The millionaire residents of a secluded island in Miami say their private paradise has been destroyed, after the city allowed a developer to build a massive seven-story, 91-foot-tall condo block that now obliterates their ocean views.
What once offered spectacular views of Biscayne Bay and the downtown Miami skyline has now been blocked by a massive, stadium-like construction of new condominiums, leaving residents of the pre-existing blocks completely in the shadows.
Not only that, the way the new block was built with its curved design created a wind tunnel effect, meaning that garden furniture on neighboring balconies is blown around by the wind. Original home prices are also said to have plummeted by 30 percent.
‘When the residents move there, they will be close enough to see what I’m watching on TV. Or what I’m reading. I’ll be able to see their bathrooms,” Wendy Gordon told the The Miami Herald.
‘We bought into a peaceful island lifestyle. It was heaven. He went away. This used to be a kind and friendly place. Now everyone hates each other.
A view of the construction of a new seven-story condo building on the north end of Grove Isle in Coconut Grove
A Grove Isle resident who has been fighting the new condo building under construction holds a pamphlet while standing on an eighth floor balcony. Stunning views of the bay are now blocked by construction work.
From above, the tip of the island where the new building is being built housed a community club and a waterfront restaurant.
Now the new occupants of this stadium-like building called Vita will enjoy views over Biscayne Bay
Grove Isle residents had fought for ten years to prevent the new condo from being built on their private island.
In fact, the new building, which they believe was built illegally, was built on the exact same spot, where a community clubhouse, pool, Tiki Hut bar and waterfront restaurant used to be.
The new luxury building, known as Vita, which consists of seven floors and 65 units, sells condominiums for between $2.7 million and $22 million.
Vita’s new owners will now enjoy the views enjoyed by Grove Isle owners, some of whom have lived there for the past 40 years. Vita residents will also have a “carefully curated collection of indoor and outdoor amenities,” including private elevators, a “residents-only poolside bar,” and “panoramic views” from “wrapped terraces.”
David Schaecter, 94, has lived in the Grove since its construction in the late 1970s.
He and his wife, Sydney, used to enjoy stunning views of the marina and tennis courts, but now their unit is just 40 feet from the new apartment block being built.
“Now we’re looking at a wall of condo units,” Schaecter said. ‘It’s invasive. We’ll have to keep our blinds closed. A neighbor is installing a 6-foot-high hedge on her balcony to block it.’
Residents have filed a lawsuit against the city of Miami, hoping to stop construction or possibly reduce the size of the building, but construction is already underway and is expected to be completed this winter.
David Schaecter, 94, is an original resident of Grove Isle. He and his wife Sydney live in a west-facing unit on the third floor. They used to overlook the marina and tennis courts, but now they overlook the new building.
The new Vita’s 65 residences have panoramic bay views, with prices starting at $2.7 million. One of the bedrooms is seen here.
The building will be completed in winter 2024 and pre-construction sales are underway.
The elegant residential clubhouse is seen in this image provided by the developers.
The penthouses will span between 3,400 and 6,600 square feet and will feature a private rooftop terrace.
The only way to access the island is through a bridge that connects it to the mainland.
The lawsuit alleges that the city violated its own planning laws by granting building permits to Vita’s developers.
“I don’t see how a judge can do anything other than revoke permits that should never have been granted,” attorney David Winker told The Herald.
‘What happened in Grove Isle would be like me selling you my little house in the backyard and then you tearing it down and building a big single-family house that doesn’t belong. Or, instead of properly subdividing my land, I could divide it into 10 lots and sell it to people who build shacks.
“It’s another example of lawlessness in Miami: Just let the developer get away with it and no one will dare demolish it,” Winker said.
When the original buildings were constructed in 1979, the address was considered one of Miami’s most exclusive enclaves, offering great privacy, and residents and visitors had to travel across a bridge from the mainland to the bay.
The Miami Herald believes Vita’s construction somehow managed to bypass the city’s usual planning approval process.
When the original buildings were constructed in 1979, the address was considered one of the most exclusive enclaves in Miami and offered great privacy.
The new condo was the result of a 2020 agreement signed by the developer and HOA leaders in closed-door negotiations with Grove Isle homeowners who were never consulted for input.
“They intimidated and manipulated the residents into believing that it was a fact and that this new building was inevitable, so we should resign ourselves,” said Elizabeth Tamayo, who has lived in the building for 25 years.
‘I come from (Venezuela) where the rule of law no longer exists. We want the law to be followed. There has to be accountability or this type of overdevelopment in a developer-run city will continue. It is time to put an end to these abuses of power,’ said Tamayo.
‘The dictators of the Homeowners Association betrayed us. “They screwed us up a lot,” Schaecter added.