Craft House Client, Five Park, featured in WSJ
Escape to Tropical Paradise
Not just for snowbirds, a fresh new flock of homebuyers are descending on the Sunshine State
by Kelly Bryant
“Like so many industries across the world, real estate has seen a tremendous shift since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than two years in, the market is still reeling. Remote work is making people rethink where they can (and want to) live, while inventory remains frustratingly low for homebuyers at every price point. One of the busiest markets has to be South Florida, which is receiving a migration of diverse groups from nearly every point in the United States.
"There has been an influx of professionals of all ages and industries moving to South Florida, says Cathy Strafaci, executive vice president and managing director of Douglas Elliman development market-ing. "There has also been an overarching trend of those who once visited Miami seasonally now making the city their year-round home."
Strafaci looks at Miami's globally in-fluenced, vibrant culture as a beacon for people from all over the world because it's a one-of-a-kind place to settle. She describes her buyers as savvy, educated, well-traveled and successful individuals with discerning tastes that extend across all facets of their life.
Here to meet the needs of this esteemed group of newcomers is Five Park, a stunner of a luxury community merging function, beauty and sustainability. Not only are the residences rich in amenities, state-of-the-art technology and sumptuous finishes, but the property also encompasses so much more than the living spaces. This includes Canopy Park, three acres of lush greenery that honor Florida's exceptional ecosystem. It's a feature that sets Five Park apart from other prominent developments. When one thinks of new construction, it's rare to see so much attention paid to showcasing nature, but it's just another example of how its visionaries really thought of everything.
"From the onset ofthe project, Five Park's mission has been to create an entirely new Miami Beach lifestyle, one that prioritizes residents ability to balance well-being and productivity within their own community, and the addition of Canopy Park does just that," says Russell Galbut of TCH 500 Alton LLC, developers of the property.
However, Galbut and his team weren't merely thinking of the human component when they designed the space. They also want to protect the health of the land.
"We integrated groundbreaking sustainability and environmental resiliency efforts into the foundation and landscape of the area that will offset flooding in this traditionally watershed neighborhood," he says.
"This will, in turn, protect our precious Biscayne Bay because the water captured by Canopy Park will be filtered through a sophisticated system installed underground, ensuring that harmful tox-ins, pollutants and debris are removed before it's safely reused to maintain the native and exotic canopy of trees and plants adorning the park."
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
The old saying still rings true: When it comes to real estate, it's all about the neighborhood. This is yet another box Five Park checks off for its residents, with an artistically significant passage to some of the most beautiful parts of Miami Beach.
"A major component of the property will be the addition of Miami Beach Canopy Bridge, designed by world-renowned French conceptual artist Daniel Buren," says David Martin, also a developer with the project. "The bridge will give pedestrians safe and easy access to cross the MacArthur Causeway. It will achieve long-term, overarching connectivity goals for the city, creating a continuous loop of access for all the South Beach neighborhoods. Five Park will be the new gateway to Miami Beach." With such an affluent group of buyers coming into the market, Strafaci says they crave exclusive lifestyle offerings. To that, Five Park offers a residents-only members area, The Canopy Club. Located on the building's 26th floor, it's outfitted with wellness and fitness accoutrement, a spa, private dining room, lounge and bar, along with a dedicated club-level concierge to personalize each experience.
"Residents will also have access to a private beach club, further enhancing their unrivaled amenity options at Five Park," Strafaci says.
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