English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Pembroke Pines, FL

Macy’s sold its furniture and mattress store on the outskirts of the Pembroke Lakes Mall in Pembroke Pines for $13 million.

The Cincinnati-based retailer (NYSE: M) sold the 50,111-square-foot retail building at 13640 Pines Blvd. to Lotte Miami LLC, managed by Sungwon Group of Jessup, Maryland. The buyer is the parent of Lotte Plaza Market, a chain of Asian grocery stores in Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, Orlando and Tampa.

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Sungwon Group also owns the neighboring property, a 51,110-square-foot store at 13650 Pines Blvd. occupied by Floor & Décor, which It acquired for $4.75 million in 2022.

Property data firm Vizzda confirmed the buyer and seller information for the new deal. The price equated to $259 a square foot.

The store was developed on the 4.55-acre site in 1997 by Burdines. which rebranded as Macy's in 2005.

"As part of our new strategy to return Macy’s Inc. to profitable growth and enhance the customer experience, Macy’s has sold its Pembroke Pines Furniture and Mattress Gallery," the company stated. "Under the agreement, we are leasing back the store, which continues to operate as normal. We invite customers to continue shopping with us in-store at Macy's Pembroke Pines Furniture and Mattress Gallery, online at macys.com, and on the Macy’s app."

Macy’s has been actively divesting its stand-alone furniture and mattress stores nationwide, including in South Florida. In July, it sold a Pinecrest store to the University of Miami. It sold a Fort Lauderdale store in February and a Boca Raton store in January.

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The Marela Apartments in Pembroke Pines sold for $110 million, taking a loss from their last trade three years ago.

RAR2 – 250 NW 130th Avenue FL LLC, part of Chicago-based RREEF Management, a commercial real estate fund run by Deutsche Bank in Germany, sold the 368 apartments at 250 N.W. 130th Ave. to AMFP VI Marela LLC, care of New York-based Abacus Capital Group. JLL Real Estate Capital provided the buyer with a $71.5 million mortgage backed by Freddie Mac with a five-year maturity. Property data firm Vizzda confirmed the parties in the deal.

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The price equated to $298,913 a unit.

The property last traded for $121.25 million in 2021, so it lost in value. The seller didn’t have a mortgage, so there was no pressure from a lender to sell.

Many apartment complexes in South Florida have lost value because of higher interest rates and elevated operating expenses. Rent spiked during the Covid-19 pandemic, but rent increases have been modest this year. Yet, high mortgage rates have raised costs for potential apartment buyers, and higher insurance rates in Florida have squeezed operating margins.

Totaling 420,648 square feet, the Marela Apartments was built on the 21.1-acre site in 1998.

Amenities include two pools, a clubhouse, a fitness center, a playground and a pet park. It’s located next to C.B. Smith Park and between two major shopping destinations, the Pembroke Lakes Mall and the Shops at Pembroke Gardens.

According to Apartments.com, units in Marela range from 890 to 1,356 square feet and rent from $2,021 to $3,127.

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A pair of condo owners at the embattled Heron Pond complex in Pembroke Pines lost their first court fight against the receiver’s plan to list the property for sale.

The 25-acre Heron Pond, at 8400 Southwest First Street, is home to 304 units in 19 two-story buildings. Since last summer, the city has slammed Heron Pond with multiple unsafe structure notices, rendering six buildings and 26 units in seven other buildings uninhabitable.

After Daniel Stermer was appointed receiver in April, further engineering reports showed that some of the buildings have “hidden” deficiencies to the lateral load resistance, leading to the evacuation of all remaining residents late last month. Stermer now wants to set the stage for a marketing process.

Unit owners Maria Elena Betancur and Gloria Patricia Betancur opposed the receiver’s motion to hire Greenspoon Marder attorney Dennis Mele as special counsel during a court hearing on Wednesday. They also opposed hiring Condominium Advisory Group to help with the termination of the association. Mele would provide an analysis of the Heron Pond’s redevelopment potential in a push to raise the sale price.

