Offices Archives | Page 15 of 18

Dec 08 No Comments

Related Group Proposes Apartments, Retail, Office In Wynwood

Author: Admin

Categories: Commercial News,Development,Multifamily,Offices,Retail,Wynwood

The Related Group is requesting approval of a mixed-use project in the Wynwood Arts District of Miami.

The city’s Wynwood Design Review Committee will consider the plans by PRN N Miami LLC, an affiliate of Miami-based Related Group, for the 2.18-acre site at 2150 N. Miami Ave. and 38 N.W. 22nd St. The land is separated by North Miami Avenue, so the project would have two buildings.

The project would total 860,880 square feet with two buildings of 12 stories each. They would combine for 317 apartments, 22,700 square feet of retail, 60,400 square feet of offices and 534 parking spaces.

Source: SFBJ

Nov 21 No Comments

Developer Proposes Apartment, Office Buildings Near Aventura

Author: Admin

Categories: Aventura,Commercial News,Development,Multifamily,Offices,Retail

Three full blocks just west of Aventura could be developed into a trio of mixed-use buildings.

West Aventura Developers LLC and West Aventura Exchange LLC, both managed by Marina Kessler and Gustavo Lumer in Sunny Isles Beach, filed a pre-application with Miami-Dade County officials for the 7.9-acre site at 2375 N.E. 186th St. The property runs from Northeast 23rd Court to Northeast 24th Place and from Northeast 187th Street to Northeast 186th Street. It currently has some single-family homes, but it’s mostly vacant.

It’s located just north of Greynolds Park, on the south side of the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center.

The property is in the Ojus Urban Area, an area west of Aventura that the county rezoned to allow mixed-use development and more density. This has attracted a flurry of development.

The westernmost block of project would have an eight-story building with 378 apartments, 31,375 square feet of retail, and 585 parking spaces. There would be a rooftop pool deck.

The central block would have a 12-story building with 114,385 square feet of leasable office space; 16,715 square feet of retail, including a café on the ground floor; and 552 parking spaces. There would be a rooftop amenity deck with planters.

Finally, the easternmost block would have an eight-story building with 247 apartments, 19,160 square feet of retail, and 386 parking spaces. It would also have a rooftop pool.

Both apartment buildings were designed by Corwil Architects. Arquitectonica designed the office building.

Miami attorney Greg Fontela, who represents West Aventura Developers in the application, couldn’t be reached for comment. Developers file pre-applications to receive feedback from county officials before submitting official applications.

Nov 04 No Comments

Medical Offices Remain Attractive Amid Pandemic

Author: Admin

Categories: Commercial News,Healthcare,Offices,Trends

The coronavirus pandemic has been a boon for industrial real estate as increased online shopping drives up demand for logistics space, but the medical office sector has also fared well in 2020, and experts expect continued strength in that area during and after the pandemic.

While banks are hesitant to lend on properties in the retail and office sectors, financing remains available for medical office properties, experts say. And investors also continue to eye such properties, thinking that demand for services there will pick up once a vaccine is found and becomes widely available.

Here, Law360 looks at three reasons medical office properties remain attractive amid the pandemic:

Banks Are Still Interested in Lending

In the weeks after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, lending all but stopped for commercial real estate. While capital is still tough to come by for retail and office assets, lenders are now providing financing for the medical office sector.

“Lenders are willing to lend on medical office,” said George Scopetta, chief investment officer at medical office owner and services provider ShareMD. “If you come to market with retail buildings, the answer is going to be no. A medical office building, especially if it’s a stabilized building, that’s an asset class that [parties] want to be in.”

Danielle Gonzalez, a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig LLP, said she has closed more than $800 million in loans on medical office buildings since the pandemic began, including an $89 million loan in late September from Starwood Mortgage Capital for eight properties owned by ShareMD.

She said medical offices, along with multifamily properties, have fared markedly better than other asset classes amid the pandemic. Federal stimulus assistance this summer helped many tenants at multifamily properties continue to pay their rents.

