Jun 05, 2024 - 0 Comments - Top Stories -

Miami Commercial Real Estate News June 5, 2024: 3,200-Unit Live Local Act Project Proposed for West Little River; Wynwood 48-Story MXU Planned; More….

Live Local Project With 3,233 Residential Units Proposed in North Part of Miami-Dade

Plans have been submitted to Miami-Dade reviewers for a massive Live Local project. The project is named The HueHub or Holland Park. It is planned to include: 3,233 residential units 57,260 square feet of retail 4,249 parking spaces Multiple towers are planned, with the tallest topping off at 37 stories. The property currently has one-story buildings with residential, office…

3,200-unit project in West Little River marks Miami-Dade’s biggest Live Local Act proposal

A developer wants to build a 3,233-unit Live Local Act project in West Little River, marking the largest proposal under the affordable housing legislation in Miami-Dade County and likely all of South Florida. The proposal is for six towers reaching up to 37 stories on an 11.7-acre site at 8400 Northwest 25th Avenue in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, according…

Civic Center Metrorail Station Could Be Renamed UHealth Jackson Station Under Marketing Deal

A proposed naming rights deal would see a Metrorail station renamed for decades to come. The station currently known as Civic Center would become UHealth Jackson Station. UHealth would pay $120,000 per year for the naming rights, with increases of 2% per year. They would also be required to cover the costs of updated wayfinding throughout the Metrorail system. The deal…

Condos Now Being Proposed At Jungle Island, Along With Park

The leaseholders of Jungle Island are proposing to build condos on the property, according to a statement released to the Herald. The land is owned by the City of Miami, and leased to the operator of Jungle Island for a theme park. ESJ Capital Partners and Terra are in talks with the city to allow the condo project on five acres of the property. ESJ took over the lease from…

North Corridor rapid rail transit still a 12-year wait

Don’t plan to ride North Corridor rapid rail to Hard Rock Stadium until 10 years after World Cup games are played there in 2026. The long-awaited North Corridor is expected to open in 2036, Nilia Cartaya of the Florida Department of Transportation told the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust last week. The trust oversees county transportation tax receipts…

Miami-Dade taxable property values rise in double digits again

As evidence of Miami-Dade’s real estate strength, estimated taxable values of county properties rose by double digits again this year, the third consecutive year of 10% or more gains. This year’s June 1 estimate of annual growth of taxable values was exactly 10%, following last year’s estimate of 12.3% and a 10.2% estimated rise in 2023. Totals are likely to change when official figures…

Miami Beach moves to speed construction of convention hotel

The Grand Hyatt Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel continues to be atop Miami Beach’s project list as plans for the long-awaited hotel advance. Commissioners passed at first reading last month a resolution amending the city code to “authorize the review and approval of certain requests for funding from the Redevelopment Trust Fund of the Miami Beach Redevelopment…

Miami Beach ponders a homeless drop-in center

Miami Beach is mulling options to provide a nighttime drop-in center for homeless and vulnerable populations. A referral to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee passed unanimously in this month’s city commission meeting for the “administration to explore and provide options for establishing a nighttime drop-in center in Miami Beach,” says the item’s…

South Dade bus rapid transit coming ‘sometime’ in 2025

The trust that approves transportation tax spending and is one of three funders of the first new Miami-Dade rapid transit corridor asked last week when South Dade’s bus rapid transit will finally open and was told only sometime “in the first part of 2025.” County transportation head Eulois Cleckley could not be pinned down to a narrower time range when passengers…

Blackstone Proposes 128,000-SF Warehouse In Miami Airport West Distribution Area

Amid an ongoing shortage of industrial space, investment giant Blackstone (BX) plans to build a 127,655-square-foot distribution center in Miami-Dade County’s Airport West distribution area. Link Logistics, Blackstone’s industrial unit, has asked county officials to build the warehouse in an unincorporated area near Miami Springs and Medley, areas northwest of Miami International…

Morabito’s Wynwood office-retail project lands $35M construction loan, as office market slows

Morabito Properties advanced its Wynwood office-retail project with a $35 million construction loan, as looming doubts over the neighborhood’s office market viability persist. The Miami Beach-based development firm dropped $14.6 million for the Wyncatcher II project development site at 2150 Northwest Miami Court in Miami, according to Morabito’s spokesperson.

