The Downtown Miami Underdeck Lands $60 Million US Department Of Transportation Grant Posted on March 26, 2024March 28, 2024 by Sarah Elles Boggs The new I-395 Underdeck and Heritage Trail project is one step closer with a $60 million grant that has been earmarked by the US Department of Transportation. This federal grant will make up the majority of the $83 million needed for the landmark project and is the largest federal grant ever received by the City of Miami, according to Mayor Francis Suarez. About the Downtown Miami Underdeck Not unlike The Underline, which stretches under the Miami Metrorail lines south from the Miami River, The Underdeck will bring jogging trails, bicycle lanes, sports parks and active-urban activation to the community. The Underdeck is located under the I-395 bridge and is comprised of 33 acres that is currently considered dead space. Community leaders and locals have long complained that I-395 and I-95 have created a waste of space and a division between the neighborhoods. The space had previously been a catch-all of litter and despair, which is also an opportunity to create a family-friendly urban greenspace. When completed, The Underdeck will tie together the Overtown, Downtown Miami, The Miami Arts’ District, Miami Worldcenter and on into Edgewater. Not only will the communities be brought together, property values will increase as well with the ease of access between the districts. Renderings have been released for the project that is being designed by Hargreaves Jones, whose name has become synonymous with activating urban open spaces and streetscapes. Their previous work can be found in New Orleans’ Crescent Park as well as South Pointe Park in Miami Beach. Rendering of the Downtown Miami Underdeck – Landscape Architecture Scope of the Project When completed, The Underdeck will transform a mile-long deadspace into a public park that stretches from Overtown to the Biscayne Bay. There are four main components that include Neighborhood Green, Active Heart, Live Work Play and the Civic Waterfront. Rendering of Downtown Miami Underdeck – Heritage Trail From the Neighborhood Green to the West, The Underdeck will add a play areas with splash pads for kids, an event lawn for yoga or concerts, plazas and the beginning of the Heritage Trail. Crossing over the Florida East Coast Railway tracks, the Active Heart area offers the signature pedestrian bridge so that joggers and bicyclists can safely cross over the railway as well as a pet playground and sport courts. Continuing to the East, Live Work Play and Civic Waterfront are home to more playgrounds, cafes and concession areas, beautiful water features and the new iconic Signature Bridge that will redefine our skyline. The redesign of I-395 and addition of the new Downtown Miami Signature Bridge was the project that spurred discussion of activating the space below the highway and making the area a fully-designed and activated urban community. Rendering of Downtown Miami Underdeck – Wildflowers Rendering of Downtown Miami Underdeck – Bicycle Trails Rendering of Downtown Miami Underdeck – Pedestrian Bridge The new Signature Bridge is scheduled to be complete in 2027. If you would like to have first-hand accounts as the project comes together, Community Meetings are open to the public and take place virtually or in person. You can access a schedule and reserve a spot here. Maps of The Downtown Miami Underdeck Rendering of Downtown Miami Underdeck – Neighborhood Green Rendering of Downtown Miami Underdeck – Active Heart Rendering of Downtown Miami Underdeck – Civic Waterfront Rendering of Downtown Miami Underdeck – Scope of Project
Nick Jonas Brings Rooftop Tequila Bar To Downtown’s Miami Worldcenter Posted on February 14, 2024March 7, 2024 by Sarah Elles Boggs Calling all Miami tequila aficionados! Jonas Brothers superstar Nick Jonas has teamed up with menswear designer John Varvatos to announce Villa One Tequila Gardens, a chic speakeasy-style tequila bar that is set to open on the rooftop of the Miami Worldcenter Jewel Box at 150 NE 8th Street in Downtown Miami. Villa One Tequila Gardens restaurant and bar is designed by Mexico City-based KOM Studios and pays homage to the rich culture of Mexico. Throughout the 13,000 square foot indoor/outdoor restaurant and bar guests will find vibrant colors, Mexican textures and materials that are reminiscent of top destinations in Mexico such as Tulum, with