The Beach Club in Hallandale

The Real, Deep Cause of the Recession.

2010-08-02T18:36:00.000-07:00

More than in any other branch of the country's economy, real estate crisis might be the thermometer US middle class' distress and the looming destruction of the American dream of home-ownership.

Mortgage abuses and frauds, banks games of hedges, CDO's and Credit Swaps, uncontrolled financial schemes are of course signs of the bad course we're on. However, they are not the whole story.
They are in fact relatively correctable issues that can be addressed with regulations and government controls.

What hasn't been addressed and will not be any time soon is the continuous deterioration of employment and salaries.

We hear our legislators and our president planning on the creation of new jobs and new opportunities. This sounds so ridiculous when we read every other day about thousands of American jobs lost, small businesses closing doors, corporation shipping away their research and development departments, their calls centers, their accounting and their software engineering to India or China.

Who are we going to sell these condos and these homes to? Or are we going to end up as humorously said by somebody "selling insurance policies to each other" ?

A substantial part of realtors' activity has been switched to selling a large part of whatever is being sold now, to foreigners, Canadians, French, Japanese, you name it. Because these people are gradually becoming the only ones who can afford buying a home in America. And I am not being xenophobic, just observing facts.

Read for example the following article from the St. Petersburg Times in Tampa. It's the symbol of our times.
Observe that we are not losing blue collar jobs. They have been gone long time ago. It's not about U.S. Steel, or G.M. assembly workers.
What we see now are the very same high-tech class of workers that we are supposed to become, by going back to school to retool our knowledge, learn, and prepare for the new times and the new careers. These jobs, businesses, technologies, that were supposed to keep our country in its traditional position of economic dominance, and sustain the prosperity and livelihood of our middle class.

Read on:

PricewaterhouseCoopers to lay off 500 workers, mostly in Tampa

PricewaterhouseCoopers will lay off about 500 information technology workers, most of them in Tampa, as part of a broader push to outsource to cheaper labor.

The news is an untimely blow to Tampa Bay's economy, which is already battling a 12 percent unemployment rate, the fifth-highest among the country's largest metro areas. It also comes amid a recent resurgence in mass layoffs and growing concern nationally that the economy might slip into a double-dip recession.

"It's just terrible news," Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio said Friday. "It's a terrible job market for those people to find other jobs and I'm very sorry to see it happen. … They're moving jobs away from this community and that's a negative. And it's a negative to our national economy when jobs are moved overseas."

PWC spokesman Jonathan Stoner said the consulting powerhouse employs 1,100 in its information technology group nationwide. Of the 600 remaining employees, most will stay in its Tampa hub, he said. With four locations and 1,850 employees in the Tampa Bay area as of early this year, PWC has been one of the region's top employers. In March, it ranked No. 3 among large bay area companies in the Times' Top Places to Work survey.

Iorio said PWC did not approach the city asking for incentives to keep workers here. "If they're making a fundamental decision to move jobs overseas to reduce labor costs, that's a business decision," she said, "and I don't think there's anything any American city can do to compensate for that."

Stoner said the decision stems from a combination of PWC's information technology groups in the United States and United Kingdom.

"The U.S. and UK firms are combining governance, organizational structure and business processes and a single, Indian-based vendor will provide service to both member firms," he said.

Other reports identified Tata Consultancy Services of Mumbai, India, as the vendor, but Stoner said the company does not comment on clients or third-party contracts.

He also disputed one report that employees were told they would have to reapply for positions at Tata. "What we have told our employees is that they are all to be encouraged to apply for other positions at the firm, at PWC."

Throughout the recession, corporations have continued to outsource jobs to Indian vendors to save money, with Tata often reaping the rewards.

Idearc Media, which publishes the Verizon Yellow Pages, laid off 150 employees in St. Petersburg in December as it transferred much of its publishing business to Tata. Ratings agency Nielsen Media Research also turned to Tata for cheaper labor in laying off 170 information technology employees at its Oldsmar complex in 2008 and 57 in November.

