What's New @ Streamline Properties?
BEST BROKER OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES: STREAMLINE PROPERTIES
BEST OF 2007 by THE SUNPOST
In the early 80s, Streamline gained a reputation for its innovate renovations of South Beach's most historic properties. Since then, Streamline has brokered the sale of dozens of historic apartment buildings and hotels as well as hundreds of individual condominium units in historic buildings. What better firm to do business with when buying a historic building or condo unit than the firm whose very name is the architectural style the historic district is famous for-Streamline!
Serving the Miami Beach, Biscayne Boulevard corridor and the Upper East Side, Streamline also provides experienced business brokerage service for the sales and lease of restaurant, bars and nightclubs. LOCATION: 1125 WASHINGTON AVENUE, MIAMI BEACH. PHONE: 305-532-7368.
PHOTO: The Parc Vendome located at 736 13th Street, South Beach. 1936 Meditteranean Revival Property Renovated by Streamline in 1985; 1993 recipient of Historic Facade Renovation Award. Currently Managed by Streamline Properties, Inc.
STREAMLINE PROPERTIES SPONSORS MIAMI BEACH ARCHITECTURAL CRUISE
STREAMLINE PROPERTIES is sponsoring a weekly Miami Beach Architectural Cruise in association with North Beach Development and Regatta II.
The Miami Beach Architectural Cruise showcases the spectacular architecture and fascinating history of Miami Beach from the comfort of a 30 seat tour boart cruising Indian Creek, Biscayne Bay, Surprise Waterway, Surprise Lake adn Flamingo Waterway.
The guiided tour glides past Roaring 20's Mediterranean Revival estates, MiMo landmarks and cutting edge contemporary architecture. This photo was taken from the cruise showcasing Miami Beach pioneer Carl Fisher's house currently under renovation.
The Miami Beach Architectural Cruise is a museum quality experience with cinematic grandeur departing every Friday at 5:30 PM in summer and 4:00 PM in winter; rain or shine. Cost: $30 per person for a 90 minute cruise departing from 65th and Indian Creek every Friday. The boat departs from the seawall adjacent to the Shane Water Sports Center at 6500 Indian Creek Drive.
Cruise guests can pick up a brochure filled with Miami Beach Historic Properties for Sale by Streamline Properties.
Additional sponsors for the cruise are HOME Miami Magazine, Miami Design Preservation League, Miami Beach Community Health Center, Beilinson, Gomez, WLRN Radio, Revuelta, Veg, Leon, The Apple Organization and Nichols, Brosch, Wurst, Wolfe.
STREAMLINE PROPERTIES SPONSORS MIAMI BEACH AUTHOR DAVID LEDDICK BOOK SIGNING AT MIAMI BEACH VISITORS CENTER
STREAMLINE PROPERTIES sponsored a book signing event on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 at The Miami Beach Visitors Center (MBVC) located at the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce at 1901 Meridian Avenue.
David Leddick, shown here with MBVC Director Dona Zemo, is holding up a copy of his book entitled "In the Spirit of Miami Beach" as part of the "Miami Beach Author Series" presented monthly by the MBVC, The Miami Beach Historical Association and Books & Books. Additional sponsors included The Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, Streamline Properties and Golden Amber Wine & Spirits.
Leddick is the author of five novels, five photo books and the male nude, a biography of the art figures of the 1930's and 1940's, and a non-fiction book "The Secret Lives of Married Men".
David is as diverse a personality as Miami Beach itself. He is a cabaret performer and has previously been a ballet dancer, a naval officer, television director and the worldwide creative director for Revlon Cosmetics at Grey Advertising. David lives in Miami Beach, Paris and Montevideo, Uruguay.
A review of the book:
"What Venice was during the renaissance, so is Miami Beach to the world today. An active melting pot of cultures and styles, Miami Beach is where Art Deco competes with Spanish Baroque, artists mingle with athletes, and citizens of the world sit together for espressos on Ocean Drive. From the mythical Lincoln Road to Art Basel Miami Beach, "In the Spirit of Miami Beach" captures with flair both the city's legendary history and its vibrant personality, bringing one of the world's hottest destinations to colorful life."
STREAMLINE PROPERTIES PROUD TO ANNOUNCE NEW AGENT ON OUR SALES TEAM
Barbara Ritthaler has spent her life dedicated to world politics, historic preservation and language. Born in Milan Italy, Barbara received a doctorate in International Relations which she put to good use. As a news reporter and television journalist for over 20 years, Barbara traveled to the world's most dangerous destinations, covering politics and interviewing cultural leaders from Rajiv Ghandi to Gianni Versace.
