The Assouline Team Convenes Conversation on the Burgeoning Live-Work-Play Community in Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Island
by ELLIMAN INSIDER TEAM
January 2025
Wellness, walkability, and mindful development are the among the key values driving residential and commercial development in Bal Harbour and Bay Harbor Islands—and attracting residents, workers, and visitors alike to these coastal communities in Miami Beach.
These and other insights arose from an evening conversation held in December, just before the holidays, at Residence 2601 of Oceana Bal Harbour. The reception and sunset panel discussion, entitled “Redefining Coastal Living: Live, Work, Play in Bal Harbour and Bay Harbor Islands,” was hosted by The Assouline Team at Douglas Elliman, which represents several listings in the condominium development.
Moderated by Jay Phillip Parker, CEO of Brokerage, Florida Region and President of Douglas Elliman Development Marketing, Florida, the panel featured Michael S. Liebowitz, President and CEO of Douglas Elliman Inc.; Ruthie Assouline, cofounder of The Assouline Team and Executive Director of Luxury Sales for Douglas Elliman; Tere Blanca, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Blanca Commercial Real Estate; Joshua D. Fuller, Mayor of Bay Harbor Islands; and Seth E. Salver, Vice Mayor of Bal Harbour Village.
A resident of Miami for more than a decade, Liebowitz said that he “always saw a lot of potential in this area,” characterizing Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands, and Surfside as “sister cities” that each offer unique yet complementary attractions, from high-end condos and shopping to office buildings to the beach.
The exceptional walkability of the area, added Assouline, is one of its biggest draws.
“When people end up buying and living here, they are so pleasantly surprised by the lifestyle,” she said. “The security, the landscaping, everything—it’s truly a pleasure to walk around the area.”
That experience is very much by design, said Mayor Fuller, who pointed to the emphasis on “mindful development” in the City of Bay Harbor, incorporating more retail, dining, and office space along Kane Concourse (96th Street) in recent years.
“Through prioritizing shopping, dining, and offices, we create more foot traffic because the area is just more walkable,” he said, which, in turn, will make the area more attractive to year-round residents.
Fuller added that the Bay Harbor Islands charter does not permit structures higher than 75 feet, which ensures future development won’t drastically alter the landscape.
Likewise, Blanca emphasized the need “to prioritize smart densification” in order to create “walkable neighborhoods where everything is in one place.”
The appeal of that walkability and accessibily of services, Liebowitz said, will only heighten with new developments like THE WELL Bay Harbor Islands, a hybrid of residences and office space built around a holistic wellness experience that exemplifies the live-work-play theme of conversation.
With coastal living in South Florida continuing to evolve, Liebowitz is bullish on Douglas Elliman’s ability to capitalize on future development, touting agents’ local expertise and experience with the influx of buyers from the Northeast since 2020.
“Douglas Elliman has cornered the market in South Florida,” he said. “We are not only anticipating shifts in the market but shaping them.”
Related STORIES