Workers found out about the Pricewaterhouse layoffs on Thursday, coming in the wake of PWC cuts elsewhere statewide, including the shutdown of its tax practice office in Orlando.

A half-dozen workers exiting PWC's Lakepointe office complex on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on Friday said they were in shock, but were warned by managers not to speak publicly. Workers said the company had not given details on severance packages nor a specific time line, except to indicate cuts would likely be completed by the end of the year.

One worker, an Indian contractor for PWC, said the project he's working on will likely be shut down, leaving him with bittersweet emotions: He's sad for his colleagues here and happy for people in India.

As recently as a month ago, Florida economists were pointing to a slowdown in mass layoffs as a sign that the economy was starting to recover.

But July has been a particularly brutal month based on recent mass layoff notices filed with the state. Among them: 892 workers affiliated with the Kennedy Space Center; 320 with the GEO Group in Graceville; 81 at LifeLink HealthCare Institute in Tampa; 245 at Lockheed Martin Corp.; 344 at Kehe Distributors; 221 at Mosaic Fertilizer in Fort Meade; 100 at Bank of America's Idlewood Avenue location in Tampa; and 67 at Enterprise Leasing in Tampa.

All told, 16 layoff notices have been filed in July affecting 2,864 workers statewide. That doesn't include this week's cuts by Pricewaterhouse.

And, as a Spanish poet said: The Rest is Silence

Henry B. Nathan is a Real Estate Professional. Please visit our website and learn about:

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Hallandale Traffic Cameras - I call it our New Tax

2010-07-12T09:26:00.001-07:00

Is Hallandale Beach city the "City of Choice" ?
Not anymore for some drivers who, as we can read below, will try to avoid Hallandale's cameras trap.

One Million Dollars in six months! This is the take of the city and they have recently increased the fine from $125 to $158, so that they can share part of this revenue with the State of Florida.
And that's just the beginning.

$158 for not slowing down enough at a red light right turn, seems so excessive and such an hypocritical money grab!

Read on:

The Sun Sentinel - July 10, 2010 – By Michael Mayo.

Red-light cameras are helping Hallandale Beach raise $1 million

In theory, red-light cameras are supposed to be about safety, curbing reckless drivers from blowing through intersections at high speeds.

But the reality at one South Florida intersection seems more like a game of "Gotcha," with an astounding 93 percent of violations going to unwitting drivers making rolling right turns on red. "This feels like a money grab," said Phil Kodroff, one of almost 11,000 drivers to get snagged by Hallandale Beach's red-light camera since it started snapping away in January.

The city's take by mid-June: almost $1 million.

"Let's be honest about it, we're here to gouge you," said Hallandale Beach Commissioner Keith London, an opponent of red-light cameras. "To say it's about public safety is pretty disingenuous. It's all about the revenue." Love them or hate them, the cameras soon will become fixtures of South Florida life. Now that the devices have gotten the green light from the Legislature and Gov. Charlie Crist, more cash-strapped cities will be turning to them for easy money. In the past week, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Boynton Beach have moved forward with plans to install cameras. They will join Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Pines and West Palm Beach, which already have cameras running. Royal Palm Beach installed cameras in November but has been issuing only warnings; fines likely will start by September. Under the law that took effect July 1, fines for the first offense increased to $158 from $125, with the money now divided between the state and cities.

"The mentality of the South Florida driver is going to have to change," said Mark Antonio, interim city manager of Hallandale Beach. Said Hallandale Beach Police Maj. Dwayne Flournoy: "It's the 'Halo effect.' If you get compliant at one intersection, your behavior will change at all the others."