Seeking a much needed vacation from the stress of travel and war conditions, Barbara came to Miami Beach in 1995. The historic buildings in Miami Beach attracted Barbara, and meshed with her experience as a public official in Rome where she served on the Commission for the Preservation of Monuments and oversaw the preservation of many of Rome's historic monuments.
Barbara uses the professional research skills she developed from decades as a journalist to find the right property for her clients and to put together well written and compelling marketing packages. Barbara is fluent in Italian, Spanish, French and English and is conversational in Russian and German. Barbara's language skills and her experience as an interpreter for business professionals dealing with the Italian government, make her an ideal Realtor for foreigners wishing to buy property in the Miami area.
At Streamline Properties, Barbara works both independently and with her husband Dan, creating a Power Team for local & International investors.
Barbara is also a licensed yoga instructor.
STREAMLINE PROPERTIES IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE NEW AGENT ON OUR SALES TEAM
Dan Ritthaler, an Iowa native, was a corporate accountant for 20 years representing Fortune 50 corporate conglomerates such as Gulf & Western and WR Grace.
Changing careers, Dan invested in a Mailing House, Marketing & Printing Company in Miami, where he developed a clientele which included The Cuban American Foundation and The Florida Media Association.
After selling the company, Dan changed careers again, working from 1992 - 2003 at Ace Music Store, providing instruments and audio equipment for local bands and international music celebrities.
In 2004, Dan became a licensed Florida Realtor with Ocean International Realty. Dan's finance and marketing background and his wealth of experiences and contacts made him a successful realtor from the start.
Dan joined Streamline Properties, Inc. in May 2007 as a Realtor Associate. Dan handles residential condominium sales & leasing and sales of commercial property. Dan specializes in Seacoast Towers on Miami Beach's Millionaire's Row, having brokered over 30 deals in that building alone.
Dan is fluent in English and conversational in Spanish. When not selling Real Estate, Dan still enjoys playing guitar and producing music from his digital home recording studio.
MIAMI BEACH MORE AFFORDABLE THAN YOU THINK
From SunPost Home & Living
According to Michael Belsky of Streamline Properties, "Potential investors often tell me that they would like to buy in Miami Beach but can't afford to. I reply that, in fact, you can't afford not to be a buyer of properties in Miami Beach, for it may be easier than you think. Just take a look at the following scenarios:"
Investor #1
You have $100,000 in the bank, earning 4% interest. You leave the money in the account thinking you can't afford to invest right now. Leaving the money in the bank for one year, the bank will pay just $4,000 in interest.
Investment: $100,000
Annual Interest Rate: 4%
Your Potential Gross Income Before Taxes: $4,000
Investor #2
You decide to invest the money that is making 3-4% interest sitting in your bank account. To buy a $200,000 property with a 10-20% down payment, the initial investment could range from $20,000 to $40,000. The mortgage, taxes, insurance & maintenance could be in the $1,300-1,600 a month range. You may rent the property for perhaps $300 a month less than your mortgage & maintenance payments; however, this $3,600 a year is a tax loss and will not affect your long term profitability on your investment. Judging by the properties that have sold in the last 12-15 months, your property value could double in the same period of time; the example below is much more conservative, yet you make more than double your money.
Purchase Price: $200,000
Selling Price: $255,000
Down Payment: $20,000
Less Mortgage: $180,000
Approximate Mortgage: $180,000
Less Closing Costs/Commission: $20,000
Your Potential Gross Income Before Taxes: $55,000
Belsky, whose slogan is "You've Tried The Rest, Now Try The Best," goes on to say that, "Next year, don't be wishing you had invested in a Miami Beach property when you had the opportunity, let us show you how to make your money work for you. we can help you find the right property and the right financing."
Michael Belsky is a sales associate with Streamline Properties at 1125 Washington Ave., Miami Beach. Call 305-455-1327 or 305-965-5806 or visit www.stream-line.com.
BUSINESS NOTES BISCAYNE CENTRE MANAGEMENT
From Miami Herald
Streamline Properties Inc. has been commissioned by SMK Cape Horn Development Group to manage Biscayne Centre, a 156,000-square-foot office building located at 11900 Biscayne Blvd.
Units span 1,000 to 25,000 square feet and are priced from the mid-$200,000s.
Biscayne Centre is undergoing renovations. Upon completion, the tower will be pre-wired for high-speed Internet access and have a 24-hour card key access system.
Streamline, which specializes in South Beach properties, is a real estate brokerage and property management company. Visit biscaynecentre.com or call 305-532-7368.
CAPE HORN DEVELOPMENT HIRES STREAMLINE PROPERTIES
From South Florida Business Journal
SMK Cape Horn Development Group has hired Streamline Properties to manage Biscayne Centre, a 156,000-square-foot, Class A office building at 11900 Biscayne Blvd., in North Miami.
