88 La Gorce Circle, Miami Beach, FL

Check out the listing here 

More on La Gorce Island homes

The ultra-modern home has three bedrooms, three baths and just over 5,700 square feet.  The “point lot” has wide-bay views and 100′ of prime water-frontage.

Kravitz has previously had good luck with his Miami Beach real estate.  In 2005, he sold his Sunset Island mega-estate to former Fontainebleau Hotel owner Stephen Muss for $14.5M.

No word on exactly who the buyer is of the Kravitz home, but a birdie told me it was a “regular person.”

Kravitz paid $725,000 for the property in 1997. 

Related Reading:

• Miami Beach Real Estate:  Waterfront Home Sales Down a Shocking 50%
• Real Estate Scoop: Miami Beach Trophy Property Under Contract 

Today, I had the opportunity to take a tour of the Canyon Ranch Living Hotel and Restaurant.  I was treated to a lunch with the developer, not a buffet-thing for agents, but a real impromptu lunch at the Canyon Ranch Living Restaurant.  The hotel is now in it’s soft opening phase. 

After healthy-living, Canyon Ranch is known for it’s food.  I wrote a post for the opening of DeVito’s Restaurant in South Beach and I had some disappointed readers annoyed that I didn’t “photograph” the menu.  It seems a little cheesy to me, but here it is…..

The numbers to the side of each menu selection display the calorie/carb/fat counts for each. 

Now that the “menu issue” is off my ”plate,” follow me right through my lunch today at Canyon Ranch.

As I entered the lobby, the paparazzi were frightening.  Flash bulbs.  “Kevin, over here!”  “How are you today, Kevin?”  “Can I get a smile for the New York Times, Kevin?”  Stressful.  Now I know what they all go through.  Oh, and the lobby is pretty hot, too!

The hotel is located in the center or Carillon Tower.  The Carillon was the hotel in it’s day (50′s) and a stellar example of Mimo (Miami modern) architecture.  A few people I know, including Rose Harris, babble about getting “it” for the first time at the Carillon.  I don’t know what she “got”, but I hope it is not communicable.  I’m not a big fan of looking back and re-hashing the olden days….so maybe someone can comment here more about “the day.”  Canyon Ranch Living-Miami Beach 2008:  think more Lindsay post-rehab and less Frank Sinatra (was there rehab in the “day”?).  

The restaurant is located just off the lobby and, as expected, both have a very earthy, and very high-end, feeling.  Though not open today, the restaurant has a very large outdoor seating area, and as far as I know, Canyon Ranch will have the only restaurant with oceanfront dining.  The Ritz-Carlton in South Beach has a very nice restaurant on the boardwalk, but Canyon’s restaurant is ON the ocean and comes complete with climate-control (that’s my fancy way of saying dining alfresco at Canyon is air-conditioned).  What recession.

My delicious mixed-greens salad, and in the distance, a chicken appetizer the Dieter raves about.

I know my knife is crooked, it bothers me, too.  I’m not a fan of pulled pork ANYTHING, but today I ventured out of my comfort zone and ordered the pulled CHICKEN sandwich.  I figured that this would be a safe foray into the “pulled” arena.  If you like spicy, you’ll love this.  My sandwich was on a great whole-wheat/multi-grain-type bun.  Dieter and Phil had the churrasco.  In front of my plate were the artichoke french fries.  That’s right.  The food was perfect and I loved the size of the portions.  I didn’t feel like a big, fat cow after eating.  After lunch we had a “home-made” soda.  It’s delicious because, the juice of choice, I had passion-fruit, is poured right into a sparkling soda.

This is the lounge area between the lobby and the restaurant.  This is the only Canyon Ranch that serves alcohol (organic, I’m told).

There is so much to see at Canyon Ranch, I couldn’t possibly fit it in all into one post.  Later in the week, I’m getting a tour of the hotel rooms and early next week, a tour OF THE SPA.

Browse Canyon Ranch Living real estate here

• More on Canyon Ranch Living-Miami Beach [Miami Herald]

Fast-forward 16 years to one of the most explosive renaissances of any city anywhere.

