PROFILE Exclusive: Terra Group Celebrates Park Grove Top-Off With Tour & New Renderings Released

Park Grove, a 3-building joint venture between Terra Group and Related Group, has celebrated the top-off of Two Park Grove as the project continues to transform the Coconut Grove skyline. They also released new renderings of the restaurant which will be by Miami restauranteur Michael Schwartz, which he said will feature a wood-fire grill and will be designed by Meyer Davis. Terra Group also released new renderings of the 5-acre "park" initiative, the lush amenity deck featuring a sculpture park, amphitheater and 5-acres of private, serene, lush landscaping for residents to enjoy, designed by Enzo Enea. According to developer David Martin, residents will notice that 12 foot ceiling height as well as the exterior column exoskeleton design as opposed to interior columns, allowing sweeping glass wall views of Biscayne Bay directly out to the Atlantic Ocean. 

"This is developing into a neighborhood with new architecture as well as with the old Florida architecture so it has a good diversity and design. There are a lot of new restaurants that are coming and new retail, so I think that Coconut Grove is a neighborhood that has a lot of components but is very quite and peaceful," said developer David Martin of Terra Group. Stay tuned for our full-interview with David, coming soon.

Check out our in-depth coverage of Park Grove.

David Martin of Terra Group

New Renderings

PROFILE Exclusive: Hyde Midtown Suites & Residences Tops Off

The Related Group, Dezer Development and Moss & Associates celebrated the topping off of the Hyde Midtown Suites & Residences luxury condo-hotel project in Midtown. The project features 410 luxury residential condos and 60 hotel suites. The 32-story, 480,000 SF building was designed by Arquitectonica with interior design by the Rockwell Group with a total cost around $98 million. Carlos Rosso of Related Group explained that the amenities will be tailored towards millennials and the younger generation. They will feature a Hyde Musice Lounge & Piano Bar, a yet to be announced SBE restaurant, pool terrace with putting green and tennis court, state-of-the-art fitness center and private screening theater. Hyde Midtown Suites & Residences broke ground in September 2015 and is expected to be delivered in October 2017. Photos by TAMZ Photography.

PROFILE Exclusive: Interview with Patrick O'Connell of Gables Waterway

PROFILEmiami had the exclusive opportunity to sit down with Patrick O'Connell, the Senior Vice President - New Business Development for EWM Realty. He is heading up sales at Gables Waterway, a luxury-boutique condominium development located at 6100 Calballero Boulevard. Gables Waterway features 13 residences designed by Cesar Molina & CMA Architects with interiors by Assure Interiors. Residences feature select private elevators, private foyers, large open floor-plans, and come in Penthouse, Villa, Flat and Atelier layouts. Residences range from 2 to 6 bedrooms and 1,684 SF to 6,789 SF starting at $1.2 million. Sales of Gables Waterway are being handled exclusively by EWM Realty. 

PM: Where did the idea for Gables Waterway come about? 

PO: Gables Waterway is the developers vision. Jorge Ortiz and his family, after acquiring this property, they hired a very well-known Coral Gables architect known as Cesar Molina and shared with him their idea of doing something really truly unique and capturing the spirit of Coral Gables and the Mediterranean architecture. Rather than doing something contemporary like many developers are doing now he wanted to honor the classic tradition of the gables and build a showpiece property that is one-of-a-kind here in this city.

PM: What sets Gables Waterway apart from anything else in Coral Gables?

PO: I would say the fact that it's the last buildable multi-family opportunity in the city with access to the water. It's the last multi-family parcel on the Gables Waterway. Just that classic Mediterranean appeal, other developers are focusing on cotemporary and not this classic gables design.

PM: Who is the target buyer for Gables Waterway?

PO: We see as a lot of families in Coral Gables as the kids get older and graduate college and the parents want to stay in the Gables but do not want a house. That is the main focus of our development and those are our buyers. Its many families that have been here and older couples that have been here for years and years. They love Coral Gables but they also perhaps have a home up in North Carolina or Maine where they want to spend half the year, so the idea of having a large condominium here that they can also lock-up and go that is our customer.   

PM: What are the 3 best features of the Gables Waterway development from your perspective?

PO: I would say the waterfront appeal, that is first and foremost and unique. The fact that you can have your boat right behind your condominium. I would also say the Mediterranean architecture and the shear size and livability of these condominium units. These were designed taking months of reworking the interiors to make sure that we have the best interior design for families that live here full-time. 

