Living

By Angela Betancourt The Miami River District is experiencing a renaissance. Within the past several years the area has become the “it” location for businesses and developers eager to set up shop on the banks of the historic Miami River. Luxury residential towers, ambitious commercial developments, retail stores, and pedestrian focused projects are all on the horizon. “The revitalization of the Miami River District closes a complete lifestyle loop by creating a city within a city,” said Horacio Stuart Aguirre, the volunteer Miami River Commission Chairman. Art will also play a role in the renaissance. Aguirre and Brett Bibeau, Managing Director at the Miami River Commission, have shared that the commission is collaborating with the Nina Torres Fine Art Gallery to place monumental sculptures along the river walk before the year ends. All of these projects and developments are just the beginning of the Miami River District’s transformation. There are numerous other businesses and organizations, especially within the boating industry, that have already claimed their spot in one of South Florida’s most flourishing new neighborhoods. There will be no shortage of things to do at the Miami River Commission. For Aguirre, who has lived and worked in the district for years, these are indeed exciting times. “The Renaissance of the Miami River District is a cornerstone of our lives,” he said. TERRAZAS MIAMI Take Terrazas Miami as the perfect example. Located at 1861 NW South River Dr, just west of Sewell Park, Terrazas is on prime real estate. It’s located within minutes from one of the largest health districts in the country, West Downtown, which is an evolving hub for science and bio-tech research. It’s also very close to the Civic Center, the Miami Intermodal Center, and the up-and-coming River Landing Shops and Residences. Taking all of that into consideration, available units at Terrazas Miami currently start at $260,100. “Terrazas’ price per square foot is unbeatable at $320 on average as well as our maintenance fee that’s only $0.55 per sq. ft.; that’s why Terrazas leads South Florida in value with below replacement cost pricing,” said Terrazas Realtor Andrea Trujillo. Perhaps more important than the price, is Terrazas’ ongoing desire to provide its residents with a combination of value, luxury, and convenience. The residences are sleek and modern with porcelain tile flooring throughout, stainless-steel appliances, granite countertops, spacious kitchens, finished closets, expansive terraces, and floor-to-ceiling windows in select units with flowing open living areas. Units also offer city skyline, park, and river views. The lobby and the 20,000 sq.ft elevated pool deck, equipped with two complete BBQ grills and lounge areas, were designed by the award winning Interiors by Steven G. Another one of Terrazas’ highlights is the 200 year old Kapok Tree at the entrance to the building which has been adopted as the company logo. Additional amenities include multiple outdoor lounge areas for socializing, a fully equipped business center, dog park, state of the art fitness center, 24-hour reception desk and onsite security. “Terrazas delivers an instant feeling of wonderful peace and tranquility,” said Trujillo. “All of this, of course, comes with an unmatched additional advantage over pre-construction properties because Terrazas is already 100% built and move-in ready with rapid closings for motivated buyers. Terrazas is a once of-a-lifetime chance to own in Miami’s next hot neighborhood at a smart buy,” she added. Terrazas Miami is located at 1861 NW South River Drive, Miami, FL 33125 For more information on Terrazas Miami, please visit www.TerrazasMiami.com RIVER LANDING SHOPS & RESIDENCES Among one of the latest new projects drawn to the Miami River District is the immense River Landing Shops and Residences. When complete, River Landing will boast 2.2 million square feet of regional open air shopping. The project’s 430,000 sq ft retail complex will be home to 315,000 sq ft of national retailers, 86,000 sq ft of regional and local retailers, and 29,000 sq ft of restaurants on its five levels. “We don’t have any retail here,” explained Aguirre. “This marks the first introduction of retail on the river and in the River District.” The $300 million dollar mix-use project is located at 1400 NW North River Drive, which is situated next to Miami’s Civic Center and Miami-Dade County’s court system. The River Landing Shops & Residences is located at 1400 NW North River Drive, Miami, FL 33125 For more information, please visit www.RiverLandingMiami.com MIAMI RIVER GREENWAY Situated directly on the river, River Landing gives shoppers access to the Riverwalk and the developing Miami River Greenway Project; a 10-mile scenic pedestrian friendly pathway linking neighborhoods and businesses along the banks of the Miami River. As of today, more than half of the pathway has already been constructed. Potential residents vying to live in the revamped district and take advantage of the Greenway and all the other exciting developments will have plenty of housing to choose from. And unlike other areas in Miami where a piece of the action often means spending a small fortune, the Miami River District has surprisingly affordable yet still luxurious condominium options. For more information on the Miami River Greenway, please visit www.MiamiRiverCommission.org FLAGLER ON THE RIVER Indeed, hot neighborhoods almost always attract hot restaurants and the revitalization of the Miami River District is no exception. Duck and Waffle and SUSHISAMBA have both announced their plans to open in “Phase II” of the new Flagler on the River commercial building development project. The building will be located at 40 SW North River Drive; the site of the former East Coast Fisheries. Phase II has received a lot of attention for its unique look. Itec Design, the architectural firm behind the project, designed the building to look like lobster traps used by commercial fisherman. The design’s creativity extends beyond its construction and into the way they made use of the property. “By today’s standards, they are on a tiny piece of land making it quite the challenge to build there. They have come up with a design that is exciting and interesting,” said Aguirre. “We applaud their initiative and we look