views of the beautiful Downtown Miami skyline. Rendering of Villa One Bar Miami Worldcenter Inside the main dining room, the duo has planned a raw bar and tequila tasting room that offers more than 160 tequilas and mezcals curated by a tequila sommelier. The menu will embraces the colorful Baja-stye cuisine and cocktails. Some offerings such as the old fashioned, carajillo and canarito are prepared tableside. The Villa One brand was formed in 2019 when Nick Jonas and John Varvatos introduced their successful tequila concept with Stoli Distillers. Since then, they have expanded the brand to include a fully-immersive experience with the Tequila Gardens outposts. This will be the brand’s fourth location alongside Las Vegas, San Diego, and Los Angeles (opening soon). “Villa One Tequila Gardens will create a unique entertainment destination within Miami Worldcenter with a special rooftop experience unlike anything else in downtown,” says Nitin Motwani, managing partner of Miami Worldcenter Associates. “Fusing Mexican-inspired cocktails and cuisine with modern Miami sophistication, guests will be transported to an exotic destination within Downtown’s dynamic urban core.” Rendering of Villa One Bar Miami Worldcenter Lounge About Miami Worldcenter Opening in 2025, Villa One Tequila Gardens will join an ever-growing list of retailers and entertainment establishments at Miami Worldcenter such as Container Store, Savage X Fenty, Lululemon, Sephora, and Ray-Ban as well as Juvia, Starbucks, Chicago’s Maple & Ash, Serafina, Sweet Paris Creperie & Café, Earls Kitchen + Bar, Sixty Vines, Brasserie Laurel, Chug’s Express, El Vecino Cigar & Cocktail Bar, Bowlero, and a dual-concept location for BurgerFi/Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings. The $6 Billion Miami Worldcenter development is redefining Downtown Miami with 27 acres of retail, entertainment and residential space. There are currently three completed residential towers that include Paramount Miami Worldcenter condos as well as multifamily buildings Caoba and Bezel Miami. Over 2,000 additional residences and three more residential towers are currently in the planning phase and will be delivered within the coming years. More than 93% of the developments 300,000 square feet of retail space has currently been leased. Rendering of Villa One Bar Miami Worldcenter Rendering of Villa One Bar Miami Worldcenter Jewel Box Rooftop Image Credit: KOM Studio
Miami Luxury Homes Picks: Top 9 Real Estate Stories of 2016 Posted on January 6, 2017 by Michael Light 2016 was an interesting, but great year, so Miami Luxury Homes has rated its Top 9 Real Estate Stories of 2016…in no particular order. 1. Miami Condo Market is Far From a Bust: Response to the Wall Street Journal 2. New Order Affecting All-Cash Luxury Real Estate Purchases in Miami Starts Today 3. Redesign of Miami Worldcenter—From “Mall” to Open-Air, Lincoln Road-Esque shopping District 4. The Miami River is Experiencing a Resurgence 5. Camp Biscayne’s “Hammock House” Brings the Outside In (VIDEO) 6. Seller Beware: Agents Will Try to “Buy” Your Listing? 7. Canadian Sellers Grab Instant 45% Return Due To Exchange Rate 8. The Mother of all Amenities: Private Jet Parking for Turnberry Ocean Club Buyers 9. Rockwell Island Luxury Homes in Bimini | Exclusive Video Tour of Genting Group Chairman K.T. Lim’s Estate Although many naysayers predicted that the sky was going to fall in Miami, it was far from that. Because of the crazy (GOOD CRAZY) few years we have had with prices skyrocketing, the market had to stabilize itself, and that’s what it did in the 2nd half of 2016…prices leveled off, inventory rose, and we slowly shifted into a buyer’s market. We all know that international buyers LOVE Miami. But, just like a game of whack-a-mole, when one group backs off, another steps up, and that is what is happening with buyers from Canada. According to a recent report by the Miami Association of Realtors, Canadians have surpassed Colombians as the top buyers of South Florida real estate. And, we have seen an even greater number of domestic buyers than ever before. 2017 should be very interesting… If you are interested in learning more about the Miami real estate market, please contact broker Michael Light, Director of Luxury Sales at Douglas Elliman. You may reach Michael on his cell at (786) 566-1700 or via email at michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com.