The Betancurs take issue with the costs of the receivership, including the additional hiring of advisers to the sale, as well as with some of Stermer’s decisions so far. Homeowners now face higher costs to relocate and the potential loss of their equity in Heron Pond units, all while the association’s funds are bankrolling the receivership, the Betancurs’ attorney wrote in their motion.

Judge Jack Tuter Jr. sided with Stermer, and capped Greenspoon Marder’s rate at $600 per hour, less than Mele’s hourly rate of $775.

“These homeowners were under the impression that when the receiver was appointed, that he would be able to come in and perhaps find a way to rehab these properties,” said the Betancurs’ attorney, Elizabeth Perez. “Instead, in short time now, these homeowners are left looking for a new place to live, higher prices and paying expenses out of their pocket.”

The Betancurs paid $201,900 for their 1,033-square-foot unit in 2007, records show.

Tuter said he was limited in what he could do. “What is your solution? Let’s just sit there and do nothing and just let the properties fall in further decline?” he told Perez during Wednesday’s hearing. “Your issues are with the city. They’re not with the receiver. It’s the signal that everybody should leave the premises.”

Brian Rich, an attorney for the receiver, said Condominium Advisory’s contract is set at $3,000 a month and can be canceled with a 30-day notice.

Perez said after the hearing that her clients are “contemplating all the legal options available to them, one of which would potentially be a lawsuit against the association.” But such litigation is stayed until the judge rules otherwise, according to his motion appointing Stermer receiver.

The deadly Surfside condo collapse in 2021 put a spotlight on older buildings and associations’ deferred maintenance and repairs. New state laws passed in 2022 and 2023 create milestone inspections for condo buildings of a certain height and age, and require structural integrity reserve studies every 10 years, among other requirements. Many associations were previously able to waive the full funding of their reserves, so condo buildings across the state are struggling to catch up.

The plan to sell Heron Pond, originally built in 1988 as apartments and converted to condos in 2006, marks the latest chapter in the complex’s long-running saga, which includes accusations against former board members of purposeful mismanagement.

In their motion, the Betancurs bring up claims similar to those made by other unit owners in past court filings. Namely, some unit owners have pointed a finger at one secretive entity: Federated Foundation Trust. It amassed 111 units, making it the majority unit owner, which previously allowed people tied to the trust to take board seats. The primary person tied to the trust is former board member Piyush Viradia, who has used the alias Peter Patel, according to residents’ court filings.

“Patel was chiefly responsible for mismanaging, misappropriating and most likely embezzling association funds to benefit himself and his trust,” the Betancurs say in their motion.

In his April petition to appoint a receiver, unit owner James Rhodes alleged that people tied to Federated “may have wanted” Heron Pond to fall into disrepair, which would allow them to buy more units at a discount.

Stermer’s decision to sell Heron Pond could pave the path for Federated to do just that, the Betancurs wrote in their motion.

“Clearing out all homeowners of the association essentially now provides an opportunity for the very wrongdoers who ran the association into the ground in the first place while enriching themselves with the association’s funds, i.e. Patel and Federated Foundation Trust, to purchase the Heron Pond property for pennies on the dollar,” the Betancurs wrote in their court filings.

The receiver’s “goal has been to take the easy way out” by selling Heron Pond, they wrote. Instead, he should have been doing a historical accounting of allegedly misappropriated funds and investigating Patel/Viradia.

Stermer disagreed with these allegations, arguing that his primary focus so far is residents’ safety and the structural condition of the buildings.

“Issues such as what happened in the past, we are going to get to,” he told The Real Deal. “The unit owners believe what they believe. At the moment, I can’t say whether it’s correct or incorrect.”

Keith Grumer, an attorney for Federated Foundation Trust, denied allegations against the trust. He called some of the claims in Betancurs’ motion “slanderous” and said the filing lays out no supporting evidence.

“If Federated owns, let’s just call it 35 percent of the units, Federated would be stealing from itself. That’s absurdity. They have paid like $50,000 a month in condo dues,” he said.

The Betancurs’ filing only impedes the sale, leading to higher costs for homeowners. “The sooner the property is sold and money is distributed, the sooner all the bleeding stops,” Grumer said.

