Downtown Miami is enjoying a new lease on life. This gateway to Latin America is one of America's most exciting multi-cultural metropolises is experiencing a re-growth signaled by commercial high rises, designer condos, reconfigured transit and a growing cultural scene.
The bones of this sparkling district on Biscayne Bay are good. It boasts a financial district that rivals Wall Street, a port that is one of the largest in the world, and a cultural scene noted for its Latin flavor, including Cuban coffee stands, Spanish signage and Spanish-speaking street vendors. The downtown has seen harder times, but a multi-billion dollar makeover, starting with a clean-up, has set the stage for a new generation of designer condos, upscale hotels, and real estate investment. The best examples of this rebirth are the Paramount Bay condo, the Marquis , the 900 Biscayne
The elevated monorail Metromover now drops people at their varied destinations. Culturally, the downtown is developing as well. The Miami Film Festival attracts visitors from around the world. And The Performing Arts Center is under construction. Sidewalks are being expanded to accommodate pedestrians and outdoor cafes.
Restaurants such as New York's Les Halles are setting new standards in cuisine. With Little Havana a stone's throw away, the amenities of this cultural hub will soon be unparalleled.
Developers have caught wind of the potential in the 2.5-square mile area bordering Biscayne Bay and the Miami River. High-end retail and entertainment will soon be located in 1.5 million square feet of new development, including Bayview Market, MET Square, Citisquare, and Island Gardens. The upwardly mobile are getting in on the ground floor of the development. The first condo built in downtown in 18 years, One Miami (a Related project), has set the pace. It is being joined by two other Related properties. 500 Biscayne - with its wine cellar, billiards, gym, spa and 20-set movie theater - is the first Miami building to integrate building services with owner laptops, a program called Intuitive Resident Information System. A Zen atmosphere informs Loft Downtown, with its feng shui lobby, aroma therapy steam room, lava rock sauna, juice bar and tea garden.
Potential residents will be able to choose from 16,000 new residential units within the next five years. Ten Museum Park, Marina Blue and Freedom Square are attracting attention now. And now is the time to take a serious look at the rejuvenated attractions of Downtown Miami.