WeWork out: Co-working giant closing outpost in Miami Beach in bankruptcy restructuring

WeWork wants to scrap its South Beach co-working space. The firm, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring in November, put the branch at 429 Lenox Avenue in Miami Beach on the chopping block, according to a notice WeWork filed in court on Thursday. The closing would be the first Miami-Dade County outpost WeWork wants to scrap as part of its restructuring plan.

Back to the voters: Jungle Island owner proposing condo project with Terra

David Martin’s Terra is partnering with the owner of Jungle Island to redevelop part of the city-owned site into a residential project, The Real Deal has learned. The proposal hinges on voters approving the deal, possibly later this year. Jungle Island, a waterfront eco-adventure park on Miami’s Watson Island, would close if the project moves forward, sources told TRD.

Project Peach Four-Story MXU Breaks Ground In Overtown

A groundbreaking ceremony has been held for Overtown’s Project Peach, and construction is underway. According to a 2021 presentation, the four-story project was estimated to cost $2.6 million. The developer was requesting $1.3 million in financing from the Omni Community Redevelopment Association to help make it happen. The 2021 filing showed that Project Peach…

Photos: Construction Progress At Overtown’s Block 55

Overtown’s largest mixed-use project in decades is moving closer to completion, a photo shows. Across the street, the 36-story Atlantic Station tower is near top off. The first project is known as Sawyer’s Walk (previously Block 55). It is planned to include: 578 housing units, predominantly for low income seniors; 130,000 square feet of office space; 175,000 square feet of retail…

7410 LLC Proposes Two Projects for 7401 to 7425 Harding Ave and 7410 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach

Miami Beach’s Planning Board is scheduled to hear a proposal for a five-story, mixed-use project. Our sources indicate that, presently, the 30,000-square-foot site in question serves as a parking lot for the adjacent CVS. Yet, if approved by city officials, the new venture would require 60,000 square feet of new construction, with 38,805 square feet (64.7 percent) serving as office space….

Tri-Rail’s New One-Seat Express Service From Downtown Miami Begins July 1

Tri-Rail has announced the start date of a new express service from MiamiCentral that won’t require a change of trains. Service will begin July 1, 2024. The train will stop at just five stations: West Palm Beach Station Boca Raton Station Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport Station at Dania Beach Metrorail Transfer Station MiamiCentral Station Departure…

Community Meeting Planned To Discuss $83M The Underdeck

A community meeting to discuss The Underdeck is planned by the City of Miami tomorrow. The $83M project includes public park space underneath the new Signature Bridge in downtown Miami. A $60M grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation was recently awarded, the largest such award in Miami’s history. Miami commissioners voted recently to recommend…

Quest Expands Miami Coworking Footprint. Again.

Quest’s new Doral location has fully equipped board rooms. Image courtesy of Quest Workspaces Quest Workspaces has opened its second coworking space in Doral, Fla. The company leased 23,454 square feet of office space at Doral Center in December 2022. CBRE represented the owner, Banyan Street Capital, while Newmark represented the tenant in the negotiations.

31-Story Midtown 7 Gets FAA Approval To Rise 352 Feet Above Ground In Midtown Miami

Midtown 7, a 31-story mixed-use building planned at  3001 Northeast 1st Avenue in Midtown Miami, has recently received height approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and is progressing in the permitting process. According to a determination letter issued on May 22, the tower is approved to rise to a maximum height of 352 feet above ground…

Plans Filed for Wynwood’s Tallest Tower: 48-Story Mixed-Use Development at 2101 NW Miami Court

Plans for Wynwood’s tallest-ever tower have been filed. Currently known by its address, 2101 NW Miami Ct, the proposed mixed-use development, designed by Arquitectonica and developed by Wynwood Interest LLC, managed by Isaac, Jacobo, Simon, John, and Rosa Bazbaz, is set to rise 48 stories, or 490 feet above ground and 506 feet above sea level. The project would yield…

Juvia to open rooftop restaurant at Standard Residences in Midtown

Juvia Group inked a 15-year lease to open a rooftop restaurant at the Standard Residences, Midtown Miami, The Real Deal has learned. Carlos Rosso’s Rosso Development, Standard International and Alex Vadia’s Midtown Development are developing the 12-story, 228-unit building at 3100 Northeast First Avenue. It’s under construction and is expected to be completed…

