2018 GATEWAY
olland & Knight’s South Florida Real Estate and Land Use Group is proud to provide legal services in one of the most robust and dynamic real estate markets in the world. As described in this year’s Annual Report, our real estate professionals participated in a breadth of sophisticated, community-defining and transformative real estate projects undertaken in the region in 2018. We advised our clients on the purchase and sale of a wide variety of commercial properties, including office, multifamily and mixed-use projects. We assisted a diverse array of capital markets clients in negotiating, structuring and documenting complex transactions, including syndicated loans, public finance and private development matters. We also helped clients navigate sophisticated land use entitlements – supported by the strong working relationships we maintain with local elected officials, their aides and senior staff.
Holland & Knight was named “Law Firm of the Year” in Land Use & Zoning Law by U.S. News – Best Lawyers in its 2019 “Best Law Firms” rankings. U.S. News – Best Lawyers selects only one firm in each of the more than 70 nationally ranked practice areas to receive this prestigious recognition. The South Florida Real Estate and Land Use Group, as well as many of our individual lawyers, are the subjects of significant acclaim, including recognition by Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, The Best Lawyers in America guide and Super Lawyers
Throughout the year, our real estate professionals focused on creating positive, forward-looking opportunities, as well as facilitating renewal and redevelopment throughout South Florida and beyond. We excel at collaborating together, with our clients, as a single team with one goal: delivering results and value.
The South Florida Real Estate and Land Use Group proudly presents some of our most notable 2018 transactions.
CASE STUDIES
Holland & Knight prides itself on delivering high-quality legal work to our clients. Specifically, strong, strategic collaboration with our clients is integral to helping them achieve success. The following select case studies show how we provide comprehensive legal representation, at times working with clients on yearlong projects to help ensure that their vision is brought to fruition. Our prowess in acquisitions, permitting, zoning and building approvals, environmental issues, government advocacy and public hearings, and beyond means that your goals are achieved efficiently and effectively.
COLLEGIATE SUITES MIAMI – UNIVERSITY BRIDGE RESIDENCES
Holland & Knight represented Collegiate Suites Miami, an entity controlled by developer Global City Development, in the sale of University Bridge Residences to University Bridge, which is managed by the Atlantic Housing Foundation Inc., a South Carolina nonprofit corporation that specializes in affordable housing.
The deal was facilitated by a $227.64 million bond financing for the purchase, construction and development of the residential facility. Located at 740 SW 109th Ave. in Miami, the complex is designed to house students, faculty and staff of Florida International University.
The property will continue to be developed by University Bridge GP (an affiliate of Global City Development) in conjunction with the new owner and is expected to be completed by the start of the 2020 academic year.
In addition, the firm represented Global City Development in the original purchase of the property for $16.6 million in 2016. Global City Development is owned by Diego Procel and Brian Pearl.
NEW NORTH TOWN CENTER
Holland & Knight is advising New North Equities in its development of New North Town Center, a microcity at the corner of Northwest 159th Street and West Dixie Highway in North Miami Beach. The project was approved by the North Miami Beach City Commission in July 2018 and is being built on an 18-acre former brownfield site that has been undergoing environmental remediation for nearly three decades.
New North Town Center will include 1,650 residential units, 260,000 square feet of office space, 175,000 square feet of retail space, a 175-room hotel and a 120,000-square-foot school. Under the 30-year development agreement, each individual building will have to be brought before the City for approval. Holland & Knight continues to represent the developer in land use approvals as the project is developed incrementally.
ACQUISITIONS AND SALES
Holland & Knight’s Real Estate attorneys help clients purchase, sell, lease, operate and finance billions of dollars of commercial real estate assets. In addition to standard product types, such as office, retail and industrial, we also represent clients in the acquisition and sale of specialty types, including high-end luxury condominiums and hotels.
INVIVAS MIAMI REAL ESTATE
Holland & Knight served as counsel to the buyer in the purchase of three ground-floor retail bays with five commercial tenants at the social apartment community of X Miami Apartments, located at 230 NE Fourth St., Miami.
The transaction involved the acquisition of a leasehold interest, termination of the existing ground lease and conversion of a building into a condominium structure. The agreement also allowed the buyer to obtain fee simple ownership of the ground-floor retail space.
MATTONI GROUP
Holland & Knight represented Mattoni Group, a partner in Ludlam Trail Holdings, in the $9 million acquisition of two parcels of land located along Bird Road in western Miami-Dade County. Both parcels were undeveloped lots and were acquired from two different owners in two different transactions that the Holland & Knight team handled to achieve the client’s goal of acquiring both parcels for the Ludlam Trail project.
