Monthly Archives: May 2007
1111 Lincoln Road: Architectural Stunna
Developed by Robert Wennett, The proposed 1111 Lincoln Road mixed use development, located across the street from the Zyscovich-designed Lincoln Road Cinema (1100 Lincoln Rd.), is sharply designed and unorthodoxly thought-out. The project combines the architectural brilliance of two preeminent … Continue reading
Morgans Hotel Group Expands in South Beach with the Mondrian
New York-based Morgans Hotel Group, best known locally for the Delano and Shore Club hotels, is expanding its presence in South Beach. This time around, the venture is joint, involving local real estate development firm Sanctuary West Ave LLC. Mondrian South Beach will have a hotel component operated by MHG. The interior design is coming from the creative genius of Marcel Wanders who has conceived the hotel as being a “sleeping beauty castle” where guests will step into a “magical world”. Pretty intensely imaginative stuff. The website’s interior renderings are unprecedented in terms of design: possibly comparable to ICON South Beach in abstract and stark design. Continue reading
Amid the Glut, Condo Owners Turning to Tourists for Rentals
With a glut in condos, owners are turning to tourists for transient occupancy and some pretty hefty rental returns. Miami Habitat is one source for tourist rentals. Options include Bentley on the Bay, the Flamingo, Icon, among others. Stays are usually for a minimum of a week. Another company offering the same service is Premier Vacation Rentals: offering condos in Fortune House, Pavilion, and numerous other properties on the Beach and in Miami. Many unit owners live in condominiums that do not have rental programs (hotel segments) and if a long term rental is hard to find, companies like Miami Habitat can attract high paying tourists to rent out your unit while in Miami.
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Filed under BoB Articles
Google Maps Street View Active for Miami!
As of 05-29-2007, Google Maps Street View is active for Miami
Filed under BoB Articles
Google Earth and Microsoft Virtual Earth
Image: Virtual Earth Birds Eye View function
I’m a big fan of Google Earth. It’s user-friendly, has great terrain, roads, and 3-D building features, etc. However, the Bird Eye view function for Microsoft’s Virtual Earth has me feeling pretty excited. Continue reading
Filed under BoB Articles
Cleared. Barely.
Here we have a cargo ship routinely passing under the Metro-mover bridge. While waiting for the ship to pass, I couldn’t help but notice that it barely cleared the bridge–by like 10 feet or so. I know the river dredging … Continue reading
Filed under Miami River, Transportation
Buyers Flee From Condo Contracts En Masse
A NY Times article reports that real estate attoryneys in South Florida are busy analyzing condo contracts for the purpose of releasing buyers from them. According to the report most buyers want their money back but many are even willing … Continue reading
Filed under News
Not Just Another Overpass
Here you have what would be an eyesore of an overpass that would usually pose a security risk, but instead serves as an ideal place for basketball courts (Jose Marti Park). Here you can play basketball in the hot sun and be in the shade. You can play in the rain and remain dry. Continue reading
Filed under BoB Articles
Protesting Chavez on S.W. 8th
Political events in Latin America often reverberate on Miami’s streets. These people are protesting Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez having shut down a prominent and storied T.V. station. I snapped this shot while on my way to go eat Pan con Bistec in Little Havana. Continue reading
Filed under BoB Articles
Fullerton Diaz: Taking Merrick’s Vision into the 21st Century
Coral Gables was intended to be a Mediterranean style retreat for the affluent. It was among the first planned communities in the country. The Merrick family alluded to Spanish architecture, built coral stone columns, fountains, the Biltmore Hotel in the style Seville’s Giralda tower, named streets after palaces and cities in Spain, and did it all to bring old world elegance and culture to their newly planned “City Beautiful”. George Merrick had a vision, but like most great visionaries his dream outlasted his life. With Merrick long since gone, others have carried his torch, but none of them more preeminently than Fullerton Diaz Architects. Continue reading
Filed under Architects, Coral Gables