“I see a wide variety of asset classes. Not just medical office. … We have seen the least impact on medical office buildings and multifamily,” Gonzalez said. “It was a small blip on the radar compared to other sectors.”

Occupancy Has Remained High

Another reason banks have been willing to lend on medical office properties is due to high occupancy levels there, and tenants have remained in those properties for a variety of reasons.

For one, many medical office tenants were unaffected by shutdown orders earlier in the year. David Tabibian, a partner at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP, said occupancy rates for the sector have hovered around 90% to 92% during the pandemic.

“Rent collections have been very strong — above 90%. That’s exactly what you want as an investor in an unstable market,” Tabibian said. “They are essential services, and tenants are able to still access their space and are still paying their rent. Historically, [medical office properties] have done well in downturns.”

That has meant landlords have had stronger rent rolls to show to lenders, a domino effect that inspires more confidence.

But another reason occupancy has remained high is that leases at such properties tend to be longer, which means fewer leases have come up for renewal during the pandemic than leases in other sectors.

“Landlords want longer lease terms. That’s why you see higher occupancy levels,” Tabibian said. “There are various types of equipment. … It’s more custom, more expensive, and as a result of that, tenants tend to sign longer leases at medical offices.”

More Consumer Demand Is Expected Once a Vaccine Arrives

While the medical office sector has taken a hit during the pandemic when it comes to consumer traffic in and out of facilities, experts expect demand to pick back up once consumers feel safe going in for procedures. That may not be the case for retail and office properties.

“The big distinction is the impact on medical office buildings was very much temporary, whereas the impact that we’re seeing on retail and office is much more permanent in nature,” Gonzalez said. “Once this is over, people are still going to have to go back to their dentist’s office for a root canal or their doctor for a comprehensive medical exam.”

And with real estate investors looking for places to park their capital and shying away from retail and office, medical offices will remain a solid option, experts say.

“Medical office really attracts the long-term, serious investors. There is tons of investment by [real estate investment trusts] and funds and institutional buyers,” Gonzalez said. “These are players that do thorough due diligence and are really looking for strong assets to hold for the long term.”

Expect more investment in the sector in coming months, particularly in the first and second quarters of 2021, said Tabibian, who noted there is lots of cash on the sidelines that could flow into such properties in 2021.

That investor optimism is being fueled by a sense that there will be a rush back to the properties once a vaccine is widely available.

“Telehealth … has its limitations and does not work with every specialty. At some point, doctors need to see their patients and can’t always do that virtually,” Tabibian said. “Many people have not undergone elective procedures during the pandemic. There’s a huge amount of demand for elective procedures … that’s coming as soon as there’s a vaccine.”

Source: Law360

Oct 08 No Comments

JDS Development Unveils Plan For 2.5M-Square-Foot Project In Miami’s Brickell

Author: Admin

Categories: Commercial News,Development,Multifamily,Offices,Retail

JDS Development Group unveiled plans for 1 Southside Park, a major redevelopment of a city of Miami fire stations into a mixed-use project in the booming Brickell neighborhood.

A zoning application was filed with Miami-Dade County officials by 191 SW 12 Owner, an affiliate of New York-based JDS Development Group, led by Michael Stern, for 1 Southside Park. The project would total 2.48 million square feet in 64 stories.

Under its new plans, JDS Development would build 1,175 multifamily units in about 1 million square feet, a 110,000-square-foot hotel with 200 rooms and 6,000 square feet of meeting space, 200,000 square feet of offices, 100,000 square feet of health and wellness, 11,000 square feet of restaurants, and about 1,000 parking spaces. The fire station would total 32,000 square feet.

Source: SFBJ

Sep 09 No Comments

14 Big Factors Driving CRE Trends This Year And Beyond

Author: Admin

Categories: Commercial News,Development,Healthcare,Leasing,Multifamily,Offices,Retail,Shopping Centers,Trends

The Covid-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented challenge for the real estate industry.

