Investing in Brickell/Coral Gables (Condo).... Which Building? (Confused) (Miami: condos, to live in)

[The Floridian]

Hello Group -

Looking to invest in Brickell or Coral Gables. I like Santa Maria building but it's over my budget. I like Coral Gables... Interested in 2/2 condo with underground garage parking. So far, I've seen Marina Blue & 500 Brickell buildings to name a few but these buildings are in the heart of downtown; not exactly where I wanna be. Right now u have a lot of traffic, so once these high rises sell off, what will happen? I think more traffic. And will Brickell ever be what it's planned out to be? I like Whole Foods and Cranden Beach on Biscyane -- a great place with peace and quiet. Also thinking about Miami Gradens/Aventura area. Fort Lauderdale is cool but to many uptight people there, gays and retirees. I am single, heterosexual and enjoy Latin culture. My Portuguese/Spanish is decent or passable but not fluent.

Important Points

- I want to be around young to middle age singles (30+) I am 45 years old
- Close to a nice, quiet Beach w/nice down to earth people
- Close to Whole Foods
- Close to L.A. Fitness/Ballys


Thanks in advance!

[cuba libre]

Originally Posted by The Floridian

Hello Group -

Looking to invest in Brickell or Coral Gables. I like Santa Maria building but it's over my budget. I like Coral Gables... Interested in 2/2 condo with underground garage parking. So far, I've seen Marina Blue & 500 Brickell buildings to name a few but these buildings are in the heart of downtown; not exactly where I wanna be. Right now u have a lot of traffic, so once these high rises sell off, what will happen? I think more traffic. And will Brickell ever be what it's planned out to be? I like Whole Foods and Cranden Beach on Biscyane -- a great place with peace and quiet. Also thinking about Miami Gradens/Aventura area. Fort Lauderdale is cool but to many uptight people there, gays and retirees. I am single, heterosexual and enjoy Latin culture. My Portuguese/Spanish is decent or passable but not fluent.

Important Points

- I want to be around young to middle age singles (30+) I am 45 years old
- Close to a nice, quiet Beach w/nice down to earth people
- Close to Whole Foods
- Close to L.A. Fitness/Ballys


Thanks in advance!

Whole Foods ditched downtown Miami's Metro 1/2/3 project just north of the Miami River off of US-1 in late 2008 because of lack of qualified labor. I guess they refused to hire ghetto labor like Publix and some Winn Dixies. They also cited a collapse of the housing boom as another reason. I personally think the new, centrally located Publix in Mary Brickell Village nixed their plans to be competitive in the area. Publix would have kept them honest and ran them out of business.

I would provide a link for this info, but most of the info regarding Whole Foods' flight is imbedded in the blogosphere.

[The Floridian]

THANKS Cuba. 87 views and only 1 reply? PLEASE... ANYONE care to reply to my question?

THANKS

[Austin13]

Originally Posted by cuba libre

Whole Foods ditched downtown Miami's Metro 1/2/3 project just north of the Miami River off of US-1 in late 2008 because of lack of qualified labor. I guess they refused to hire ghetto labor like Publix and some Winn Dixies. They also cited a collapse of the housing boom as another reason. I personally think the new, centrally located Publix in Mary Brickell Village nixed their plans to be competitive in the area. Publix would have kept them honest and ran them out of business.

I would provide a link for this info, but most of the info regarding Whole Foods' flight is imbedded in the blogosphere.

Interesting that the new Publix in Mary Brickell Village still has their name on it, and it looks like it is completed. I had not heard that Publix had changed plans to open the store. There is another Publix located near the one which was to open in Mary Brickell Village, and that place is packed to the gills ALL THE TIME. Where do you think all those people who live in the many condos in that area shop? This area is far more populated than you would think. Yet traffic is not a huge problem. Also, if one works in Miami, it is enormously convenient to live in the Brickell area.

[Austin13]

Originally Posted by The Floridian

Hello Group -

Looking to invest in Brickell or Coral Gables. I like Santa Maria building but it's over my budget. I like Coral Gables... Interested in 2/2 condo with underground garage parking. So far, I've seen Marina Blue & 500 Brickell buildings to name a few but these buildings are in the heart of downtown; not exactly where I wanna be. Right now u have a lot of traffic, so once these high rises sell off, what will happen? I think more traffic. And will Brickell ever be what it's planned out to be? I like Whole Foods and Cranden Beach on Biscyane -- a great place with peace and quiet. Also thinking about Miami Gradens/Aventura area. Fort Lauderdale is cool but to many uptight people there, gays and retirees. I am single, heterosexual and enjoy Latin culture. My Portuguese/Spanish is decent or passable but not fluent.


Important Points

- I want to be around young to middle age singles (30+) I am 45 years old
- Close to a nice, quiet Beach w/nice down to earth people
- Close to Whole Foods
- Close to L.A. Fitness/Ballys


Thanks in advance!

Maybe you might want to check out One Broadway or some other buildings in that area. You say you are single, heterosexual and enjoy Latin culture, so, IMO, the "Brickell" and South Miami area may be a place where you'd feel comfortable. The traffic in the areas around Brickell is not really that bad.