The developer is upgrading the exterior and interior to help sell 1,000- to 25,000-square-foot office condos.
KNOCK THREE TIMES AND ASK FOR AL...
From South Florida Business Journal by Susan Stabley
Knock three times, ask for Al
Al Capone allegedly used the views from his Miami Shores penthouse to keep an eye out for the cops. Now, that lookout could be yours for a few million bucks, no criminal intent required.
Owner James Quinlan acquired the rental property in mid-2004 from a friend who had worked on the property for a number of years before relocating to Argentina. The sales price for The Grand Concourse was $2.1 million, according to county property records.
Now, Quinlan plans to convert the 17,560-square-foot historic building, at 421 Grand Concourse, into condos.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 1925 structure was built on 21,475 square feet of land by Shoreland Co., a development company that was to Miami Shores what George Merrick was to Coral Gables. Plans to position the property as a resort hotel were flattened by the hurricane of 1926, Quinlan said.
The property has 16 units, from 429-square-foot studios to 1,123-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath apartments. Prices range from $119,000 to $265,000. Rooms have hardwood floors and new bathrooms. The doors of the nine-car garage are made of cypress.
According to local lore, Capone used the penthouse on the fourth story while his house was being built on Palm Island, Quinlan said.
"He used the grand turret as an advantage to see in all directions if anyone was coming," he said. "It's the highest building in that area to this day."
Citizen Saul
From Miami New Times by Brett Sokol
You know things have changed in Miami Beach when a developer looks like a good bet for city commission...
"A recession is never a good thing," says Saul Gross, owner of Streamline Properties (a real estate management and brokerage firm) and a candidate for the Miami Beach City Commission in the November 6 election. But, he explains carefully, there's a "silver lining" to this ongoing crunch, particularly as it affects the Beach's nightlife industry. "The focus of this new commission can be less on big projects and more on delivering services for the people who live here.... With the downturn in the economy, there's going to be a heavy attrition rate with some of the clubs." If you're willing to think long-term, though, that may not be such a bad thing.
Steve Satterwhite
Let's get it on: Beach political contender Saul Gross takes aim at the recession, high-rises, and Banana Republic"Washington Avenue was out of balance for a while," Gross continues. "It got too overloaded with clubs, and when there's too many, the low-end clubs become bottom feeders and attract the wrong kind of crowd to the Beach: people who don't spend any money -- just add trash to the streets, drain our services, tax our police. That's all started to turn around."
Strong medicine? No doubt. But clubland's more prosperous proprietors agree with Gross, which is why they quietly supported the city's closure in 1999 of several after-hours establishments, as well as last year's 21-and-over age restriction on nightclub entry.
Saul Gross's nuanced perspective on growth may sound a bit odd coming from a developer. Aren't developers supposed to worship the mantra of "growth is good, the bigger the better?" What is Miami Beach itself if not a testament to real estate speculation, a mangrove-clogged sandbar transformed into a resort isle? Yet spend some time with Gross and you'll come to realize that not all developers are created alike.
Among those who can take credit for the rebirth of South Beach in the late Eighties is Gross, who alongside a handful of other pioneers, such as Tony Goldman, Craig Robins, and Mel Schlesser, fell in love with the Art Deco District. At that time, left to their own devices, most Beach commissioners and realtors would have preferred simply to flatten the whole area and start anew.
"I have to laugh when I look back on it," Gross recalls over a lunch with Kulchur at the Van Dyke Café. When he first set foot in Flamingo Park in 1984 as a 30-year-old New Yorker, "South Beach was a historic area that no one was doing anything with."
That's something of an understatement. Photographer Bruce Weber had yet to put the burg on the international fashion map. Instead of the portfolio-toting models who would act as chum in the water for thousands to come, the blocks south of Lincoln Road were a rough-and-tumble mix of Marielitos living uneasily amid the graying remnants of a once-thriving Jewish shtetl. Crime was rampant, crackhouses a common sight, and the drug-dealing shootouts infamously dramatized in Scarface's opening scenes all too real.
"I'd had a pretty straight corporate existence in Manhattan as a real estate lawyer," Gross remembers. "I was earning a pretty good living. I didn't move here for the money." Like so many other Northerners, Gross found himself seduced by "the architecture, the sun, the beach, the whole style of life here.
"When I finished renovating my first building in 1986 and I put out my "For Rent' sign, I had no idea if anybody would even rent a single apartment," he marvels. "People thought I was crazy: 'I can't believe you're putting all this money into these old buildings!' Was it a sound investment strategy? Maybe not. But it was also a labor of love. Next thing I knew I went from renovating a single apartment on [Manhattan's] Upper West Side for $30,000 to renovating 100 apartments down here for $5 million."