MLH Exclusive – Paramount Miami Sales Breakdown and Redesign Update Posted on December 16, 2016 by Michael Light We have a lot of important new updates about Paramount Miami Worldcenter…yes, it is 55% sold, but we have the actual sales breakdown, AND a brand new “presentation” with the significant information about the “redesign” of the project. Last Friday, one of my clients who has purchased multiple units in the building and I visited the sales gallery to receive a full overview of specific details and changes to the project. Paramount Miami Worldcenter is 55% Sold Paramount Miami has 55% of its units under hard contracts with money in escrow. The Breakdown… Of all sales at Paramount Miami Worldcenter, the split is equal, 50% of the units sold are on the west side of the building and 50% of the units sold are on the east side of the building. Percentage of Units Sold to Date at Paramount Miami Worldcenter To further breakdown the sold inventory by east vs. west side, 61% of all east-facing units have been sold and 53% of all west-facing units have been sold. *Please note that the east side of the building has 6 units per floor and the west side of the building has 7 units per floor. Percentage of Units Sold to Date at Paramount Miami Worldcenter – East vs. West Side Even further, lets drill down to look at high floors vs. low floors sold in quadrants…from floors 10-25 on the east side of the building 58% of that inventory has been sold and from floors 26-45 on the east side of the building 68% of that inventory has been sold. *Below, we explain that an 8th and 9th floor has just recently been added to the building, which may slightly skew these numbers. Sales Distribution on the East Side of Paramount Miami Worldcenter – High vs. Low Floors From floors 10-25 on the west side of the building 68% of that inventory has been sold and from floors 26-45 on the west side of the building 45% of that inventory has been sold. *Below, we explain that an 8th and 9th floor has just recently been added to the building, which may slightly skew these numbers. Sales Distribution on the West Side of Paramount Miami Worldcenter – High vs. Low Floors Redesign of Paramount Miami Worldcenter Everything has been in flux over the past year since an announcement of the “redesign” to the retail portion of Miami Worldcenter was announced. Since Paramount Miami sits atop Miami Worldcenter, any changes to Miami Worldcenter certainly would impact Paramount Miami. The redesign will bring the following 3 major changes to Paramount Miami Worldcenter: Addition of New Amenities Addition of 2 full floors of residences (8th & 9th floor) PRIVATE parking garage for residents of Paramount Miami Explanation… The change from a traditional box mall to a high-street retail, Lincoln Road-type shopping center has impacted the height of Miami Worldcenter. Miami Worldcenter was originally planned to be 120-feet high, but has been redesigned to be 90-feet high. This impacts the amenity level for Paramount Miami which originally sat on the 9th floor, or 120 feet above street level and will now sit on the 7th floor, or 90 feet above street level. Most wouldn’t consider this much of a change but the first question that comes to mind is, does the condo tower and all units in it now sit 30′ lower than originally designed? The answer is NO…the height of Paramount Miami has not changed. With the amenity level originally on the 9th floor, units in the tower began on the 10th floor. What the developer of Paramount Miami has done is added 2 full levels of units on the 8th and 9th floors since the amenity level is now on the 7th floor. Furthermore, the height change allowed the developers to add a lower level of amenities that were not originally in the plans. This is how the developer was able to add a full business center, yoga studio, half-court basketball court and a racquetball court on the lower levels, not to mention that the developer also snuck in a super cool observatory and a game room with a golf simulator. Below, you will find an updated breakdown of all amenities now being offered in the building with “The Most Amenities in the World!” Updated Amenities at Paramount Miami Worldcenter 7th Floor Amenity Deck at Paramount Miami Worldcenter Upper Deck Amenity Level at Paramount Miami Worldcenter SkyDeck Amenity Level at Paramount Miami Worldcenter Also, a HUGE major improvement to Paramount Miami is that all residents will be able to park within the actual residence tower, exclusive ONLY to residents. Originally, the parking for both the residential tower and the retail portion shared a parking garage. Now, with the high-street retail splitting the building, the parking garages have been separated. DOWNLOAD THE BRAND-NEW UPDATED PARAMOUNT MIAMI BROCHURE Why Paramount Miami Worldcenter??? As most of you know, I have been a big proponent of Paramount Miami Worldcenter since its launch in November of 2014. In fact, we have written about the project over 30 times, operate www.ParamountMiamiCondos.com and have sold many, many units to clients from around the globe. I am asked all the time why it is one of my favorite projects in Miami, and my answer has always been the same, it will forever change the face of Miami. Too many agents have varying opinions of what is the “best” project in Miami, “best” views, “best” value, etc. I am not saying Paramount Miami is the “best,” what I am saying is that it will forever transform Miami. Miami Worldcenter, which Paramount Miami sits atop, encompasses 28 acres of land. It is so big, that it is only 2nd in size in the U.S. to Hudson Yards in NYC. In fact, the developers of this mega-project have been working on the assemblage of the land necessary to complete Miami Worldcenter for over 15 years. Nowhere in any other major metropolitan city in America are you able to assemble this much contiguous land to put together a project like this. If you, or someone you know, are interested in purchasing at Paramount Miami Worldcenter, please contact Michael Light. You can reach Michael on his cell phone at (786) 566-1700, directly at his office at (305) 350-9842 or via email at michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com.
