fisher island real estate insider

MDC Wellness center accepting gifts for youth center in Argentina

2007-12-20T15:44:00.000-08:00

The Wellness Center at Miami Dade College's Kendall campus will be accepting new and old toys up until Friday, Dec. 21, to benefit You & Me Together, an organization started by Jose Fuyana, a resident of Fisher Island, to aid children in Mendoza, Argentina.

The Wellness Center is in the Gibson Center, Building 7, at the MDC Kendall Campus, 11011 SW 104th St. The center phone number is 305-237-0735.

In addition to toys, the foundation accepts monetary donations and any kind of sporting equipment, like soccer balls and tennis rackets, to support a youth center in Mendoza.

The first shipment of toys will be distributed throughout villages in Mendoza on Los Reyes Magos, Three Kings Day, and another shipment will be sent in January.

For information about You & Me Together, visit www.youandmetogether.org or e-mail Fuyana at donate@youandmetogether.org.

Grocery Delivery Service

2007-12-10T11:20:00.000-08:00

Tired of waiting in supermarket checkout lines or too busy to go to the market? Now there's a new option: www.beachgroceries.com.

The Miami Beach-based online grocery delivery service began operations in June. Its website features more than 15,000 products (up from 10,000 when the site first launched), including fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, cheeses, poultry, kosher and organic items, household cleaning supplies, health and beauty products, baby formula and pet food. Delivery is available to zip codes from the Brickell area north to Aventura.

Beachgroceries.com is a family-owned venture: its partners are Beach native Dov Lozenik, his father, Michael Lozenik and brother-in-law, Shmuli Klein.

Lozenik says beachgroceries.com has almost 1,000 customers and is already profitable. He says clients include residents, small boutiques and cafe restaurants, as well as young working people ordering for elderly parents. He says the business is a success (unlike the now-defunct Publix online service) because ``we're trying to be more local and specialize in customer service.''

To order, customers must set up an account. They get $10 off the first purchase. Grocery lists are built by browsing the store and adding groceries to a shopping cart. Then a delivery time is chosen.

Beachgroceries.com delivers weekdays via a refrigerated van from 8-11 a.m. and 5-8 p.m. Orders must be placed by 5 p.m. the prior day. There's no charge for delivery on orders over $120, $10 if under. Fisher Island residents pay an extra $20. Blame the ferry.

Art Basel Weekend!!

2007-12-07T11:40:00.000-08:00

When the Miami Beach Convention Center opens its doors to the public on December 6 for the annual four-day Art Basel expo, a tsunami of artists, dealers, collectors, critics, curators and art-world followers will flood the 262,960-square-foot exhibition space to ogle, and possibly buy, everything from Impressionist landscapes and Cubist collages to neon sculptures and avant-garde video art—220 booths displaying the works of some 2,000 artists from 30 countries.

"Art Basel Miami Beach has one of the planet's highest concentrations of wealth and talent," boasts fair director Samuel Keller. "It's an explosive mixture of art, intellect, glamour and money." The art mart (a spinoff of the international fair held annually in Switzerland) has some of the glitz of Hollywood's Oscars, but it has also become one of the key events of the art-world calendar, a place where trends get set, deals get done and names get made—even if it has been criticized for its frenzied atmosphere and rampant commercialism. The New York Times has called it "an Art Costco for billionaires," and conceptual artist John Baldessari, whose work is marketed at the fair, observes: "You have to understand that it's not about mounting an art show, it's about selling art." But, he adds, "It's a chance to see a lot of good art in one place, even if it's not under optimum conditions."

"Art collectors love the sort of mall experience that art fairs provide," says Walter Robinson, editor of Artnet Magazine. "You walk down aisles and there's pressure to buy because the collectors know that there are other collectors there vying for the same choice artworks and they know they've only got a few days, if that, to make their move."

Why Miami Beach? "It seemed a good place to bring together the art scenes of the Americas and Europe in winter," says Keller, who is also one of the fair's founders as well as the director of Switzerland's fair. "The city was open and ready for a new international art show with a contemporary concept, and the South Florida art community was willing to actively support and embrace it."

While most of the action takes place at the convention center, there are a dozen or so subsidiary fairs—Pulse, Scope NADA, Aqua and Wave, among others—that have sprung up in Miami Basel's wake. An ancillary Design Miami fair, across Biscayne Bay in Miami's booming Design District, showcases furniture, lighting, antiques and objets d'art.