As the Nineties got under way, the early risk-takers were joined by a fresh crop of developers, many from across Biscayne Bay with very different ideas about how to proceed. South Beach was burgeoning into a new hot spot, and real estate values were soaring. A clash of development philosophies was inevitable. A slew of skyline-obliterating high-rises was being proposed, and in Gross's view the very qualities that first attracted him to Florida appeared to be under siege. "As South Beach matured, we matured politically," he recalls, referring to himself, Goldman, Robins, and Schlesser. One of that quartet's first political forays involved backing the successful 1991 commission campaign of attorney Neisen Kasdin.
A decade later Goldman is now incoming chairman of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Schlesser leads the Miami Beach Planning Board, and Robins, who has shifted his attention to Miami's Design District and North Beach, remains a key behind-the-scenes SoBe player as well as one of the city's foremost art patrons.
Kasdin, of course, is the outgoing mayor of Miami Beach, and he's made it clear to his supporters the best way to ensure that his legacy endures is to vote for Saul Gross. "When you dedicate a large portion of your life to the community, you want to see it go in the right direction," Gross says of his motivations for seeking office. "And that means getting involved politically to make sure the vision we had for the area is the one that gets implemented." (As of October 12, Gross had raised nearly $159,000 in campaign contributions, far more than the combined totals of his four opponents, Joe Fontana, Louis Martinez, Dan Pearson, and Julio Lora.)
"In the thirteen years I've owned property on Washington Avenue," Gross goes on, "I've chosen never to rent to a chain. It may not be in my best financial interest -- they pay more, lenders are more comfortable with them -- but to me South Beach is all about character and individuality. And the chains are not. But if we as a city are going to bring them in, we should make them conform to our style."
He points to his own experience as chairman of the Miami Beach Design Review Board. Banana Republic was set to move into Lincoln Road's Chase Federal Bank, a strikingly handsome building constructed in 1947. Rather than let Banana Republic's owners raze the bank's interior, the board forced them to work with it. The result? "How wonderful that the bank's old vault is the changing room!" Gross gushes.
"On Collins Avenue people said we can't preserve these buildings the way they are, we have to make them suitable for retail and allow them to buzz saw the front of the buildings off." Gross rolls his eyes in mock disgust. "It turned out not to be true. We held the line, we made them preserve the buildings, and now the Armani store that moved in there has some of highest sales of its chain in the entire Southeast United States."
One question raised by several of Gross's opponents for the Group II commission seat is the matter of conflicts of interest. Given Streamline Properties' considerable activities -- ownership of two retail strips on Washington Avenue, management of twenty different apartment buildings, and ongoing rehab projects -- how will Gross keep the city's best interests separate from his own?
Without missing a beat he answers, "Throughout my six-year tenure on the Design Review Board I had only three or four conflicts." Moreover, he adds, the real estate projects that could conceivably produce conflicts come before the commission with even less frequency than the board.
To those who see nefarious collusion behind every city hall deal, there's little Gross can say to put them at ease. And given Miami Beach's Eighties history of civic corruption, there's good reason to be suspicious of anyone running for public office. In the end supporting Gross's candidacy comes down to a gut feeling: Do you trust him? Based on the last seventeen years he's spent helping to chart the evolution of the Beach, do you believe Saul Gross will do what's right?
Gross seems aware there's only one way to definitively answer this. As he and Kulchur finish lunch and begin their goodbyes, he stops short. "Can you spare another ten minutes?" he asks. "I want to show you something."
Several minutes later Kulchur is getting a guided tour of the Beach, as seen through Gross's eyes. He pilots his aging Mercedes down Meridian Avenue and draws Kulchur's attention away from a case of hand-labeled John Coltrane and Charles Mingus cassettes on the armrest. "See how the trees arch overhead?" he asks enthusiastically, noting the rows of leafy branches that line either side of Meridian, many of which he helped to plant in front of buildings he's renovated. They're not only pleasing to the eye, he notes, but their shade makes the street pedestrian-friendly. It's a little thing that has a huge impact on day-to-day quality of life. By comparison, he quips, just try strolling down the sun-blasted sidewalks of Euclid or Pennsylvania avenues during the summer -- you'll melt.
He turns his car onto Thirteenth Street and rolls to a stop in front of the archways of the Parc Vendome, a structure he painstakingly restored and then converted to condos. As he begins pointing out all the design details, it's clear the term labor of love isn't just an empty phrase to him. "See those tiles?" he says, pointing out a row of small, flowered-embossed squares near a set of the Vendome's Spanish steps. "You can tell which ones were so smashed up we had to make new ones."
Kulchur squints hard, to no avail. They all look the same to me.
