// TAKE US TO THE RIVER
WITH NEARLY 30 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE, SHAHAB ARMELY TURNS AWAY FROM THE BEACH FOR HIS LUXURIOUS NEW SOUTH FLORIDA VISION.
With nearly 30 years of international real estate experience, Shahab Karmely turns away from the beach for his luxurious new South Florida vision.
As the founder of the New Yorkbased KAR Properties, a real estate investment and development firm, Shahab Karmely has acquired, repositioned, and monetized more than 3 million square feet of office, luxury mixed-use, and industrial space in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He’s currently making his mark on Miami with One River Point, a 418-unit luxury condominium project on the Miami River, designed by internationally acclaimed architect Rafael Viñoly. Why the river? Just wait and see.…
How is One River Point different from other new condo buildings in Miami?
We are a fully finished product—not decorator-ready. We are furnitureready and branded with our kitchens, bathrooms, and appliances. You get travertine stone floors, onyx bathrooms, B&B Italia kitchens and bathrooms—all of this from the $800,000s.
How are sales?
The market is challenging. Given where the market is, I’m satisfied. We’ve always taken a long view.
How will One River Point further the river’s evolution?
We have the largest assemblage on the river and were first to bring luxury
to it. We wanted to bring a New York-style tower with a worldclass architect and design team. That’s why we brought in Rafael Viñoly, [hotelier] Adrian Zecha, [luxury designer] Rémi Tessier, and [the landscape design firm] Sasaki—all people who work on world-class projects in New York City, London, or Shanghai. I’ve given a lot of people confidence that the river is where it’s happening.
How important was it to have a renowned architect?
Rafael is one of the few architects today who has a strong practice in the private arena but is also very respected for upscale civic projects. Literally 100 percent of the response I’ve had, whether it’s brokers, competing developers, or clients, has been “Wow.”
How is the definition of luxury changing in Miami?
The epicenter of luxury living, whether it’s Chicago, London, Bangkok, is on the river. The thinking in the past was that luxury could not be sustained away from the beach; my premise is that Miami has arrived as a world city, and all of the excitement of Miami— from the Design District to Wynwood to Brickell City Centre—is with city places, not beach places. The river is Miami’s future. You’re a passionate gardener. Why? I bought a six-acre historic property in East Hampton with extensive plantings, and I became very involved with the planning of the gardens and their maintenance. I developed a real love of understanding how gardens work with each other and the difference between planning for color or shade or scent. When you get older, you become more appreciative of the cycles of life and realize that a lot of things are worth waiting for. With nature, you’ve got to let it take its time.
90 SW Third St., Miami, 305809-7566; oneriverpoint.com