Publix in North Beach

It looks as if the North Beach area is going to be getting a state-of-the-art, hurricane-proof Publix.  It seems that grocery chain is in the final stages of getting the 46,000 sf store.  According to the article in Sunday’s Miami Herald, some neighborhood activists don’t want a large-surface lot for parking.  Um, hello! People need to park somewhere.

It will take about two years to build once construction begins.

I’ve heard through the grapevine that this Publix is slated to be one of their new upscale stores to compete with Whole Foods.  I’m sure that will make all the new owners and guests at Canyon Ranch Living Miami Beach, which is directly across the street, very happy.

[Source:  Miami Herald]

The Fresh Market in South Beach

The city unanimously approved the 22,000 sf store in the Sunset Harbour neighborhood in South Beach.  According to the Miami Herald, The Fresh Market will be located at the corner of 18th and West Avenue.  No time was given on the completion of the project.

Segafredo in SoFi/South Beach

A popular hangout on Lincoln Road and now on Brickell Avenue, Segafredo will be opening street-side at 124 Collins Avenue, just a few doors up from Nemo Restaurant.  I’m particularly excited about this one. I love the one on Lincoln Road, but most times it’s just too hectic, so a sexy SoFi location is sure to be a huge hit.  To be honest, I’m kind of annoyed that I didn’t think of the idea first. It’s going to be an instant hit with all those residents in the condos of the neighborhood (Continuum, Apogee, ICON, Murano, et al).

Check out South Beach real estate here.

6410 North Bay Road, Miami Beach, FL 33141

While perusing the residential real estate inventory on Miami Beach, I came across this fantastic home which was reduced by $1M today!  Located on very prestigious upper North Bay Road, and home to celebrities like Ricky Martin, Calvin Klein, and Matt Damon, this estate has five bedrooms, 5,000 interior sq. ft., and a 24,000 sq. ft. lot according to Elliman Florida, the listing broker.

For boaters, the property has 100 linear feet of deep-water frontage with new dock.

Built in 1949, this home exudes old Hollywood glamour and features a traditional layout, updated kitchen, and spectacular wide-bay views.

$4,995,000

Sound nice?  It is.

To view all waterfront properties available for sale on North Bay Road, click here

Miami Beach Condo Buys

ICON South Beach:  450 Alton Road #1601.  This is a three bedroom corner unit with southwest exposure.  It was reduced to $1.59M from $1.9M on 1.24.08.

Canyon Ranch Living Miami Beach Condo Hotel:  6801 Collins Avenue #C 404.  This direct oceanfront condo-hotel unit at $875K is a steal.  Most of the one bedroom condo-hotels NOT on the ocean are in this price range.

Green Diamond:  4775 Collins Avenue #1804.  2/2 + den has been converted to a three bedroom.  Two parking spaces.  Short-sale.  Need I go on?  $589K

1500 Ocean Drive:  1500 Ocean Drive #504.  Great unit with great ocean and Ocean Drive views in South Beach.  AAA building.  Bank-owned.  $1.2779M

La Gorce Palace:  6301 Collins Avenue #TS 7.  Penthouse-level unit (32nd floor) with 9 feet ceilings.  Beautifully updated.  Best value in oceanfront building.  $649K

Bath Club Miami Beach:  5959 Collins Avenue #1503.  3640 sq. ft. of luxury.  Priced very well for height of unit and view.  AAA building with spa-like amenities.  $2.399M

First off, AQUA Allison Island Condos has four units available for sale:

1. 6103 Aqua Avenue #201 – 1/1.5, 1380 sf, $369,000
2. 6103 Aqua Avenue #901 – 4/4.5, 2766 sf, $1,200,000 (no balcony)
3. 6103 Aqua Avenue #704 – 3/3.5, 2203 sf, $970,000
4. 6103 Aqua Avenue #601 – 3/3.5, 2203 sf, $899,900

Next, Murano Grande in South Beach, has three condos listed for sale:

1. 400 Alton Road #2309 – 2/2, 1437 sf,  $874,900
2. 400 Alton Road #2209 – 2/2, 1437 sf, $850,000
3. 400 Alton Road #605 – 2/2, 1437 sf, $850,000

The Green Diamond Condo in Millionaires’ Row has two units:

1. 4775 Collins Avenue #1804 – 2/2 + den, 1550 sf, 2 parking spaces, $765,000
2. 4775 Collins Avenue #1505 – 2/2, 1380 sf, $750,000

Bel Aire on the Ocean in North Beach has one unit:

1. 6515 Collins Avenue #703 - 2/2, 1126 sf, $630,900 

6000 Indian Creek in Millionaires’ Row:

1. 6000 Indian Creek #1801 – 2/2, 1300 sf, $650,000  

Oceanside Plaza in Millionaires’ Row:

1. 5555 Collins Avenue #16Y – 2/2, 1350 sf, $470,000

To search for more Miami Beach real estate, click here

This month I have started to feel that Miami Beach condo sellers are coming to terms with the reality of the “new” market. The impending wave of new condos “across the bridge” will no doubt bring down the market as a whole. Don’t worry, the best properties in the best locations are the LAST to go down and the FIRST to come up!

Three new luxury buildings will be added to the Miami Beach real estate mix: Continuum II, Apogee South Beach and Canyon Ranch Living Miami Beach. It will be interesting to see how many speculators place their units on the market at Continuum II.  Since Apogee South Beach has so few units (67), I think that any inventory that comes to market will be quickly absorbed.

So….You Want to Buy a Condo in South Beach?—What to Do

Always be guided by your gut instinct. Never let anyone talk you into something that you don’t feel is quite right. Even in this wobbly market, I would have NO problem buying a unit a Continuum, NONE! Here’s why: Location and supply and demand.

Kevin’s Recommendations

Continuum I. I believe it is actually a steal. Yup, UNDER-PRICED!

Apogee South Beach. This building is very pricey but will no doubt become the most prestigious condominium in ALL of South Florida. To be delivered later this year.

Canyon Ranch Living Miami Beach. One of the only projects along with Setai South Beach that is actually a destination.

One Bal Harbour. Arguably one of the two best locations in all of South Florida.

ICON South Beach. This one is all about timing. There is a lot of inventory on the market and not many condo sales. The owners that need to sell will be in reality VERY SOON.

Miami Beach Real Estate Condo Buying Tips:

• East and Southeast exposures are the most desired. If the condominium is on the bay, then the Southwest exposure would be the preferred exposure.
• Two bedroom units are better than three bedroom units (larger pool of buyers)
• If you can find a luxury condo on the ocean with one bedroom units with eastern exposure, those are rare. Continuum II has some and so does Canyon Ranch Living. They are gold. Developers typically give the larger units the preferred east exposure.
• Never buy a “flow-through” unit without seeing it or taking a tour of others. Some people like them—some people don’t.
• Corner “flow-through” units (three exposures) are rare. Apogee has them and so does Canyon Ranch Living. Great on paper, GREATER in reality.

Miami Beach Condos, Miami Beach real estate, One Bal Harbour, South Beach real estate, South Beach condos, Continuum II South Beach, Canyon Ranch Living Miami Beach

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Unit #501 is available for $999,000.  This unit is completely finished and ready to move into.

Unit #901, which was a foreclosure,  closed in June, 2007 in the Gorlin Building at AQUA at Allison Island for $1,065,000.  The unit had a beautiful view and was unfinished.

So, for all who ask me about a “good deal,” here it is.

Miami Beach real estate, AQUA Allison Island, Gorlin Condos, Foreclosures, South Beach condos

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Canyon Ranch Living is a three-phase project that is located on the ocean at 6801 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. This perfect address encompasses more than 1,000 linear feet of oceanfront and is just minutes north of world-famous South Beach and minutes south of the Bal Harbour Shops.