In a non-binding poll by the receiver, 86 percent of those who voted agreed to a sale. Owners representing 80 percent of the units participated in the poll. Federated Foundation voted in favor of a sale, according to Stermer’s report.

A special assessment for needed repairs would break down to at least $40,000 per unit, he wrote in his report.

The Betancurs wrote in their filing that Stermer is presenting a “false dichotomy” between selling or paying at least $40,000, arguing that another engineering report contradicts some of the findings in the receiver’s engineer’s report regarding the extent of disrepair. Perez, the Betancurs’ attorney, called it “fear mongering” to only present those two options to homeowners.

“Unfortunately, they may not really understand they can question and appeal the decisions being made by the receiver,” Perez said. Stermer could have tried to recoup allegedly misappropriated funds by ex-board members or sought lower bids for repairs, according to the Betancurs’ court filing.

The complete evacuation came after ACG Engineering Services’ July report that determined lateral load resistance deficiencies in some of the buildings undergoing repairs, due to inadequate design and construction. Because they are embedded in the “bones” of buildings and can’t be seen, ACG recommended the complete evacuation at least until hurricane season ends or repairs are completed.

Exactly how funds from a sale will be divided among unit owners hasn’t been decided, Stermer said.

In his report to the court filed last month, Stermer pointed out a state law that says that if the disbursement to a homeowner is less than the outstanding mortgage balance on a condo unit, the lender has to accept the homeowner’s proceeds as satisfying the mortgage. This means unit owners won’t be on the hook for more than they receive to pay off their mortgage, but they also won’t make a profit.

The Betancurs’ opposition to Stermer’s decision isn’t the first time homeowners at an association embroiled in allegations of mismanagement take issue with their court-appointed receiver. At West Kendall’s Hammocks, one of Florida’s biggest homeowner associations, some residents pushed back on the receiver’s costs and administration of property affairs. David Gersten took over as receiver after four former Hammocks board members and the husband of an ex-HOA president were arrested in 2022 over allegedly running a massive multi-million dollar fraud.

The judge in the Hammocks case has largely sided with Gersten, telling homeowners at hearings that a receivership is costly but needed to set the HOA in the right path. Last month, the judge approved Gersten’s motion to step back as receiver and remain monitor of Hammocks’ affairs.

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Residential South Florida “Becoming a big issue”: Conflicts at condo, homeowners associations fuel insurance woes

Time has run out for any residents left in a Broward County condominium.

People living in Heron Pond Condominium have to be out by the end of Thursday.

The saga began in August of 2023, when residents in over half of the buildings at the condo complex were ordered out after the city of Pembroke Pines deemed them unsafe.

But in July of 2024, engineers released a new report indicating their inspections at the property revealed even deeper issues. Along with the visible structural damage, engineers cited inadequate design and construction of the complex, prompting concerns the buildings may not withstand high winds.

The city then ordered the residents of all 304 units to be out by Aug. 29.

Edward Picon is the son of an elderly owner who told NBC6 earlier this month that the costs keep adding up. A receiver appointed to manage the property sent a survey last week to owners outlining two options: an up-front assessment of at least $40,000 or selling the property.

The clock is ticking for hundreds of people living in the Heron Pond condominium in Pembroke Pines. NBC6's Amy Viteri reports

“[My mother] relies solely on social security and social assistance. She doesn't have that kind of money,” he said. “[She’s] a person that has never owned anything in her life…and she finally owns something, and now she doesn't have it.”

Residents say they’ve been living with the damage from termites, balcony beams rotted by water and other issues captured in photos from condo owners.

While people moved out, many found temporary places to stay and are waiting to see what becomes of the homes they poured money into.

The struggles have prompted many to ask how the complex got to this point.

Court records show the association petitioned to have a receiver appointed to manage the property in April. That petition outlines allegations the previous board of directors “willfully and intentionally mismanaged the association and failed to perform routine, necessary maintenance.”