Sparked by Art Basel, Miami's art scene is enjoying a rapid escalation. Galleries in the Wynwood Art District, not so long ago a run-down area of old industrial buildings, warehouses and factories, are opening left and right. And two of the city's largest museums have announced ambitious expansion plans. The Miami Art Museum (MAM) is building a new $220 million space downtown, and North Miami's Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) will nearly double in size. The city's art mania is also due in no small part to a handful of energetic collectors.

Beach Club sand Renewal This week

2007-11-25T13:51:00.000-08:00

The Beach Club BEACH will be closed Monday, November 26 through Thursday, November 29. We are dredging the beach. We are sorry for the inconvenience. The club BEACH will re-open on Friday November 30, 2007.

Golf range opens this Saturday!!

2007-11-15T11:24:00.000-08:00

This Saturday, November 17^th the golf practice range will open in a limited capacity. The practice tee on the west end will be open beginning at 8:00 a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m. Due to the course renovation, carts will have to be parked on the cart path along the fifth hole. It is possible, if there is a large turnout that the range may have to be closed for an hour in the middle of the day for the purpose of picking up golf balls. The recently laid sod necessitates picking the balls up by hand as the range picker can not be used for approximately one week. This is the first step in a very exciting time for “The Links” as we look forward to the opening of your newly renovated golf course

TS Noel updates

2007-10-31T06:09:00.000-07:00

Tropical Storm Noel will not make landfall over Florida; however, south Florida through Thursday will be lashed by strong wind gusts, rain and pounding surf.

The forecast track maintains that Tropical Storm Noel's storm-force winds will remain well offshore the southeast Florida coast, but the combination of Noel with high pressure across the southeast United States will result in a strong pressure gradient that will result in winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts in excess of 40 mph through Wednesday evening before the storm begins to move way from the area.

On a bright note, The high winds and swells from Tropical Storm Noel are combining for some good surfing conditions from Third Street beach to Government Cut.

In Florida, foreign buyers help buoy high-end real estate market

2007-10-27T07:49:00.000-07:00

In a situation typical of wealthy enclaves across the United States, the glistening waterfront glass towers on Miami Beach, the sprawling estates of Palm Beach and the clustered mansions in Naples continue to sell.

Indeed, Florida homes and condos with price tags of $1 million or more are still changing hands at roughly the same price, albeit not as briskly as they did a year ago, according to real estate data. And the rate of foreclosure for lower-income homes is far greater than for homes over $1 million.

"The very, very high end of the markets in communities such as the Bay area, Los Angeles, Manhattan, and Miami and to a lesser degree Chicago, Seattle and Washington that have global appeal have held up much better the rest of the housing market," said Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody's Economy.com. "The top end runs on its own dynamic that tends to be more immune to the ups and downs of the global economy. A recession would certainly not help the high end but it would not undermine it. And much of their buying is done with cash and not affected by the global financial turmoil and its impact on the availability of mortgage."

The Florida market not only continues to appeal to wealthy retirees and to second home buyers, particularly from the Northeastern United States. The state's temperate climate and low taxes have also for years drawn well-healed foreign buyers, which have helped buoy the market's upper end.

Ten percent of all foreign buyers bought homes for $1 million or more, according to the National Association of Realtors' study of home buyers in Florida in 2006. The study also showed that of the foreign buyers 21 percent are from Britain. The next major group is from Latin America: principally Venezuela - 11 percent, followed by Colombia at 4 percent.

On Fisher Island in Miami Beach, a tony private island that has its own golf course, tennis courts and spa, half the island's residents are French, Russian and South American and the balance are U.S. citizens.

The market's higher end remains healthy. In the Miami area, the median price for condos over $1 million is still holding steady at $1.5 million so far this year, according to the Realtor Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches. And the median price for single family homes has in fact risen to $1.51 million from $1.46 million.

Further north on the exclusive island of Palm Beach, the median prices for both condominiums and single family homes have risen this year, according to data compiled by the Palm Beach real estate lawyer Leslie Evans.

Sushi @ City View

2007-10-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

Chef Sunchai will be serving sushi at the City View Cafe Starting October 27.

Fisher Island #1 nationwide..again

2007-09-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

Once again, Fisher Island is #1 in Forbe's Magazine nation's most expensive zip codes.

