Lavish luncheons and dinners, helicopter tours, rooftop parties and art-studded soirees.
During Art Basel, brokers and developers are taking advantage of the well-heeled crowd descending on Miami to boost the visibility of their luxury properties. Brokers are launching new multimillion dollar listings in time to catch art-lovers’ eyes. And a plethora of prospective buyers are squeezing viewings in between art fairs and fetes.
Aiming to pull out all the stops, Oren Alexander of Douglas Elliman hosted a luncheon onboard a yacht on Thursday, catered by Joe Stone Crab, to entertain top clients here for Art Basel. The event was followed by a helicopter tour of his properties for sale.
That’s because many of his listings are best seen from the air, he told The Real Deal.
Timed to Art Basel, Nelson Gonzalez, senior vice president of of EWM International Realty, put a waterfront home on the market this week for $8.495 million. The Mid-Century Modern house, at 2979 Flamingo Drive in Miami Beach, was renovated with designs by French architect and designer Jean-Louis Deniot.
2979 Flamingo Drive
So far, in two days, Gonzalez said he has had at least four showings of the house — among the more than two dozen showings of luxury properties along Miami Beach’s North Bay Road, Flamingo Drive, Sunset Islands and Venetian Islands.
Most significantly, he said, he has witnessed an uptick in prospective international buyers — from France, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Russia. That’s in addition to those from the United States, including New York, Los Angeles and Boston.
“This year has been far and away the best Art Basel week in reference to real estate that I have seen,” Gonzalez told TRD. “There’s a lot of money on the sideline and I think people are ready to move,” now that the uncertainty of the election is past.
Baccarat chandelier
Also during Miami Art Week, Cervera Real Estate’s Alicia Cervera Lamadrid of Cervera Real Estate on Friday debuted the penthouse at Grove at Grand Bay. The $12 million, fully furnished unit will have the first baccarat chandelier in the world (Le Roi) designed by Marcel Wanders. With 5,600 square feet plus 2,300 square feet of balconies, the unit also features a private pool and four parking spaces.
And Diane Lieberman, of One Sotheby’s International Realty, put a $5.45 million home on the market at 5915 Pinetree Drive in Miami Beach. The renovated contemporary home has 4,250 square feet.
Brokers and developers cited a boost in showings this week from the art-driven crowd.
Kevin Venger, co-developer of Regalia in Sunny Isles Beach, said the condominium usually has two scheduled showings a week, and had eight showings this week. And half the appointments were to tour the $35 million Beach House.
“We’ve always had an increase in traffic during this particular time,” he said. “There are a lot of international people that come for the shows.”
Cassa Brickell also upped its showings from its customary 20 per week to 80, according to a spokesperson.
Meanwhile, real estate-driven parties have abounded all week.
Ottavio Missoni, Vladislav Doronin and Jonathan Goldstein
Russian billionaire developer Vlad Doronin hosted an Art Basel bash at his Star Island Mansion on Monday, as part of a marketing campaign for his ultra-luxe Missoni Baia project in Edgewater.
Mast Capital, developers of 3900 Alton in Miami Beach, hosted a rooftop soiree at 605 Lincoln Road on Wednesday, with a performance art installation by Laura Kimpton. Compass even turned its Lincoln Road offices in the building into an art gallery, with works from New York-based HG Contemporary.
Christy Martin, Venus Williams and Karolina Kurkova
And on Thursday night, Terra Group President David Martin co-hosted a 100-person dinner catered by Nobu, at Terra Group’s Eighty Seven Park by Renzo Piano. Guests were feted with Old Fashioneds made from Brett Ratner’s Hilhaven Lodge Whiskey. Among attendees: world reknowned artists and architects, as well as celebrities.
“We had really important people, and the idea is that we all kind of converge and celebrate Miami,” Martin told TRD as he strolled through Art Basel Miami Beach on Friday.
“When you have thousands and thousands of people from all over the world in our city,” he added, “its the best time to showcase the best projects and architects that we have.”