Pembroke Pines Aug 13

Pembroke Pines Jul 25

The petition claims the prior board was controlled by representatives for a single trust, Federated Foundation Trust, which owned over a third of the units at Heron Pond. It alleges none of those units were paying monthly fees, hindering repairs. It goes on to say, “It’s believed these individuals may have wanted the Association’s common elements to fall into a state of disrepair so that they could acquire more units within the Association at a reduced/discounted cost.”

NBC6 Investigates looked into the matter and spoke to the man behind the trust. See the findings here.

“There basically was like a lack of maintenance,” said Pembroke Pines Assistant City Manager Michael Stamm Jr., adding the city was left with no option.

“Our building official and Fire Marshall in conjunction with their engineers have determined that these units just aren’t safe for people to live in,” Stamm said. “The outside and the bones of the building is what we’re finding is damaged.”

Stamm said the city had been asking for specific reports on conditions at the complex for around two years, but the association had not provided all information required to secure permits.

“The current reports will show you, there was a lot of unpermitted repairs made to the buildings,” Stamm said, “They put stucco over rotted wood in some situations.”

Stamm says the city is partnering with the county to help relocate people who meet income requirements and can provide documentation, such as a lease agreement. He said the city also has a limited number of apartments to try to place people. The city of Pembroke Pines has additional information available on this website.

“The community has faced countless hardships,” Stamm said. “This is affordable housing. So, trying to find comparable affordable housing is really challenging.”

A Miami-based all-day café that quickly grew a following on social media thanks to its pink decor, trending TikTok content, and equally beautiful brunch specials has opened its first location in Broward. Keik Bakeshop has opened in Pembroke Pines, and, of course, the bakeshop quickly took to TikTok to share the news in a way that was "very mindful and very demure."

The bakeshop was founded in 2020 in Doral by Wilfredo Ulacio and Alejandra Romero, who became friends in the heat of a Miami kitchen. The pair quickly realized they both always "dreamed of pink." Soon after, partners Carla Villalobos and Pedro Torres joined the team, and Keik was born. After its success in Doral, it opened a location in Coral Gables.

Its Pembroke Pines location just opened this week on 11033 Pines Blvd. with all of its pink glory.

@lovekeikbakeshop So Demure! So Keik! ✨???? Keik Bakeshop in Pembroke Pines is OPEN! ✨???? ????11033 Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines, FL #demure #verydemure #keik #keikbakeshop ♬ Very demure - meredithbull

"We are very happy about this new location located in Pembroke Pines," Romero tells New Times. "It is one of the cities where we wanted to be the most, and we will be working hard to offer you the best Keik experience. We are a full restaurant. We have options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and above all, the best desserts in the entire city."

Food blogger Giselle Chusan of @explorewithgg helped the shop go viral last year when she called it one of her favorite "South Florida hidden gems." She ordered the pavlova pancakes and the cachapa waffles, which blend sweet notes with savory ingredients. Therefore, this spot is definitely for those with a sweet tooth.

@explorewithgg Food in Miami: Keik Bakeshop is a hidden gem that y’all need to check out before it gets more busy than it already is ???? #foodie #miamifood #miamifoodie #doral #brunch #southfloridablogger #hiddengems #miamiblogger ♬ original sound - Explorewithgg | Food & Travel

The menu at Keik Bakeshop is perfect for a brunch date, with selections like charcuterie boards, French toast, a variety of Benedicts, and sandwiches. However, the viral highlights include fun flavors like the banana split or Nutella pancakes and the Rocher toast filled with the signature Rocher cream. Signature burgers are available after 11 a.m., and various salads and bowls make this a great destination for lunch and dinner, too.

Of course, the show-stopper cakes (or "Keiks" as the bakeshop calls them) come in all shapes and sizes and can be made to order. Some of the signature cake flavors, which are also available by the slice in stores, include tiramisu, passion fruit, pistachio cheesecake, "Bruncha Crunch," strawberry shortcake, "Cocosette," and coconut almond.

Pair it all with some creative coffee orders such as the "Brigadeiro Cappuccino," the pink vanilla latte, or the Nutella cappuccino. The restaurant also offers other drinks including a selection of bottled beer and juices.

Keik Bakeshop. 11033 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines; keikbakeshop.com. Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.