Kodroff, of Hollywood, said his behavior has changed: He is avoiding Hallandale Beach's camera intersection at Federal Highway and Hallandale Beach Boulevard, along with the businesses on that corridor. After a steak dinner at the Gulfstream Park casino complex May 22, Kodroff thought he had an uneventful drive home to his beachfront condo. A month later, he opened his mail to find a $125 ticket. His speed when he made the right on red onto Hallandale Beach Boulevard, according to the violation notice: "0." "It's not sensible," Kodroff said. "I hit my brakes, I thought I came to a full stop." A Miami-Dade judge put the brakes on the cameras in February, when he ruled that Aventura's program was improper. But legislators rewrote state law to allow them. Fines are sent to the registered owners of vehicles. The owners can appeal or get the fine transferred if they weren't driving. Under the new law, the vendor no longer gets a percentage of revenue, but a fixed monthly rate. American Traffic Solutions of Scottsdale, Ariz., dominates the market, managing the programs for all the South Florida cities.

Camera advocates say they make red-light runners think twice before blowing through intersections, reducing devastating T-bone crashes. But critics say the cameras could spur an increase in rear-end collisions, as people slam on their brakes at the last second. "If it's used in the right context, catching people who blow through a light, I don't have a problem with it," said Kodroff, who paid his fine without disputing it. "But getting people making a right on red, if they stop after the crosswalk or are going two miles per hour, seems a little shady."

Hallandale Beach is alone in enforcing right-turn violations. Pembroke Pines and West Palm Beach issue fines only for straight or left-turn violations. West Palm Beach changed course on right-turn enforcement six weeks after its program began in February. About 65 percent of violations were for rolling rights on reds in the first month, according to city spokesman Peter Robbins. Among those cited: West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel.

After scores of complaints, the city stopped issuing violations for right turns at three camera intersections. "We're not trying to play 'Gotcha' with the public, we're just trying to increase safety," said West Palm Beach police spokesman Chase Scott.

But in Hallandale Beach, which has two casinos that draw thousands of monthly visitors, the right-turn trap continues. The highest-profile offender: former NFL player Warren Sapp. In May, when Kodroff was cited, an astounding 1,563 of 1,597 violations were for right turns. That's 98 percent. "Are you saying that an improper right on red is any less of a violation?" Flournoy said. "That doesn't seem fair." Hallandale Beach's camera has been averaging 66.5 daily offenses, many more than in the other local cities. Pembroke Pines' lone camera has averaged 9.6 offenses per day, generating $418,536 in fines and 4,568 violation notices since March 2009.

West Palm Beach's three cameras have generated roughly $682,000 since February, with 5,456 offenses, an average of 13.5 daily per camera. In Hallandale Beach, police officers review video of each offense before sending tickets. In Kodroff's case, the video shows he hit his brakes but didn't come to a complete stop before turning. So why did his violation notice show his speed at zero? "Zero doesn't mean zero," said Flournoy. He said violation notices soon would be changed to be more accurate. Under the new state law, drivers making a right cannot be cited if they turn "in a careful and prudent manner." Kodroff said his turn fell into that category, because there was no approaching traffic and nobody in the crosswalks. Flournoy said the new language will give officers "more discretion" in cutting down violations. Under the city's previous ordinance, any car that didn't come to a full stop before the crosswalk was cited.

Expect more lawsuits and more confusion.

"Soon there'll be more case law, and we'll govern ourselves accordingly," said interim city manager Antonio.

It's hard enough for some to stomach the Big Brother aspect of the red-light cameras. But if cash-starved cities are going to be so piddling when it comes to enforcement, we should all be afraid.

Henry B. Nathan is a Real Estate Professional. Please visit our website and learn about:

Sunny Isles Beach Condos

Sunny Isles Real Estate

Aventura Real Estate

Aventura Homes

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The Beach Club Condos in Hallandale Beach

2010-07-06T17:12:00.000-07:00

AND ONE YEAR AFTER: July 6th, 2010

Statistics - The Beach Club - Hallandale Beach

APARTMENTS AVAILABLE FOR SALE:

BEACH CLUB ONE: total of 33 units.

1 Bedroom - 2 units from $320,000 to $419,000
2 Bedroom - 12 units from $299,000 to $719,000
3 Bedroom - 19 units from $350,000 to $1,125,000

BEACH CLUB two - Total of 58 units.
Studio & 1 Bedroom - 15 units from $285,000 to $399,000
2 Bedroom - 18 units from $439,000 to $800,000
3 Bedroom - 25 units from $450,000 to $1,299,000

EACH CLUB THREE: total of 72 units.