Miami Worldcenter Foundation Pour Set for 1:00 a.m. October 22, 2016 Posted on October 17, 2016June 25, 2021 by Michael Light Paramount Miami Worldcenter is scheduled to begin their concrete foundation pour at 1:00 a.m. this Saturday, October 22, 2016 and continue for 30 hours until around 7:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. Although Paramount Miami will not be hosting a formal event for the commencement of the foundation pour, brokers and buyers will be invited to Paramount’s viewing platform that will be located in the same spot where Paramount Miami held their demolition ceremony back in September of last year. Facts About the Paramount Miami Worldcenter Foundation Pour A 700-person work crew will work in 3 shifts over 30 hours. Supermix Concrete, which is Florida’s largest independent producer of concrete products, will utilize 100 concrete trucks delivering 1,300 ten-cubic-yard loads each trip. 120 yards of concrete poured every 6 minutes. Approximately 13,000 cubic yards of concrete weighting 52,000,000 pounds will be poured into the massive excavated hole for the foundation: 32,000 sq/ft by 9 feet deep and 10,500 sq/ft by 6 feet deep. Foundation measures 222 feet by 142 feet by 9 feet deep and 65 feet by 142 feet by 6 feet deep. The foundation is supported by 431 Augercast pilings: 30 inches in diameter and 142 feet long. Supermix Concrete will supply the concrete from 4 ready-mix plants located in Miami. Each plant has 2 batches. Steel sheet piling was utilized to brace the soil. 6 temporary wells drilled for dewatering system and more than 8 dewatering pumps have been working 24/7 for almost 5 months. Coastal Tishman will place 4,800,000 pounds of high-strength reinforcing steel in the foundation. 6 truck mounted concrete pumping booms located around the perimeter will place the concrete. 300 drivers working in 3 shifts will be needed for the continuous pour which will run approximately 30 hours. If you would like to learn more about Paramount Miami Worldcenter, the newest ultra-luxe condo project with unprecedented amenities located in the epicenter of Downtown Miami, please contact Miami condo specialist Michael Light. You may reach Michael at (786) 566-1700 or via email at info@paramountmiamicondos.com.
VIDEO ALERT: Miami Worldcenter Updates Video Adding High-Street Retail Shopping District Posted on May 29, 2016May 29, 2016 by Michael Light New footage was added to the already existing Paramount Miami Worldcenter video showcasing the new Lincoln Road-esque, high-street retail shopping district that has replaced the original traditional mall plans. Although the beginning of the video below is the same as before, the new footage of the open-air retail district starts at 2:11 of the video. Miami Worldcenter announced back in February of this year that they scrapped the original plans of a traditional box-style mall in favor of an open-air, high-end shopping district that will consist of a high-street retail concept featuring a pedestrian-friendly, Lincoln Road meets Lincoln Center-type district. The Lincoln Road-esque outdoor district will offer an unparalleled collection of retail offerings including high-end boutiques and shops, European-style outdoor cafes, bars and restaurants, along with various lively entertainment. As the second largest urban development in the entire country, Miami Worldcenter is certain to bring a refreshing energy to Downtown Miami by offering an exciting blend of first-class retail, hospitality and residential offerings in one unique and exceptional location. If you, or someone you know, are interested in learning more about Miami Worldcenter and/or are interested in purchasing a luxury condo at the signature condo tower within Miami Worldcenter, Paramount Miami, please contact Michael Light. You may reach me on my cell at (786) 566-1700, directly at my office at (305) 350-9842 or via email at michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com.