Commercial real estate professionals have had to navigate new obstacles like virtual showings, finding buyers during an economic downturn and perhaps most significantly, the shift away from centralized offices toward full-time remote work.

The current climate and circumstances will continue to impact real estate trends in the months and years to come, and if you’re in the industry, it’s important to be prepared for what’s ahead. To help, Forbes asked 14 members of Forbes Real Estate Council for their insights.

Below the members identified the biggest factors driving commercial real estate trends this year and beyond.

1. Utility Management For Remote Work

One factor is the ability of some companies to effectively and responsibly manage critical business initiatives while telecommuting. Companies are evaluating the health, safety and necessity of their employees working remotely versus maintaining the continuity of a central office location which may have redundant electrical power, data connectivity and other security measures necessary to maintain sales and operations. – Josh Gopan, Simone Development Companies

2. The Need For Office Space In The Home

While everyone has always needed a place to live, people’s homes now have added value. With many people shifting their workplaces from offices to their homes, their dwelling also has increased in importance. Conversely, this has had a detrimental effect on office space across the country. – Matt Picheny, MJP Property Group

3. Smart Amenities

The adoption of technology will drive smart amenities from the “nice-to-have” column to the “need-to-have” column as restrictions are put in place by local, regional and state governments. Adoption was already trending up pre-Covid-19, but should continue to see a strong increase over the next 12 to 24 months. – Marshall Friday, ADT Security Services

4. Newly Available Subleases

Large, established institutions, like Twitter, Facebook, etc. have put work from home requirements in place that are minimizing their physical space requirements. Combined with businesses negatively affected by Covid-19, there is a large volume of subleases hitting the market. Younger companies that are doing well are looking for flexible space and terms, so subleasing might be the top CRE trend. – Matt Weirich, Realync

5. Less Demand For Commercial Office Space

The outlook of office space is uncertain, but possibly very dark. Businesses had to adjust quickly to a virtual workforce. Many of those businesses will find that they can operate just as well without the overhead costs associated with owning or leasing a physical office. – Chris Bounds, reHacking / Bounds Realty Group by eXp Realty

6. Uncertainty Around Retail Business Operations

One of the key factors driving commercial real estate trends since Covid-19 is the uncertainty surrounding which type of businesses will be able to operate during the pandemic and how that drives the values of those assets. Businesses in strip malls, like nail salons and hair salons, have previously been immune from fluctuations in the economy, but are now at the peril of intermittent shutdowns. – Todd Sulzinger, Blue Elm Investments

7. Property Maintenance As A Priority

Covid-19 has pushed property maintenance to the forefront. Consumers are more concerned about disinfecting than ever, and well-maintained locations—including everything from sanitization to spotless floors and regular, visible cleaning to fresh landscaping—instill confidence. Facilities maintenance is an area companies will need to increase investment in as it becomes integral to brand experience. – Marc Shiffman, SMS Assist

8. High Demand For Essential Businesses

In the net lease world, investors are focusing on quality and stability, both for guarantor and real estate fundamentals. We’re seeing very high demand and capital being reallocated to essential businesses like grocery stores, dollar stores, auto parts and service centers, pharmacies, medical companies and quality guarantors in fast food. Stable cash flow with quality tenants paying rent wins in a high-risk market. – Kyle McCollum, Trinity Real Estate Investment Services

9. Short-Term Market Performance

Covid-19 prompted many investors to spend more time tracking short-term market performance. From an investment perspective, our strategy and analysis begins by evaluating which sectors experienced stability in the last 20 weeks. Multifamily, self-storage, healthcare, NNN retail and office performers are well-documented, however, we must consider how each asset will also perform in the long run. – Keith Lampi, Inland Private Capital Corporation

10. Increased Importance Of Rental Property Amenities

With many people sheltering in place, office properties are relatively empty and time spent at home has never been higher. This makes multifamily amenities increasingly important. The trend of renters seeking well-appointed properties is not new, but in the wake of Covid-19, the value of on-site dining options, co-working lounges, fitness centers and other amenities has never been greater. – Salvador Garcia, MAS Development Group