"No, no, look there," Gross implores with an outstretched finger. "See how a few of them are a little different?"
Um, Saul, they're just little tiles.
He turns to Kulchur and smiles, as if patiently schooling an errant son. "It does matter," he says. "Look, I'm not going to make any bones about it. Development is about trying to make money. But given a choice between making a lot of money and doing something right but making a little bit less money, my choice is to do it the right way."
REAL ESTATE PROS MEMBERSHIP PROFILE
JON SERBIN
For the finest in real estate services, Jon Serbin of Streamline Properties located in Miami Beach, Florida, can help you with all of your real estate needs As an elite member of the Real Estate Professionals directory, Jon Serbin was one of few real estate professionals chosen to represent the real estate needs of people in the Miami Beach, Florida area. Jon Serbin may be found under the Condos and Townhomes category of the Real Estate Professionals web site. You may view this members profile and decide for yourself if Jon Serbin is a professional you can trust.
Jon Serbin, MBA
Streamline Properties
1125 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Business Speciality: Condos and Townhomes, Real Estate Agents and Realtors, Vacation Homes and properties
Years in Business: 14
Bio: I have lived in Miami Beach since Jr. High. I graduated Miami Beach High School, Harvard College (cum laude) and have an MBA from Harvard Business School. I work full time as a realtor in the Miami Beach area and am very familiar with all of the good properties here. Streamline has been closely involved in the redevelopment of South Beach and the effects this has had on the entire area.
Professional Memberships: Greater Miami and the Beaches MLS
Areas Served: South Beach, Miami Beach, Surfside, Bay Harbor, Bal Harbour, Sunny Isles Beach, Biscayne Blvd. Corridor, North Bay Village, Morningside
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YOGA GETS HIM GOING IN THE MORNING
MIAMI HERALD JAN 2007 by Howard Cohen
THE HOME STRETCH: Saul Gross practices a rigorous yoga routine at home before heading out to work.
Saul Gross, 52,Miami Beach commissioner, owns Streamline Properties.
Saul Gross is one busy man. As a commissioner in Miami Beach he has to deal with a host of issues including construction spreading like wildfire, nightlife and the clubs' impact -- pro and con -- on society. Plus, he renovates buildings in the historic district, runs his real estate management and brokerage firm, Streamline Properties, on Washington Avenue and is an officer/VP at Temple Beth Sholom.
So what's a high energy married father of one to do?
YOGA, PLEASE
'I do yoga every morning,' Gross says about his five-day-a-week, 45-minute regimen. ``It's a great way to start off the day before I leave home. It puts me in the right frame of mind.'
Gross practices Iyengar yoga, a rigorous form proponents say helps lengthen the spine. ``Helps me stretch out my back. As we age, some of our discs have issues. This keeps my discs stretched out.'
DIET, KINDA
``The interesting thing is I don't eat before I exercise and once I exercise I don't feel like eating for another few hours.
``I'm so lucky I have a fast metabolism, I have to eat not to lose weight and I'm not that fussy about what I eat. I did cut back on my bread but I eat a lot of pasta and fish, not so much meat these days, but vegetables. My wife [Jane] makes great salads.'
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS . . .
``My son [Jonathan] plays varsity basketball at Ransom. I play ball with him to try and stay in shape. But it's more of an occasional thing. I have trouble keeping up with my son. He's gotten really good.'
-- HOWARD COHEN
hcohen@MiamiHerald.com
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH COMMISSIONER SAUL GROSS
City of Miami Beach Website
Saul's background - and passion - is in historic preservation. He is the owner of Streamline Properties, Inc., the oldest real estate company specializing in South Beach's historic district.
From 1984 to 1987, Saul pioneered the restoration of architecturally significant buildings in the Flamingo Park neighborhood, setting a high standard of quality for which he won many awards. In 1988, Saul completed the first renovation of a block of storefronts on Washington Avenue, where he opened the Streamline offices.
Saul has a long devotion to public service and civic activism. From 1993 to 1998 he served as Chairman of the City of Miami Beach Design Review Board. In January 2001 he was appointed Chairman of the Historic Preservation Board, and from 1999 to 2000 he was Chairman of the Business Resolution Task Force.
Saul was first elected to the Miami Beach City Commission in 2001, and he was re-elected in 2005.
It should come as no surprise that Saul's proudest accomplishments during his first term were in the area of historic preservation. As a city commissioner, he successfully:
Pushed for lower height limits on the east side of Ocean Drive, south of 5th Street. Prevented historic hotels along Collins Avenue from being torn down and replaced with hi-rise projects. Fought to protect historically significant single-family homes. Spearheaded a "slow and smart growth" referendum that passed overwhelmingly in 2003.
