South Florida Home Undergoing Massive Renovation Lists for $15.5 Million

An under-construction home in Pinecrest, a suburban village in Miami-Dade County, is hitting the market for $15.5 million, a price tag that will make it the most expensive property for sale in the village, according to owner Derek Gonzalez.

Mr. Gonzalez owns the property with his wife, Lisa Gonzalez. The couple, who are real-estate and hospitality investors, bought the house for $5.7 million in April, property records show. Though it was built in the 2000s, the six-bedroom property was dated and had a “very 1970s vibe,” Mr. Gonzalez said. 

The couple “took it down to the studs,” Mr. Gonzalez said, and are now embarking on a massive renovation to the tune of several million dollars. He said he expects work on the house to be completed by next fall, but they decided to put it on the market now to potentially capture a buyer who isn’t in a rush or relocating to the area immediately.

Plans call for adding two bedrooms and 1,000 square feet to the main house, bringing it to a total of roughly 9,000 square feet. They are also building a separate, 2,000-square-foot structure with two bedrooms, living and dining room space, and a 20-person movie theater, Mr. Gonzalez said. A large Balinese-style pool will separate the two buildings. Once completed, the property will have 10 bedrooms and span about 11,400 square feet. 

In designing the house, the Gonzalezes were inspired by their travels, particularly to the Mayan-inspired Nizuc Resort & Spa in Cancún, Mexico, and the minimalist Amangiri resort in Utah. Mr. Gonzalez said they also drew inspiration from the Wabi-sabi style of design that originated in Japan. Mr. Gonzalez, who hails from Mexico, said architect Christian Magaldi, interior designer Andrea Zubiran and landscape architect Mariana Rovzar are also from Mexico.

The Gonzalezes’ hospitality business includes Miami restaurants Pilo’s Street Tacos in Brickell and Pilo’s Tequila Garden in Wynwood, as well as the Miami Beach LGBTQ nightclub Nathan’s Video Bar. Ms. Gonzalez is also a civil litigation attorney. Mr. Gonzalez said he and his wife have bought and fixed up several homes in the area, and have other projects in the works. 

Listing agent Oren Alexander of Official said despite macroeconomic headwinds, he sees continued activity in the Pinecrest market as a result of corporations relocating to South Florida. The average home value in the area is just over $2 million, according to the listings website Zillow.

Salsa musician Marc Anthony is also listing his Pinecrest home for $11.5 million, according to the listing agent’s website.