11. The Internet’s Impact On Land Value

Technology and digital connectivity have disrupted many industries and real estate is not immune. We have been forced to realize that such advances may alter our approach to land use and the built environment. There will be increasing discussion about the effect of the internet on the value of land generally, although we are in the very early stages. – Eliot Bencuya, Streitwise

12. Changes In How Office Space Will Be Used

When demand returns for office, the largest part of the workforce will be hybrid workers that come to the workplace two to three days a week. This is down from four to five days per week meaning a 20 to 30% decrease in demand for office, retail, hospitality, etc. This will dramatically shift how these assets are used and valued. We will see the productization of the office from a couple of products to several. – Jacob Bates, CommonGrounds Workplace

13. Industry Adaptability And Resilience

This trend is truly remarkable as it has shown how resilient the industry is. The market has made huge progress in creating work-from-home environments with management companies investment firms and doing the best they can through the use of many tech support programs. It’s been remarkable to see this trend take life while showing the industry stays strong (thanks to interest rates being low). – Heidi Burkhart, Dane Real Estate

14. Capital Reallocation

As we’ve seen in past downturns, there is a massive reallocation of capital for investment to commercial sectors deemed safer with cash flows that are perceived to be more durable. Look for pricing to tighten and competition to increase in multifamily, industrial, self-storage and medical sectors while loosening in retail, office and hospitality. – Max Comess, Hodges Ward Elliott, LLC.

Source: Forbes

Aug 25 No Comments

Miami Beach Approves Co-Working, Co-Living Project

Author: Admin

Categories: Commercial News,Development,Miami Beach,Multifamily,Offices,Retail

Miami Beach officials approved URBIN, a coworking, co-living project that includes wellness and a hotel.

URBIN Miami Beach Partners‘ project was approved for 62,000 square feet of development, including four floors of coworking with 139 desks, 49 co-living units, 56 hotel rooms, and a 4,000-square-foot wellness center at 1234 and 1260 Washington Ave. There would be a garden and lounge on the roof. The project would include a small retail space.

The developer, Rishi Kapoor, would demolish a retail building on the property and renovate an office building. The new building would rise six stories.

Source: SFBJ

Jul 27 No Comments

Swire Sells Brickell City Centre Office Buildings

Author: Admin

Categories: Commercial News,Offices

Swire Properties sold two office buildings at Brickell City Centre for $163 million, marking the largest sale to close in South Florida during the pandemic.

Two Brickell City Centre and Three Brickell City Centre LLC, led by Swire Properties President Kieran Bowers sold the office portion of 78 Southwest Seventh Street and 98 Southeast Seventh Street in Miami to US VI 2 Brickell LLC and US VI 3 Brickell LLC, affiliates of Northwood Investors. Tenants include Akerman LLP and WeWork.

The combined $163 million purchase breaks down to $80.3 million for Two Brickell City Centre and $82.7 million for Three Brickell City Centre. Each building has about 130,000 square feet, which means they sold for roughly $630 per square foot.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Brickell City Centre said the buildings are nearly 100 percent occupied and that Swire plans to use the cash for future developments.

Northwood, a Denver, Colorado-based investment adviser, had about $8 billion of assets under management as of December. That includes Cheeca Lodge & Spa in the Florida Keys and the mixed-use project under construction at 1177 Kane Concourse in Bay Harbor Islands.

Swire’s more than $1 billion Brickell City Centre development also includes the East Miami hotel, condo towers Reach and Rise, and the open-air shopping center anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue and the luxury movie theater CMX. Two and Three Brickell City Centre were completed in 2016. Arquitectonica was the lead architect.

Swire Properties is headquartered at Brickell City Centre, but the company is a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Swire Properties Limited.