Saul also concentrated on quality of life issues important to residents and accomplished the following:
Passed legislation prohibiting new outdoor entertainment venues in South Pointe.
Negotiated a settlement in a decade-long legal battle with developers that resulted in two extra acres of waterfront open space in South Pointe Park.
Championed the $12 million plan for expanding and improving South Point Park.
Supported the creation of a domestic-partner registry.
Pushed improvements to e-government services.
Assisted both large and small arts and cultural organizations with funding requests.
In his second term, Saul remains focused on preserving and enhancing Miami Beach's special character. A top priority of Saul's is carrying out the mandate for "slow and smart growth" that voters approved in the 2003 referendum he sponsored and promoted.
A former lawyer, Saul is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School (1979), and Cornell University (1976).
Saul is married to the former Jane Dee, who also has an extensive background in historic preservation and civic activism. Saul and Jane have a teenage son, Jonathan.
Saul is a life master bridge player, competing in national tournaments. For the last 8 years, he has mentored an at-risk young man. Saul also dabbles with the tenor sax.
LANDMARK SOUTH BEACH OFFICE BUILDING SOLD BY STREAMLINE PROPERTIES
Saul Gross, owner of Streamline Properties, has brokered the sale of the Bank of America Building at 930 Washington Avenue in South Beach. The landmark property and lot at 910 Pennsylvania Avenue were sold to Washington Properties, LLC for $6,860,000.
Built in 1967, the 5 story, 22,111 square foot office building is located in the historic Art Deco District, two blocks from Ocean Drive. The anchor tenant, Bank of America occupies 40% of the building.
Streamline Properties is a leading full service real estate company, specializing in Miami Beach commercial properties since 1984. The firm provides expert analysis and evaluation of properties to assist clients in selecting investments that best meet their individual needs. For more information on commercial and residential sales and leasing call 305-532-7368.
STREAMLINE BROKERS KNICKERBOCKER SALE
by Home & Living Magazine
Saul Gross, owner of Streamline Properties, recently brokered the sale of the Knickerbocker at 130 Third St., on South Beach for 3.4 million.
Built in 1926, the 11,211 square foot Mediterranean Revival style apartment rental building designed by William F. Brown is a Miami Beach registered historic contributing building.
At $303 per square foot, the price set a record for apartment buildings of this size. The buyer was Sage on Third LLC, a company controlled by the Burstyn family, who are active condo converters in South Beach.
Streamline Properties is a leading full service real estate company specializing in Miami Beach properties since 1984. The firm packages high value real estate investments, offering investors attractive income and appreciation opportunities as well as optimum tax advantages.
Under the leadership of Saul Gross, Streamline Properties has sold more apartment buildings in Miami Beach than any other brokerage business in the area. For information on commercial and residential sales and leasing call 305-532-7368.
Ron London Brokers $73.7 Million Sale
by Home & Living Magazine
Ron London of Streamline Properties has brokered the sale of the Aventura Harbour Centre building, at 18851 NE 29th Ave, Aventura.
Triple Net Properties of Santa Ana, California purchased the 230,000-square-foort building from Harbour Centre Associates for $73.7 million, reportedly the highest price per square foot paid for an office building in Miami-Dade County.
Built in 2003, the hurricane-proof, 11-story building is equipped with state-of-the-art electronic mechanical systems and has an attached parking garage for 986. It is the largest office building in Aventura. The tenant roster includes UBS Financial Services, Bank Hapolin and Sun Trust Aventura Marketing Council.
London, one of Florida's leading experts in commercial real estate throughout Florida, is an industry veteran with extensive experience in income-producing properties. London is a top producing senior commercial sales associate at Streamline Properties in Miami Beach. For more information call 305-455-1315.
Saul Gross voted one of the Top Ten People of the Year in Wire Magazine
The article from Wire magazine is listed below:
Saul Gross is a fairly well know name on the Beach for two reasons - he's a Miami Beach city commissioner and he's a long-term and has stuck with his business on South Beach ever since he opened here in 1984. He's seen first hand what changes have taken place so he can speak with authority when issues come before the city commission. We might not agree or like what he does all the time, but he is a man of fairness and integrity on both a personal and professional level.
What's nice about Saul's Streamline Properties is that he's avoided the numerous mergers and acquisitions that have consolidated the industry over the past two decades. He remains the oldest independent real estate brokerage and property management company specializing in South Beach properties.
To stay ahead of the game he's come up with some pretty innovative ideas in real estate making Streamline Properties just about a one-stop center for all your real estate needs. That's the kind of creativity and ingenuity we like! Streamline led the way in restoring some of South Beach's most treasured Art Demo structures. South Beach wouldn't be the same today without Saul's efforts of yesterday.
