- LeFrak and Turnberry placed a lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology at the heart of the Solé Mia development. The project has achieved occupancy rates of up to 99%, earned international awards and commands up to US$1,800 more in monthly rent per unit.
In North Miami, one development fully leased its first tower in just three months. Today, it commands up to US$1,800 more in monthly rent per unit than neighboring properties. And it was built, quite literally, on a former landfill. Its name is Solé Mia, and its story is a must-read case study for any developer looking to stand out in an increasingly competitive market.
The key to it all is a 6.61-acre lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology, the first of its kind in South Florida.
A Project That Lives Up to Its Creators
Solé Mia is no ordinary development. It is backed by LeFrak and Turnberry, two of the most respected names in U.S. real estate, bringing a rare level of experience and credibility to the project.
LeFrak has more than a century of experience and a portfolio of over 400 buildings. Turnberry has spent more than 50 years creating residential, commercial and hospitality destinations, and manages a real estate portfolio valued at US$10 billion.
The project’s numbers speak for themselves:
- 184-acre master plan in North Miami
- Estimated investment of US$4 billion
- Up to 12 planned residential towers, with more than 6,000 approved units
- Four completed towers totaling 1,473 units, with a fifth under construction
- Schools, a medical center, retail, offices and resort-style amenities integrated into the master plan
It is, quite simply, a city within a city. And at the center of it all is a lagoon created by the multinational water innovation company.
The Numbers Speak for Themselves: Unprecedented Returns
For developers, good ideas are measured by their return on investment. The crystalline lagoon became the centerpiece of the project, and the financial results prove the strategy worked:
- Near-full occupancy: The project maintains occupancy rates of between 96% and 99%. Units overlooking the lagoon are in the highest demand.
- Rental premium: Solé Mia commands rents 15% to 25% above market rates for comparable properties in North Miami.
- Additional income per unit: That premium translates into monthly rents of up to US$1,800 more per unit.
- Direct comparison: While a two-bedroom apartment in North Miami typically rents for between US$2,400 and US$2,800 per month, comparable units at Solé Mia command between US$3,300 and US$4,200.
The Quote That Says It All
Richard LeFrak, who leads one of the largest real estate companies in the United States, does not make a habit of speaking in superlatives. That gives even more weight to what he said about the leasing of the project’s first tower:
“The Shoreline at Solé Mia is the fastest and most successful rental lease-up in the company’s 100-year history of real estate development.”
When the Media Takes Notice
The Miami Herald, one of Florida’s most influential news outlets, described Solé Mia as a “neighborhood game changer.” It was more than a headline: within three months of its January 2019 launch, the project’s first tower was 100% leased.
Financial Times and Bloomberg have also covered the project, citing it as a benchmark for innovation in large-scale, mixed-use communities. Residential developments do not often capture the attention of global financial media, but Solé Mia did, thanks to one clear differentiator: its crystalline lagoon.
A Development Designed for Every Type of Resident
Another strength of Solé Mia is its ability to attract very different segments through a shared value proposition:
- Families looking for larger units, club-style amenities and a safe environment
- Young professionals and couples drawn to studios and one-bedroom apartments designed for an active lifestyle
- Students and short-term renters who prioritize connectivity and social life
- Seniors who value tranquility, wellness and access to healthcare
That versatility is precisely what makes the lagoon a unifying amenity across every resident segment. Everyone uses it. Everyone values it. And that translates into sustained occupancy across the entire product mix.
From Contaminated Land to an Urban Icon
Perhaps the most remarkable part of Solé Mia’s story is where it began. The site was a former landfill, a contaminated site that was virtually unusable under a conventional development model.
Through an Opportunity Zone strategy and an extensive environmental remediation process, LeFrak and Turnberry transformed the property into one of Miami’s most sought-after developments.
Crystal Lagoons® technology made it possible to build a crystalline lagoon for watersports, white-sand beaches and an active waterfront community on that very site.
The development continues to grow. It recently added the first floating pickleball court installed on a residential lagoon in the United States, another example of how the lagoon remains a platform for creating new amenities.
An Award-Winning and Exclusive Ecosystem
Solé Mia is more than a commercial success. It has become a benchmark for design and sustainability, earning some of the industry’s most important honors for its transformation of this urban site.
The project received the 2020 World Design Award for Best Landscape Design Built, presented by The Architecture Community. That same year, it won the Golden Novum Design Award for Urban Planning and Landscape Design.
The model works because it intelligently combines white-sand beaches and watersports with essential services such as a UHealth medical center, schools, coworking spaces and retail areas. It attracts families, young professionals and students—all looking for an urban resort lifestyle.
Solé Mia’s formula is clear. Integrating a lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology is not simply a landscaping expense. It is a highly replicable business strategy for urban multifamily markets looking to create real value, stand out from the competition and secure long-term profitability.
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