Starwood Capital Group Partners on South Beach Hotel Acquisition

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(MIAMI, FL) -- A consortium consisting of affiliates of Starwood Capital Group, the LeFrak Organization and Invesco Ltd. announced this past week they  jointly purchased one of South Beach's premier luxury mixed-use properties, including a hotel formally known as the Gansevoort.

The property consists of 334 hotel rooms, 255 condo units totaling 294,000 square feet, 90,000 square feet of retail space including a 42,000 square foot David Barton Gym, three outdoor swimming pools, and multiple indoor and outdoor food and beverage venues. The property also includes a 26,000 square foot rooftop pool and lounge with sweeping ocean views, a 32,000 square foot elevated pool plaza and restaurant, and a 48,000 square foot private beach. The property occupies the entire block between 23rd and 24th Sts. on Collins Ave. and enjoys more than 600 linear feet of beach frontage.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The consortium is planning to invest more than $100 million in an extensive renovation of the overall property while repositioning it as one of the premier hotel and condo destinations in Miami Beach. The 334‐room hotel will be renamed The Perry South Beach until it is re‐launched in late 2013 with a new brand after an extensive renovation. The 255 luxury residential condominiums will also be improved and, it is anticipated, be offered for sale later this year. The condominiums will have access to the full hotel services as well as the project's pools and extensive food, beverage and fitness venues. The repositioning will also include several new local and national stores and restaurants in the retail corridor along Collins Avenue.

Barry Sternlicht, the Chairman and CEO of Starwood Capital Group, is widely known for revolutionizing the hospitality industry during his 10‐year tenure as the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Starwood Hotels and Resorts, including being personally credited with the creation of the W and St. Regis Hotel brands. Starwood Capital is one of the world's most experienced hotel and resort operators. Its current portfolio includes 50 full‐service hotels, including some of the world's most famous properties such as Hotel du Louvre in Paris, the Martinez in Cannes, the Viceroy Anguilla resort and the Sea Island Resort.

"This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to create a premier luxury hotel and residences along one of the world's most beautiful and popular beaches at a time when global interest in the Miami marketplace is close to surpassing its all‐time high," Sternlicht said. "This is a powerhouse asset with a unique beach footprint in one of the strongest hotel markets in the nation with high barriers to entry. We are excited to create an outstanding destination resort and residences in this dynamic city. Importantly, this partnership has extensive experience and a proven track record of successfully investing in and managing thousands of properties in this region."

"This investment represents both a strategic move into the vibrant Miami market as well as an expansion of our company's investments in the hospitality sector," said Richard LeFrak, Chairman and CEO of the LeFrak Organization. "We, in partnership with Invesco, are excited to combine our expertise with that of Starwood to renovate and reposition this property."

The LeFrak Organization, one of the nation's largest privately held real estate development companies, is owned by the LeFrak family of New York. The company has developed more than 30 million square feet of built accommodation throughout New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles, including more than 25,000 apartments and approximately 15 million square feet of office, retail facilities and hotels.