Lionstone Ritz-Carlton South Beach Condos Moves Ahead

The planned redevelopment of the Ritz-Carlton Residences, South Beach and adjacent Sagamore Hotel is moving forward.

Douglas Elliman’s Eklund-Gomes team will lead sales of the 15-story, 30-unit condo project, according to a post on social media. It’s one of three new properties the team recently took on. Fredrik Eklund and Pietro Belmonte are leading sales of the project.

The Lowensteins’ Lionstone Development, the Kanavos family’s Flag Luxury Group and the Ben-Josefs’ Ben-Josef Group are the developers of the Ritz/Sagamore project. The new building will rise behind the Sagamore Hotel South Beach at 1617 Collins Avenue and cantilevered over the existing Ritz-Carlton, South Beach cabana building at 1 Lincoln Road.

The developers secured approval for the new building from the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board in October. On Tuesday, the board approved a certificate of appropriateness for improvements to Lincoln Road between Collins Avenue and the beachwalk.

“I’ve been working on this incredible project in silence for over four years… and can finally unveil it to you,” Eklund wrote on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fredrik Eklund (@fredrikeklundny)

He could not be reached for more information. Elliman did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding pricing.

Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design is working on the project with the interior design firm Studio Munge and hospitality design firm Susurrus, according to a spokesperson for the development.

New York-based Flag and Miami-based Lionstone previously owned the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach and the Ritz-Carlton in Bal Harbour, while New York-based Ben-Josef owned the Sagamore. In 2020, they merged their ownership of the properties.

The Ritz-Carlton development is one of a handful of new oceanfront condo projects in the works along that stretch of Collins Avenue in South Beach. Others include the redevelopment of the historic Shore Club, Raleigh and Delano hotels.

In North Beach, Eklund-Gomes is also heading sales and marketing for 72 & Carlyle, a 125-unit, 19-story building planned for 600 72nd Street. It marks the third project led by Mendy Chudaitov’s Lefferts, the Galbut family and other partners in North Beach. The Navarro family is also an investor.

Pricing at 72 & Carlyle, also called 72B, starts at about $1 million, and Elliman was previously announced as the sales and marketing firm. Eklund posted about the project over the weekend.

Eklund-Gomes is expanding in South Florida. Eklund recently moved from Los Angeles, and his business partner Gomes also bought a pied-à-terre in Miami Beach earlier this year.

Eklund-Gomes is also leading sales of two Auberge Resorts-branded projects that Witkoff is co-developing.

They include the Shore Club Private Collection, an Auberge Resorts-branded luxury condominium planned for the historic property at 1901 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach; as well as Shell Bay Residences in Hallandale Beach.

Witkoff partnered with Monroe Capital on the Shore Club, and is co-developing Shell Bay with Ari Pearl’s PPG Development.