MIAMI | Island Gardens | 527 + 367 FT | 39 & 24 FLOORS

[chris08876]

Construction might finally start for this project. 13 years after its approval. Deadline is looming, and construction may start in June.
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Massive Watson Island development moves forward

Nearly 13 years after being initially approved by the City of Miami, the $640 million Island Gardens mixed-use project on Watson Island is a few months from getting underway.

Flagstone Property Group’s long-discussed development is on track for a summer groundbreaking, Miami Today reported. The company gained momentum for the project last month by luring the Yacht & Brokerage Show to set up a location there. Once the development is finished, its Deep Harbour marina would host the annual show’s “Superyacht Miami” event, with mega-yachts exceeding 150 feet in length on display.

Island Gardens plans include a five-star hotel, four-star lifestyle hotel, fractional ownership residences and retail and restaurant space on 6.5 acres owned by the city.

Flagstone consultant Brian May told Miami Today the project’s financing is “coming together nicely.”

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Deadline looms for massive Watson Island project
May 07, 2014

Flagstone Property Group must start construction on the long-delayed Island Gardens development by June 2, as required by the company’s latest lease extension.

But Flagstone has a hurdle to clear before the $640 million project planned for Miami’s Watson Island can begin. State officials have to sign off on the latest version of the company’s agreement with the City of Miami.

The state gave the island to the city many years ago. Its 2011 approval of modifications to the uses allowed on the land expired in January 2012, according to Miami Today.

City commissioners are expected to address the project’s status during their Thursday meeting.

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http://therealdeal.com/miami/blog/20...moves-forward/
http://therealdeal.com/miami/blog/20...sland-project/
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Source: All renderings from; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...#slide=1939804

[N830MH]

Finally!!! Long overdue!!! Let get thing going!!

Which floors is it? Is that 30 or 40 floors?

[chris08876]

Originally Posted by N830MH

Finally!!! Long overdue!!! Let get thing going!!

Which floors is it? Is that 30 or 40 floors?

The larger tower looks to be 40 floors or close too it. The development really doesn't have precise specifications to be honest. I tried checking the official website for the project but theres not a lot of information. Probably more precise specs will arise as this moves forward. I'll try to see if I could find permits for it maybe.

I did find this pdf though with some information on the project, but no height or floor data. PDF: http://egov.ci.miami.fl.us/Legistarw...ments/6535.PDF


http://miami.curbed.com/uploads/Wats...copy-thumb.jpg

[N830MH]

Originally Posted by chris08876

The larger tower looks to be 40 floors or close too it.

Is that height restrictions? I don't think FAA will allow it.

[chris08876]

Originally Posted by N830MH

Is that height restrictions? I don't think FAA will allow it.

I think its FAA cleared. I'm assuming that based on the ability for them to begin construction. Its not really that tall either compared to something like Skyrise or some of the towers in the Brickell District.

[chris08876]

Essentially construction will begin late July/Early August.
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Appraisal claims Watson Island developers getting substantial discount from city

As developer Flagstone Property Group begins work on its massive mixed-use development on Miami’s Watson Island, an ardent project opponent is claiming city officials hid from the public a real estate appraisal proving taxpayers are getting stiffed on millions of dollars in annual rent, The Real Deal has learned.

A draft of the appraisal, completed by Coral Gables real estate consulting firm Joseph J. Blake & Associates, was submitted to Henry Torre, the city’s public facilities director, on April 30. A copy obtained by TRD shows the fair market value of the guaranteed minimum payment Flagstone pays the city should be $6.1 million in today’s market. The analysis also estimates Flagstone will collect at least $36 million in retail and hotel revenue in 2018, when the project is complete. By 2036, the annual revenue is projected to exceed $150 million.

The latest appraisal information, which the city has concealed from the public, confirms that city commissioners are prepared to lavish multi-million dollar subsidies for a private developer to build a commercial project on Watson Island,” Stephen Herbits, a resident of the 1000 Venetian Way condominium and project opponent, told TRD.

Herbits claims the Blake appraisal should have been disclosed during a May 8 city commission hearing when Flagstone won approval to modify its deed with Miami. At the hearing, Herbits and his lawyer, Sam Dubbin, argued the city gave away valuable public property at outdated rates based on appraisals completed 10 years ago. The commission’s unanimous vote paved the way for Gov. Rick Scott to sign off on the $575 million project two weeks later.

[...]

Flagstone is moving ahead with the project. May said the developer started environmental mitigation — removing sea grass in preparation for the marina component.
“Dredging for the mega-yacht marina will start in 60-to-90 days,” he said. “We are underway.”

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By Francisco Alvarado
http://therealdeal.com/miami/blog/20...unt-from-city/

[chris08876]

Island Gardens Says Coral & Sponge Mitigation Has Begun

Mitigation has begun, says Island Gardens developer Flagstone Group, in preparation for construction of its megayacht marina. This means the relocation of corals and sponges on the bay floor, which should take 60-90 days, and then dredging will start. The project has been dead in the water for years, so this start, 13 years after the city inked their lease deal with the developers, is met with a bit of skepticism. This Miami Today article is practically oozing with it. The sight of a dredge barge floating down Government Cut towards the megaproject's Watson Island site in a few months will be a welcome sight indeed, if it happens.