Driftwood Capital Provides $34.8M Mezzanine Loan for Marriott-Branded Hotel Complex near Miami International Airport

Driftwood Capital has provided a $34.8 million mezzanine loan for the refinancing of Miami Airport Marriott Connection, a complex comprising three Marriott-branded hotels near Miami International Airport. Driftwood Capital provided a two-year loan with three one-year extension options on behalf of the borrowers, an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management and Highgate…

Miami Design District billboard ban could have bigger implications for CRE

A billboard ban in Miami’s Design District did not cause a single-story office building in the chic neighborhood to lose millions of dollars in value, according to a recent court ruling. On May 20, six months after a week-long bench trial, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Migna Sanchez-Llorens ruled that the city of Miami was not liable for property owner Karenza Apartments…

Digital Billboard Battle Just Getting Started; Fights still pending in court and at Miami-Dade County

What was thought to be a victory for the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in a monthslong digital billboard debate has since turned into something quite different. Rather, the real battle has only just begun. In a recent reversal by the Miami City Commission at its May 23 meeting, the body voted to completely repeal…

Moderate Industrial Growth Can’t Stop Miami’s Enduring Appeal

In 2023 and continuing into 2024, Miami’s industrial sector experienced moderate growth due to reduced lease turnover, accelerating interest rates and economic uncertainty. However, the market’s strong industrial fundamentals and international connectivity via Miami International Airport and PortMiami continue to demonstrate its enduring strength and resilience.

Ira Giller planning mixed-use mid-rise in Miami Beach

Ira Giller wants in on his home city’s burgeoning office market. Gateway Group, the family-owned firm led by the Miami Beach architect and real estate investor, is planning a new $21.6 million mixed-use building with three floors of offices in the city’s Mid-Beach neighborhood. On Thursday, the Miami Beach Design Review Board approved Giller Tower, a seven-story…

‘Urbania NoMi 6th Ave’ Proposed for 12830 Northeast Sixth Avenue and 575 Northeast 127th Street in North Miami

North Miami’s Planning Commission will review a proposal for Urbania NoMi 6th Ave, a mixed-use development. Proposed by NoMi Holdings Group 2, the 11-story venture would feature 240 apartments, measuring about 695 to 1,070 square feet each. According to Colombia-based Continua Developments’ website, there would be 97 one-bedroom homes and 143…

Developer Sets Eyes on Imperial Club; $60M sought for rehab of Aventura retirement home

Developers are looking to soon purchase a 14-story senior living facility in Aventura known as Imperial Club. Located at 2751 NE 183rd St., Imperial Club is an assisted living facility that also offers accommodations for independent living. Darren Smith, president of Smith & Henzy Advisory Group, says the real estate development firm plans to convert the building to a completely…

Developer Plans 6-Story Hotel Tailored For Pilots At 4849 NW 36th Street Near Miami International Airport

A developer has proposed a new hotel for pilots just north of Miami International Airport in Miami Springs. The city’s Planning and Zoning Board was scheduled to review the site plan for the Pilot House Suites by Sucre LLC on the evening of May 28. The proposed development encompasses 1.13 acres of vacant land at 4849 Northwest 36th Street, 673 La Villa Drive…

Plans Unveiled For 28-Story Mixed-Use Development ‘Shoma 88’ In Kendall

Miami-based developer Shoma Group has announced plans for Shoma 88, a mixed-use development in Kendall. Designed by PPK Architects, this 28-story project will feature 405 rental units, each offering approximately 920 square feet of space. In alignment with Florida’s Live Local Act, at least 40 percent of the units will be designated for workforce housing.