Saul was extensively featured in Wire's Annual Real Estate Guide back in October. He's been bullish on South Beach for more than 22 years and remains so today!
"What we have here is too precious and the price will continue to go up long term," he said.
Well, we think Saul's value as a person and professional will also continue to go up as long as he continues to be innovative, creative, and fair. Integrity is the most important value as a person and a business - that's why Saul has made our Top Ten People of the Year list and we're glad he did!
STREAMLINE PROPERTIES IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE NEW AGENTS ON OUR SALES TEAM:
Carlos Aguiles
Carlos Aguiles was raised in West New York, New Jersey, and attended Hunter College in New York. After moving to Miami in 1990, he also studied at Miami-Dade Community College and Florida International University. Prior to his career in real estate, Aguiles gained valuable sales experience and customer service skills during his ten years in the hospitality industry. He is working residential sales in the Miami Beach area. Carlos also speaks Spanish.
STREAMLINE PROPERTIES IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE NEW AGENTS ON OUR SALES TEAM:
Karina Adulkadirova
Karina Adulkadirova, a native of Latvia, received a Bachelor's Degree in Finance and Banking at the University of Latvia in the city of Rega . Ms. Adulkadirova relocated to New York City in 1998 where she worked for Crescent Investment Group, then moved to Miami in 2003. Prior to joining Streamline, Ms. Adulkadirova was a Sales Associate with Sky Development Group in Aventura. She specializes in condominium sales in South Beach, Downtown Miami and the Design District.
Karina also speaks Russian.
JIM WEINGARTEN OF STREAMLINE PROPERTIES BROKERS SALE OF FITZGERALD APARTMENTS
Jim Weingarten of Streamline Properties recently brokered the sale of the Fitzgerald at 850 15th Street in South Beach for $1.870,000. Built in 1939, the 6,507 square foot 12 unit apartment building sold for $288 per square foot, $155,833 per unit. The prime Art Deco building, located one and a half blocks from the Lincoln Road Mall, is a condo conversion candidate.
Jim Weingarten, a sales associate with Streamline Properties, has been selling multi-family properties in South Beach since 1990. He is an expert in searching out high value real estate properties that offer investors attractive income and appreciation opportunities as well as optimum tax advantages. Streamline Properties is a leading full service real estate company specializing in Miami Beach properties.
For more information contact Jim Weingarten at (305) 455-1312 or visit www.stream-line.com
Miami Beach's Office Leasing Specialist
SunPost article by Arthur Barron
In today's fast paced business world where needs are ever changing and decisions are becoming more and more stressful, when it comes to leasing office space, business people are looking for real estate agents who can solve their leasing problems. Specializing in Miami Beach's office market, Streamline Properties has been solving leasing problems for its business customers for nearly two decades. Streamline agents are experts in helping people with tough leasing situations - laying out the facts about per square foot prices, locating the right space, negotiating the best lease deal and resolving logistical problems.
An important feature of the leasing services provided by Streamline Properties is educating customers about the office market and how it can effect their leasing options and decisions. Streamline agents point out that business people need be aware that the price per square foot for office space in Miami Beach now averages between $22 to $28, and there is a difference between net leaseable and net useable square feet; office buildings built prior to 2000 usually include electricity in the rent, many newly constructed buildings are separately metered and do not include electricity in rent; although once abundant, 350 to 500 square foot offices are currently in very short supply; the majority of Miami Beach office buildings do not have a water views, those that offer a direct water view can cost up to $36 per square foot; an office space built-out to specifications can take anywhere from one to six months depending upon extent of improvements.
The market is ever changing! In a new trend, a number of Miami Beach office buildings are being converted to office condos. Streamline agents are now informing business customers that this trend will have a substantial impact on the market. As the office condo movement picks up steam, there will be less office space on the market and rents are likely to increase. For more information, call Arthur Barron 305-455-1319 or visit www.stream-line.com.
THE WIDE DEFINITION OF "LOFTS"
SunPost article by Sandra Brooks
Have you caught the "loft" buzz that has been in the air? If your friends have told that they are buying a loft condo, what comes to your mind?
Lofts have their origin in industrial cities such as New York and Chicago. These places have large former warehouses and factories that are converted to residences which have massive open space and no amenities. They tend to be in funky neighborhoods, which eventually gentrify around the residential conversions.
South Florida was never known as an industrial center and there are no meat packing plants to convert. Instead, forward-thinking developers and architects have included an open, unstructured concept in their new construction, which they term "loft".
These apartments take many forms. Most often they are 2-story duplexes, which have a large cathedral entrance and high ceilings on the first floor, but 9' ceilings in the second story. There are many small projects South of Fifth St. in Miami Beach that were designed in this manner. Neo Vertika is currently being constructed on the Miami River and the majority of its units are "splits". Splits are characterized by two levels of vertical living space with 20 foot ceilings, floating stair cases, private balconies and floor to ceiling windows.
