic shopping village would be converted into a mixed-use center with an open plaza, a plan that also includes knocking down part of the mall and constructing a new 78,000-square-foot office building dubbed ‘One CocoWalk.’ One CocoWalk will consist of 4 floors of office space above a level of ground-floor retail space plus a rooftop terrace. Regarding the retail portion of the revamped CocoWalk, Comras will be handling the retail leasing, which has already seen major changes. Cheesecake Factory, which has been a staple in Coconut Grove for quite some time, is closing, along with many other current tenants. But, this is a good thing for this area. Comras plans to include new stores and chef-driven restaurants to cater toward people who live and work in Coconut Grove, offering cafe seating, tree canopies and water features. Tenants that have moved to the CocoWalk area in the recent years, including Panther Coffee, Harry’s Pizzeria, Kit and Ace and YouFit Health Club will remain, along with the movie theater, Cinepolis. Completion Renovations of CocoWalk will begin this summer (2017) and is estimated to be completed in mid-2018, with the office portion One CocoWalk completed in mid-2019. Renderings of Renovated CocoWalk Renderings of Renovated CocoWalk Promenade CocoWalk Sold in 2015 to Current Owners In 2015, the open-air shopping center sold for $87.5 Million to nationally-known REIT Federal Realty Investment Trust and two Miami-Dade-based partners, Grass River Property and Comras Co. Prior to buying the shopping center, the new majority owner realized the importance of CocoWalk to Coconut Grove, and even said in a news release immediately after the sale that “CocoWalk is the focal point of Coconut Grove’s historic village center, a short walk from Biscayne Bay and some of Miami’s most prominent residential neighborhoods,” said Jim Taylor, executive VP/CFO of Federal Realty. Coconut Grove Coconut Grove is truly an extraordinary community in Miami and one of the most sough-after places to call home in all of South Florida. Moreover, the real estate market in Coconut Grove is unbelievably remarkable, despite other parts of South Florida shifting to a buyer’s market. In fact, I just recently set 2 records for Coconut Grove, by selling the first non-waterfront home over $5 Million ever AND closing at $818 per square foot, which is the all-time record for a non-waterfront home in Coconut Grove. If you have ever considered selling your home in Coconut Grove, please contact me to discuss the value of your home and a custom marketing strategy that would effectively market your home for sale. As a resident of Coconut Grove, my knowledge of The Grove, coupled with my real estate expertise, online marketing skills and global marketing reach through Douglas Elliman’s strategic partnership with Knight Frank Residential of London to 484 offices in 59 countries on 6 continents, sets me apart from other real estate brokers in Coconut Grove. You may reach me on my cell at (786) 566-1700 or via email at michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com.
Revamped CocoWalk in Coconut Grove is on the Horizon Posted on May 6, 2015 by Michael Light CocoWalk, the 4-story, 198,000-square foot outdoor shopping mall nestled into the center of Coconut Grove, was just sold for $87.5 Million to nationally-known REIT Federal Realty Investment Trust and two Miami-Dade-based partners, Grass River Property and Comras Co. The new majority owner of CocoWalk realizes the importance of CocoWalk in Coconut Grove and that’s a great sign for locals. “CocoWalk is the focal point of Coconut Grove’s historic village center, a short walk from Biscayne Bay and some of Miami’s most prominent residential neighborhoods,” Jim Taylor, executive VP and CFO of Federal Realty said in a news release. Taylor recognizes that CocoWalk’s tenants serve more than 150,000 Coconut Grove residents and millions of visitors each year, which is important because he understands how important the future success of CocoWalk is to the community. He understands the importance of adding retail and dining that actually fit into the Grove vibe instead of just providing space for big chains that do not actually match what the Grove represents. What does this mean for the Grove? I think this is a huge deal! The past few years, CocoWalk has been kind of a ghost town with all of the businesses leaving the space only leaving behind some staples like the Cheesecake Factory, Gap and Victoria’s Secret and other revolving-door stores. But, Coconut Grove is such a historical, unique village and should represent that in all of its business establishments, especially CocoWalk which has been known as a staple of Coconut Grove. I mean in the past few years, Duffy’s Sports Bar and Cinépolis Movie Theater have been great for CocoWalk because they fit into what Groveites like, but CocoWalk definitely needs more of a total revamp, in my opinion, and I think that this new ownership group is going to do just that! As a proud Coconut Grove resident, I am very excited for the revamp of CocoWalk and the overall resurgence of Coconut Grove as a whole. My wife and I walk to CocoWalk 2 or 3 times per week and we can’t wait to see what the new owners have in store for its revitalization!
The Hostess Truck is at CocoWalk! Posted on August 4, 2013 by Michael Light “The Sweetest Comeback In The History of Ever!” Twinkies are back, well at least they are back in Coconut Grove! As I was walking to Starbucks in CocoWalk, a big Hostess truck was parked right in front of the Gap, handing out free Twinkies and t-shirts with their new slogan! Hopefully, the Twinkies are back for good, but if not, they are at least back for the meantime for us Grovites!