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http://miami.curbed.com/archives/201...-has-begun.php

[chris08876]

New Rendering:


http://www.exmiami.org/index.php/rep...it-from-state/

[chris08876]

NIMBYS are coming out from the woodwork:
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Residents sue to stop megayacht marina and resort on Miami’s Watson Island

Venetian Islands residents critical of the oft-delayed plan to build a megayacht marina and resort on public land on Watson Island have sued to block the project, claiming the Miami city commission’s recent re-approval was illegal.

The residents, Stephen Herbits and Sharon Kirby Wynne, contend the city renegotiated the 13-year-old deal with developer Flagstone Properties — which has yet to build anything — on terms that violate the city charter and some key conditions in the ballot language voters approved in 2001.

Although the city charter bars consideration of leasing public property at less than full market value, the modified deal city commissioners approved in May kept minimum lease payments for the waterfront site at $2 million a year, the same amount in the original 2001 deal.

But Herbits, who has also sued the city successfully for withholding public records on the deal, uncovered a pair of appraisals of the property, commissioned by the city, that put current market rent for the site at over $7 million a year because of a sharp increase in its value.

The suit, filed by Coral Gables attorney Sam Dubbin originally on Friday and then in a slightly amended version on Monday, argues that the city, which has modified the deal with Flagstone three times since 2010 to rescue the foundering project, was legally obligated to increase the rent accordingly.

An internal email released by the city in August in response to a court order, and included in the suit, appears to show officials knew of the new appraisals, conducted earlier this year, several days before the commission voted in May to approve the latest version of the deal.

But at least three city commissioners said in interviews they were unaware of the new appraisals when they agreed to move forward with the project. The appraisal issue, however, was not raised in a subsequent public hearing on the project.

The suit also contends that the city ignored key conditions in the ballot language that went to voters in 2001. That language, as well as the legally binding proposal by the developers, promised a minimum $2 million a year in rent, but Flagstone has never paid that amount even though it has controlled the land for years.

The plaintiffs also argue that the city is improperly now allowing Flagstone to build the project, which is supposed to include a marina, a hotel, shops, restaurants and public spaces, in phases. The suit says voters were promised an “integrated’’ development — in other words, that the project would be built all at once to ensure all the planned elements are in fact completed.

Flagstone says it has started construction on the marina, citing environmental remediation work now under way at the site, but the firm has not said when the rest of the project would be built.

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http://www.miamiherald.com/news/loca...#storylink=cpy

[chris08876]

Current Site:

Residents expressed outrage Wednesday over a mega-development project that is under construction on Watson Island.

They are upset over the impact it will have on traffic along the MacArthur Causeway.

"I have over 220 emails that have been sent to me in the last few days -- everyone in opposition to this," Gerald Posner told commissioners.

Quick Clicks

Construction has already begun on the Flagstone Island Gardens project on Watson Island.
City leaders agreed that the project could make it more difficult for people to get to Miami Beach.

"It is wrong for our community, our businesses and our residents," Mayor Philip Levine said.

The Flagstone Island Gardens project will include two hotel towers and more than 200,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Construction crews have already shored up a seawall where a marina will be built.

The project has experienced several delays over the years, with the developer making changes to the project.

"They have a right to move things around," Cesar Garcia-Pons, deputy director of the Miami Planning & Zoning Department, said.

The mayor and commissioners agreed to spend more than $200,000 for a traffic study that could have zero impact on the development. The project was initially signed off by the city of Miami and sits on property that voters approved for development years ago.

And for fun, some NIMBY propaganda on the project:

• Video Link

Euphemistically named “Island Gardens” by its private developer this monstrosity should realistically be named “The Watson Island Strangler”

It looks beautiful on paper. But, this twin-towered 50 and 35 story hotel complex with 605 rooms and over 350,000 of shopping mall activity, and a base alone the size of the American Airlines Area, will dwarf everything around, and block the sight lines of everyone on the bay from South Beach to downtown Miami.

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http://www.local10.com/news/miami-be...oject/30704566

[chris08876]

Currently preliminary work is occurring for the marina portion of the project. As of early February. In terms of the NIMBY's, they are still suing and having meetings about it. There was one earlier today. Its not going to influence this though. This has been a long time coming.

[Ploppalopp]

Good to hear that this project is progressing despite the usual NIMBYs. Whats up with the huge ducks in the rendering though?

[chris08876]

That idk. Maybe they wanted it to be catchy or to show that it was water and not some blue pavement?

[chris08876]

Some more NIMBY bs as of this week:

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You Can't Build That! Island Gardens Opponent Claims the Watson Island Project is Illegal

A long-time opponent of the Island Gardens project proposed for Miami's Watson Island is claiming newly uncovered city documents prove construction of the sprawling mixed-use development is illegal.