The developer has plans for a second phase of Brickell City Centre. In early 2019, Swire and businessman Carlos Mattos scored final approval for a 100,000-square-foot-plus expansion that would have a 54-story, 588-unit residential tower, another 62-story, 384-unit residential tower, commercial space and parking.

Source: The Real Deal

Jul 24 No Comments

Pair Of Mixed-Use Towers Planned For Wynwood

Author: Admin

Categories: Commercial News,Development,Multifamily,Offices,Retail,Wynwood

On the eastern side of growing Wynwood a developer plans a large mixed-use residential project that will also bring in new commercial tenants.

PRH CHO Dragon Wynwood LLC plans to build the pair of neighboring buildings at 2804, 2810, 2819, 2828, 2838 and 2804 NW First Ave.

The city’s Urban Development Review Board considered the project at a virtual meeting and recommended it for approval with a couple of thoughts.

With a current working title of Wynwood 29, the vast development tops out at 375,383 square feet.

The project includes a 12-story building that connects to an 8-story portion, and a separate 8-story building across the street, with 248 multifamily residential units, 28,071 square feet of ground floor commercial uses, a garage for 372 vehicles and room to park 22 bicycles.

Wynwood 29 will include a pool and amenity deck. The garage is intended for both residential and commercial tenants, as well as patrons.

The project is to have 6,360 square feet of open space.

The collection of parcels is between Northwest 28th and 29th streets, split by Northwest First Avenue.

The 12-story portion is planned for the southwest corner of Northwest 29th Street and First Avenue. The southern end of that block has the connected 8 stories. The ground floor is set for retail uses.

What’s referred to in the plans as Parcel 2 is on the northeast corner of Northwest 28th Street and First Avenue. Planned there is the 8-story building, which has eight levels of parking, seven levels of residential and ground floor retail.

The property is currently vacant and is within both the T5-O and T6-8-O Zoning Transects and the Wynwood Neighborhood Revitalization District (NRD-1) Overlay.

Multifamily structures sit to the east and west of the property.

Attorney Brian Dombrowski, representing the developer, told the review board the project was previously approved in September 2016 and this is a slightly modified design, updated after the company gained an additional parcel.

In a letter to the city, Mr. Dombrowski detailed requests for one warrant and several waivers in order to construct Wynwood 29.

The developer is requesting a warrant to allow on-street maneuverability to access two loading berths. Turning movements associated with more than one loading berth per development may be permitted on-street by warrant, except along Wynwood Corridors, under Miami 21 zoning.

The project proposes on-street maneuverability to access two loading berths from Northwest 28th Street, on the western portion of the project, according to the letter.

The waivers being sought include:

Up to a 30% reduction in required parking within the quarter-mile radius of a Transit Corridor. The property is within a quarter mile of multiple bus and trolley stops.
Up to a 10% increase in lot size from 40,000 square feet to 44,000.
Up to 90% lot coverage through the Flexible Lot Coverage Program, of the NRD-1 Regulations. This additional lot coverage allows both the activation of the roof terrace as well enhancing the pedestrian realm.
Up to a 10% increase in lot coverage for the T6-8-O portion of the property, allowing 84.3% of coverage when 80% is allowed.
To allow vehicular entry, loading docks, and service entries from the primary frontage, Northwest 28th Street.
Up to a 10% reduction in the minimum square footage for a one-bedroom residential unit. Miami 21 typically requires a minimum square footage for a one-bedroom residential unit of 550 square feet. The project proposes one-bedroom units at 531 square feet, 3.5% below the minimum.

“By reducing the minimum one-bedroom unit size, the Project can provide more affordable units. The Project’s proximity to mass transit makes it a great candidate for smaller, more affordable units,” wrote Mr. Dombrowski.

“Urban Land Institute studies indicate that smaller units have stronger occupancy rates than typical apartments and individuals choosing to live in smaller units are attracted to them because of a desire to sacrifice space for lower per unit cost and proximity to transit, employment, and vibrant mixed-use neighborhoods,” he said.