PM: How did EWM get involved with Gables Waterway?  

PO: In the summer of 2015 we were originally approached by the owners of the property with the original sketches and plans for "The Waterway". They knew that EWM was the top-selling luxury brokerage in Coral Gables. Many of the buyers for this development are our customers already. We have their homes listed, so it was just a natural request that they would come to us and ask for our help. Even from the beginning Ron Shuffield, our President, spent a lot of time with the developer on the floor-plan really perfecting it. 

PM: What has been the biggest obstacle to overcome to bring Gables Waterway to completion?

PO: Heres the thing, the city loves this development. It's the right size development for the neighborhood. The developer is building "as-of-right," which means he didn't have to ask for any special permissions from the city. The commissioner and Mayor are squarely behind it, and they love it. It has actually been a fairly pleasant process, we haven't really had a lot of obstacles. We nearly have a permit and we are ready to build. 

PM: What is one feature of Gables Waterway that the residents are sure to love that buyers (residents) may not have thought about yet? 

PO: In the lower garage level the developer is building very large, "extra rooms," complete with electricity that is sort of like a personal basement for each unit. It is basically an entire separate room that they can place all of their fishing gear, everything for their boat, but it is the size of a bedroom and you can build-it out as you wish and it is metered to your unit so you can put a refrigerator or a freezer. From these rooms you can just walk right out to the private dock and load your boat and go. The developer is himself a boater so he built this very much with the boater in mind. 

PM: Where do you see Coral Gable’s place in Miami over the next decade? Twenty years? 

PO: I think that Coral Gables is going to continue to attract multi-national companies, which it has done a great job of already. With some new office product going up in Downtown Coral Gables. With the density of Downtown and the Brickell market right now and the difficulties of coming and going from there I think more companies are going to choose Coral Gables as their preferred location for their offices. With that comes all of their senior executives and their employees that are going to want to live here. I think it will continue to outperform the rest of Miami-Dade counties in our property values because of our location and the strict code enforcement that makes the residential experience superior to everything else in South Florida. 

Check-out our full PROFILE on Gables Waterway for a complete overview of the project. 

PROFILE Exclusive: Interview with Dan Kodsi of Paramount World Center

PROFILEmiami had the exclusive opportunity to sit down with developer of Paramount World Center and CEO of Royal Palms Companies, Dan Kodsi to discuss PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter. The under construction, 60-story signature residential tower of Miami Worldcenter, is among the largest mixed-use projects in the country. The project broke ground in March of this year and recently completed one of the largest foundation pours in the state of Florida. They are paving the way for downtown Miami’s future as a pedestrian-friendly live, work, play destination as residents will be just an elevator ride from the vibrant blend of retail, restaurants, and nightlife planned for the mixed-use development. Currently under construction and featuring more than 40 cutting-edge offerings, PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter is the most amenitized residential building in the country – and possibly the world – presenting an unparalleled lifestyle. The 500+ residences will be adorned with a four-acre amenity deck with lush parks and multiple resort-style pools. Kodsi has built the Paramount brand featuring projects such as PARAMOUNT Bay in Edgewater, PARAMOUNT Fort Lauderdale and now PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter. 

PM: When you first got to Park West what did you find? How has the area changed since then?  

DK: I went to University of Miami in 1987 and I remember driving past Park West. I remember saying look at these big open areas of downtown. Five, ten years later, I constantly kept seeing this undeveloped land in the middle of the city. You have to understand how cities grow and how cities get built. My background was in urban planning and my degree was in urban planning. Understanding absorption rates, the path to development just wasn't there yet. It's just getting there today. It's funny to think that this was just 30 years ago. [There was this vast undeveloped land in the middle of a major city, right in the center of everything. In between Miami Beach and the suburban neighborhoods, everything is right here. It was begging to be developed. Begging to be something greater, which is what it is going to become with Miami World Center.]

In 2003 I brought the site directly across from American Airlines Arena. When I brought that they had just started to develop 900 Biscayne. Right after everyone started panicking and these blocks started going quickly. Unfortunately I don't own it today, the market went into a deep recession in 2009 and I didn't know how long I would need to hold onto it. If you were in real estate development in 2009 it was not a good time. But in 2004 and 2005 I actually started buying a lot of this land in Park West, so I used to be one of the owners. Miami Worldcenter Association is by main principle Art Falcone. He brought a lot of these properties from me. I actually started assembling it, then he started assembling it. We knew each other because we used to build in the same neighborhoods in Broward County. We used to be in the same office building and we did business together in the '90's. What happened was we had a meeting and we said you're assembling this, I'm assembling this, it makes sense for one group to develop all the parcels. So I made an agreement to sell in 2006, 2007. Then came 2008, but eventually we were able to get the whole assemblage done.  