AVIATION INFLATABLES
Holland & Knight represented Aviation Inflatables, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-licensed repair station for emergency aviation equipment, in the $16 million sale-leaseback deal of its Broward County headquarters building in Sunrise. Unity Real Estate Investments, managed by Aviation Inflatables CEO German Alvarez, sold the 115,600-squarefoot building at 1655 NW 136th Ave. to an affiliate of Exeter Property Group. Holland & Knight also represented Aviation Inflatables in the initial $10.5 million purchase of the property in 2017.
PLAY 10 PRODUCTIONS
Holland & Knight represented the buyer in the $13 million purchase of a waterfront mansion in Hillsboro Beach. The 10,553-square-foot home at 1003 Hillsboro Mile was sold to Play 10 Productions by former Vacation Break USA CEO Kevin M. Sheehan and his wife, Tracy Crane. The price equated to $1,232 per square foot. Sheehan built the mansion in 2000. It sits on a 41,537-square-foot lot that runs from the beach to the Intracoastal Waterway, where it has a dock. It has 150 feet of waterfront on both sides. The mansion has six bedrooms, six bathrooms, three half bathrooms, a heated pool with a waterfall, a Jacuzzi, a full-house generator, a home theater/game room, a wine room and a three-car garage.
HYDRAULIC SUPPLY COMPANY
Holland & Knight represented Hydraulic Supply Company, a full-service distributor of fluid power products and services, in the sale of its multiple retail locations in Southern Florida for an aggregate amount of approximately $15 million.
CAPITAL MARKET TRANSACTIONS
Our South Florida real estate lawyers advise lenders, developers and equity investors on a diverse range of real estate-related capital market transactions across all commercial product types. Whether our clients need assistance with conventional senior mortgage loan financing on stabilized multifamily property, multiparty joint venture agreements requiring complex waterfalls to diverse product types in several states or anything in between, our lawyers have the experience and acumen necessary to deliver sage and practical advice.
BRIDGEINVEST
Holland & Knight served as counsel to BridgeInvest in financing the purchase, renovation and conversion of a 12-unit apartment community located at the intersection of Collins Avenue and 37th Street in Miami Beach. The borrower plans to convert the building into an 18-unit, short-term rental property. The property is located near the beach in a premier tourist destination. The loan includes a capital improvement reserve for the total renovation of the property with a revised layout to maximize efficiency for the new use.
275 FONTAINEPARC
Holland & Knight served as borrower’s counsel in the $24.25 million construction loan for the development of an eight-story, 133-unit apartment complex at 275 Fontainebleau Blvd. in Doral, Miami-Dade County.
MARQUIS BANK – CAMBRIA HOTEL & SUITES
Holland & Knight represented Coral Gables-based Marquis Bank in the $18 million construction loan to Hotel Motel Inc. to develop the first Cambria Hotel & Suites on Fort Lauderdale Beach. The amount covers the development of the 1.11-acre site at 2201, 2202, 2221 and 2231 North Ocean Blvd. The Cambria Hotel & Suites will total 91,520 square feet and offer nearly 100 rooms. It will feature a meeting room, coffee bar, pool deck and fitness room.
POPULAR BANK – PLANTATION OFFICE BUILDING
Holland & Knight represented Popular Bank in a $12.05 million loan to a Delaware limited liability company. The loan was for the acquisition and improvement of the three-story office building located at 1776 N. Pine Island Road in Plantation.
POPULAR BANK – MIAMI CONDOMINIUM UNITS
Holland & Knight advised Popular Bank on a $12.1 million loan to two New York limited liability companies. The loan was for the acquisition of condominium units located at 406 NW 22nd Ave. and condominium units located at 1970 NW Seventh St., both in Miami.
TD BANK N.A.
Holland & Knight represented TD Bank N.A. in a $95 million construction loan to Helen Homes of Weston Development to develop a luxury senior living complex. The firm acted as lender’s counsel in the loan to the borrower for the construction and development of the land in Weston into the facility that will include assisted living and memory care facilities. The firm also represented TD Bank in its negotiations with its participant lenders.
The Palace at Weston facility will consist of 320 units on 8 acres at 16025 Emerald Estates Drive. The complex will feature apartments with kitchens, housekeeping services, hurricane-impact glass and emergency generators, as well as amenities that include a fitness center, transportation services, a beauty salon, a pool and a garden. The development will be part of the Palace Group, which owns and operates senior living facilities in Miami, Coral Gables, Kendall, Homestead and Tel Aviv, Israel.