Last year, sellers in Alpine N.J., took their lumps like the rest of those trying to unload their properties in today's real estate market. The borough (population: 2,200) saw sales volume plummet by nearly half. Only 19 homes were sold between July 2006 and June 2007, compared to 36 the year before. A bad year for Alpine? Hardly.
Though sales were down, values went up. The area's median home sale price jumped $1.06 million to $3.4 million. That's enough to place the northern New Jersey ZIP (07620) in a tie with Miami Beach's Fisher Island (33109), for No. 1 on our list of the nation's 500 most expensive.

New Fisher Island Lightning Alert system

2007-09-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

The Fisher Island Community Association has purchased a Thor Guard Lightning Warning System, the #1 lightning prediction system in the world, for your safety on Fisher Island. This system senses and evaluates the shifts and changes in the electrostatic field that precedes actual lightning strikes. You will hear one 15-second horn blast indicating that you are now in a red alert condition and there is a 97% chance of lightning strike within 2 miles. You are not in immediate danger. This warning sounds 8-20 minutes ahead of the storm and signals you to seek shelter in a grounded building or a car. A strobe light on the horn cluster will be flashing and will remain flashing as long as you are under the alert. If you see the light flashing, stay in your car or residence. If you are in a common area or on the golf course when the alarm sounds, seek shelter. When it is all clear, you will hear three 5-second blasts, the strobe light turns off, and it is safe to resume your outdoor activity. The storm doesn’t have to be overhead to be dangerous. Lightning “bolts out of the blue” can travel as far as 10-20 miles away from the storm! Please note:
· The system is fully automated and will only be active between 6:30am and 9pm. This allows us to protect our workers in the morning and to avoid blaring sirens at nighttime.
· When a hurricane evacuation takes place on the island, the Public Safety Department will sound off the sirens at the top of the hour over the course of four hours.
· The sensor is located on top of the club house and at three solar powered remote locations, strategically placed to ensure that everyone can hear the alarm. Please see the attached map.

Fisher Island Barge info

2007-06-15T08:26:00.000-07:00

Fisher Island has agreed to pay the Port of Miami $1.135 million for unpaid security fees related to dock space it leases for a daily barge service that carries food and construction materials across the bay.
But the ritzy enclave off Miami Beach says the ongoing cost, which equates to $1,000 annually per household, is too high -- and it will seek alternatives.
''When the average resident of Fisher Island pays $34,000 a year in property taxes, it is very difficult to explain to them that despite the fact that they are a donor community using almost no county services, that they must pay an additional $1,000 a year to the county for a barge landing,'' said Mark James, president of the Fisher Island Community Association.
Fisher Island, second, third -- or fourth -- home to the rich and famous, has used barges to cart construction and household supplies since 1987.
Its latest 10-year lease with the port dates back to 1998, with a cost of about $1.50 per square foot, for 31,000 square feet of space on a portion of Dodge Island -- or $46,500 a year.
The 15-minute barge crossing is a ''lifeline,'' James said. As many as four barges run the two-mile or so stretch continuously from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m each day. They are in addition to ferry service from Terminal Island, used by residents, guests and most household staffers.
''Without this barge system we are essentially cut off from the mainland,'' he said. ``It is essential for our survival.''
Besides the waterfront landing, Fisher Island's lease requires it to pay the port for security fees and any rental rate adjustments, said Port of Miami Director Bill Johnson.
But when Fisher Island started asking for an extension shortly after Johnson arrived, two years in advance of the lease's expiration, he looked into the payments. And he realized the island had not been paying its full share.
''We were never billed,'' James said, ``until the fall of 2006 when Bill Johnson took over the port and discovered that we had not been billed.''
The settlement represents a reduction from the $1.3 million in security fees the island actually owes, Johnson said. The port is also forgiving $426,000 related to two rate adjustments, because it was the port's mistake not to charge.
''Unfortunately it was not properly administered,'' Johnson said. ``Shame on us. It will be, going forward.''
The community of 691 condominiums and six single-family homes, which spends about $21.5 million a year in property taxes, will pay the back payments, plus interest, over three years. Rent is now $4.50 per square foot and going up, as Johnson seeks to reflect current market rates.
''It's a very fair and reasonable settlement,'' Johnson said, ``and we are very appreciative for their understanding and support.''
While rent will rise, he said security costs will actually drop, as the port hires more security employees and reduces its overtime expenses.
Still, James said the island is looking for alternatives because the fees are unaffordable in the long term.
''We're looking at a number of options, and the cost would be remarkably lower,'' he said, declining to elaborate.
If Fisher Island opts out, the port would use the space for maritime use, likely for cargo operations, Johnson said.
''It's not like we're going to cry any tears with them leaving,'' he said. ``In the interim, we're being good partners with them to accommodate their operation.''

