UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HOSTS ITS NINTH ANNUAL REAL ESTATE IMPACT CONFERENCE

On Friday, February 28th, the University of Miami School of Architecture hosted its ninth annual Real Estate Impact Conference, which brought together board members, students, faculty, distinguished alumni and real estate professionals. The invitation-only conference was hosted at the Four Seasons Hotel in Brickell with support from presenting sponsors Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Kislak, and Witkoff. 

More than 650 University of Miami students and alumni, including many South Florida commercial real estate and finance professionals, discussed both threats and opportunities in the market at the multidisciplinary conference.

“Bringing together faculty and students from our schools of architecture, business and law is an important step in tackling today’s complex problems,” said University of Miami President Julio Frenk. “This conference is an excellent example, because real estate is essential to Miami’s economy with an impact around the world.”

Anthony Graziano and President Julio Frenk.

In addition to panel discussions and networking sessions, there were several special programs available to MRED+U, MBA, MSF and Law School students throughout the day. One of the benefits of membership on the University of Miami Real Estate Advisory Boards, which consist of over 100 prominent real estate professionals, is personal contact with the best and brightest students. Advice With Impact was an intimate, morning networking session which was attended by students and sponsors such as IBERIABANK, Plaza Construction, CBRE and Whitman Family Development. 

Katya Demina, Tom Murphy and Alana Fernandez.

University of Miami students were also invited to apply for the premier networking opportunity of the school year: the Swire Scholar Luncheon. Scholars received complimentary registration ($300 value) to attend the conference and participated in a private luncheon with advisory board members from the Architecture, Business and Law schools. David Martin, vice president of retail at Swire Properties, welcomed UM’s Swire Scholar students to the opening luncheon, where they had an opportunity to discuss their studies and career plans with UM’s Real Estate Advisory Board members.

For MBA student Jack Shelgren, the Swire Scholars luncheon provided valuable learning and networking opportunities. “As an intern, I did research and financial analysis, learning about multifamily, office and retail asset types,” he said. “Now, I’m an associate at Freeman Property Group, gaining an entrepreneurial perspective, while working on acquisitions for our clients.”

MRED+U students Nick Nicola and Tanya Rivera with Jackie Touzet.

In the afternoon, top executives from JP Morgan Chase, Ventas and Hines took the stage and provided valuable insight on today’s real estate market. They commented that hospitality services are playing an increasingly important role throughout the commercial real estate market, as employers seek to recruit and retain talented workers. Another emerging trend is the growing demand for medical office properties and senior housing driven by the aging of the U.S. population. Without question, the global spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 poses a threat to global real estate markets, according to Matthew Cherwin, treasurer and chief investment officer of JP Morgan Chase. 

The school also highlighted its Research Initiative, which was introduced in 2018 by Dr. Charles Bohl, Director of the Master in Real Estate Development + Urbanism (MRED+U) Program. “Both the University of Miami and our Real Estate Advisory Boards have made Resiliency a top research priority of immense relevance to South Florida and coastal communities around the world. It is through joint research initiatives like this that our students, faculty and researchers can help us address the big, challenging issues of our day, including the adaptation and development of more resilient buildings, infrastructure and communities,” said Bohl. Professor Mark Troen and students from the MRED+U program presented this year’s findings on stage. 

The 2020 Impact Conference Organizing Committee consists of Andrea Heuson, Charles Bohl, Manuel de Zarraga, Nitin Motwani, Alfonso Munk and Steve Witkoff. Nitin Motwani, Managing Principal of Miami Worldcenter and Chair of the MRED+U Advisory Board, closed the standing-room-only conference by reminding participants that, “The University of Miami Real Estate Impact Conference supports all real estate education at the University, which has become an interdisciplinary powerhouse that blends real estate programs in finance, development, and law with construction management, architecture and engineering.” 

GRAND OPENING OF THE MR. C RESIDENCES COCONUT GROVE SALES GALLERY

David Martin’s Terra and Ignazio Cipriani’s Mr. C hosted the Mr. C Residences Coconut Grove sales gallery grand opening event on February 5. Guests enjoyed live music, hors d’oeuvre and cocktails in the Mr. C Residences Coconut Grove sales gallery adjacent to Fresh Market. The new development marks the first residential project for the Mr. C brand and is set to deliver a next-generation residential experience rooted in service, design, cuisine and lifestyle. 

Residence interiors and amenity spaces are being designed by Meyer Davis, who worked closely with Ignazio Cipriani and the Mr. C team to create an on-brand experience synonymous with old-world European sophistication, cuisine and nautical inspirations. 

At the event, long-time friends David Martin and Mayor Francis Suarez took the stage alongside project leaders, to give thanks and create excitement around the future of Coconut Grove, home to other projects by both Terra and Mr. C. 

Images via World Red Eye.

By Stephanie Warren

PEOPLE TO WATCH: Meet Our Panelist Ryan Shear, Managing Partner of PMG

Join us on March 5th at X Miami for People to Watch: Leaders in South Florida Real Estate, where Ryan Shear will be discussing how PMG stays innovative with creative housing solutions, how declining ownership is affecting the multifamily market and how he plans to build projects that will withstand the tests of time.

The developer currently has more than 5,000 units in the pipeline, including their largest multi-family project to date with over 900 beds. In December, PMG announced their latest concept, Society, the natural evolution of X Social Communities, as a response to the insatiable demand for attainably-priced, downtown rental communities. The new brand will debut with downtown mega-projects Society Las Olas (formerly X Las Olas) in Fort Lauderdale, Society Biscayne (formerly 400 Biscayne Boulevard) and Society Wynwood in Miami. 

Society is aimed at a broader demographic, unlike X, which is geared towards millennial. Only about 30% of Society buildings will be dedicated to co-living options, as opposed to 35% - 40% in X buildings.

Society Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale.

Co-living has been an enticing model for residents, investors and developers alike, as urban cores continue to become saturated and the demand for housing skyrockets. Following the success of X Miami, the fastest building in Downtown Miami to lease up, PMG took lessons they learned from X Social Communities and augmented them. Society will focus more on community inclusivity and expanding their finish and furnish options, while also adding to the immersive and experiential aspects of the building.

As a managing partner of PMG, Shear is responsible for general company operations, vision and growth. For nearly 15 years, Shear has played an instrumental role in the company’s success in Miami and beyond. He currently manages a growing portfolio of over $4 billion in real estate assets across the country. Completed condo projects spearheaded by Shear include Echo Aventura, Echo Brickell and Muse Residences in Sunny Isles. In 2018, Shear announced PMG will be bringing The Waldorf Astoria Residences to Miami in 2020.

The group recently opened X Miami, a 464-unit multifamily social community pioneering the “Rent By Bedroom” model for Class A luxury apartments in the urban core, which became the fastest building to lease in Downtown Miami. PMG will continue to expand this multifamily model nationally under Shear's direction. A native of Miami’s Coconut Grove and alumnus of Emory University's Goizueta School of Business, Shear lives in Brickell with his dog Larry and enjoys pico de gallo with every meal.

Hear from Ryan on March 5th at People to Watch: Leaders in South Florida Real Estate. Get your tickets below.

Event Page: http://profilemiamire.com/profilemiami-presents-people-to-watch-leaders-in-south-florida-real-estate-x-miami

Society Biscayne in Downtown Miami.

By Katya Demina