Some developers also offer unstructured space with no designated bedroom areas. Neo Lofts on the Miami River is a stylish condo completed in 2004. The average apartment is 1,000 square feet, but the only enclosures are the closets and the bathrooms. Prices start at around $300,000. Wynwood Lofts is currently under construction in the Wynwood Arts District and is four stories with 36 lofts in a building reminiscent of a vintage factory. It was marketed as an enclave for artists, writers, and photographers and features 12' ceilings and raw concrete floors. On South Beach the Montclair Lofts at 17th and Meridian Ave. is almost completed and there the apartments have 11' ceilings, kitchens which march down one wall of vast unstructured rooms, 2 bathrooms and very few closets. Resale's at the Montclair as of this writing started at $460,000.
Perhaps the most important part of the loft phenomenon to the construction industry as a whole is that, once a buyer has experienced the new look for the urbanite which emphasizes high ceilings, freedom of design and informal living, he/she finds it hard to go back to the standard of 8' ceilings and conventional floor plans. Airier, brighter, more open dwellings all around are the result and that's a good thing. For more information contact Sandra Brooks 305-455-1317 or visit Streamline Properties web site www.stream-line.com
The Bubble-Fact or Fiction
SunPost article by Alexander Duff
Recently, there was an article in the Wall Street Journal touting the inevitable bubble that we've all heard about for the past five years. Well, the only bubble we are going to see is in the Champagne we are all going to drink to celebrate a strong Miami real estate market. There are two basic arguments for the bubble: there are too many speculators and there will not be enough demand.
There are a large number of speculators in the Miami real estate market just as in any hot market. It's okay to have speculators; they are actually part of the mechanism to bring these new condos to market. The developer has the vision, the means and the entrepreneurial spirit to launch a project. The speculators help to finance the projects with part of their deposit and help in sharing part of the risk. When the building is completed, the speculators flip the properties to end-users that otherwise might not have bought before the building was finished. No bubble there, just a piece of the financial puzzle.
We aren't going to run out of buyers anytime soon. Miami and South Beach have become global icons and recognizable brands throughout the world. People from all over want to have a second or third home in Miami. The 85 Million baby boomers are looking for a sunny place to retire and real estate in California is 30% higher than South Florida.
Because of the strong Euro, Europeans have been buying second residences in the droves, some for a vacation home, others to place their money, with thoughts of retirement.
Many people prefer real estate to the stock market now. And why not own a place in the sun that also can go up in value 20% a year or more.
Perhaps the best argument for a vast supply of buyers is that Miami, with its location as a gateway to the Americas, and, with its 60% Latin population has become the de-facto capital of Latin America and the Caribbean. The wealthiest people from all of these countries want to have a home or two in Miami. Condos are their first choice. Besides being a Mecca for import/export and a huge banking center, Miami has convenient airports, great shopping, world renowned nightlife, incredible beaches, dozens of museums and galleries, and a growing art scene.
When you look at the product being brought to market by today's developers, these are luxurious well built buildings with state-of-the-art amenities. From 900 Biscayne Bay to Quantum to Apogee, this is where people want to live and that's what makes the difference.
For more information contact Alexander Duff, Broker-Associate, Streamline Properties, Inc. (305) 455-1326 or alex@stream-line.com
STREAMLINE PROPERTIES EXPANDS COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DIVISION AND EXTENDS MARKET TERRITORIES
A leader in the Miami Beach commercial real estate market, Streamline Properties has aggressively undertaken an expansion of its commercial division together with a marketing campaign to let more people know about its commercial success. "Streamline has sold more apartment buildings in South Beach than any other firm in the area, commercial brokerage has been the mainstay of our business for the past ten years because of our experience in condo conversions," says Saul Gross, president of Streamline Properties.
As part of the ambitious expansion program, Streamline is recruiting new agents with a wide variety of skills that include consulting and developing business strategies, as well as the expertise needed to negotiate deals and close transactions. As Saul Gross points out, "We are looking for agents who are well-educated, well-rounded and very aggressive in how they're out there trying to develop business."
Streamline has hired three new commercial specialists Ronald London, Robert Laboranti and Alex Duff, and has appointed Arthur Barron to the position of Marketing Director. Barron, an office leasing specialist with extensive advertising and sales promotion experience, will play an important role in the firm's growth plans.
Along with expanding the commercial division, Streamline has actively extended its territory into the downtown Miami, Miami Shores, Surfside, North Miami, Sunny Isles and Aventrua real estate markets, as well as entering into counties outside Miami Dade.