Photo via Zimio

PM: How did the concept for PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter come about? How has it changed since the original proposal?  

DK: If you step outside, you will see the change. In the next 24 to 36 months you will see an entire portion of the city of Miami completely converge into a new city within a city. 6 different towers are being built here with almost 400,000 SF of retail so it is going to be a significant change. We have 5 blocks of pedestrian retail, significant road closures that allow for pedestrians to walk around the center of downtown. The type of retail which is high-street retail is going to create flagship stores. Some of the stores that are going to come here are going to create their premiere flagship store in Miami. It's going to be quite a big change. It hasn't changed much since than besides all of the construction work you see, which probably makes it look worse than better for now, but that is the beginning of something that is going to be magnificent. 

PARAMOUNT was a brand I created in 2005, I launched a project called PARAMOUNT Bay. I also launched a project called PARAMOUNT Beach in Sunny Isles but we made a decision to not break ground because I saw the market getting shaky, and I also sold that asset. As I started developing again after the recession I wanted to revive this brand concept that we had. It is a more upscale, modern, residential brand. We have the consistent product where we have private elevators, 10 ft ceilings, bigger outdoor space, there's better living space, there's better living space, there is good strong finishes, and there is a strong service component to it. We want to create this consistency so PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter is the third PARAMOUNT, and are looking at another 2 more projects under the PARAMOUNT brand. 

PM: What has been the biggest obstacle to overcome to bring PARAMOUNT to completion?

DK: From a technical standpoint, it was the right decision when they went from an indoor mall to an outdoor mall. Everyone whose brought here, everyone in the neighborhood, everyone in the city have embraced the fact that we are not doing an enclosed mall. People don't want to walk around these indoor malls anymore. It was the right decision, but it was a huge obstacle because I had a whole building designed that I had just started construction on. It completely changed from a technical standpoint changed, all the engineering, all the structure. I had to react quickly to make those modifications, which are done today. We lost a little bit of time but we were able to maintain our schedule. I would say that that would be our biggest obstacle.

PM: What is one feature of PARAMOUNT that the residents are sure to love that buyers may not have thought about yet? 

DK: I think people don't realize the floor-plans, the efficiency of our floor plans. Something simple like that. At the end of the day, we could talk about amenities and location, but you live in your home. You live in that confined space we call home. It's amazing how much time of our life we spend in our home. We really spent a lot of time focusing on very efficient floor plans. We look at furniture layouts and how people are actually going to live in their home. We offer big open spaces for how you are going to entertain in your home. We took a balcony which always have been forever wraparound and 5 feet wall. You cannot furnish that. We created the outdoor living room. It actually becomes an extension of your home. I don't think people realize how great the magnitude of these spaces are. Then again we boast the best amenities in the world. We have essentially everything I can't think of anything were missing anymore. It's going to take you about a day to tour the building. 

The second one is I think there is going to be the sense of a resort feel at our pool deck. It is like I am on vacation, I'm relaxing, but then I am in the middle of a city. I go downstairs and have all the facilities of a city. You can go to a concert at the performing art center, then all of the museums and the waterfront. All these are within steps of PARAMOUNT. 

PM: Once the project is complete, what will the Paramount and Miami World Center projects contribute to both the city and state. 

DK: It will be a signature tower that will signify that you have arrived to Miami. Coming from the airport to South Beach everyone is going to pass this building. All of the buildings on Biscayne Boulevard have their back facing you when you drive up to them, you can only see the front coming from South Beach. What we did is the front of our building is facing (west) when you drive up to the city. It will give the skyline an entirely new dimension.

Miami Worldcenter has a plethora of contributions to the city and the state because it is going to be a destination. You have Brightline that is going to be dropping people off from Orlando and the state of Florida, they will come off a train right into Miami Worldcenter. You will have hotels, 5 streets of pedestrian shopping. Now when you get to Miami you do not have to get in a car and go to South Beach. Here you are going to get to Miami, walk off a train, and be in the middle of a city.

PM: Where do you see the Park West area of Downtown’s place in Miami over the next decade? Twenty years? 

