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In his book Architecture and Real Urbanism, local starchitect and urban planning guru Bernard Zyscovich describes his earliest observations of architecture while growing up on Miami Beach and the impressions left on his imagination, "Though I was oblivious to the metaphor, the streets of Miami Beach were a stage and the buildings stage sets." With Zyscovich's metaphor in mind, the $600 million dollar plans for Island Gardens, located on Watson Island, is without a doubt the grandest of all Miami stages, and the Flagstone Group, led by Turkish billionaire Mehmed Bayraktar, seeks to leave an imprint on it like no other anywhere in the world. Watson Island is public land (falling under the purview of the City's Asset Management Division) located in the heart of Biscayne Bay. It's sandwiched in between South Beach (east) and mainland Downtown Miami (west). The MacArthur Causeway, which is the main artery between mainland Miami and South Beach runs alongside the proposed project. World renown Palm, Star, and Hibiscus island's countless mansions and yachts grace the north side of the island. The Port of Miami, situated to the south of Watson Island, is the world's busiest cruise ship port.
Currently, the Island's largest tenant is Parrot Jungle Island. Other tenants include the Miami Outboard Club, Miami Children's Museum, Watson Island is the most visible parcel of land in the entire city. Let's consider what Flagstone plans on pulling off on this immensely iconic stage: Retail
space: 160,00 sq. ft. To fill in the retail space, Flagstone has enlisted both Starwood Hotels and Shangri-La Hotels. Starwood's plans call for a Westin hotel which will be the first major one for the Downtown Miami market. The ultra-luxurious Shangri-La will be only the fourth in the United States for the Hong Kong-based hotelier. Flagstone will pay $1 million a month to the city for the land lease during construction and $2 million once the project is completed. The project, which features no condos, will further cement Miami's luxury hotel market as one of the most exclusive in the world. Already, Miami boasts a long list of the most recognizable luxury hotel brands; Conrad, St. Regis, W, Regent, Viceroy, Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, to name a few). The addition of Island Garden's two sleek resort towers with an affixed marina for super yachts makes the project truly singular. Shangri-La is not the only major Hong-Kong based firm in the area. Hong Kong conglomerate Swire Properties, has a stronghold of development in nearby Brickell Key (Claughton Island). Shangri-La's Watson Island presence increases the role of Hong Kong based firms in transforming Miami's skyline. |
Mehmed Bayraktar is a major addition to Miami's vast international developer portfolio, highlighting Miami's appeal to global investors and further internationalizing a city that touts itself as a gateway for international trade, tourism, and commerce. However, not everyone is pleased with Flagstone's Island Garden plans. Consider... Point: Some are arguing that the project will significantly increase traffic along the MacArthur Causeway. Miami Beach city officials have voiced their opposition while Miami officials promote it. Counter-point: There are plans to widen the I-395 as it leads into the MacArthur Causeway, but while the project is in the planning phase, there are alternate routes to the Beach along the Venetian and Julia Tuttle Causeways to the north. Point: There are those that consider the project to be improper use of public land in order to suit the fabulously wealthy. Counter-point: There are plans for Museum Park just across the Bay and plenty of public park land along nearby Bayfront and Margaret Pace parks, and there are no obvious public uses for Watson Island except a promenade, which is included in the Island Gardens plans. Currently, there is no promenade. Unless you include the fragmented and deteriorated concrete slab that skirts the island's south side (facing the skyline). Point: The skyline-conscious are concerned with the project's two towers blocking views of the city as seen from the causeway, while others worry about the unusual placement of the project vis-a-vis the Downtown skyline. After all, Island Gardens represents the first high density development in the middle of Biscayne Bay. Counter-point: The project will only result in limited blind spots where the skyline is blocked depending on the observer's vantage point, and the striking contribution the towers will make to the skyline itself should not be dismissed. Island Garden's retail component will face Downtown's Bayside Marketplace and American Airlines Arena. At night, the Bay's waters are going to be illuminated with the light of retail activity. One can almost imagine the view of Miami's dazzling skyline from the Island Gardens promenade while the sounds of music and people from nearby establishments fill the air. Flagstone's plans are huge, they have permits in place to begin dredging a section of Biscayne Bay south of the MacArthur Causeway. They have secured 35% of the necessary financing and have completed due diligence in securing additional financing from two other major financial institutions. The details have not been disclosed by Flagstone. With the condo market slipping, Miami's urban real estate market could use a jolt. Island Gardens doesn't further flood the market with condos and will surely draw international attention with its architectural flair, remind observers that the skyline continues its unprecedented expansion, provide a new destination for high-end yachters, create hundreds of new jobs, add much needed retail to the core, increase the City's tax revenue, add a baywalk (promenade) where there is none, and make Watson Island a more viable tourist destination. |
