Includes Signature Rooftop Pool, 50-foot
Shark Tank and more
 Miami,
FL (October 2007) Following the success of the Hotel Gansevoort in Manhattan,
Gansevoort Hotel Group is expanding with the January 2008 opening of the
Gansevoort South Hotel, Spa and Residences, South Beach�s most complete
luxury lifestyle resort.
The 334-room Gansevoort South hotel is infusing
glamour into the north end of Collins Avenue (between 23rd and 24th Streets),
widely considered to be the next epicenter of South Beach. The landmark
site (once home to the historic Roney Plaza) has been transformed into
a lifestyle destination complete with a 334-room hotel and 259 condominiums.
The property will feature the flagship DavidBartonGym + Spa, a full city
block of luxury boutiques (including the first Miami outposts of INCA,
Big Drop and Cutler), an intimate lounge by The Opium Group, restaurants
by Philippe Chow and The ONE Group�s STK, and a shark tank with 27 types
of fish and sharks that spans 50 feet of the dramatic lobby.
Noted architect Stephen B. Jacobs and interior
designer Andi Pepper - the team behind the flagship Gansevoort property
in New York - have been tapped to infuse their stylish sophistication into
the Gansevoort South property.
Like the New York hotel, the signature feature
of Gansevoort South will be a 26,000-square-foot rooftop retreat, arguably
the largest rooftop playground in the world. A tropical oasis dotted with
coco palm trees and whimsical cabanas, the rooftop features a 110-foot
elevated swimming pool and Plunge bar and lounge. Soaring eighteen floors
high, it will offer uninterrupted views of the Atlantic Ocean, Biscayne
Bay and downtown Miami.
Originally constructed in the 1960�s in the classic
Art Deco style of South Beach, the building is being entirely redesigned
around a private beach club that will anchor the development and serve
as its centerpiece and central gathering spot. On the main level,
a 40,000-square-foot semi-circular oceanfront pool plaza boasts an infinity-edge
pool trimmed with Bisazza glass tiles in shades of blue and gold.
Teak decking, towering palm trees, oversized circular beds, plush cabanas
and tented alcoves surround the pool, creating a relaxing enclave. An expansive
bar/restaurant and an oversized Jacuzzi tucked beneath a flowering open-air
trellis round out the space.
In between the pool deck and beach club a private
cabana level is tucked into the building, offering a quiet sanctuary with
ocean views. Acclaimed Nikki Beach designer Stephane Dupoux brings his
signature style to the beach level which features the club�s main bar,
seating area, oversized lounges, cabanas, volleyball courts, and fire pits.
| Gansevoort Hotel Group, LLC
Gansevoort Hotel Group, LLC (GHG) is a subsidiary of WSA Management,
Ltd., a real estate development and management firm whose principals have
developed and/or owned over 6 million square feet of office and industrial
space, 2000 apartments and 2000 hotel rooms. WSA specializes in finding
underutilized assets, whether vacant land or existing buildings, and transforming
the property by meeting its highest and best use. The firm generally seeks
out ground up construction opportunities because of the greater possible
returns, but has also completed substantial renovation projects where the
opportunity was particularly rewarding. The principals of Gansevoort Hotel
Group, LLC have over 65 years combined experience in the real estate trade.
Personal Histories
William Achenbaum is the Chairman of GHG and has been active
in the construction field since 1959. He was born in Brooklyn, New York
in 1936 and attended Syracuse University and New York University. He resides
in Kings Point, New York. His areas of expertise include real estate assemblage
and financing, design development, construction control and renovation
management. He has always had a hands-on involvement in all facets of his
business.
Bill has built numerous projects for his own account which include mid
and high rise office towers, luxury apartment houses, suburban hotels,
industrial and research facilities, and has developed upwards of $1,000,000,000
worth of same.
Bill was Chairman of Newport Hotels Corp., which managed eight hotels
with 1,750 rooms and nearly 2,000 employees. The hotels were owned by a
partnership in which he was a managing principal. The eight hotels were
located in cities ranging from Wichita, Kansas to Binghamton, New York
and were comprised of Holiday Inns and Hiltons. Bill was the General Contractor
on the new construction of the Somerset Hilton and Convention Center and
the General Contractor on the extensive renovation of two of the other
hotels. The hotels were sold over the period of 1991-1994.
In 1998 he completed the redevelopment of the 190,000 square foot former
Travelers Insurance Company (80 John Street) building in Downtown New York
City into 147 luxury apartment units and a 374 unit independent living
project in Edgewater, New Jersey. He is currently the principal owner and
development partner of the Hotel Gansevoort project in Manhattan. Bill
has operated his own management company for his commercial, residential
and hotel properties for the last 40 years.
