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- 💥 You Won't Believe This Multi-Million Dollar Plot Twist in Miami
💥 You Won't Believe This Multi-Million Dollar Plot Twist in Miami
Check out how Miami's wealth, culture, industry, and real estate is booming this week!
Joe Biscaha
December 19, 2025
Happy Friday, Miami!
In this week’s update:
✈️ Miami International Airport is preparing for the 2026 World Cup with the rollout of CLEAR biometric eGates. The upgrade is designed to speed up passenger screening and ease congestion as international travel to South Florida ramps up.
🏝️ A high-stakes land deal on Miami’s Watson Island just got the green light, despite a price tag that’s raising eyebrows across the city. Developers plan to transform the site into a luxury hub with condos, a hotel, and waterfront access. But a city-backed appraisal valued the land at nearly ten times the sale price.
💰 Allen Morris Co. has secured a $138.5 million construction loan to move forward with Ziggurat, a major mixed use project planned for Coconut Grove. The development will combine luxury residences, office space, retail, dining, and redesigned public areas, marking a significant new investment in the neighborhood.
In case you missed it
🎥 How Miami Will Reinvent Itself by 2035
In this video, we're taking a look at the future. This is how Miami, FL will completely reinvent itself by 2035!
🏝️ Miami Moves Forward on Watson
Island $29M Sale
Driving the news: Miami commissioners approved the $29 million sale of 3.2 acres of Watson Island waterfront to IG Luxury (a joint venture between BH3 Management and Merrimac Ventures). Add in a $9 million public benefits payment, and the city’s total take hits $38 million.
Details:
The deal covers part of a 10.8-acre plot the city has owned for decades.
The developers plan to build Watson Harbour, a mixed-use project with a hotel, condos, retail, office space, and a public promenade.
They’ll continue leasing the remaining 7.6 acres from the city.
The marina (already sold in a separate $480M deal) is staying put.
The big picture: Watson Island has long been a missed opportunity. Despite a 75-year lease signed in 2002 with Flagstone Property Group, most of the land sat empty after years of legal wrangling. This sale signals a reset.
What’s next: BH3 and Merrimac are expected to move forward with permitting and development. Meanwhile, on the other side of Watson Island, ESJ Capital and Terra Group are leading a separate redevelopment of Jungle Island and Joia Beach.
The bottom line: After two decades of delay, one of Miami’s most visible waterfront parcels is finally headed toward a new chapter, with promises of luxury living, public access, and local investment baked in.
Real Estate Insights
What to do this weekend
Laser Evening: Holiday Magic
Celebrate the season with festive laser projections set to classic holiday music inside a 67 foot planetarium dome, perfect for all ages.
📍 Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science, Miami
📅 Friday, Dec 19 | 7:00 PM
🎟️ $12–$15
MORE INFO→
Just For Me: Snowy Holiday
A sensory friendly holiday experience where families create their own snow using special polymers, bringing winter magic to Miami without the cold.
📍 Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science, Miami
📅 Saturday, Dec 20 | 10:00 AM
🎟️ $0–$29 with museum admission
MORE INFO→
Andrea Bocelli in Concert
The legendary tenor returns with a holiday tradition, performing selections from A Family Christmas alongside beloved opera classics with a full orchestra.
📍 Kaseya Center, Miami
📅 Sunday, Dec 21 | 7:30 PM
🎟️ $111–$528
MORE INFO→
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Have a great weekend!!
-Joe