The project is designed by the architectural firm of Arquitectonica. Ray Fort, of the firm, described details of the Wynwood 29 project during the virtual meeting.

Mr. Fort told the board: “This quadrant of Wynwood is becoming the residential sector of Wynwood … it is a little bit quieter – there aren’t as many bars – and surrounding projects are planned to be residential,”

Board Chair Willy Bermello said, “I think the project is beautifully designed.”

And while he complimented the bright colors proposed for the project, Mr. Bermello mentioned a concern with the longevity of painted stucco.

“The issue of our Florida sun is that it’s not forgiving when it comes to bright colored paints. [How do you] maintain the crispness of those colors over time?” he asked.

Mr. Bermello asked if they had considered brick for the project.

Mr. Fort said they did not and referred to the size of the development.

Board member Anthony Tzamtzis also voiced concern about the painted surfaces.

“Did you consider glazed tiles? I think the painted stucco is degrading the concept you are trying to promote, which is the industrial [look],” said Mr. Tzamtzis. But he went on to congratulate Mr. Fort for “an extremely elegant presentation and thoughtful design.”

Board member Dean Lewis said the project is “well thought out, well detailed.”

He suggested a pedestrian bridge over Northwest First Avenue to connect the buildings.

Attorney Iris Escarra, also representing the developer, said they have discussed a pedestrian bridge but said it would require a separate approval from the city commission. She said such a bridge may be an option.

Board member Ignacio Permuy said: “I commend you on an exceptional job, starting from the massing to the architecture of the buildings … I truly appreciate the screening on the parking garage.”

Mr. Permuy said he understood the others’ comments about the bright painted stucco but added, “I don’t mind the color scheme that much. I understand comments … but this shows levels of playfulness, it shows you enjoyed designing this project.”

Board member Robert Behar said: “I like the whole project. You’ve done a great job.”

A motion to recommend approval of the project passed unanimously, with recommendations including the developer considering connecting the buildings, perhaps with a bridge, and to consider materials other than stucco.

Jul 16 No Comments

Miami-Dade Property Appraiser Getting Sued Over Tax Bills

Author: Admin

Categories: Commercial News,Healthcare,Multifamily,Offices,Retail,Shopping Centers

Affiliates of megamall developer Triple Five, along with Terra and Starwood Capital Group are crying foul over property tax bills from Miami-Dade County.

A number of developers and investment groups have recently filed lawsuits against Miami-Dade Property Appraiser Pedro J. Garcia for their tax appraisals for the 2019 tax year. Others include the owners of Aventura ParkSquare, the SunTrust office building on Brickell and the Delano South Beach.

The latest suits come as Miami-Dade issued preliminary taxable values for 2020 earlier this month, based on assessments and market conditions on Jan. 1. More such suits could arise, as businesses continue to lose money and commercial real estate values fall due to impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

“A litigation showdown is looming between property owners and the government over property taxes,” said attorney Josh Migdal, a partner at the Miami law firm Mark Migdal & Hayden, who handles real estate cases.

“Property owners are faced with budget shortfalls due to decreased revenue,” Migdal added. “However, a decrease in tax revenue collection due to the virus will require the government to maximize its property tax collection to prevent its own budget shortfall.”

Florida is heavily reliant on property taxes since the state does not have a state income tax.

Overall, preliminary property tax values across Miami-Dade County rose in 2020 compared to the previous year. The estimated taxable value for Miami-Dade County properties totaled $324.36 million, up 5.1 percent from 2019, according to the property appraiser’s office.

The biggest increases were in West Miami (14.6 percent); Florida City (13.8 percent); Homestead (10.8 percent); Hialeah and North Miami (each up 10.4 percent). Much of the boost in appraised value is due to new construction, the property appraiser’s report shows.

Yet, the property appraiser’s office said falling prices for condos properties in Bal Harbour, North Bay Village, Key Biscayne and Aventura will have a negative impact on property taxes in 2020. It also says that coronavirus is starting to impact commercial real estate values.

