Furious millionaires slam developer for destroying gated private paradise island by building huge 91ft high luxury condos that will block out sun

The millionaire residents of a remote Miami island say their private paradise has been destroyed after the city allowed a developer to build a massive seven-story apartment building that now blocks out their water views.

What once offered spectacular views of Biscayne Bay and the downtown Miami skyline is now blocked by a massive stadium-like construction of new apartments, leaving the residents of the pre-existing blocks completely in the shadows.

Not only that, the way the new block has been built with its curved design has created a wind tunnel effect, meaning patio furniture is blown around on the adjacent balconies. The prices of the original homes are also said to have fallen by 30 percent.

‘When residents come to live there, they are so close that they can see what I watch on TV. Or what I read. I’ll be able to see into their bathrooms,” Wendy Gordon told the Miami Herald.

“We bought into a peaceful island lifestyle. It was heaven. It’s gone. This used to be a nice and friendly place. Now everyone hates each other.’

A Grove Isle resident who has been fighting the new apartment building under construction holds a pamphlet as he stands on an eighth-floor balcony. Their once breathtaking views of the bay are now blocked by the construction work

Atop the tip of the island where the new building is being built was a community club and waterfront restaurant

Now the new residents of this stadium-like building called Vita will enjoy views of Biscayne Bay

Grove Isle residents had fought for a decade to prevent the new condo from being built on their private island.

The new building, which they believe was built illegally, was built on the exact same site that used to house a community clubhouse, swimming pool, Tiki hut bar and waterfront restaurant.

The new luxury building known as Vita, consisting of seven floors and 65 units, sells apartments for between $2.7 million and $22 million.

Vita’s new owners will now enjoy the views enjoyed by Grove Isle’s owners, some of whom have lived there for the past 40 years. Vita residents will also have a “carefully curated collection of indoor and outdoor amenities,” including private elevators, a “residents-only pool bar” and “panoramic views” from “covered terraces.”

David Schaecter, 94, has lived in the Grove since it was built in the late 1970s.

He and his wife, Sydney, used to enjoy beautiful views of the marina and tennis courts, but now their unit is just 40 feet away from the new condominium building being built.

“Now we’re staring at a wall of apartments,” Schaecter said. ‘It’s invasive. We will have to keep our awnings closed. A neighbor is installing a six-foot hedge on her balcony to shield it.”

The residents have filed a lawsuit against the city of Miami, hoping to halt construction or possibly have the building downsized, but construction is already well underway with completion expected this winter.

David Schaecter, 94, is a native of Grove Isle. He and his wife Sydney live in a west-facing apartment on the third floor. They used to overlook the marina and tennis courts, but now they overlook the new building

All 65 homes of the new Vita have panoramic views of the bay, with prices starting from $2.7 million. One of the bedrooms can be seen here

The building is expected to be completed in winter 2024, with pre-construction sales underway

The chic residential clubhouse can be seen in this photo from the developers

The penthouse residences cover an area of ​​3,400 square meters to 6,600 square meters with a private roof terrace

The only way to reach the island is via a bridge that connects it to the mainland

The lawsuit alleges the city broke its own planning laws by granting building permits to Vita’s developers.

“I don’t see how a judge can do anything other than revoke permits that should never have been issued,” said attorney David Winker. The Herald.

“What happened on Grove Isle would be like me selling you my backyard casita and then you tearing it down and building a big single-family home that doesn’t belong there. Or, instead of dividing my land properly, I could cut it into ten lots and sell it to people who build cabins.

“It’s another example of lawlessness in Miami: Let the developer do his thing and no one dares to tear it down,” Winker said.

When the original buildings were constructed in 1979, the address was considered one of the most exclusive enclaves in Miami, offering an enormous amount of privacy, requiring residents and visitors from the mainland to cross a bridge into the bay.

The Miami Herald believes that Vita’s construction somehow managed to bypass the city’s usual planning approval process.

When the original buildings were built in 1979, the address was considered one of the most exclusive enclaves in Miami, offering plenty of privacy.

The new apartment was the result of a 2020 settlement signed by leaders of the developer and the Homeowner Association in closed-door negotiations with Grove Isle homeowners, who were never consulted for their opinions.

“They bullied and manipulated the residents into thinking it was a done deal and this new building was inevitable, so we just had to put up with it,” said Elizabeth Tamayo, who has lived in the building for 25 years.

‘I’m from [Venezuela] where the rule of law no longer exists. We want the law to be followed. There must be accountability or this type of overdevelopment in a developer-run city will continue. It is time to put an end to this abuse of power,” Tamayo said.

“The HOA dictators betrayed us. They royally screwed us,” Schaecter added.