Cocowalk To Expand Into New Fourstory Wing With Offices

By Sherri C. Ranta
Leisure and retail center CocoWalk in Coconut Grove will expand this year by constructing a 32,000-square-foot, four-story building housing both retail and office space, CocoWalk officials said this week.

The new building, slated for completion in early 2002, will house clothing retailer Gap in 16,831 square feet on the first and second floors.

Another 16,000 square feet of office space will be built on the top two floors and will overlook Biscayne Bay, said Jay Miller, senior vice president, Steiner & Associates, CocoWalk’s management company.

Mr. Miller said Gap will occupy the lower floors and retain the 4,750 square feet it now has at CocoWalk. It will connect to the new wing and incorporate a Gap 2000 design, with four full-sized stores, including Gap, Gap Body, Gap Baby and Gap Kids.

Office space on the top floors — about 16,000 square feet — will be known as Offices at CocoWalk. Suites will range in size from 1,000 to 8,000 square feet, Mr. Miller said.

Abood & Associates will be leasing agent for the offices.

Mr. Miller said he thinks Offices at CocoWalk will appeal to certain firms and professionals who want class A space and the appeal and charm of Coconut Grove.

Offices at CocoWalk will share the complex’s Mediterranean aesthetics, he said, and offer amenities such as parking in the 865-space garage, valet parking for guests and a direct connection into CocoWalk for dining and entertaining.

Mr. Miller said the expansion is part of the long-term vision for the 163,000-square-foot leisure and retail center, home to many retail outlets, restaurants and an AMC 16 Gourmet Cinema Theater.

The building will be constructed on the site of the former Sci-Sci Cafe, which was razed by former CocoWalk owners City Center Retail Trust. CocoWalk Transwestern of Chicago bought the property in March 2000, Mr. Miller said.

Financing for the $7 million expansion is being furnished by BHF Funding of New York, he said. L. Milton Construction Co. of Coral Gables will serve as general contractors for the project.

Architectural services are being provided by Portuondo Perotti Architects Inc. of Coral Gables and Design Development Group Architects of Baltimore.