The Residences at Riverwalk. Two years ago, this sleepy waterfront land along the Miami River was nothing but an empty lot. But today, it is one of the premier locations for elegant living in South Florida.
Situated on the north bank of the Miami River in the Historically Preserved Neighborhood of Spring Garden, the Residences at Riverwalk is an upscale development that blends well into this historic community. Developer Jose Luis Gonzalez planned it that way from the very beginning. “Nothing had ever been built on this property before,” he said, “and on this piece of land we could have built as many as 40 units. But,” he added, “out of respect to the neighborhood, the residents of Spring Garden and its historic surroundings, I decided to develop a very exclusive enclave of only 16 high-end residences. This classy development so close to both the Medical Center and the Courthouse is one of the best kept secrets in the City of Miami.” Gonzalez seriously considered the design of each unit and, thus, the condominium residences are like no others in South Florida. The size of the units, the amenities, and the lifestyle he envisions for these residents were the driving forces that helped to shape their palatial layout. “I won’t build anything that I myself won’t live in,” he said, “and as a result, each unit has unbelievable views of both the water and the City of Miami. All of the residences have three bedrooms and 3-1/2 baths. The smallest residence has more than 2300 square feet of air-conditioned space and the largest has in excess of 5500 square feet.” According to Gonzalez, each of the four penthouse suites, the smallest of which is 4600 square feet and the largest with approximately 5800 square feet, has spectacular roof-top terraces with private Jacuzzis overlooking the water and the City of Miami. “They’re like single-family homesthat’s why I named them ‘The Residences at Riverwalk.'” All of the residences have huge private terraces and floor-to-ceiling glass walls that allow stunning views. Of course all of the windows and sliding glass doors are designed to be hurricane-proof, but as an additional measure of security, all residents have the option to install specially designed hurricane shutters. Along with having plenty of roomthe units have 10-foot ceilingsthe kitchens are equipped with imported custom cabinetry, unique granite countertops, and top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. Also included in the development is a 40-foot swimming pool and spa overlooking the Miami River, a riverfront cabana with an outdoor kitchen for entertainment, a state-of-the-art gym, and exotic gardens and fountains surrounding this beautiful location. In addition to providing covered parking spaces for tenant visitors, each unit comes with two covered parking spaces. “All residences are flow-through units,” Gonzalez continued. “That means all residents will enjoy fresh air flowing through all of their living areas since each apartment has glass sliding doors on both sides of the building.” Gonzalez also said he “worked with the Army Corps of Engineers and the River Authority to get approval for several boat slips.” As a result, the development has a private deepwater marina that will accommodate yachts up to 60 feet long. Aside from all of the amenities, Gonzalez believes the location of Residences at Riverwalk is one of the most appealing features. “The convenience is unreal,” he said. “It’s five minutes from downtown, 10 minutes from Miami International (Airport), 10 minutes from South Beach, and five minutes from I-95. By boat you are 10 minutes from Biscayne Bay, 15 minutes from the Bayside Shopping Center and the AAA Arena, and 15 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean, all with open bridge access. By the way, if you like to walk, it’s a very short walk to waterfront restaurants in the area.” Even more important, Gonzalez indicated that this development is perfect for medical and legal professionals who work in the vicinity of the Medical Center and the Courthouse. He explained, “It is within walking distance to four major hospitals (Cedars of Lebanon, Jackson Memorial, the University of Miami Medical Center, and the Veterans Hospital) and the Courthouse.” What has been the response to the Residences at Riverwalk, which are expected to be ready for occupancy in February 2007? Gonzalez said the area is somewhat secluded since the residences sit on a peninsula surrounded on three sides by water, and not many people are aware of this quiet neighborhood. “It’s sometimes difficult to motivate people to come and see our development,” he said, “but once they visit the neighborhood and see our units, it’s easy to get them to sign a sales contract. After all, we only have four residences left and only one boat slip.” Gonzalez, who has been a developer since 1992, said he concentrates on building exclusively executive-style homes and high-end multi-family communities. In this case, he said, “I wanted to build something special for all of the professionals working in the Medical Center and the Courthouse.” In fact, Gonzalez himself is so taken with the location and the development that he has already signed up to be one of the home owners. “I like the area, I fell in love with it,” he said. “So I’m moving from Coral Gables to live in one of the penthouses. “Of course,” he added with a chuckle, “I don’t want people knocking at my door and saying their air conditioning isn’t working!” But that isn’t likely to happen. “We’re not cutting any corners here,” he said; “the whole building is going to be my home.”