1 Bedroom - 5 units from $225,000 to $385,000
2 Bedroom - 27 units from $$359,000 to $990,000
3 Bedroom - 40 units from $395,000 to $1,495,000

Total apartments for sale in all three buildings - 163 units.

Information as of July 6th, 2010

Hallandale Beach Condos

Hallandale Beach Homes

Henry B. Nathan is a Florida Realtor at United Realty Group Inc. and a Florida Licensed Mortgage Broker.
Visit my website: http://www.condo-southflorida.com/
where you can search for Hallandale Beach Condos , Sunny Isles Condos

THE BEACH CLUB SALES STATISTICS

2009-06-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

REPORT

LISTINGS AND SALES ACTIVITY AT THE BEACH CLUB CONDOS IN HALLANDALE

As of: June 29, 2009

BEACH CLUB ONE CONDOS

BEACH CLUB ONE Units available for sale: 54

Studios and One-bedroom - 4 units – Priced from $360,000 to $600,000

2 bedroom – 13 units – Priced from $335,000 to $729,000

More than 2 bedroom – 37 units – Priced from $425,000 to $1,775,000

Least expensive available: Unit 409 – 1,082 Sq.Ft. - $ 335,000

Most expensive available: Unit 4405 – 2500 Sq.Ft. - $ 1,775,000

BEACH CLUB ONE CONDOS sold in the last 90 days: 8 units from $290,000 to $720,000

*****

BEACH CLUB TWO CONDOS

BEACH CLUB TWO Units available for sale: 66

Studios and One-bedroom – 13 units - Priced from $200,000 to $467,000

Two-bedroom – 23 Units – Priced from $539,000 to $1,500,000

More than 2 bedroom – 30 Units – Priced from $649,000 to $2,000,000

Least expensive available: Unit 2705 – 800 Sq. Ft. - $ 250,000 (SHORT SALE)

Most expensive available: Town House – 4,020 Sq. Ft. - $ 2,000,000

BEACH CLUB TWO CONDOS sold in the last 90 days: 11 Units from $237,000 to $900,000

***

BEACH CLUB THREE CONDOS

BEACH CLUB THREE units available for sale: 77

Studios and One-bedroom – 9 units – Priced from $280,000 to $467,000

Two-bedroom – 22 Units – Priced from $328,000 to $1,250,000

More than 2 bedroom - 46 Units – Priced from $359,000 to $1,799,000

Least expensive available: Unit 2906 – 1,086 Sq.Ft. - $280,000

Most expensive available: Penthouse 4404 – 2548 Sq.Ft Living area – 5,008 Sq. Ft. total area - $ 1,799,000

BEACH CLUB THREE CONDOS sold in the last 90 days: 9 Units from $295,000 to $600,000

***

Our remarks:

28 total SALES have closed in the last 90 days at the Beach Club complex

This is an average of 0,311 closing per day at the Beach Club Condos complex

197 total Active listings at the Beach Club: as of June 29, 2009

Total of apartments at the Beach Club Condominum Complex (All three buildings): 1,258

Percentage of Beach Club Condo Units on the market: 15.66%

Henry B. Nathan is a Florida Realtor at United Realty Group Inc. and a Florida Licensed Mortgage Broker.

Visit my website: http://www.condo-southflorida.com/

where you can search for Hallandale Beach Condos , Sunny Isles Condos

But have we heard the word Bankruptcy?

2009-03-07T10:29:00.000-08:00

The Village at Gulfstream Park

2009-03-07T06:47:00.000-08:00

The City of Hallandale gives a vote of confidence to a troubled but impressive project

A February 2010 opening date was announced for this vast project which many expect to be the new center of attraction of the city of Hallandale Beach. So far, 13 restaurants, 17 retail stores, 2 night clubs have apparently committed; roughly about 50% of all the available space.

