Millionaire residents of a remote Miami island say their private paradise has been destroyed, after the city allowed a real estate developer to build a massive, 91-foot-tall, seven-story apartment building that now obscures their view of the waterfront.
What once offered spectacular views of Biscayne Bay and the downtown Miami skyline are now blocked by massive stadium-like new condominium construction, leaving residents of the pre-existing blocks completely in the shadows.
Additionally, the way the new block was constructed with its curved design created a wind tunnel effect, meaning patio furniture from neighboring balconies is blown away. Original house prices also reportedly fell by 30 percent.
“When people move there, they’ll be close enough to see what I’m watching on TV. Or what I read. I’ll be able to see into their bathrooms,” Wendy Gordon told the Miami Herald.
“We bought into a peaceful island lifestyle. It was paradise. Let’s go. It used to be a kind and friendly place. Now everyone hates each other.
A view of construction of a new seven-story condominium building on the northern edge of Grove Isle in Coconut Grove
A Grove Isle resident fighting against the new condominium building under construction holds a flyer as he stands on an eighth-floor balcony. Their once breathtaking views of the bay are now blocked by construction.
Seen from above, the tip of the island, where the new building is being constructed, housed a community club and waterfront restaurant.
From now on, the new occupants of this stadium-style building called Vita will be able to enjoy the view of Biscayne Bay.
Residents of Grove Isle had been fighting for ten years to prevent the new condo from being built on their private island.
Indeed, the new building, which they say was built illegally, was built on the exact same spot where a community clubhouse, swimming pool, Tiki Hut bar and riverside restaurant once stood. water.
The new luxury building, known as Vita, has seven stories and 65 units, selling condos for between $2.7 million and $22 million.
Vita’s new owners will now benefit from the views enjoyed by Grove Isle’s owners, some of whom have lived there for 40 years. Vita residents will also have a “carefully curated collection of indoor and outdoor amenities,” including private elevators, a “residents-only poolside bar,” and “panoramic views” from “wrapped terraces.” .
David Schaecter, 94, has lived at the Grove since it was built in the late 1970s.
He and his wife, Sydney, once enjoyed sweeping views of the marina and tennis courts, but their place now sits just 40 feet from the new building under construction.
“Now we’re looking at a wall of condo units,” Schaecter said. “It’s invasive. We will have to keep our blinds closed. A neighbor installs a 6-foot-high hedge on her balcony to block it.
Residents have filed a lawsuit against the city of Miami, hoping to stop construction, or possibly see the building scaled back, but construction is already well underway and is expected to be completed this winter.
David Schaecter, 94, is an original resident of Grove Isle. He and his wife Sydney live in a west-facing unit on the third floor. They formerly overlooked the marina and tennis courts, but now overlook the new building.
The 65 residences at the new Vita offer panoramic views of the bay, with prices starting at $2.7 million. One of the bedrooms is seen here
The building is expected to be completed in winter 2024 and pre-construction sales are underway.
The swanky residential clubhouse is visible in this photo provided by the developers
The penthouse homes will span 3,400 to 6,600 square feet with a private roof terrace.
The only way to access the island is via a bridge that connects it to the mainland.
The lawsuit alleges that the city violated its own planning laws by granting building permits to Vita’s developers.
“I don’t see how a judge can do anything other than revoke licenses that should never have been issued,” attorney David Winker told the Herald.
“What happened in Grove Isle would be like me selling you my backyard casita and then you tearing it down and building a big single-family home that doesn’t belong. Or, instead of properly subdividing my land, I could divide it into 10 lots and sell it to people who put cabins on it.
“It’s another example of anarchy in Miami: Just let the developer do what he wants and no one will dare tear it down,” Winker said.
When the original buildings were constructed in 1979, the address was considered one of Miami’s most exclusive enclaves, offering great privacy, with residents and visitors having to cross a bridge from the mainland to the bay.
The Miami Herald believes that Vita’s construction managed to bypass the city’s usual planning approval process.
When the original buildings were constructed in 1979, the address was considered one of Miami’s most exclusive enclaves, offering great privacy.
The new condo is the result of a 2020 settlement signed by the developer and homeowners association leaders during closed-door negotiations with Grove Isle homeowners who never consulted for feedback.
“They intimidated and manipulated residents into believing that this was a done deal and this new building was inevitable, so we should resign ourselves to it,” said Elizabeth Tamayo who has lived in the building for 25 years.
“I come from Venezuela, where the rule of law no longer exists. We want the law to be respected. There must be accountability, otherwise this type of overdevelopment in a city run by real estate developers will continue. It is time to put an end to these abuses of power,” Tamayo said.
“The HOA dictators have betrayed us. They screwed us royally,” Schaecter added.
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