DK: What is different about Miami Worldcenter is all of the other blocks that are still undeveloped once the first phase is developed, you will see a continuation of this ground floor retail because all of these retailers will want to be next to other retailers. It will have an opportunity for organic growth that no other city has. Another developer can come buy another site nearby and create great ground floor retail. Miami Worldcenter has the potential to become greater than it already is for the fact that it has the opportunity for organic growth. You will wake up 20 years from now and have 4 or 5 more blocks completed that haven't even contemplated right now. It will start to allow it to be more dynamic.

PM: As prices in Miami start to fall, prices in Park West have stayed somewhat strong, even rising in some buildings such as Marquis. Why do you think this area is not showing the same market response to increasing inventory as other neighborhoods? 

DK: Simply because there is not a lot of inventory. Not as much as in Brickell or Edgewater, and there is a lot of different inventory here. If you look at the product that was built here, take the 4 buildings in Park West, you have the views. Some of those buildings never performed very well, they never appreciated. Now you have One Thousand Museum that takes it to an entirely different level. The main reasons pricing is hold here more than anywhere else is the anticipation of Miami World Center. People are looking at it like once Miami World Center is built, this will be the center of town. It isn't going to be Brickell, or Edgewater or Mid Town. Design District is super high-end but there is no density there. No hotels. This is going to be the place to live. If you are going to be an owner and you want to own Downtown you are only going to have a few buildings to choose from which are end-user quality.

PM: Construction in Miami is booming and it seems the developers are putting their heads down and plowing full steam ahead. How has the reception from the public been in Miami compared to potential buyers and real estate professionals from other cities? 

DK: If you look at the players that are building here, they are all Miami developers who have built a building. Whether it is Turnberry, myself, Related, Fortune, Dezer, everyone has built a building. There are some new guys, but most of those new guys have broken ground yet. All of the guys under construction are guys that have built projects. I don't think anyone is plowing ahead. Related, who never delays a project, delayed their Auberge project, which I think was the right decision. I think people are being very rational in this market. There are no new starts. There are announcements of a couple of new projects but I think they are going to have a tough time to get from a reservation to a contract in todays market. You literally see that starts have declined almost 70% in the past few months. I don't think you are going to see many starts in 2017. You are going to see a few, there are some people who are going to build their projects because they have the cash. Guys who need financing are going to have trouble getting their building off the ground. 

PROFILE Exclusive: SLS Lux Top-Off Celebration

PROFILEmiami had the exclusive opportunity to tour Brickell's brand new SLS Lux, a collaboration between The Allen Morris Company, Related Group and SBE Group. SLS LUX will be a five-star experience with world-class amenities and personalized VIP service. The project is being developed in collaboration by SBE and The Related Group along with the Allen Morris Company. SLS LUX will be a 58-story tower designed by Arquitectonica with a unique LED façade by lighting artist Ana Isabel Martinez. It will feature 450 residences and 85 luxury suites designed by Yabu Pushelberg complete with world-class art. In attendance were Allen Morris and Carlos Rosso of Related Group.

Penthouse View | Photo via TAMZ

"SLS Lux is the finest condominium in Brickell. It has more amenities than any other building in the Brickell area, and it is right across from the front door of Brickell City Center, so we are very excited about it," says Allen Morris, Chairman and CEO of The Allen Morris Company. "We are completing the building this time next year. About 12 months from now we will finish all of the interiors and today we are celebrating the topping off of the 58th floor," 

Read our original coverage of SLS Lux from August. 

PROFILE Exclusive: Interview with Oscar Rodriguez and Ricardo Vadia of ROVR Development & The Fairchild Coconut Grove

PROFILEmiami had the exclusive opportunity to sit down with Oscar Rodriguez and Ricardo Vadia, the founders of ROVR Development and masterminds behind the notable new luxury-boutique condo development The Fairchild Coconut Grove. Together they shared their insights on their new project, careers in the South Florida real estate industry as well as their thoughts on Coconut Grove and the rest of the Miami real estate market. 

PM: The Fairchild Coconut Grove seems to envelope residents with the vibe of Coconut Grove. Where did the idea come from?

OR: We found this opportunity to be unique because this is a boutique building, very private. Many of the large buildings currently being built throughout Miami-Dade County are in highly dense urban settings. In comparison, when you walk out of the front door of The Fairchild Coconut Grove, you are in a very exclusive neighborhood with single-family homes where people are walking their dogs, running, and biking. The location, coupled with its Bayfront setting made it too hard for us to pass on. We absolutely loved the site.  