Hallandale Beach Commission voted 3-1 to approve funding to assist this project, which more than a year late in its completion. Conflictive opinions about the city involvement have been circulating. A majority of the city commissioners are strong advocates of a project that will create hundreds of jobs and attract tourism, visitors, and investment at a recession time, when they are much needed. The issue of taxpayers’ dollars being spent to support a private venue, is strongly debated, and the “City of Choice” ‘s majority belief is that it will be a gamble that will pay great dividends.

The Village at Gulfstream Park is a mix of fashion and home accessory shops, and signature restaurants, outdoor cafes, office space, and projected residential units. 70 stores will cover more than 410,000 square feet of premium retail space. The Village at Gulfstream Park is expected to compete the next-door Aventura Mall, which has been since its creation, the nucleus around which the City of Aventura has focused. Gulfstream, as an open-air Shopping Center, will differentiate itself enough from Aventura Mall to complement rather than compete.

Gulfstream Park, as a combination of Casino, Horse-track, entertainment, and shopping could quickly become the leisure, fashion and entertainment destination for South Florida. Centered in an the middle of a prosperous population, it could become a better alternative to the Hard Rock Casino in Davie.

Gulfstream is announcing some impressive committed restaurants, such as III Forks, Ola Cuba by Chef Douglas Rodriguez, Texas de Brazil, American Pie Brick Oven Pizza, Brio Tuscan Grille, Cadillac Ranch, Cantina Laredo, Häagen-Datzs, Lamborghini Café, The Cheese Course, The Playwright Irish Pub, PrimeBar, and many more.

Among stores who have committed, they count on Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn and West Elm; designer clothing retailers Fender Rock & Roll Religion, Martier, Atelier and Vogue Couture. Two nightclubs: Santanera and Greenhouse Nightclub are expected to attract the young crowd, in search of an alternative to South Beach. Other expected tenants: Next Authentic, Pacific Paradise, Rock Star, Romeo and Juliet Couture, Scala, Scene, The Container Store, Vahalla Menswear, Venetian Salon, Williams-Sonoma, Z Gallerie, and counting.

Mayor Joy Cooper has been a strong endorser of the Gulfstream Park Village, and has brought the full support and partnership of the City of Hallandale Beach.

We, at www.condo-southflorida.com are specialists in

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The Beach Club Two - Unit 4202

2008-08-15T06:23:00.001-07:00

The Beach Club Two building has, in everybody’s opinion, an advantage over both the Beach Club One and the Beach Club Three.

It is further out on the beach with less interference on both sides, and that allows for outstanding views in some its units.

Unit 4202, with frontal ocean exposure, a corner unit, on one of the highest floors, might be one of the nicest units in the whole Beach Club complex.

Very spacious, with 3 bed and 3 baths, with beautiful marble floors. The upscale Italian open kitchen, the vast living room, the amazing direct ocean view from almost any spot in the apartment, I can see myself having a great life in this place, while enjoying all the amenities that Beach Club in Hallandale Beach can offer.

A grandiose spa, a gigantic gym, large clubhouse, too many pools and oceanfront decks to count, this is the real thing.

A resort life, right in the middle of one of the most attractive location in South Florida.

Hallandale Beach, with it burgeoning shopping areas, the promptly opening Village at Gulfstream Park, two Casinos just a few blocks away, the Diplomat Hotel, the Intracoastal restaurants and cafes, the Diplomat Mall shopping Center, proximity to Aventura, Bal Harbour, Hollywood Beach broadwalk, Hollywood Circle entertainment and shopping area, you name it.

To enquire more about the 4202 unit at Beach Club Two Condominiums, please contact us.

To find out more about the Beach Club II, please go to our website:

www.condo-southflorida.com

Where you can find many opportunities in

Hallandale Beach Condos

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The Beach Club at Hallandale Beach

2008-08-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

The Beach Club at Hallandale Beach

The Beach Club is a world-class residential environment that features the amenities of some of the best hotels in the world.

The Related Group of Florida, George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg has fulfilled in The Beach Club their promises of gracious, contemporary, luxurious and relaxed living.