Phase one is the South Tower (condo residences) and the Center Tower, also called the Carillon Tower (condo-hotel units and condo residences). The second phase will be the North Tower, and the third phase will be the historic Golden Sands Hotel property at 6901 Collins Avenue (no details yet on how the Golden Sands will fit into the project). The first two phases of the project will have 581 units total:

• 143 in the South Tower (phase one)
• 151 condo-hotel units in the center Carillon building (phase one) on floors 2–10; floors 10–16 in Carillon Tower are condominiums
• 80 condo units in the center Carillon building on floors 11–16
• 207 condos in the North Tower (phase two), including seven direct oceanfront beach houses

The developer is expecting the T.C.O. (temporary certificate of occupancy) for the South Tower any day. Closings will begin ten days after a T.C.O. is obtained. Closings for the Center Tower (Carillon) should begin 30 to 60 days after the South Tower, and the Canyon Ranch Living Miami Beach Resort should open in the first part of 2008.

Restaurants at Canyon Ranch Living Miami Beach

Cabana Grill – Offers healthy meals served in the pool area exclusively for Canyon Ranch guests and residents.

Café Vida – Casual dining and tasting room offering creative cuisine, fine wines, and to-go items.

Juice Bar – Here you can sample locally-fresh and seasonal juices and smoothies in the ocean-view Juice Bar located on the 4th floor Spa Lobby.

The Restaurant at Canyon Ranch – A fine-dining oceanfront restaurant with indoor & outdoor seating will offer award-winning and nutritionally-balanced gourmet cuisine and will be open to the public. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, the restaurant sits adjacent to the hotel lobby and borders the beach. The terrace features dining with superb ocean views. Sensual and experiential dining venues include an exhibition kitchen, tapas area and private dining for up to 40 guests – all serving signature, nutritious Canyon Ranch gourmet cuisine. Lobby level.

The food at the Canyon Ranch Restaurants will be organic, seasonal, delicious, and healthy!

Amenities for Hotel Guests & Residents of Canyon Ranch Living

• 73,000 sq. ft. spa for residents and hotel guests only
• 22 treatment rooms with nine different “experiences”
• The Health & Healing Center will have full-time physicians and health practitioners offering integrative medical consultations and will focus on a preventative approach to health
• Complimentary fitness classes
• Four pools within the Canyon Ranch Living Miami Beach resort, including an adults-only pool above the spa
• Additional 7,000 sq. ft. fitness area in the North Tower
• Two-story indoor rock climbing wall with ocean view

Condos for Sale in the Canyon Ranch Living Miami Beach North Tower

It is no secret that I am a huge fan of this project. Here’s why: Canyon Ranch Living will NOT be just another condominium; it will be a destination. Guests will come specifically for the Canyon Ranch experience. They want to de-stress, unwind, get healthy, meet new people, and eat beautifully prepared, organic healthy meals.

Even in today’s real estate market, Canyon Ranch Living Miami Beach is doing exceedingly well. The first phase of the project, the South and Center Towers, has been sold-out for two years or more. With the introduction of the North Tower, sales continue to be brisk because Canyon Ranch is selling more than real estate-they are selling lifestyle, wellness, and well-being.

North Tower Beach House Availability

• Direct oceanfront southeast corner, two-story beach house, 3 bedroom/3.5 + den, 3,555 sq. ft., $4,950,000
• Direct oceanfront 2 bedroom/2.5 + den, two-story beach house, 2,450 sq. ft., $3,500,000

North Tower Condo Residences Availability

• Direct oceanfront, 18^th floor 2/2, 1,290 sq. ft., from $1,548,000
• Flow-through 2/2.5, 2,050 sq. ft., direct ocean and bay views, from $2,300,000
• North Tower condo units facing west, 22^nd floor 2/2, 1,280 sq. ft., from $1,400,000
• Flow-through, wraparound corner unit, 3/2.5, 2,150 sq. ft. with east, north and western exposures, from $2,750,000

The North Tower is scheduled for completion in early 2008.

These are the beach houses for the South Tower at Canyon Ranch Living.

Click here for condo residences and condo-hotel re-sales in the South and Center Towers.

Canyon Ranch Living Miami Beach condos and condo-hotels and real estate

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