Porto Cervo Hours

2006-11-08T11:45:00.000-08:00

Please note that as of November 6th, Porto Cervo is now open on Mondays for dinner from 6pm to 10pm. They will be closed on Tuesdays.
For reservations, please call 305-535-6006

Video fo Ira Kaufman

2006-10-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

You are invited to participate in a special video being filmed at the Tiki Bar on Thursday, October 19th and Friday, October 20th between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The video will be sent to IRA KAUFMAN in Chicago. As many of you know, he has been fighting a serious illness. Hopefully, this video will bring a smile to his face and give him the encouragement, support and courage to continue his battle. Everyone attending will be given the opportunity to say a few words. As a friend, member, resident, employee or just an acquaintance, we hope to see you at the Tiki Bar, as this is one of Ira’s favorite places on the Island. If your schedule does not permit you to come on Thursday, you may attend on Friday. Hope to see you at the Tiki Bar.

Fisher Island Tenant Membership Changes

2006-10-06T10:42:00.000-07:00

We have been notified the new tenant membership policy will be instituted on/around November 1, 2006.

Tenants less than 60 days:

$60/day Guest Fee

Tenants longer than 60 days:

$2,500 initiation fee +

$60/day Guest Fee

The $60/ day was derived from the same rate as an annual member.

In addition, they club will once again be selling annual memberships at the new rates.

This is good news that we finally have a policy in place. The past 10 months have been difficult for rentals since the annual membership sales had been suspended and tenants were limited to 60 calendar days/year. The only remaining longer term possibility was for a current equity or annual member.

FPL improvements on Fisher Island

2006-09-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

FPL will be installing an additional power line to Fisher island. This is a level of service enjoyed by only a few FPL customers throughout the state.

The project is valued at approx $1m with zero cost to residents of Fisher Island.

Once the installation is complete, if the existing Virginia Key power grid fails the new connection running from Lumus Island will provide an alternate source of electricity for the Island.

FPL estimates that the upgrade should be completed as early as September.

Equity Meeting thoughts...fallout

2006-09-03T14:47:00.000-07:00

The equity meeting was full of personalities & emotion. The votes have been tabulated and we shall move on.

There were many personal attacks via the q&a towards the board of directors. I feel it is a shame when a difference of opinion breaks down our community into such a level of dissension and hostility.

Was the communication from the board less than optimal this summer…absolutely.

Is the board working tireless volunteer hours to examine and find the best options for the club’s future…absolutely.

The diversity of the Fisher Island club members is one of the foremost aspects that make Fisher Island second to none. Every equity member has a common interest in bringing the club back to a five star standard.

Individual members micro managing every line item in a proposed budget is a road the club cannot afford to go down. I hope we can keep that focus as a united front and support our board’s findings.

The developer has time and again shirked their financial responsibility towards the club. It is obvious that their business model does not include a mutual investment in the club.

The hostility & dissension should be directed toward the developer…not our good neighbors on the board who are trying their best for the club’s future.

Equity Q&A Meeting 8/28/06:

2006-09-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

The results of the 3 equity proposals have been tabulated. Below is some notes of interest from last Monday’s meeting for those who were unable to attend.

Proposal #1: Interim Capital Improvements & Capital Assessments – FAILED

Q; Why shouldn’t we wait for developer to respond prior to moving forward to retain some sense of leverage?
A; Developer has been non-responsive and club directors feel it would be irresponsible to continue to allow the facilities to decline. Directors are committed to getting best pricing for comparable quality for all items and will continue to investigate if they can do better.
Q; Why don’t the members throw out lawsuits and work together with developer?
A: Board has made numerous attempts to chat with developer. They have received zero response.
Q: Is there an 8% maximum annual increase for annual dues?
A: The guidelines were amended after the club turnover. Capital expenditures are up for voting…operating expenses are left at discretion of club board.
Options will be explored for financing options to individual members for dues and/or assessments.

Proposal #2: Acquisition of Landings Site: PASSED

Q: What is the process for the acquisition of this site?
A: Step 1: Vote to acquire
Step 2: Developer will attempt to block acquisition
Step 3: One Year to start build out on structure over $1m in value not in conflict with developer real estate business.
The developer curiously had this option on his books until the 2005 turnover.