Bill began his career doing renovations of "Old Law Tenements" into
luxury residential buildings Manhattan. He then built one and two family
homes and apartment houses in Brooklyn. Bill then went on to build nursing
homes in Guttenburg, New Jersey and Riverdale, Bronx as well as social
service centers in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx. He then developed
and built a 34-story, 310-apartment building in Manhattan and over two
million square feet of office and R D space. The portfolio developed above
was planned and built by William Achenbaum using an in-house general contracting
subsidiary.
William Achenbaum is intimately involved with the details of any project
that his firm undertakes. He directly oversees his senior staff, to ensure
that the development process runs efficiently.
Bill is actively involved in many philanthropic endeavors, including
serving as Associate Trustee for North Shore University Hospital, member
of the Real Estate Committee of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies/UJA,
and Treasurer of Camp Vacamas, a year-round facility for underprivileged
children.
Michael Achenbaum is President of GHG. Michael went to the University
of Michigan as an undergraduate and has a JD/MBA from New York University.
Prior to joining the company Michael worked at Bear Stearns and Nomura
Securities originating commercial mortgage loans for securitization. His
primary responsibilities for GHG include managing all new development opportunities,
maintaining an effective/responsive relationship with lenders, financial
analysis of prospective deals, and handling/negotiating legal issues including
leases and loan documentation. Since joining the firm in 1999 he has managed
four major development projects for the firm, including Hotel Gansevoort,
a 187-key luxury hotel in the Meat Packing District of Manhattan and the
forthcoming Gansevoort South and West projects in Miami and LA, respectively.
Michael headed the team that physically opened the Hotel Gansevoort NYC
and is actively involved in the daily operations of the Hotel and is a
principal in the management firm. The ground up development project produced
a fantastic 13-story building with rooftop event space, bar and glass surround
pool featuring underwater music and changing colored lights.
Arik Kislin is a principal in the projects of Gansevoort Hotel
Group, LLC. His primary responsibilities are deal selection and acquiring
capital for future/current projects. Arik has a broad background. He has
been involved in real estate for over 13 years. His real estate investments
prior to joining GHG include properties in Sheepshead Bay (land meant for
residential development); Bridgeport, Connecticut (Commercial office building
rented to the State of Connecticut); and a piece of land on the border
of Queens and Nassau (residential development is underway on the site),
across from J.F.K. Airport.
Most significantly, in 1992 Arik arranged the equity for the purchase
of a portfolio including Manhattan and Queens properties. This purchase
included the Chelsea Markets complex, which was part of a 3.6 million square
foot industrial/commercial/retail package. Arik Kislin was the managing
member of the group. Arik was responsible for negotiating the various stages
of the project financing and purchase as well as creating the strategy
for the leasing and redevelopment program. |
Oversized Rooms and All the Comforts of Home
Hotel rooms are accented with splashes of hot
pink against charcoal gray suede walls, providing an understated backdrop
for custom-designed tables, sofas, lounge chairs, oversized mirrors and
polished wood headboards. Most of the units have large balconies with dramatic
ocean, bay or city views. 1930s and 40s pin-up style photographs add a
playful air to the spacious, light-filled rooms.
The 3,500 square- foot Presidential Suite includes
two master bedrooms, two living rooms, dining area, kitchen, full bar,
an entertainment room, and several outdoor decks with ocean views.
DavidBartonGym + Spa
National fitness icon David Barton is opening
the newest incarnation of his popular gym and his first-ever spa product
at Gansevoort South. The 40,000-square-foot flagship location will include
a luxurious spa, yoga studios, and private training.
Gourmet Dining Destinations
Gansevoort South will include a new restaurant
by Philippe Chow, longtime chef at the legendary Mr. Chow in New York.
Serving Philippe�s signature contemporary Chinese cuisine, this two-story,
9,000-square-foot restaurant on the corner of Collins Avenue and 23rd Street
will be his first restaurant to open outside of New York City.
Trendsetting STK restaurant will also open its
second location outside of Manhattan at Gansevoort South. Maintaining the
quality of a traditional steakhouse while reinventing the ambience, clientele
and atmosphere, STK first introduced the steakhouse to a young, sexy market
in Manhattan�s Meatpacking District and now brings that successful model
to South Beach.
Oceanfront Meeting Space
Gansevoort South includes 45,000 square feet
of indoor/outdoor meeting space, with complimentary WiFi and state-of-the-art
audiovisual and teleconferencing capabilities.
For information, please visit www.gansevoortsouth.com
or call (305) 604-1000. |
