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 91-foot-tall, seven-story block of condominiums that now obscures their view of the waterfront.
What once offered spectacular views of Biscayne Bay and the downtown Miami skyline has now been blocked by a huge stadium-like development of new condos that completely overshadows the residents of the pre-existing blocks.
Not only that, the way the new block has been constructed with its curved design has created a wind tunnel effect, meaning garden furniture on the adjoining balconies is blown around. The prices of the original homes are also said to have plummeted by 30 percent.
‘When residents move in over there, they’ll be close enough to see what I see on TV. Or what I read. I want to be able to look into their bathrooms,’ Wendy Gordon told the Miami Herald.
‘We bought a peaceful island lifestyle. It was heaven. It is gone. This used to be a kind and friendly place. Now everyone hates each other.’
A photo of the construction of a new seven-story apartment building on the northern edge of Grove Isle in Coconut Grove
A Grove Isle resident who has campaigned against the new apartment building under construction holds a pamphlet while standing on an eighth floor balcony. Their once stunning view of the bay is now blocked by construction work
From over the tip of the island, where the new building is being built, was home to a community club and a waterfront restaurant
Now the new residents of this stadium-like building called Vita will enjoy views of Biscayne Bay
The residents of Grove Isle had been fighting for ten years to prevent the new apartment from being built on their private island.
In fact, the new building, which they believe was illegally erected, is built on the exact same site that previously housed a community clubhouse, swimming pool, Tiki hut bar and waterfront restaurant.
The new seven-story, 65-unit luxury building known as Vita is selling condos for between $2.7 million and $22 million.
The new owners of Vita will now enjoy the views enjoyed by the Grove Isle owners, some of whom have lived there for the past 40 years. The Vita residents will also have ‘thoughtfully composed collection of indoor and outdoor facilities’, including private lifts, ‘residents only pool bar’ and ‘panoramic views’ from ‘shrouded terraces’.
David Schaecter, 94, has lived at 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 block of flats being built.
“Now we’re staring at a wall of apartments,” Schaecter said. ‘It’s invasive. We will have to keep our shadows closed. A neighbor installs a 6-foot-tall hedge on his balcony to block it.’
The residents have filed a lawsuit against the city of Miami in hopes of halting construction, or possibly seeing the building downsized — but construction is already well underway with completion expected this winter.
David Schaecter, 94, is an original resident of Grove Isle. He and 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
All 65 homes in the new Vita have panoramic views of the bay, with prices starting at $2.7 million. One of the bedrooms can be seen here
The building is set for completion in winter 2024, with pre-construction sales underway
The smart residential clubhouse can be seen in this photo provided by the developers
The penthouse residences will span 3,400 square feet to 6,600 square feet with a private rooftop terrace
The only way to access the island is via a bridge that connects it to the mainland
The lawsuit alleges the city broke its own planning laws by granting building permits to Vita’s developers.
“I don’t see how a judge can do anything but revoke permits that should never have been issued,” attorney David Winker told The Herald.
‘What’s happened on Grove Isle would be like if I sold you my backyard casita and then you tear it down and build a big single-family house that doesn’t belong. Or, instead of dividing my land properly, I could cut it into 10 lots and sell it to people who built cabins.
“It’s another example of Miami lawlessness — just let the developer have his way and nobody will dare tear it down,” Winker said.
When the original buildings were constructed in 1979, the address was seen as one of the most exclusive enclaves in Miami, offering a tremendous amount of privacy, with residents and visitors having to travel over a bridge from the mainland, out into the bay.
The Miami Herald believes the construction of the Vita somehow managed to bypass the city’s usual planning approval process.
When the original buildings were built in 1979, the address was seen as one of the most exclusive enclaves in Miami, offering a tremendous amount of privacy
The new condo was the result of a 2020 settlement signed by the developer and Homeowner Association leaders in closed-door negotiations with Grove Isle homeowners who were never consulted for their input.
“They bullied and manipulated residents into thinking it was a done deal and that this new building was inevitable, so we should just be resigned to it,” 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 needs to be accountability or this type of overdevelopment in a city driven by developers will continue. It is time to put an end to these abuses of power,” Tamayo said.
‘The HOA dictators betrayed us. They screwed us over,” Schaecter added.
