On the heels of closing on a $26 million construction loan for Clara Bay Harbor, Clara Homes has broken ground on Phase 1 of its luxury rental development, Clara Bay Harbor. Located at 10281 W. Bay Harbor Drive, the first building, a six-story midrise, will feature 28 well-appointed apartments designed with the same quality and level of finish as a luxury condominium. Inspired by New York’s famous apartment buildings, with personalized doormen and concierge service, walkability and convenient amenities onsite, the development will create a new tier of rental living in Miami and appeal to renters wanting the experience of home, without the hassle. The first building is scheduled to complete in 2024.

Clara Homes is a Miami-based, vertically integrated real estate firm specializing in residential development, custom single-family homes and operations oversight led by James Curnin. OHLA is leading construction.

"The groundbreaking is a huge milestone for Clara Bay Harbor and a leap forward in turning our vision into reality,” said James Curnin, CEO and Founder of Clara Homes. “We are excited to reimagine the rental experience in the market and have already seen a great deal of support and praise from people in the community on the concept.”

Nestled between the world-famous Bal Harbour Shops and Miami’s exclusive Indian Creek, Clara Bay Harbor is a premier rental project featuring 150 residences across three buildings. It will offer an enviable lifestyle and location in the heart of Bay Harbor, situated just minutes from the Atlantic Ocean as well as the best shopping and dining in the city. The first building will feature two- to five-bedroom spacious floor plans, a parking garage and a rooftop space with amenities that include a swimming pool, exercise area and sundeck. A full-time concierge will provide five-star service and highly curated experiences to residents.

“OHLA is proud and excited to be part of this project. These luxury apartments will, without a doubt, be the “must have” address for South Florida residents. We look forward to our part in bringing this iconic project to life, “ said Bernardo Perez, Executive Vice President of OHLA.

Following Clara Homes’s success developing, building and selling numerous Miami and Los Angeles luxury spec homes for above market rate prices, Clara Bay Harbor is the company’s first South Florida multifamily development and represents the developer’s expertise building thoughtful projects from the ground up. Construction for Clara Bay Harbor will be completed in three phases: one for each building. The other two buildings located at 1147-1163 100th Street and 10200 East Bay Harbor Drive are scheduled to break ground later this year. The entire master plan is expected to be completed by late 2025.

Clara Bay Harbor is part of a larger wave of new development that is transforming the neighborhood of Bal Harbor into an exclusive luxury destination. Known as one of the most desirable residential addresses in Miami, the area has always been celebrated for its small-town feel and focus on community, and will only grow as new high-profile projects, from Clara Bay Harbor to towering condominiums on the waterfront and mixed-use concepts along Kane Concourse, open and attract the most discerning residents.

Leasing for Clara Bay Harbor will be exclusively handled by Douglas Elliman Development Marketing.