Three buildings right on the sand. Two twin towers: The Beach Club 1 and the Beach Club 3.

A central tower: The Beach Club Two.

Location:

• Less than one mile south of the renowned Diplomat Resort, Country Club and Convention Center

• Minutes from Aventura Mall and Diplomat Landings

• A short drive to the Shoppes of Bal Harbour

• Close to fine restaurants, food markets, banks and convenience store

• A short distance to houses of worship

• Minutes to Hollywood’s vibrant downtown area, Las Olas and downtown Ft. Lauderdale

• Easy access to Ft. Lauderdale Int’l Airport and Port Everglades

• A short drive to the exciting South Beach nightlife and Miami Int’l Airport

Buildings Features:

spa and fitness center

full service restaurant

juice bar with pool and beach service

finest free weight

selectorized weight equipment

state-of-the-art cardio equipment / cardio theater

aerobic studio

his and hers lounges

treatment rooms

Jacuzzi

Cold plunge

eucalyptus steam room

redwood saunas

relaxation area

sun deck w/ water features

Residences Features:

• Solid wooden entry door

• Ocean and intracoastal views (see your individual floorplan)

• Large dining area (see your individual floorplan)

• Spacious living room with adjacent terrace (see your individual floorplan)

• Oversized terraces with glass railing accessible from bedrooms and living room (see your individual floorplan)

• Elegant smooth ceilings rising to 8’ 7 1/2”

• Floor to ceiling laminated windows with energy efficient tinted glass

• Top-of-the-line stackable washer and dryer

• High efficiency central air conditioning and heating unit

• Sprinkler fire protection system

• State-of-the-art telecommunications wiring including high-speed cabling to all television outlets and “home run” configured CAT5 cable for telephone and data communication.

General Amenities:

• An almost 9-acre site with over 810 feet of magnificent ocean frontage

• Oversized heated swimming pool and spa overlooking the Atlantic Ocean

• Snack bar with pool-side services

• Lushly landscaped grounds

• Magnificent 2-story lobby entrance

• Spectacular porte-cochere

• 24-hour valet parking

• Multi-level covered parking

• Full time concierge

• Mail and package receiving desk

• 24-hour security

Spa and Fitness: As part of your residence or membership, you will enjoy the extended amenities that are normally associated with a 5-star resort spa.

Whether you are relaxing in the spa, working out in the state-of-the-art fitness center or indulging at our juice bar, you are certain to realize that this is the playground, sanctuary and “home” you have been looking for...until now.

Featuring some of the most dynamic and technological advancements in fitness, our skilled staff is dedicated to making you look and feel your best. Consulting trainers will make your experience the most efficient and effortless workout you have had. Your physical aspirations will soon become manifestations.

The Spa is certain to change your life. “Desires” will become realities when they are part of your “home”. You can have a massage or get a facial...workout or relax...swim or just sit by the pool.

Kitchen & Bath Features:

Master Bath includes:

• Elegant marble flooring in wet areas

• Granite vanity top (in a selection of colors) with porcelain lavatories

• Elegantly detailed designer faucets

• Full width vanity mirror with decorator light fixture

• Whirlpool tub (see your individual floorplan)

• Elongated water closet

• European style bidet with coordinating faucets

(see your individual floorplan)

• Walk-in marble shower

Guest Bath includes:

• Elegant marble flooring in wet areas

• Integrated porcelain vanity top and lavatory

• European style cabinets

• Elongated water closets (see your individual floorplan)

Kitchen includes:

• Flush European styled cabinets

• 36” built-in KitchenAid refrigerator/freezer

• 30” KitchenAid glass cook top

• Granite counter tops and backsplash (in a selection of colors)

• Double stainless steel sink with granite counter top

• Pull-out spray faucet

• 27” built-in KitchenAid convection/microwave oven

• KitchenAid 3-cycle, sound-insulated dishwasher

• Garbage disposal

To find out more about the Beach Club II, please go to our website:

www.condo-southflorida.com

Where you can find many opportunities in

Hallandale Beach Condos

Hallandale Beach Homes