PROFILEmiami Interviews ROVR Development, Oct. 17, 2016

PM: What makes The Fairchild Coconut Grove so unique?

OR: Many things. The combination of luxuries and amenities that you have within the building itself, the surrounding neighborhood and waterfront accessibility, all within minutes of either downtown Miami or downtown Coconut Grove sets The Fairchild Coconut Grove apart from other developments.  

For example, our pool directly overlooks Biscayne Bay and we will have a floating dock on the Bay from which you can launch kayaks and paddle boards directly.

We were also able to maximize the roof-decks because we don't have as much equipment as a high-rise would have.  Towards the lower scale part of the building we have a typical New York rooftop garden with cove seating and an outdoor theater. These features, paired with the quaint and boutique nature of the building’s design, are part of what makes The Fairchild Coconut Grove unique.

PM: What is the best feature that residents will enjoy?

OR: In the world of boutique buildings, we offer significant amenities, among them direct water access, the highly detailed specifications of the kitchen, the floor plans, the neighborhood itself and the ability to be in an enclave setting but minutes from everywhere.. It really is the most inclusive product that is out there, including many of the other buildings in Coconut Grove. 

PM: What do you think of the recent new developments in Coconut Grove and the new energy they have brought?

OR: I think that they are beautiful and well-designed. They are being developed by some serious and reputable companies with positive track records. When you have people such as Jorge Perez, David and, Pedro Martin and Peter Garner taking big risks and who have interest in investing, it isn't by coincidence. It is because this is a beautiful area and it really has great value. That proves that Coconut Grove is highly sought-after and it is just on the verge of emerging.

PM: Where do you see Coconut Grove's place in Miami in the next 5 to 10 years?

OR: Coconut Grove has been a focal point of Miami since the 19th century. It has a reputation for being a highly exclusive and nature-oriented neighborhood with a lot of green space and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks. Many of South Florida’s historical figures have lived in Coconut Grove and I think it will always retain that mystique.

What we are finding though is that, in addition to the residents that have always lived in Coconut Grove, a more internationally affluent buyer is coming to live here. I think that continues to increase Coconut Grove’s demand.

Where else in Miami do you have a waterfront neighborhood with rich history and native landscaping all bundled up into one package? That’s what drew us to Coconut Grove as a possible development site and that’s one of the reasons we are here. 

About The Fairchild Coconut Grove:

The Fairchild Coconut Grove is a waterfront, 26 unit, mid-rise boutique condo project to be located on the 1-acre parcel located at 3581 East Glencoe St. The building will be designed by local architect Max Strang in collaboration with interior designer Rafael de Cárdenas. Residences range from 2 to 4 bedroom layouts and 1,700 SF to over 4,200 SF. Prices start at around $1.4 million and range up to $4.5 million, at about $820 SF. Amenities include a spa, two rooftop decks, a pool and a bay front deck with private boat slips available for purchase. The project is expected to break ground in early 2017 with delivery expected in spring 2018. Pre-sales are underway via One Sotheby's International Realty. 

Check out our earlier coverage on The Fairchild Coconut Grove from our September feature.

PROFILE Exclusive: Related Group's Paraiso Bay Tops Off at 53 Floors, Paraiso District in Dash to Completion

Related Group's 11-acre, 3-tower, Edgewater project, known as the Paraiso District, is slowing getting closer towards completion. There has been much excitement around the project as Paraiso Bay has topped off at 53 floors and the Paraiso Beach Club, which will be the future home of Michael Schwartz's new restaurant, has broken ground. The Related Group also announced plans to dedicated a half-acre of bayfront land to create a public park. Construction continues at Gran Paraiso and Paraiso Bayview. The Paraiso District will ultimately result in 3 towers and close to 1,000 residential condominium units. 

Paraiso Bay will be a luxury residential development which features 345 private residences developed by The Related Group and designed by Arquitectonica. Residences will have private elevator lines and amazing views of Biscayne Bay as well as the Miami Beach Skyline. Units will range from approximately 1,000 SF to 2,500 SF and one, two, three and four bedroom layouts. The amenities will also feature a marina for watersports and boat docking, Wine Cellar and Tasting Salon, cigar lounge with private humidors, Paraiso Beach Club, resort style amenities including pool with poolside cabanas, summer kitchens, poolside cafe, tennis courts, spa, fitness center. Renderings from the project's initial sales launch are below. 