“I will do everything within my authority to assist property owners who are struggling during these unprecedented times,” Garcia said in a statement. “As the real estate market changes during 2020, my office will consider these factors and make the necessary corrections permitted by law.”

The property appraiser’s office declined to comment on the recently filed suits. Among them, Triple Five, the Canadian developer, sued over the assessed value of its property in west Miami-Dade, where the group plans to build American Dream Miami mall.

The developer alleges the property appraiser gave an agricultural designation for 46.5 acres of its property, but denied the agriculture designation for two parcels totaling 38.32 acres. The properties were valued at $5.13 million and at $1.5 million, respectively, which the Triple Five alleges are “amounts in excess of their agricultural values.” The developer alleges the entire property should be classified as agricultural for the 2019 tax year, according to the complaint.

Developer Terra is also suing over a 11,865-square-foot parcel it owns at 2765 South Bayshore Drive in Coconut Grove. The company alleges the property is based on appraisal practices that are not “professionally accepted appraisal practices nor acceptable mass appraisal standards” in Miami-Dade County.

A company tied to Starwood Capital Group sued the property appraiser over a hotel it owns at 6700 Northwest 7th Street near Miami International Airport. The complaint alleges the $20 million assessment does not represent the value of Springhill Suites Miami Downtown/Medical Center because it exceeds the market value.

An affiliate of Integra Investments is suing the appraiser over Aventura ParkSquare, its mixed-use project in Aventura. The development group claims the property appraiser misappraised its property and it should not owe $106,629 in property taxes. The 1.2-million-square-foot project, at 2920 Northeast 207th Street, was completed in 2018. It includes a 131-unit luxury condo building, a 100,000-square-foot Class A office component, 55,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and restaurant space, and a hotel.

Alliance Re Holdings, the investment group that owns the SunTrust building at 777 Brickell Avenue is suing the property appraiser over its appraised value at the office tower. The group, led by Adolfo Geo Filho, who is tied to Brazilian construction company Construtora ARG, alleges it should not owe $2.2 million in property taxes. Alliance Re Holdings alleges the “Property Appraiser’s assessment of the property is arbitrarily based on appraisal practices.” The Filho-led group purchased the SunTrust building for $140 million in February 2015. Tenants include SunTrust, Truluck’s and Quest Workspaces.

The owner of the Delano South Beach is suing the property appraiser’s office over the hotel’s $172,905 tax bill. A company tied to SBE Entertainment Group, led by Sam Nazarian, also alleges the property assessment is arbitrarily based on appraisal practices that are not professionally accepted nor acceptable in Miami-Dade County.

Source: The Real Deal

Jun 18 No Comments

Moishe Mana Unveils First Phase Of Downtown Miami Development

Author: Admin

Categories: Commercial News,Development,Multifamily,Offices,Retail

Moishe Mana could use the 50 buildings he owns to develop a mass of towers in the core of downtown Miami, but he’s moving forward with a different vision.

Mana will renovate buildings to attract tenants and limit the construction to about four stories, said Bernard Zyscovich, CEO Zyscovich Architects, which crafted the plan with Mana.

Mana spent hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years snapping up property downtown, especially along Flagler Street. The area has some of the oldest buildings in the city. Many of those Mana-owned buildings have vacant space on the ground floors as he works on development plans.

Now, Zyscovich says Mana has a multi-phase plan for his downtown properties, and he’s ready to start construction this summer.

While many of Mana’s properties are zoned for 50 to 80 stories, that’s not his vision, according to Zyscovich.

“We are looking at spreading development throughout downtown instead of coming up with tall buildings out of the box,” Zyscovich said. “We don’t think downtown is ready for high-rise max buildings. We need to develop it as a neighborhood.”

Mana will begin by renovating the 13-story building at 155 S. Miami Ave. Built in 1980 and totaling about 166,000 square feet, the building formerly house federal immigration offices and it looks the part of a staid government office. Zyscovich said its facade will be stripped away and replaced with an artistic facade, which will resemble an optical illusion. The ground floor of the building is currently not accessible from the street and will be opened up so there can be a coffee shop and social space.

