Flagler Holding Group is at the leading edge of a new trend in Miami. At least that is what President and CEO Ricardo Dunin thinks. His company is planning a loft project in the heart of Miami, overlooking the historic Miami Beach Bayshore Golf Course.

“Loft living really started in the 1950s, in different parts of the world. It is typically a metropolitan, bigger city type of product,” says Dunin. “I think Miami — or Miami-Dade County — is getting to be in that league, more international and cosmopolitan. My belief is that, going forward, loft living will be seen more and more in this market — and in other metropolitan markets.”

Dunin explains the attraction of loft living: “Loft space is more space in all directions; people have the luxury of designing space the way they really want it. A loft is really freedom of space. It is openness. In our opinion, it is so strong an appeal that it is not only attractive to young trend-seeker types but even to empty-nesters, who like having rooms with high ceilings to accommodate their art.”

While lofts started as adaptive reuse projects — warehouses converted to residential use — the trend has grown beyond the supply of old warehouses. “People have [become so interested in] the loft concept that it has created a market for new construction,” says Dunin, adding that it would be hard to find an industrial building to convert in South Beach two blocks off Lincoln Road.

“One of the great things about new construction is that you can do whatever you want,” says Dunin.
Flagler’s 111-unit loft project, named The Meridian, will include five villas and six two-story penthouses with rooftop solariums. At The Meridian, Flagler plans a spa and a rooftop pool overlooking the golf course. Situated on top of the five-story building, the area will feature nice views and landscaping as well as full sun.

The units themselves will have a modern design orientation. They will feature stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, and designers will pay special attention to details, such as bathroom fixtures. “It is a design-oriented building,” says Dunin. “The architects for the project, Zyscovich Inc., are very much into design and trends.”

Featuring 12-foot ceilings, the lofts will range from 800 to 2,300 square feet. Options include movable walls, sliding partitions that allow customized layouts and specialized lighting packages.
When developing a loft, “you are less committed to imposing on people the way to partition the space and more committed to giving them the flexibility to do their own space,” explains Dunin.

The company’s ad campaign for The Meridian strives to express the opportunity for flexibility as well as the concept of space. The campaign illustrates a range of uses for space, including a rock-climbing wall. “The idea of that picture [of the climbing wall] is that you have more space. Do whatever you want with it,” says Dunin. “We used the climbing wall because we thought it would be the most interesting image. Another was shoes. And another was books, the most traditional image.”

Dunin says he believes more and more people will choose to live in loft-type spaces. He has experience predicting trends; Flagler developed The Mutiny, which Dunin says started the condo/hotel trend in Miami.

Sales for The Meridian started in September. Construction on the 14-month project will start in approximately 5 months. ©2002 France Publications, Inc. Duplication or reproduction of this article not permitted without authorization from France Publications, Inc. For information on reprints of this article contact Barbara Sherer at (630) 554-6054.