Moving to Brickell..Building advice? (Miami, South Miami: rental, lofts, mortgages)

[lolz05]

Hi all! I'm starting to look at buildings for my move to brickell. I am in my mid 20's female. Don't really know anyone in the area, so I hope I can meet some people in Brickell area! I was hoping that someone could give me some general information on the reputation of certain buildings (what age people that live there, "partying" building, good pool scene, quality of building, walkability to the restaurants/shopping/nightlife in brickell). My choices are:

Infinity
Jade
Icon
Plaza
Brickell on the River
500 Brickell
1060 Brickell
Axis
Skyline

Any information you can tell me about any of these buildings (literally..any information) would be so helpful. Its always good to hear about what people in the area have heard or know about buildings (rather than from someone who is trying to sell it to you). Also how are the walls? paper-thin? Couldn't stand it if I could hear the neighbors! Thank yoU!!

[JimboUSMC17]

I work next to the Icon and it is beautiful!! Has beautiful pools and a club called Club 50 which is on the 50th floor. (Hence the name) I've never actually been in the building but this is all the info I have. Overall Brickell is beautiful! I love working here and wish I could one day live here. The nightlife is a plenty and you are right near it all.

Also, the building next to me on the other side just opened up a new restaurant. "Trulucks" supposed to be real good!!

[boxus]

The Jade is pretty nice, nice location, the walls are not paper thin, a bit pricey for what it is in my opinion, for renting that is, but it is nice if you can afford it.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by JimboUSMC17

I work next to the Icon and it is beautiful!! Has beautiful pools and a club called Club 50 which is on the 50th floor. (Hence the name) I've never actually been in the building but this is all the info I have. Overall Brickell is beautiful! I love working here and wish I could one day live here. The nightlife is a plenty and you are right near it all.

Also, the building next to me on the other side just opened up a new restaurant. "Trulucks" supposed to be real good!!

Trulucks is excellent. We have one in Boca - great seafood! I've done some mortgages for Icon - beautiful - prices have really come down too!

[Jigster]

These places you mention are going to vary in price signficantly, with Icon and Jade being the most expensive (mid to low $2,000s for a 1 BD), while others like Axis and Brickell on the River you can get in the mid to high $1,000s. I've visited almost all these places and here are my general opinions of them.


Infinity -I think this one by far is the most empty of any of these. I believe all the units are lofts too, which may or may not appeal to you. Good location.

Jade - ultra luxurious. This is going to be an older crowd for sure. From what I understand, a lot of divorced guys live here.

Icon - again, ultra luxurious. It is slowly filling up. Awesome pool (largest in South Florida I've heard). Not sure what the crowd is like here. J. Lo lives there.

Plaza - I describe this place as the Flamingo of Brickell. Pretty much at capacity and lively party scene. I like their pool area a lot too. Each tower has its own gym, which I think is pretty unique. The 1 bd units here though I found to be small. The units are carpeted too, which I don't like.

Brickell on the River - Not a fan. I think these are all loft too.

500 Brickell - Place is ok. Gym is small and in general the building has a "W" hotel type of feel to it. The crowd is on the younger side here too.

1060 Brickell - This is where I live, been here 2 years. In general, I'm pleased with it. I live in a 1 BD / 1.5 bath, which is unique in Brickell. Very few 1bd units have that extra half bath, which is really nice when you have guests. It also was the largest 1 bd I saw in Brickell, except maybe Icon or Jade (too expensive for me). I live in the 1060 tower, high floor (above 30), facing the bay, and the views are awesome. The gym is ok as is the pool scene. The crowd is a mix of young and old. One other perk about this building... (almost) free valet parking for guests. Unheard of in Brickell (except at Icon I think). If your guest stays past 1 am, there is a $15 charge, but you get something like 5 free passes a month from the management office to cover this.

Axis - At capacity too. A step below Plaza and 1060 Brickell in terms of quality.

Skyline - not sure about this one.

If cost isn't an option, Icon is legit, but I'm not sure what the crowd is like. Otherwise, 1060 Brickell and Plaza are good choices. Both have good locations, nice amenities, and overall excellent views.

Mint (on the river) just opened up too. It's suppose to be on the high end, but will obviously be quite empty for the next 6 months or so.

[feelquiet]

I agree with everything Jigster said.

I would add that in terms of "walkability", the west side of Brickell has more walkable amenities (groceries, drugstores, restaurants) than the east side. Some people may get tired of crossing the 6-lane Brickell Ave each time to get to the restaurants along South Miami Ave or Publix, for example.

Plaza at Brickell, Axis and 500 Brickell prolly have the youngest median age, and a bigger "party" atmosphere. Brickell on the River has a variety of floor plans, not just lofts.

I'm not sure what your target rental rates are, but the buildings you mentioned vary from the merely upscale (1.50/sf) to the super-luxury (2.75/sf). You may want to narrow by price range first, rather than "thin walls." Based on the developers' reputation for "value engineering", at any given price point, the buildings not built by Related Group will tend to have more robust construction (soundproof). 500 Brickell, Plaza and Icon are Related Group projects.

[lolz05]

what do you guys when you say "party atmosphere"? like a lot of parties in the building? or a lot of people who party? or the people in the building all party together?

[aco17]

yeah party!?!?! in what sens???

[Angel Calzadilla]

Nowadays whith the presence of drugs almost everywhere , "party" is a very generic terminology that scares to people who haven't been users of that stuff at all. What type of "party atmosphere" is related to the one amongst Brickell's youngsters ?