Located between South Beach and Bal Harbour, back in the day, the Carriage House Luxury Condominiums was the place to see and be seen.
Built in 1967 with just over 400 condominiums and 17 stories tall, what really sets The Carriage House apart are the expansive building amenities. The Fitness Center has incredible Direct Ocean Front views and is a pleasure to work out in! For the athletes in the family, there are two indoor racquetball courts along with two waterfront outdoor tennis courts. If yachting is your passion, the building has a private marina. The slips are privately owned and available for purchase upon availability. Or, if you have a friend who has a yacht, just have him “stop by around dinnertime to pick you up!”
One of the things I really like is the building’s private commercial section. With such services as a sushi restaurant, beauty salon, convenience store, tailor and dry cleaner, you never have to step off the premises! Besides, you don’t want to cut into your time at the beach!
The building is really in tune with the Jewish needs of its Orthodox residents, offering everything from a Sabbath elevator to the full-time Keter Abraham Synagogue that was custom-built by Sonny Kahn. Sonny Kahn and Russell Galbut are the world-famous mega developer team known throughout the world as the owners/operators of Crescent Heights.
I have known Russell Galbut for over 35 years. When my wife and I first moved to Miami Beach before going on to Mexico, we met a charming couple in shul—Captain Hyman & Bessie Galbut. Not really knowing anyone, I guess it is just our nature, we invited them over for Shabbos lunch. It wasn’t planned; there was no agenda.
As it turned out, Captain Hyman & Bessie Galbut were the parents of Robert, David, Alby and Russell Galbut. From then on, we became close with the entire Galbut family, till this day.
Russell and Sonny have been featured in Forbes Magazine and The Real Deal as one of the top movers and shakers in Miami Beach and around the country! Today, they can be found leading some of the newest, most creative developments around the world—Chicago, New York and even Hong Kong, just to name a few!
As for the units in this building, besides some of the units having unbelievable terraces, the maintenance costs are very low. With an average maintenance cost of.52/sf, what’s remarkable is that it includes electricity!
But wait—there’s more! The building is now completing the last stages of a $20m renovation. Some of the main items included in this major renovation are the pool deck, hurricane windows, balconies, lobby and fitness center.
When one enters The Carriage House Luxury Condominiums one is immediately transported to a different time era. I’m talking about a time when big was better. The lobby is immense, spectacular and outright gorgeous! With sparkling marble floors and architectural columns and a glass cascading staircase that one can take to the upper mezzanine and fitness center, the feeling one gets when entering the lobby is nothing short of inspiring. One feels as though one is walking into a five-star diamond hotel lobby.
You have arrived. Leave your cares behind. Now is your time to relax, unwind and enjoy.
Welcome to paradise!
By Leon Weinschneider
Leon Weinschneider is a licensed real estate broker with OptiMar International Realty in South Florida.