During sales of the project in early 2014, it became known that David Guetta had put a penthouse in Paraiso Bay under contract. He was looking for something a little different from Miami Beach and the Related Group's Edgewater project was coming to market at the right time in the right place. Alex Rodriguez, tennis star Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili also were confirmed to have purchased in Paraiso District. David Guetta's penthouse was designed by Piero Lissoni and will be a 2,472 SF, 3-bedroom, 3.5 bathroom, two-floor condo with private elevator access and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. It also features 2,130 SF of outdoor space complete with a private pool, tanning deck and summer kitchen. Renderings of David Guetta's penthouse below. 

PROFILE Exclusive: Market Update with Demetri Demascus, REALTOR® & Founder of The Demascus Group X SRG

PROFILEmiami had the exclusive opportunity to sit down with Demetri Demascus, a top-producing REALTOR at Spectrum Realty Group as well as an investor and developer in the Miami market, to get his opinion on the fast movement that the Miami real estate market has seen over the last year as well as how to how to navigate uncertain market conditions. 

PM: What have you seen over the last year in the Miami real estate market?

DD: The market has been grinding to a halt. Anyone who says it isn't just really is not looking at the data. Yes there are still new projects selling, but even developers topping off their buildings are feeling the pressure from buyers still needing to close on the final 50% or so of their purchase. There are less buyers pulling the trigger; thus, less offers which is starting to pull prices down.   

PM: What factors are influencing this?

DD: The world is very different than it was five years ago and many of the economic and political shifts have effected Miami's real estate market. Miami is a haven for a lot of flight capital, meaning as soon a foreign family has money, they are coming to the United States. Safety is their main priority as people escaping foreign countries are looking for safer, more stable investments. They are afraid of keeping their money in unstable economies or in countries with corrupt, unstable governments and politics. 

The weakened purchasing power of foreign economies has also directly negatively affected the residential real estate market in Miami-Dade as well as the stronger U.S. dollar, which is making local markets unaffordable. Some investors are also adversely effecting real estate values as they profit off of currency fluctuation and lock in what appear to be losses in real estate for gains in currency. 

PM: How do you recommend people navigate the uncertainty?

DD: With crisis comes opportunity. Yes lots of people are worried and upset about the values of their properties, which means they may be feeling the squeeze to sell. What most real estate shoppers do not realize, is that a "buyers market" is actually a bad market. You want to buy when real estate is at its lowest and sell when it is at its highest. Why not take advantage of the low pricing and some of the opportunities that are out there. People who are scared of the "market crash" or who have been effected by unstable foreign markets will sometimes sell their home quick and below market value, giving you the opportunity to cash in on deals that would not otherwise be available. Buy some properties while their value is weak so that you can profit when their value is high. 

PM: Are there any neighborhoods that are exciting to work-in as the rest of the market seems to pull back?

DD: Yes, there is always excitement no matter how the economy is. Right now there is a lot going on in Park West and Coconut Grove. Park West is a fairly new neighborhood which is second after Fisher Island when it comes to average monthly rent. It is the area where Museum Park is and includes Marquis Residences, Ten Museum, 900 Biscayne and Marina Blue. This is a young, vibrant group of buildings and residents as well as will only improve as One Thousand Museum and Paramount World Center race towards completion. 

Also Coconut Grove is night-to-day. This area has always had pockets of luxury, but the neighborhood got lost in time as Brickell and Miami Beach have cannibalized a lot of the market over the past twenty years. Slowly parts that have ben known as "the hood" have seen many sales close to $1 million and new construction has completely transformed the neighborhood. New restaurants, stores and high-end luxury-condo buildings have . This is surely an area that will continue to grow as it truly is one of the most lush, beautiful, neighborly communities in South Florida. 

PM: Do you think South Florida and Miami real estate will continue to grow?

DD: When people look at the market right now they see two major driving factors. One is the weather and landscape. Miami is beautiful because you have the sun, sand, beach, bay, etc. There will always be a desire to live in a major city that offers such an outdoor lifestyle. The second is the attractive cost of prime real estate. No where else in the world right now can you buy such prime real estate for such discounted prices, at times near $400 SF. That is attractive to any investor no matter who you are.

Read our 2017 Market Outlook with Demetri Demascus from July 2016. 