Miami Worldcenter & Paramount Miami Groundbreaking Ceremony With Helicopter Video Posted on March 4, 2016 by Michael Light Miami Worldcenter and Paramount Miami had their official groundbreaking ceremony yesterday on the project site in Downtown Miami. The all-day celebration was in true Miami fashion as it featured Veuve Clicquot Champagne, Mimosas, Bellinis, a full coffee bar and delicious brunch tapas with music, dancers and helicopter rides for a select few VIP guests. The helicopter ride was the highlight of my day as the pilot took me and my clients, Ahmed & Lana Tantawy and Jason Smith, to 700′ above the Paramount Miami site to see the views from the upcoming “Yacht Skyview Deck” that will sit like a crown on top of the building. In addition, we got to fly all over Miami-Dade seeing such cities and neighborhoods as Miami Beach, Key Biscayne and Fisher Island. Check out my video of the helicopter ride below! In attendance at the fun-filled celebration was Miami Worldcenter developers Art Falcone and Nitin Motwani; Paramount Miami developer Dan Kodsi; architects of the mega-project Elkus Manfredi Architects, Mayor Carlos Gimenez, Miami Commissioner Keon Hardemon and Miami Commissioner Audrey Edmonson. In addition, many buyers of condos at Paramount Miami came to celebrate the groundbreaking of their future residences. Buyers came from all over the world for this event including two of my buyers who flew in from Egypt and the Cayman Islands. Paramount Miami has attracted buyers from all over the world from 34 different countries, and rightfully so. It truly is going to be an amazing condo development as a “city within a city” offering elevated luxury living. Kodsi told the crowd yesterday that “Paramount will transform the way people live.” I truly believe in this incredibly amazing project, which is why I highly recommend this project over many others in the Greater Downtown Miami area, with the exception of One Thousand Museum which is #1 on my top 5 condo projects for 2016, though at a completely different price point. If you, or someone you know, are interested in purchasing a luxury condo at Paramount Miami Worldcenter, please contact Michael Light. You may reach me on my cell at (786) 566-1700 or via email at info@paramountmiamicondos.com. Check out some pictures from the Miami Worldcenter groundbreaking ceremony below. Miami Worldcenter Developers Art Falcone and Nitin Motwani Paramount Miami Worldcenter Developer Dan Kodsi Michael Light, Art Falcone, Ahmed Tantawy and Jason Smith Peggy Fucci and Michael Light Helicopter for the Miami Worldcenter Groundbreaking Ceremony Michael Light, Jason Smith, Ahmed Tantawy, Lana Tantawy Miami Worldcenter and Marriott Marquis Convention Center Construction Site Miami Worldcenter Construction Site – Taken from Helicopter East View from Paramount Miami Worldcenter Yacht Skyview Deck Southeast View from Paramount Miami Worldcenter Yacht Skyview Deck
Paramount Miami Worldcenter Groundbreaking Ceremony to Include Helicopter Flights Posted on February 25, 2016February 25, 2016 by Michael Light The official groundbreaking ceremony for Miami Worldcenter and its signature residential condo tower, Paramount Miami, will be held on Thursday morning, March 3, 2016 with special attendance by Art Falcone and Nitin Motwani. The VIP invite-only event will include a Veuve Clicquot champagne brunch catered by Eggwhites Special Event Catering to celebrate the groundbreaking of the $2+Billion mega project in Downtown Miami. Most importantly, the ceremony will include a flight in a Eurocopter Twinstar helicopter that is reserved for only select contract holders and their brokers. This will give buyers the chance to really capture the stunning views that Paramount Miami will offer and the overall excitement of the entire project that is certain to transform Downtown Miami. I have to admit, my clients are very excited about the helicopter ride and the opportunity to see the entire project from the sky. Eurocopter Twinstar – Photo Source: stratosjets.com Although the developers only recently redesigned the “mall” portion of the project into an outdoor, high-street shopping district, the construction of the mega project is moving right along. So far, 20% of the pilings for the retail portion of the project have been drilled and 260 of the total 427 pilings for the signature condo, Paramount Miami, have been placed. Furthermore, pilings for Miami Worldcenter go down 150 feet, almost as deep as the record-setting depth that 1000 Museum (which is adjacent to Miami Worldcenter) posted last year. Miami Worldcenter is estimated for completion in late 2017 and Paramount Miami is estimated for completion in late 2018. There are still unbelievable deals on standard residences and luxury penthouses at Paramount Miami. So, if you, or someone you know, are interested in purchasing a condo at Paramount Miami, please contact Michael Light. You may reach me on my cell at (786) 566-1700, directly at my office at (305) 350-9842 or via email at info@ParamountMiamiCondos.com.