Shoma plans 404-unit rental tower in Kendall, amid a Live Local Act bonanza

Shoma Group wants to build a 404-unit apartment tower with workforce housing in Kendall, amid a torrent of Live Local Act project proposals. The Coral Gables-based firm, led by married couple Masoud and Stephanie Shojaee, proposes a 31-story tower on a 1.9-acre site at 9525 North Kendall Drive in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, according to an application Shoma…

Construction Starts on ‘Wyn Ave’ and ‘W35’ in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District

South Florida-based ABH Developer Group has announced construction on two mid-rise buildings in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District. Here’s what we know. The larger of the two buildings is Wyn Ave, a six-story structure comprising 44 apartments, measuring about 425 to 875 square feet each. Our sources indicate that rent will start at $2,400 a month. Communal amenities…

Miami-Dade could lease 10 acres to Terra for workforce housing

Terra is seeking a deal to build up to 675 workforce apartments around South Dade Government Center through a ground lease with Miami-Dade County. The Miami-Dade Housing, Recreation, Culture and Community Development Committee will consider the ground lease for two sites for a combined 10.74 acres surrounding the government complex at 10740 S.W. 211th Street…

Affinius Capital Originates $70M Refinancing for Multifamily Community Modera Skylar in Miami

Affinius Capital LLC has originated a $70 million loan for the refinancing of Modera Skylar, a 263-unit apartment community in Miami. The borrower is a joint venture between Rockwood Capital and Mill Creek Residential. The property includes a 20-story building comprising 166 units and a 10-story building spanning 97 units. Modera Skylar features a mix of studio…

Caroline Weiss’ mother-daughter Blue Lagoon dev site feud ends

Caroline Weiss’ legal battle with her eldest daughter for control of a 7-acre development site in Miami’s Blue Lagoon district appears to be over. On May 29, the Third District Court Of Appeals affirmed a 2022 lower court ruling that dismissed Adeena Weiss-Ortiz’s 10-year-old lawsuit against her mother and entities that own the three-property waterfront assemblage on Northwest 7th St…

April 2024 Industrial Report: Miami Takes Lead in Rent Growth

At the same time, the U.S. industrial market maintained its upward trend in rent prices. In March 2024, national in-place rents averaged $7.85 per square foot, reflecting a robust 7.3% year-over-year increase. Notably, new leases signed in the last year commanded a premium by averaging $10.43 per square foot. However, the biggest story lies in Miami’s rise: After two years of dominance…

Plans for Live Local towers popping up across Miami-Dade

Bazbaz Development plans a 48-story building in Wynwood. These are just the latest development applications filed under the Live Local Act. The new state law, which incentivizes developers that incorporate workforce housing into their projects, was recently enhanced by the passage of Senate Bill 328. In exchange for setting aside at least 40 percent of the residential units in a project…

Miami-Dade OKs $182M for new county government building after controversy over previous above-market price

After residents raised concerns last year with Miami-Dade County’s plan to pay well-above market-value for a new government center, the commission approved a tweaked deal that dropped the price by around 11 percent. Miami-Dade plans to buy the six-story Flagler Corporate Center at 9250 West Flagler Street in the Fontainebleau neighborhood in an unincorporated…

Teachers Could Live Where They Work; New Brickell school going up to house school staff

There’s a new kind of development going up in Brickell. With granite countertops and a balcony, this building’s 600-square foot units will go for no more than $1,700 a month – not bad for a one-bedroom apartment in Miami these days. Just blocks away from a Metro station and Brickell City Center, this is just the kind of place where many of South Florida’s young professionals…

Marion to Close After Nearly a Decade in Brickell, Will Reopen as New Venue

After nearly a decade of throwing Thursday night soirées, iconic ladies’ nights with French flare, and serving America-Asian fusion cuisine to a crowd looking for an elevated night out, Marion in Brickell will close this summer. The dining and nightlife destination, which opened its doors in 2015 and paved the way for elevated Brickell restaurants to come, has announced it will close…

How 2 Miami Neighborhoods Have Grown To Outshine Its Urban Core

Executives at FIFA, international soccer’s governing body, were torn. They wanted to open a Miami office last year but couldn’t decide between a location in Coral Gables or at the Waterford Business District, a 250-acre office park near Miami International Airport. “If you’re trying to do something world-class and connect yourself to the city in preparation for the 2026 World Cup…

The Magic City’s Rise; An interview with Miami mayor Francis Suarez

Miami began styling itself “The Magic City” just a month after its incorporation in 1896. In recent years, it has lived up to the name, topping lists of the world’s most successful urban centers. As its staggering real estate prices, heavy traffic, stunning beauty, and aura of prosperity testify, Miami has been integral to Florida’s rise to the forefront of American life. As many cities…

