Acquisitions/Dispositions/ Leasing/Development

Holland & Knight's experienced commercial real estate lawyers possess a wide range of industry insight and actively assist clients to purchase, sell, lease, develop, operate and finance billions of dollars of commercial and residential real estate assets, including office, retail, single and multifamily homes, apartments and industrial properties. In addition to these standard asset classes, our leasing, acquisition, disposition and development attorneys represent clients in the master planning of sophisticated portfolios involving multiple investors and complex agreements, such as high-end luxury condominiums and hotels. Our attorneys routinely handle projects from the permitting phase, through construction, and into the leasing and selling phase. This comprehensive representation covers a variety of product types, including office, industrial, flex, retail, residential and mixed use, involving both single-site projects and large portfolios.

ABBHI CAPITAL

Holland & Knight advised an affiliate of Abbhi Capital in its purchase of the property that houses Christy's Restaurant, which has been a Coral Gables landmark for more than 40 years.

In a separate matter, Abbhi Capital, via affiliated entities, purchased two lots in Miami Worldcenter that neighbor a planned mixed-use apartment project. Abbhi Capital's affiliate is a partner on the apartment project, which will feature 450 apartments, 10,000 square feet of retail space and 20,000 square feet of co-working space.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

Holland & Knight represented the City of Coral Gables in the acquisition of a parking lot from a church located on Sunset Drive. The firm negotiated the purchase and sale agreement, reviewed all title and due diligence matters, served as title and escrow agent, and negotiated the closing documents. The City intends to use the property to build a firehouse and public park.

In a separate transaction, Holland & Knight represented the City of Coral Gables in a land-swap transaction that resulted in a new Public Safety Building at 250 Minorca Avenue, which has been under construction since 2017 and has now been completed.

Prior to this transaction, the City owned the property at 2801 Salzedo Street and a real estate investment firm owned the property at 250 Minorca Avenue.

Holland & Knight handled every aspect of this transaction on behalf of the City – from the Letter of Intent phase to the contract drafting phase, due diligence and title review periods, and through closing. The firm served as title agents on behalf of the City in connection with its acquisition of the Minorca property and prepared the closing documents on the City's behalf for the Salzedo property sale.

ELION PARTNERS

Holland & Knight has continued our working relationship with Elion Partners throughout 2020, aiding the company in its property acquisition and disposition work in multiple jurisdictions.

Elion’s investment strategy is focused on last-mile logistics real estate, targeting core, urban logistics hubs near large population centers in infill coastal markets. The recent acquisitions that Holland & Knight aided are part of a series that Elion has planned for its portfolio aggregation strategy across key coastal logistics markets. During the second half of 2020, Elion acquired seven additional last-mile industrial distribution assets in key logistics markets, including Seattle, San Francisco, Southern California, New Jersey and South Florida. Holland & Knight represented Elion in all of these transactions.

In addition to the series of last-mile acquisitions, Holland & Knight aided in the sale of 12 last-mile distribution assets in the summer 2020. The portfolio represented 700,000 square feet of space across South Florida and was the market’s largest industrial sale of the year.

FISHER ISLAND HOLDINGS LLC

Fisher Island is a members-only, luxury South Florida real estate development that has one of the most expensive ZIP codes in the country. Throughout the past decade, including 2020, Holland & Knight has served as lead real estate and development counsel to the master developer of Fisher Island regarding the development and unit sales of the 10-story, 43-unit Palazzo del Sol and 10-story, 50-unit Palazzo della Luna. Our attorneys advised on a record number of closings in 2020, with unit prices ranging from $6.5 million to $35 million or more than $2,100 a square foot – making them some of the most expensive homes in South Florida. Holland & Knight also served as part of the core legal team representing the developer in obtaining entitlements to complete the remaining two parcels of Fisher Island, which are planned as a 57-unit, 10-story condominium building and 12 single-family homes.

GLOBAL CITY INVESTMENTS

Holland & Knight represented Global City Investments in the acquisition of two adjacent properties – a farmhouse and farmland – in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. The firm negotiated the purchase and sale agreement; reviewed all title and due diligence matters; reviewed, revised and negotiated all loan documents; and negotiated the closing documents. The client intends to develop the land as a residential community.

GROVE BAY

Holland & Knight served as lead counsel in negotiating a long-term lease agreement with the City of Miami for the redevelopment of significant portions of the waterfront in Coconut Grove. After completion of the negotiations with the City and the approval of the lease agreement by referendum of the electorate, Holland & Knight has worked hand-in-hand with the developer to secure necessary entitlements, complete the initial construction financing and address construction-related matters. The firm now serves as counsel negotiating the various leases to subtenants within the new development.

INVIVAS

Holland & Knight represented Invivas, a Spain-based real estate investor, in the $12 million acquisition of the two-story, mixed-use historic Chandler Building in South Beach's entertainment district, one block from Española Way. The property is commercial/retail on the ground floor and studio apartments on the second floor. The client expressed interest in future redevelopment of the site.

MIDTOWN OPPORTUNITIES

Holland & Knight advised on the $26.4 million acquisition of a nearly 5-acre vacant parcel in the Midtown neighborhood of Miami. The acquisition was strategic as the client already owned certain air rights above the property as well as a liner tract contiguous to the property. The consolidated parcels and rights permit will allow for substantial development on the property.

In a separate matter, Holland & Knight represented Miami-based developer Midtown Opportunities, an affiliate of Midtown Development, in the purchase of The Shops at Sunset Place. Our attorneys represented Midtown in a "sign and close" acquisition completed in a span of 10 days. Midtown paid $65.5 million for the open-air, 10-acre mall, marking a 40 percent discount off its previous purchase price in 2015. The mall is currently anchored by a 24-screen theater and bookstore, and is home to retailers, local specialty shops and several restaurants.

THE LUCKY COMPANIES

Holland & Knight represented The Lucky Companies, a privately held real estate investment firm based in South Florida, in connection with the $13 million sale of a 121,933-square-foot industrial building located at 10700 NW 36th Avenue in Miami.