Miami-based Coral Rock Development Group and Arena Capital Holdings have broken ground on Pura Vida Hialeah, a nine-acre mixed-use project set to be the first of its kind in Hialeah in more than 20 years. When complete, the project will transform the area’s aging retail and residential offerings with the first new sleek contemporary designed vertical towers, and will boast a vibrant mix of popular restaurants, shops and other conveniences while providing an exceptional pedestrian-friendly lifestyle, adding a much-needed benefit to the densely populated community.

Held on April 25th at the future site of Pura Vida Hialeah, the ceremonial groundbreaking was hosted by the project’s development team, comprised of industry veterans Stephen A. Blumenthal, David Brown, Victor Brown and Michael Wohl of Coral Rock Development Group, as well as Oscar Rodriguez, Ana Rodriguez and Sebastian Roiter of Arena Capital Holdings. Dozens of industry leaders, project partners, top city officials and numerous other dignitaries were in attendance including City of Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez, Hialeah City Council President Vivian Casals-Munoz and City of Hialeah Councilman Paul Hernandez, who all provided remarks to celebrate this project milestone.

Mayor Carlos Hernandez commended the developers for their vision and acknowledged how Pura Vida Hialeah is already sparking other innovative developments in the city. Known as the City of Progress, Mayor Carlos Hernandez said “Hialeah is the new Brooklyn.”

“We’re incredibly proud to officially break ground on Pura Vida Hialeah,” said Stephen Blumenthal, principal of Coral Rock Development Group. “A new paradigm for living in Hialeah, we’re extremely pleased that Pura Vida Hialeah will be a positive catalyst and usher in a new era in the community.”

“This is an exciting beginning to what will soon be an extraordinary and vibrant urban environment for Hialeah,” said Michael Wohl, principal of Coral Rock Development Group. “We’re very grateful to Mayor Carlos Hernandez and the City of Hialeah who have supported us in making this community-driven development a reality.”

Located at 2901-3099 W 16th Avenue and 1571 W 29th Street, Pura Vida Hialeah will feature 3-eight-story residential towers consisting of 260 apartment units, with one tower offering approximately 11,000 SF of ground floor retail; as well as three separate outparcels consisting of approximately 40,000 SF of commercial retail space. Floorplans for market rate residential apartments range from 538 SF to 1,099 SF, ranging from studios, one, two, and three-bedroom units. Featured amenities will include a resort-style pool, state-of-the-art gym, BBQ area, dog park, and 24-hour security staff for the convenience of residents. Confirmed retail tenants include a Wawa convenience store and gas station, representing one of the first outposts in Miami-Dade County for the rapidly expanding chain, a Taco Bell restaurant, a Dollar Tree store and a two-story YouFit Health Club.