Office location: 4141 NE 2nd Ave, STE 106-B Miami FL 33137

About Demetri Demascus & The Demascus Group X SRG:
The Demascus Group X SRG was founded in 2016 to provide our clients with modern, full-service real estate experience. The Demascus Group X SRG provides each client an individualized program tailored to their needs matched with with unprecedented support. Our services range includes sales and brokerage services, investments, property management and portfolio management. We cultivate and maintain strong partnerships with the top real estate attorneys, title companies, contractors, architects, banks and mortgage brokers and give our clients full access to our network to help them succeed. Demetri Demascus has over 8 years of experience in real estate across various markets as a residential and commercial broker, real-estate developer, manager and investor. He has set record prices in Miami working with his clients. Demetri Demascus is a member of the Miami Association of REALTORS and has knowledge in the South Florida Real-Estate Market. He is also the managing partner of Trilogy Partners, a real estate investment firm. Visit Demetri & The Demascus Group X SRG at www.demetridemascusmiami.com.

PROFILE Exclusive: Interview with Stantec Miami Design Manager Jimmy Sinis

PROFILEmiami had the exclusive opportunity to sit down with Jimmy Sinis, the Design Manager at Stantec's Miami Office, to talk with him about architecture, building design, Miami's real estate market and a look inside one of the city's most exciting real estate design firms behind projects such as Southgate Towers.

PM: What makes architecture and design in Miami so unique compared to other cities? 

JS: It really is an eclectic situation. We have seen an influx of varying cultures from all over the world come to Miami to showcase art and design. This cultural injection continues to transform the city of Miami at all levels from the Grove to South Beach to Wynwood. We witness a different flavor in each area, but the one common denominator is lifestyle. Design is focused on lifestyle arguably above all and this is what truly makes Miami unique. Fortunately, this only strengthens design culture throughout and creates an exciting foundation for the future.
 
PM: How has building design in Miami changed over the last decade in Miami? Where do you see it heading? 

JS: I believe that everyone has become more aware - more aware of the potential Miami offers. Long has Miami been associated with the MiMo style and art deco of South Beach, which in my opinion will always be an appealing character, but we have witnessed a shift to luxury design. Many of the high-rises and multi-family residences being designed in Miami are collaborating with luxury brands such as The Ritz-Carlton to create an experience unique to its location, but as in fashion, styles changed ever so quickly. I see Miami development continuing to push the envelope on design innovation across all disciplines.

Southgate Towers

PM: Where do you see Stantec's role in Miami over the next five to ten years?

JS: Right in the thick of things. Our mission is to design with community in mind and I see that as a valuable quality moving forward. Miami is still a very young city and as it evolves into a major destination for live, work, and play, we must take the right steps now as we design the foundation for the future. We understand this and relish in the opportunity to play a role in designing for this exciting time.
 
PM: How does architecture differ amongst the different neighborhoods of Miami? Does any stand out in your mind?

JS: As I stated earlier, all the neighborhoods have their own flavors of style and design with the underlying theme focusing on lifestyle, but if I had to choose one that stood out to me…. my answer may surprise you. I’m excited about what is coming. I’m excited about the neighborhoods yet to be developed. Miami has been fortunate to have exciting areas developed like Brickell, Downtown Miami, Midtown, Wynwood, but I’m excited for the connecting zones of Historic Overtown, and land near the Omni Station with amazing museums and cultural centers. I’m excited for how design plays a role in the evolution of the urban fabric as Miami grows into a global city.
 
PM: What is the most unique feature that Stantec has brought to a project in South Florida

JS: Instead of pinpointing one unique feature, I feel that the body of work we have produced and are producing is the early chapters of our legacy. We are fortunate to be a part of many of the developments in Miami, and the collection of these designs shaping what is still a very young Miami, is what is most unique to me. We are influencing the skyline and forcing those Miami tourists stands to continuously update their postcard prints.

Stantec’s Miami office is located at One Biscayne Tower, 2 South Biscayne Blvd, Suite 1607, Miami, FL.  T: (305) 482-8700.

Luma 

About Stantec
"We're active members of the communities we serve. That's why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind. The Stantec community unites approximately 22,000 employees working in over 400 locations across six continents. Our work—engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics, from initial project concept and planning through design, construction, and commissioning—begins at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. With a long-term commitment to the people and places we serve, Stantec has the unique ability to connect to projects on a personal level and advance the quality of life in communities across the globe. Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN. Visit us at www.stantec.com/commercial or find us on social media."