Proposal #3: Consider Amendment to Investigate Alternate Insurance Option: PASSED

*Current Insurance policy has excess coverage premium larger cost than primary coverage. This is a backwards to standard pricing. Current insurance policy is not with a Florida company. Tony Fano stated there has been an insurance committee formed to investigate options.
Q: Could we have charged extra annual fees as an assessment rather than annual fees?
A: Assessments can only be paid by equity members. Financial burden is more evenly spread via the annual members in the annual dues. Michael Ashkin mentioned if we do not retire the debt it would be over $12m in 3 years under the best scenario.

Golf Pro Update

2006-08-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

Jim Curran has been appointed as the Interim Director of Golf effective August 23, 2006. If you have any questions regarding any of our Golf programs, please contact Jim at 305-535-6016.

Trump's view on the S Fla real estate market

2006-08-18T07:50:00.000-07:00

The majority of press clippings you read now discusses a "bubble" for the S Fla real estate market. While some sectors of the market may be high on the risk curve, certain superior neighborhoods such as Fisher Island continue to flourish.

Donald Trump chimes in "The press is trying to create a bad market. The only truth is that bad projects will not prosper. The market with a quality project in a great location is very good. Even though the bad projects will likely get hurt, when you have a great location sales are good. That can't go away." from August issue of LasOlas magazine.

Golf Grill re-opens...

2006-08-09T06:46:00.000-07:00

The Golf Grill has completed its summer maintenance and will re-Open
Friday, August 11, 2006 at 11:30 am

Chris Cuniffe to leave Fisher Island

2006-08-04T05:49:00.000-07:00

Chris Cuniffe has made the decision to resign as Golf Director at Fisher Island. He has always dreamed to live in a small beach town with his family. Kudos to Chris for attaining his goal for his family.

I have known Chris since my first steps on Fisher island in 1992. He has been a great golf pro, a great friend and pure asset to Fisher Island.

Chris was the 1st pro to give me formal lessons. His humor was helpful in my early golf days with my baseball death grip and huge looping swing. My passion for the game may have never blossomed without his guidance.

His departure is bittersweet, while I am very happy for him and his family I will miss his insight & wit. His honesty and humor set the tone for the entire golf operation. He truly took the club to a new level.

Chris has requested the support for Jim Curran to take over his position. The continuity of traditions and familiarity of members are essential to any great club. I would love to see Jim get the position so we can hit the ground running for a great 2007 winter season.

Best wishes to Chris & his family on their new beachside adventure...

Trattoria Repairs

2006-06-24T09:22:00.000-07:00

Please be aware that the Trattoria will be closed for repair
on
MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2006
TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2006
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2006

and RE-OPEN on
THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2006
for Lunch and Dinner

Porto Cervo will be open for Dinner on
MONDAY JUNE 26,

Palazzo del Mare Topping off party

2006-06-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

Fisher Island Holdings Development and ASR Construction recently celebrated Palazzo del Mare's topping-off with a party for the construction team. The new development features 34 oceanfront residences spanning 3,500 to more than 7,000 square feet. Amenities include a Pilate's studio, movie theater and private concierge.

New Spa Management Contract

2006-06-13T11:38:00.000-07:00

Global TransNetCorp. (Traded on the OTC: GBJT) announces that Spa Management Solutions,its subsidiary, has added another luxury spa client in the who's who of theluxury spa arena with its consulting agreement with Fisher Island. SMS willassist in the development of Fisher Island's new world class spa. In designand services, this spa will rival other SMS clients such as The Spa atCaesars Palace in Las Vegas, Willow Stream Spa at Turnberry, The ArizonaBiltmore Resort & Spa, New York Hilton & Towers Spa, and Loews Miami BeachHotel Spa & Fitness Center to mention a few.

For more information, please visit http://www.globaltransnet.com/ or contactMike Heilman at 410-647-9609 or email: heilman@globaltransnet.com. ForTammy Pahel, call at 305-655-0419 or visit http://www.spamanagementsolutions.com/.

Bayside 3 bedroom Price Reduction

2006-05-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

2233 has reduced the asking price to $2.575M. This renovated 3 bedroom in bayside with 2858 sf is now the best priced 3 bedroom in Bayside by $225k. Similar units have just closed at almost $1,000/sf. This offering is asking $900/sf....It may very well be the last unit in Bayside to sell under $1,000/sf....Please contact us if you would like further details or to schedule a private viewing.

Pet Policy

2006-05-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

Property owners may bring their dogs weighing 20 lbs or less to the Sunset/Tiki Bar and Beach Bar and the outdoor seating at La Trattoria and the Island Market. It is the responsibility of each owner to pick up after their dog. All dogs, regardless of size, must be leashed at all times except when in the Dog park.