SEVEN REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS – BURGER KING
Holland & Knight represented Seven Real Estate Holdings in negotiating a $20.16 million revolving line of credit for the development and construction of various Burger King quick-service restaurants as well as closing the first four underlying construction loans.
The borrower plans to use the loan as the base to fund multiple Burger King locations, with each restaurant then being documented pursuant to the terms of the facility and constituting separate construction loans.
HSBC BANK
Holland & Knight served as administrative agent’s and lead lender’s counsel in connection with an $81 million loan to refinance existing debt on Mandarin Oriental, Miami.
OCEAN BANK – ART PLAZA APARTMENTS
Holland & Knight represented Ocean Bank in an $85 million loan to Art Plaza, a Melo Group entity, for the construction of Art Plaza Apartments. The residential complex consisting of two 34-story towers with 667 multifamily units will be located at 58 NE 14th St., near the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in the heart of Downtown Miami. The development is one block from the Miami-Dade Metromover School Board Station.
The mixed-use project includes 11,764 square feet of streetlevel retail and restaurant space, a resort-style swimming pool, pool deck, Jacuzzi, a fully equipped fitness center, valet service, covered garage parking, security-controlled remote access and a social room for residents.
OCEAN BANK – FAIRCHILD COCONUT GROVE
Holland & Knight represented Ocean Bank in a $27 million construction loan to the developer of the Fairchild Coconut Grove condo project in Miami. The 26-unit condominium building is located at 3581 E. Glencoe St. in Miami with a completion date of Fall 2019. The Fairchild Coconut Grove broke ground in April 2018 and has presold 65 percent of the project’s units, which range from 1,714 to 4,114 square feet. They are priced from $1.6 million to $4.6 million.
Once completed, the condominium building will rise five stories along the water and three stories near the neighboring single-family homes. It will have a private dock with four boat slips for sale and a public walkway along the bay. Some condos will have a private shower on the outdoor balcony.
Amenities at Fairchild Coconut Grove will include a rooftop pool, a private dog walk and grooming area, a floating dock for watercraft launch, a gym, a full-time concierge, a hammam spa with a steam room and sauna, and a garden walk.
LAND USE AND ZONING
Holland & Knight has extensive knowledge in all aspects of land use and environmental law, from zoning and entitlements to acquisitions and project development, as well as compliance assessments and environmental impact reports. Our attorneys and professionals have experience addressing issues related to water quality, due diligence, entitlements, wetlands, historic preservation, health and safety, hazardous materials, biotechnology, insurance and litigation.
THE GRAHAM COMPANIES
Holland & Knight is representing developer The Graham Companies in a megaproject slated for northwest Miami-Dade County. Our attorneys worked with The Graham Companies to obtain approval for a 6 million-square-foot employment center that will be adjacent to the $4 billion American Dream Miami project. Once completed, American Dream Miami will be the largest shopping mall in the U.S. and is expected to attract 30 million visitors a year.
The Graham Companies’ $1.5 billion mixed-use development will include 2,000 rental apartments, 1 million square feet of retail stores and a business park spanning 3 million square feet. The development rights established as part of this approval have been formally recognized and will be protected for 20 to 30 years through the first statutory development agreement entered into by Miami-Dade County in more than 20 years.
ALTA DEVELOPERS
Holland & Knight represented Alta Developers in land use and zoning approvals for the development of a multifamily project in South Miami. Our attorneys represented Alta before the municipality, which required unanimous votes for a number of the approvals. Notably, the development is the only multifamily project in the City to receive unanimous approval of such requests.
CORAL REEF COMMONS
Holland & Knight represented the developer, Ram Development Co., in all land use and zoning approvals for the redevelopment of the former University of Miami South Campus, located next to Zoo Miami, with a mixed-use project known as Coral Reef Commons.
The project follows years of challenges ranging from appeals of zoning to endangered species. Coral Reef Commons will consist of up to 900 multifamily units, a 350,000-square-foot shopping center, a school, a library and extensive tree preservation areas. It is located in a densely populated area of Miami, containing more than 315,000 residents within a 5-mile radius.
Our experienced commercial real estate leasing and retail leasing attorneys possess a wide range of industry insight and actively assist clients in achieving their capital investment goals. We routinely handle projects from all product types, including office, industrial, flex, retail and mixed-use, involving both single site projects and large portfolios. We represent both landlords and tenants, and lease several million square feet of space annually throughout the U.S.