BH partners with Prime on Hallandale Beach condo-hotel project

BH Group is partnering with Prime Group to develop a condo-hotel project in Hallandale Beach. The joint venture is now shopping for a hotel brand to reside in the proposed 14-story building at 804 South Federal Highway, according to Isaac Toledano, who along with his wife, Liat, leads Aventura-based BH. A site plan application for the development, which includes 138…

Cortland drops $63M for 240-unit Pembroke Pines rental complex, amid muted investment sales market

A Morgan Stanley asset manager sold the Harbour Cove apartment complex in Pembroke Pines for $62.6 million, despite cooling South Florida investment sales. Atlanta-based Cortland bought the 240-unit community at 1601 South Hiatus Road from Boston-based Eaton Vance, according to records and real estate database Vizzda. The buyer took out a $47.5 million Freddie…

Developer Advances With 620-Unit Residential Development Across 30.6 Acres At 1600 S. Park Road In Hollywood

Developer Park Road Development LLC is advancing with detailed plans for 30.6 acres of city-owned land in Hollywood five years after securing the bid for the property. The city’s Technical Advisory Committee is set to review the residential and commercial components proposed for 1600 South Park Road on June 3. Additionally, a concurrent land use amendment will require…

Trinity, Credit Suisse secure $575M refi for Hollywood’s Diplomat

Trinity Real Estate Investments and Credit Suisse Asset Management lined up a $575 million refinancing of the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood. The joint venture is expected to close on a $452 million first-lien mortgage from Citi Real Estate Funding and German American Capital Corp. next week, according to a Kroll Bond Rating Agency report. TD Miami Beach Mezz…

R&B’s Gateway at Wynwood heads to foreclosure

Three years after completing Gateway at Wynwood, R&B Realty could lose the 14-story mixed-use building at a foreclosure sale set for next month. On May 28, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Pedro Echarte Jr. granted final judgment in favor of Wilmington Trust NA as trustee for Boise-based A10 Capital, court records show. Two months ago, Wilmington Trust filed a foreclosure…

$84.4M Loan Secured For The Arcadian Mixed-Use Affordable Housing Project In Fort Lauderdale

Centennial Bank has provided an $84.4 million loan for The Arcadian, an 8-story mixed-use affordable housing project at 640 Northwest 7th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. Designed by Behar Font & Partners and developed by Fuse Group in collaboration with Boca Paila led by Grupo Krea, the project will include 478 residential units, 15,000 square feet of retail space, and a 212,000 sf…

Fuse and Boca Paila land $84M loan to build Fort Lauderdale project

Fuse Group and Boca Paila recently broke ground on a Fort Lauderdale mixed-use project after scoring a $84.4 million construction loan. Centennial Bank provided the financing for The Arcadian, a planned $153 million complex of two eight-story buildings at 640 Northwest Seventh Avenue, according to a press release. The development consists of 480 apartments…

Church redevelopment is gospel in South Florida: 160-unit apartment project planned in Fort Lauderdale

Developers plan a 160-unit apartment project on an assemblage that includes the Shaw Temple AME Zion Church in Fort Lauderdale, as redevelopment of religious sites soars across South Florida. Tal Levinson and Eric Malinasky want to build a six-story building on a 1.3-acre property at 500, 506, 510, 522, 530 and 534 Northwest Ninth Avenue in the Dorsey-Riverbend neighborhood…

BBX Logistics, PCCP Break Ground on Delray Beach Industrial Park

The Park at Delray groundbreaking ceremony. Image by Marco Bell Photo, courtesy of BBX Logistics Properties BBX Logistics Properties and joint venture partner PCCP LLC have broken ground on The Park at Delray, a 40-acre campus in Delray Beach, Fla. Phase one of the project includes the development of a 200,000-square-foot building. The Park at Delray is taking shape…

Financial firms magnet? Here’s who leased at Steve Ross’ downtown West Palm office towers

South Florida’s office market prospered from an influx of companies over the past four years, pushing up rents to record rates and prompting developers to jump on projects. But now, as tenants pause expansion plans due to elevated interest rates and more expensive financing, some office owners and developers are feeling the sting of higher vacancies and a lack of preleasing.