Mana wants the building to house office and technology tenants.

“It’s a good first project because there’s enough square feet to occupy the building with many new uses,” Zyscovich said. “We have financing in place and hopefully before the summer is out we will start construction, which is really deconstruction.”

Mana will follow with another project on the same block, at South Miami Avenue and S.W. 2nd Street. That includes a modest-sized new building along with renovations to the parking garage and some historic structures that could house restaurants.

The second area Mana will develop is Flagler Station, at 48 E. Flagler St., Zyscovich said. That will include new storefronts.

“It will become a cool neighborhood with the idea of providing urban services to innovators and technology people,” he said.

As the projects are completed, Mana plans to introduce a membership group called Mana Commons. Members would receive living quarters, office space, and discounts on local food and beverages, Zyscovich said.

“Moishe likes to say he’s not a developer,” Zyscovich said. “He’s a venture capital guy who wants to create something more innovative with real estate than renter space. We rent space, of course, but space oriented toward particular uses that might exchange rent for a venture capital interest.”

Source: SFBJ

Banks Are Still Interested in Lending

Occupancy Has Remained High

More Consumer Demand Is Expected Once a Vaccine Arrives

1. Utility Management For Remote Work

2. The Need For Office Space In The Home

3. Smart Amenities

4. Newly Available Subleases

5. Less Demand For Commercial Office Space

6. Uncertainty Around Retail Business Operations

7. Property Maintenance As A Priority

8. High Demand For Essential Businesses

9. Short-Term Market Performance

10. Increased Importance Of Rental Property Amenities

11. The Internet’s Impact On Land Value

12. Changes In How Office Space Will Be Used

13. Industry Adaptability And Resilience

14. Capital Reallocation

“By reducing the minimum one-bedroom unit size, the Project can provide more affordable units. The Project’s proximity to mass transit makes it a great candidate for smaller, more affordable units,” wrote Mr. Dombrowski.

Board Chair Willy Bermello said, “I think the project is beautifully designed.”

“The issue of our Florida sun is that it’s not forgiving when it comes to bright colored paints. [How do you] maintain the crispness of those colors over time?” he asked.

“Did you consider glazed tiles? I think the painted stucco is degrading the concept you are trying to promote, which is the industrial [look],” said Mr. Tzamtzis. But he went on to congratulate Mr. Fort for “an extremely elegant presentation and thoughtful design.”

Board member Dean Lewis said the project is “well thought out, well detailed.”

Mr. Permuy said he understood the others’ comments about the bright painted stucco but added, “I don’t mind the color scheme that much. I understand comments … but this shows levels of playfulness, it shows you enjoyed designing this project.”

Board member Robert Behar said: “I like the whole project. You’ve done a great job.”

“A litigation showdown is looming between property owners and the government over property taxes,” said attorney Josh Migdal, a partner at the Miami law firm Mark Migdal & Hayden, who handles real estate cases.

“Property owners are faced with budget shortfalls due to decreased revenue,” Migdal added. “However, a decrease in tax revenue collection due to the virus will require the government to maximize its property tax collection to prevent its own budget shortfall.”

“I will do everything within my authority to assist property owners who are struggling during these unprecedented times,” Garcia said in a statement. “As the real estate market changes during 2020, my office will consider these factors and make the necessary corrections permitted by law.”

“We are looking at spreading development throughout downtown instead of coming up with tall buildings out of the box,” Zyscovich said. “We don’t think downtown is ready for high-rise max buildings. We need to develop it as a neighborhood.”

“It’s a good first project because there’s enough square feet to occupy the building with many new uses,” Zyscovich said. “We have financing in place and hopefully before the summer is out we will start construction, which is really deconstruction.”

“It will become a cool neighborhood with the idea of providing urban services to innovators and technology people,” he said.

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