LONGPOINT REALTY PARTNERS
Holland & Knight represented Longpoint Realty Partners in the redevelopment and leasing of Aberdeen Square, a Publix-anchored retail center totaling 70,555 square feet located between Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach; Crossroads Square, a CVS-anchored 81,587-square-foot retail center in Pembroke Pines, with a diverse tenant mix that includes TGI Friday’s, Party City and Goodyear; and Country Isles Plaza, a Publix-anchored store retail center located on Weston Road, the major retail corridor in Weston and Indian Trace. Additional retailers at the Weston Road center include CVS, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Massage Envy, Verizon Wireless, Orange Theory Fitness and Tijuana Flats.
SEVEN RESTAURANTS
Holland & Knight represents Seven Restaurants, a Burger King franchisee, in all of its leasing efforts. In 2018, the firm negotiated various leases for Seven Restaurants throughout Florida, including triple net, ground and build-to-suit leases.
SOUTH FLORIDA REAL ESTATE GROUP
POSITION YOURSELF TO THRIVE WITH OUR GROUP’S UNPARALLELED EXPERIENCE
Holland & Knight’s Real Estate Practice is active throughout the South Florida market across a network of three offices – Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Miami. Because Florida is one of the country’s top states for growth across a range of industry sectors, South Florida practice serves as an integral part of Holland & Knight’s nationwide recognition.
For more than 100 years, we have provided legal counsel to real estate clients in practically every area of their business, including:
SOUTH
FLORIDA REAL ESTATE GROUP QUICK FACTS lawyers in the South Florida Real Estate group – the largest concentration of real estate attorneys across the firm 50 of attorneys throughout South Florida, the gateway to Latin America Deep Hospitality Bench in Urban Land Institute, the largest and most prestigious land use organization in the country Leadership Positions
WE DIFFERENTIATE OURSELVES BY BEING:
HIGHLY RESPONSIVE
by offering cutting-edge counsel on evolving issues affecting every aspect of the industry to market changes, creatively adapting as circumstances demand
CONNECTED INNOVATIVE
to the Florida, Caribbean and Latin American markets, employing our intimate knowledge of pivotal opportunities, trending communities and challenges within these locales and beyond
LEADING LAWYERS ON YOUR SIDE
2019 U.S. News – Best Lawyers Guide Holland & Knight received national first-tier rankings in Real Estate Law and Land Use and Zoning Law in the 2015-2019 guides | Named Law Firm of the Year in Real Estate Law in 2017
2019 The Best Lawyers in America Guide 68 real estate lawyers recognized | Noted in the areas of Leisure and Hospitality Law, Real Estate Law, Environmental Law, and Land Use and Zoning Law
2018 The Legal 500 United States Guide Firm recognized as top-tier nationwide for Land Use/Zoning and recommended for Real Estate and Construction | Real estate lawyers highlighted as Leading Lawyers in the guide
2018 Chambers USA Guide
27 real estate attorneys from eight different markets recognized | Lawyers recognized in the areas of Banking & Finance, Leisure & Hospitality, Real Estate, and Zoning and Land Use
Law360
Firm named 2018 Practice Group of the Year for Hospitality, Resort and Timeshare
Armando Codina development, Downtown Doral, Miami, Florida
SOUTH FLORIDA REAL ESTATE GROUP
HOLLAND & KNIGHT’S REAL ESTATE PRACTICE IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF:
REAL ESTATE FINANCE
Real estate finance is a core strength of our Real Estate practice, as demonstrated by our significant track record within the national real estate finance space.
Holland & Knight has one of the strongest retail practices nationwide. As other retail law firms abandon their focus on the retail sector, we are even more committed to it, and continue to organize our retail practice around the needs of clients to fit their business services and structure.
HOSPITALITY
We have a focus on the hotel and hospitality industry, with particular emphasis on hotel and mixeduse communities. We advise hotel owners and developers of mixed-use resort and urban communities domestically and in the emerging markets of Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.
RETAIL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Holland & Knight was one of the first law firms with attorneys certified as LEED-accredited (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). We have attorneys who are certified to advise clients on green building, environmentally sustainable construction and performance issues.
LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS
Since the inception of low-income housing tax credits in 1975, Holland & Knight has represented syndicators, developers, broker-dealers and equity investors in structuring, negotiating and documenting tax-advantaged equity investments in all types of real estate throughout the U.S. As a result, we have developed extensive knowledge about low-income housing tax credits, and the tax and business problems that can arise in structuring tax-advantaged transactions.