The Pros and Cons of a Strong Economy for CRE 

In CRE, good and bad news come hand-in-hand. What’s bad for the retail sector might be good for warehouse performance; trends that put major metros at a disadvantage may be supporting success in suburbs or smaller cities.   The strong economy that we’ve seen over the last few quarters presents a similar scenario. Market conditions have no doubt been great for rents…

Video: RXR CEO Scott Rechler; There’s Been A Day Of Reckoning For Commercial Real Estate Nationally

The Conversation: Navigating the Financial Landscapel A Conversation on the Challenges and Opportunities Ahead In a revealing conversation, Scott Rechler, CEO and Chairman of RXR, joins Bloomberg Intelligence to delve into the evolving landscape of interest rates, debt, and real estate, painting a complex picture of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Industrial Property Trends For 2024

The likes of manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and distribution hubs have all been influenced by developments in technology, sustainability, and customer expectations. Insider looks at some of the trends that are shaping the industrial property space for 2024 and beyond. Smart warehousing. Isra Akhter is the senior consultant in the digital advisory team at CBRE.

Riding Out the Storm in Some Office Markets, Potential Opportunities

Across the United States, cities are grappling with an unprecedented crisis in the office sector, underscored by staggering drops in commercial real estate values. Recent reports have painted a grim picture, with total losses potentially reaching as high as $1 trillion. This downturn has been felt in many areas, including the California market, where large defaults in cities…

Video: Costar National Director of Office Analytics Phil Mobley Provides Office Real Estate Forecast, Discusses Performance & Cap Rates

An In-Depth Discussion on the Future of the Office Market: Insights from Phil Mobley, National Director of Office Analytics at CoStar Introduction In a recent conversation with Phil Mobley, the National Director of Office Analytics at CoStar, the host of America’s Commercial Real Estate Show delved into the complexities and current state of the office market.

More Pain to Come for Regional Banks Nationally

Regional banks and commercial real estate are inevitably linked. As commercial properties, most notably office space, work through the current crisis of sliding valuations and high interest rates, it is important for brokers to understand how intertwined these two sectors are in the current economy. The following are a few different ways of looking at the connection between…

Will RealPage face a long line of court cases?

Judging by the news these days, you might think that RealPage CEO Dana Jones is commercial real estate’s Public Enemy No. 1. Her company has certainly garnered plenty of negative publicity for its YieldStar Revenue Management software that collects data about rental units and then tells landlords how much they can charge for an apartment. I first wrote about the Texas-based…

Put It on Ice: Climate-controlled storage facilities are heating up the market

Modern climate-controlled facilities play an ever-greater role in the nation’s supply chain. America’s food processing, pharmaceutical and cold storage warehousing infrastructure continues to grow with a larger emphasis on just-in-time logistics and last-mile delivery. Brokers seeking financing for these projects, which can include new construction, retrofits, expansions and facility…

Debt service coverage ratios warn of office distress in some metros

The good news thus far for the beleaguered office real estate sector is that the surge of distress that many observers have predicted has yet to be actualized. The bad news, though, is that according to research from Yardi Matrix, many markets remain at risk of distress from offices that don’t have the income to cover their debt obligations. Debt costs for commercial real estate have…

The Fed’s Beige Book: Cautious Optimism in the Labor Market

The new Beige Book largely describes economic trends holding steady in the Southeast with slow overall growth as price pressures generally continue to ease and employers have a slightly easier time finding labor. This edition of the anecdotal report included a “community perspectives” section on conditions in low- and moderate-income communities that appears…

“Becoming a big issue”: Conflicts at condo, homeowners associations fuel insurance woes

In Pembroke Pines, the Heron Pond condo complex’s property insurer halted coverage in April, and the general liability carrier warned it won’t renew its policy when it expires in June. Near North Miami Beach, the Star Lakes condo complex’s board president said he expects this year’s insurance premiums to be about 45 percent more than the association paid in prior years.

Is Bank OZK overexposed to real estate?

When a Citi analyst downgraded Bank OZK from a buy to a sell, sending the stock price tumbling 17 percent, the news shook the industry. Normally, an analyst’s downgrade is not the center of real estate water cooler conversations. But OZK is arguably the most important bank in commercial real estate. It is watched more closely than any other bank, and for good reason.