5/17/06 Club Town Meeting

2006-05-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

here are some quick points/thoughts from Wednesday's "Club Town Meeting"

*Member Survey
-The survey had 400 responses which was said to be a strong statistical showing for such exercises.
-The Golf, Tennis & Porto Cervo scored the highest satisfaction
-The Beach Club, Spa and Hotel scored the lowest satisfaction
-The new Club manager will be evaluated on the next survey's progress
*New website
-Launch Fall '07 http://www.fisherislandclub.com/
-will have up to date events & announcements
-secure private section available for members
-ability to look up member charges for each account online
*Master Plan
-Outlined several activity/outlet specific consultants being utilized
-plans are moving forward to address needs/renovations
-members will have opportunity to review and vote on renovations (most likely Fall '07)
*Renovation Ideas
-Beach Club
*New Octagon shaped 3 tiered structure
* Indoor & Outdoor seating
*Breakfast, lunch & dinner with seafood theme in evening
*Improve routing access for beach & Beach Club
*Add new lounge chairs, cushions & umbrellas
*Increase beach space & capacity to 300 chairs
-Spa
*Lower level in dire need for renovation
*need to decide to renovate or rebuild
-Hotel
*16 club owned suites to be fully renovated
*resident owned units to be individually reviewed for quality level which must be attained
*Possible relocation of registration office to catering
*use existing registration office as a business center
-Golf
*Look into new passpalum fairways, rough & tee boxes
*look into switching cart paths >> pavers
-Tennis
*look into underground hydro grid irrigation system
*purchase hydro lift to change lights
-Golf Grill
*add plasma tv's to make a sports bar feel
*open lunch & dinner
-Trattoria
*Expand kitchen & seating
*make pizza delivery available
-Porto Cervo
*Renovate kitchen
*renovate chairs
-island Market
*Transfer to a Whole Foods/Epicure feel
*Add lavish Salad bar
*improved shelving & display
*Add area for pre-made dinner entrees &amp; take out

The Q&A session primarily focused on ongoing security concerns.

Overall this was the most positive and focused meeting to date. The Club board seems to making large strides in a responsible and methodical way towards improving our club to the expected standards.

I look forward to seeing their proposals in the fall.

Equity Membership Price Change

2006-04-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

The equity Membership contribution will increase from $185k to $250k on May 15, 2006.

There are currently only 40 new equity memberships available.

Fisher island

2006-03-09T12:17:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our new blog. We will try to offer an array of information that will impact Fisher Island's real estate market....Sales, Lease, trades, events, etc....

There has been much anticipation on island since the equity members control of the club as of January 1, 2006. The concept of the end users making club decisions for their benefit rather than the developer making club decisions solely on a business model is very exciting.

The Club has succeeded in a major issue that the develper has never resolved in overa decade. There was a small lot on the golf course (near #4 green & driving range) that until recently was owned by a non-resident from Miami.

How this was allowed in the original 1986 development is a mystery. Only on Fisher Island would the developer build the golf practice green on private property...

Your Fisher Island Blogmaster, DonnieP

Miami Herald...3/8/06
Delia Eisenberg, 87, a retired beautician, owned a 7,500-square-foot lot on Fisher Island that her late husband bought for $3,500 in 1961, when the island was undeveloped. Hold onto it, he said. It will be valuable someday.
She heeded his advice, turning down offers to sell. Fisher Island became a fancy residential community for millionaires with a hotel, spa, tennis center, marina and championship golf course called The Links.
In the late 1990s, Delia discovered that part of The Links' fourth hole was on her property.
Eisenberg sued Fisher Island Club in Miami-Dade Circuit Court -- for trespass, civil theft and unjust enrichment. She demanded $1.5 million in damages.
Attorneys Jerry Katzen and Elizabeth Katzen say the club ignored her ownership rights. ''They used it for 13 years without offering to provide her with any compensation,'' says Jerry Katzen, who is Eisenberg's nephew. Real estate analyst Michael Y. Cannon, hired by Katzen, says Eisenberg's lot ended up underneath the fourth fairway and one of its sand traps.
The club argued for dismissal, saying Eisenberg ''sat by'' while ''valuable improvements'' were made on the lot. But Circuit Judge Robert Scola ruled the club ``has committed a trespass.''
The parties just settled -- for $1.2 million. The club got title to the lot.