OUR TRANSACTIONAL EXPERIENCE AND PROWESS ALLOW US TO BE: HIGHLY RESPONSIVE
to market changes, creatively adapting as circumstances demand
INNOVATIVE COMPREHENSIVE
by offering cutting-edge counsel on evolving issues affecting every aspect of the real estate industry
via working relationships with local regulatory and policy authorities throughout the country, including municipalities and the executive and legislative branches
OUR TEAM
FORT LAUDERDALE
PARTNERS
Irwin J. Fayne
954.468.7895 irwin.fayne@hklaw.com
Judith E. Kreitzer
954.468.7859
judi.kreitzer@hklaw.com
Janna P. Lhota
954.468.7841
janna.lhota@hklaw.com
Jonathan S. Marcus
954.468.7924 jon.marcus@hklaw.com
Allison McCarthy
954.468.7851
allison.mccarthy@hklaw.com
Nicholas G. Milano
954.468.7804
nick.milano@hklaw.com
Stephen B. Moss
954.468.7857 stephen.moss@hklaw.com
ASSOCIATES
Alexandra L. Briesemeister
954.468.7987
alexandra.briesemeister @hklaw.com
STAFF ATTORNEYS
Christine Anchia Crousillat
954.468.7892 christine.crousillat@hklaw.com
Debbie M. Orshefsky
954.468.7871
debbie.orshefsky@hklaw.com
Herman R. Lipkis
954.468.7825
herman.lipkis@hklaw.com
Amber Goethel
954.468.7848
amber.goethel@hklaw.com
OUR TEAM
MIAMI PARTNERS
Mark I. Aronson
305.789.7657
mark.aronson@hklaw.com
Hugo P. Arza
305.789.7783 hugo.arza@hklaw.com
William R. Bloom
305.789.7712
william.bloom@hklaw.com
Miguel A. De Grandy
305.789.7535
miguel.degrandy@hklaw.com
Vivian C. de las Cuevas-Diaz
305.789.7452
vivian.cuevas@hklaw.com
Josias N. Dewey
305.789.7746
joe.dewey@hklaw.com
Isabel C. Diaz
305.789.7477 isabel.diaz@hklaw.com
Joseph G. Goldstein
305.789.7782
joseph.goldstein@hklaw.com
John F. Halula
305.789.7796
john.halula@hklaw.com
Alan Samuel Krischer
305.789.7758 alan.krischer@hklaw.com
Ines Marrero-Priegues
305.789.7776 ines.marrero@hklaw.com
Elena Otero
305.789.7437 elena.otero@hklaw.com
Richard A. Perez
305.789.7630 richard.perez@hklaw.com
Ilana B. Strickon
305.789.7444
ilana.strickon@hklaw.com
Melissa S. Turra
904.798.5457
missy.turra@hklaw.com
Juan J. Mayol Jr.
305.789.7787
juan.mayol@hklaw.com
Tracy Rachel Slavens
305.789.7642
tracy.slavens@hklaw.com
305.789.7637
gavin.williams@hklaw.com
MIAMI (CONT’D)
SENIOR COUNSELS
Jorge R. Escobar
305.789.7521 jorge.escobar@hklaw.com
ASSOCIATES
Elena Aidova
305.789.7766
elena.aidova@hklaw.com
Gloria M. Velazquez
305.789.7407
gloria.velazquez@hklaw.com
Shawn S. Amuial
305.789.7591
shawn.amuial@hklaw.com
Alejandro J. Arias
305.789.7446
alejandro.arias@hklaw.com
Tomas E. Castellanos
305.789.7476 tomas.castellanos@hklaw.com
Ricardo Fraga
305.789.7583 ricardo.fraga@hklaw.com
Pedro Gassant
305.789.7430
pedro.gassant@hklaw.com
Daniel P. Hanlon
305.789.7593 daniel.hanlon@hklaw.com
Jessica H. Hoch
305.789.7410 jessica.hoch@hklaw.com
Brett H. Holland
305.789.7777
brett.holland@hklaw.com
Vanessa Madrid
305.789.7453 vanessa.madrid@hklaw.com
Samir Suresh Patel
305.789.7629
samir.patel@hklaw.com
Rebecca L. Mendez
305.789.7464 rebecca.mendez@hklaw.com
Amanda M. Naldjieff
305.789.7462
amanda.naldjieff@hklaw.com
Alessandria San Roman
305.789.7580
alessandria.sanroman @hklaw.com
James R. Williams Jr.
305.789.7413
james.williams@hklaw.com
TEAM
HOLLAND & KNIGHT PRACTICE OVERVIEW
INDUSTRY SECTORS
