A joint venture between leading Miami-based developers Terra, led by David Martin, and Michael Simkins’ Lion Development Group, has closed on the $40 million purchase of a prime 1.6-acre piece of property located at 3501 NE 1st Avenue in Miami. Plans call for an iconic luxury condominium tower designed by Miami-based architect Arquitectonica and international design studio Yabu Pushelberg set to rise at the nexus of Miami’s most in-demand neighborhoods, including the Design District, Midtown, Wynwood and Miami Beach. The joint venture has secured $30 million in financing from Metropolitan Commercial Bank, which will provide for the acquisition of the property and fund initial site development in advance of the project’s groundbreaking in 2024. Completion is estimated for 2026.

“Terra has long been committed to promoting design excellence and connectivity, so the opportunity to develop a tower at the gateway to the Design District, which has come alive as one of South Florida’s most walkable neighborhoods, is appealing. This tower will cater to residents who want to live steps away from world-class shopping, dining, and arts and entertainment – and minutes away from Miami Beach,” said David Martin, CEO of Terra.

“Here at Metropolitan Commercial Bank, we lend to best-in-class sponsors who are battle and time-tested experts in their asset class. We help them create and sustain generational wealth by understanding exactly how they create value, and by structuring our transactions to maximize this value creation. Terra has been on the front lines of reinvigorating some of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods for more than a decade now. We saw a great opportunity to help the firm acquire the last remaining undeveloped parcel in the Midtown Miami PUD. We are proud to add David Martin and Terra to our Florida sponsor roster,” said Manuel Vidal, Florida Market Manager for Metropolitan Commercial Bank.

Terra’s portfolio of luxury developments across South Florida includes Five Park, a 48-story residential tower rising at the entrance to Miami Beach; the two-tower Mr. C Residences Coconut Grove, which is nearing completion later this year; THE WELL Bay Harbor Islands, a wellness-focused mixed-use property planned for Miami’s Bay Harbor Islands with 54 luxury residences and 80,000 square feet of class A office space; and Villa Miami, a 55-story waterfront tower planned for Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood with roughly 50 full-floor residences.

Lion Development Group is led by Michael Simkins, one of the visionaries behind the E11EVEN brand and one of the largest property owners in Miami. Michael Simkins is leading the redevelopment of several distinct neighborhoods in South Florida and is currently developing E11EVEN Hotel & Residences, E11EVEN Residences Beyond and West Eleventh Residences.