The revival of iconic shopping strip Coco Walk isn’t the only sign of revival in Coconut Grove, the Miami neighborhood famously dubbed “a bit Bahamian and a bit bohemian.” In addition to continual waves of new boutiques and exclusive restaurants, palatial properties have sprouted in the colorful enclave, helping author the next chapter in the storied history of The Grove, the oldest continuously inhabited district in Miami-Dade.
Coconut Grove’s chronology extends all the way back to the years immediately after the Civil War. Founded in 1873, the enclave ever since has witnessed more than its share of highs and lows. The Grove served as the setting for the first South Florida hotel. In 1925, the originally independent city was annexed into the city of Miami.
Coconut Grove provided a backdrop for the 1960s counter-culture movement, complete with love-ins and a legendarily infamous Dinner Key Auditorium concert by The Doors. It evolved into a sanctuary of sorts for drug kingpins during the heyday of Miami Vice. For the past century, it’s always been both of Miami and seemingly removed from the Magic City.
Its location plays a large role in its appeal. From Coconut Grove, denizens can reach Brickell in 10 minutes, South Miami in a quarter hour, Miami Beach in 20 minutes.
Turnaround ace
Among the new luxury offerings is Arbor Residences, a 45-residence development featuring two-, three- and four-bedroom homes, as well as townhomes and penthouses.
The development presented a compelling challenge to Isaac Kodsi, developer of Arbor Residences. Among characters in the drama, he recalls, were a developer in distress, a lender who filed foreclosure and prior purchasers in danger of losing their deposits.
Kodsi acquired the positions of both the bank and developer, refunded purchasers’ deposits and provided them a release from the contracts they’d inked. In so doing, he was able to deliver a fresh new start for every stakeholder in the project.
The design of Arbor Residences forges a connection between its built environment and the great outdoors. Floor-to-ceiling windows and 10- to 20-foot-high ceilings invite natural light to flood interiors. Wide-plank porcelain wood-grain floors and natural wood finishes serve as additional harmonies between the natural world and the home’s great indoors.
Arbor stands now at 20% sold. A diverse group of buyers has stepped up to purchase, reflecting the fact that the project “is for everyone,” Kodsi says. “Coconut Grove is for everyone, because of its walkability, because of the variety of attractions it offers – whether schools, casual [to] fancy restaurants or lifestyle and fitness options – and because of the convenience it offers in terms of getting to other neighborhoods.”
Not alone
Arbor Residences is not the only newcomer on the modern Coconut Grove scene. Developed by CMC Group and Fort Partners and set on Biscayne Bay, Four Seasons Residences aims to bring opulent hotel living to the residential realm, offering 70 two-to four-bedroom residences across its 20 stories. Residences start at 2,025 square feet in size and $5.62 million in price.
The building’s amenities include a library, gym and yoga room, spa with cold plunge and hammam, pool deck and sprawling bar lounge.
Another recent entry among Coconut Grove luxury developments is Vita at Grove Isle. The collection of three residential buildings stands on the water on Grove Isle, not far from Coco Walk and its environs. The product of luxury developer Ugo Colombo and CMC Group, Vita features seven stories and 65 residences extending from three- to four-plus-den-bedroom units and provides dramatic sunrise and sunset panoramas over its secluded corner of the Coconut Grove tableau.
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