Stephen Herbits, who's fighting several legal battles with the city over the project, filed an emergency motion Friday saying the public documents "are proverbial smoking guns concerning the legality" of the project.


Herbits lives at 1000 Venetian Way, the closest building to the proposed Flagstone Property Group project, and his balcony faces the development site. He is asking the court to sanction the city for delaying the release of records from August until this month. Herbits maintains the delay is evidence the city is conspiring to illegally push the project forward.

Approved by city voters in 2001, Island Gardens would include 221,000 square feet of retail space, 346,000 square feet of leisure space, 450 hotel rooms in two towers, 155 timeshare condos, a mega-yacht marina and parking for 1,610 vehicles.

Herbits has not been granted standing to challenge the city's actions and is in part arguing he should be allowed to sue based on the city's alleged pattern of disregard for the law.

Herbits and other neighbors have repeatedly sought to stop the development and accused the developer of quietly working with friendly Miami officials to increase the project size and illegally keep the lease alive.

In the latest filing, Herbits' attorney, Sam Dubbin of Dubbin & Kravetz in Coral Gables, plays up the significance of documents the city handed over March 5. The lease "required the developer have all permits in play and commence actual construction on or before June 2, 2014," according to the emergency motion.

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http://www.dailybusinessreview.com/i...#ixzz3VduzwAj3

[bobdreamz]

Originally Posted by chris08876

Some more NIMBY bs as of this week:

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You Can't Build That! Island Gardens Opponent Claims the Watson Island Project is Illegal


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http://www.dailybusinessreview.com/i...#ixzz3VduzwAj3

Although I am usually not a NIMBY I don't like this project because of it's location.



It will block the skyline views of downtown Miami as you travel west over the bridge on the MacArthur Causeway in addition it will create a traffic nightmare on the Causeway which is already very congested. This is city owned land which used to be a airbase for one of the Goodyear blimps. I would prefer this become a park instead. In fact this would be a better site for SkyRise Miami or an observation tower which would have spectacular views of downtown Miami, Miami Beach, Biscayne Bay & the Atlantic Ocean.

[dave8721]

Not to mention Miami is getting absolutely hosed on the lease deal. The lease was signed in 2001 when Miami was desperate for any kind of development. They could get more than 10 times as much if they put the property out for bid again. The developer has been squatting on the land for 15 years usually failing to pay the far to low rent. They must have some pictures of elected officials in compromising positions or something to have held on to it for so long.

[chris08876]

Construction Continues On Island Gardens, The Only Super-Yacht Marina In North America

Despite lawsuits by opponents of the project, construction continues on a super-yacht marina at Island Gardens.

In a press release last week, Technomarine USA, a marina construction company, said that it has been awarded a $12 million contract to build the marina. The total construction cost of the marina is estimated at $25 million.

Backers of the project say that it will be the only super-yacht marina in North America, and one of the largest marinas that can handle megayachts. It is expected to open in October.

The deep-harbour marina is expected to become a new venue during the Miami Boat shows next year. It will host Super-Yacht Miami, and will be able to accommodate any size yacht – up to and including the largest in the world.

Island Gardens is also to include a hotel and residential component, but construction is not underway yet. Multiple lawsuits have been filed, including one challenging whether work on the project started by the date required under a lease with the city of Miami (developer Flagstone Island Gardens is leasing the land from the city.)

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http://www.thenextmiami.com/index.ph...north-america/

[chris08876]

Watson Island marina to open during Art Basel, developers say

Island Gardens, the planned mixed-use development on Miami’s Watson Island, will open its marina in time for Art Basel this year.

The $1 billion project, designed by Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates, will include two luxury hotels, a residential building, retail and restaurants. Critics to the development have cited distrust of the city’s government and traffic as reasons for their opposition.

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http://therealdeal.com/miami/blog/20....J0QRPMOk.dpuf

[chris08876]

Island Gardens Developer Signs Utilities Deal For Mixed-Use Project

Flagstone Island Gardens LLC signed a deal last week that could bring utilities for a mall, along with residential and hotel units on Watson Island.

The agreement calls for the following to be built:

150 residential units
455 hotel rooms
221,000 square feet of retail space
136,140 square feet of restaurant space
10,340 square feet of cocktail lounge
13,8000 square feet of banquet hall
50 marina slips

Flagstone will pay a connection charge that is estimated to be $1.67 million. Attorney-in-fact Nathalie Goulet signed on behalf of the developer.

In May, Flagstone transferred development rights over to a separate entity which is developing the marina named Island Gardens Deep Harbour, LLC. That entity then obtained a $22.67 million loan from DHB Bank of the Netherlands, and commenced construction on the marina.

Island Gardens Deep Harbour filed a separate notice late last month that it was installing a medium moor mooring system and a large vessel fender and mooring system. The notice was signed by chairman Mehmet Bayraktar.

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NXT

[chris08876]

The dock portion is being added. This being for the Yachts of course.

Images of the current site here: http://www.goldenduskphotography.com...island-gardens