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On June 28th and 29th, Ponce Circle Developers LLC made history when they hosted the dramatic, heart pounding implosion of 2801 Ponce, a 13-story office building in Coral Gables.
With 90 lbs. of explosives, Dykon Blasting Corp. brought down a significant portion of the city’s first high-rise and followed it up with an additional 20 lbs. of explosive material to completely demolish the building the following morning. In its place will be the 16-story Ponce de Leon Towers by The Allen Morris Company, integrated into the separately owned Old Spanish Village, a $350 million ‘new urbanism’ development.
At 7:30 am, as area residents, members of the press, police and fire rescue, city officials and members of the development team watched from a secured area, 2801 became a pile of rubble in an instant. A private VIP breakfast was held across the street at Christy’s following the spectacle.
Jim Redyke of Dykon Explosive Demolition Corp. explained that the center section of the building proved more durable than anticipated, requiring a second blast. “The safety of the workers and the public was our main concern,” he said when a portion of the building still stood to everyone’s awe. “There were no unexploded charges inside, so we placed additional charges in the remaining section to facilitate a complete implosion.”
Ralph Sanchez, President of Ponce Circle Developers, added, “This building was built like a bunker so it proved more daunting a task to bring down, but now that the site is cleared we are looking forward to moving to the construction phase.”
Ponce Circle Developers is a joint venture between racing-promotion legend Ralph Sanchez and prominent regional development firm Mas Group.
Spanning three city blocks and seven acres adjacent to Ponce Circle, Old Spanish Village will create a unique residential oasis in the midst of downtown. The community will consist of three elegantly designed mid-rise condominiums and 38 villa residences, interspersed with tree-lined courtyards. Inspired by the vision of Coral Gables founder George Merrick, Old Spanish Village will evoke the aesthetics of ancient Spanish towns. It is the modern realization of one of several themed enclaves in the city, such as the French, Chinese and Dutch villages that Merrick conceived and created in the 1920s.
The village’s mid-rise condominiums, along with the Ponce de Leon Towers, will border Ponce de Leon Boulevard and provide a buffer from traffic for the interior courtyard spaces to the east. The office tower is designed as a silver LEED-certified Green building, and it will be one the most modern and tenant-friendly office buildings south of New York City.
The mid-rises will provide residents with swimming pools, cabanas, fitness centers, common areas, and covered parking. Unit amenities will include Italian cabinetry, impact-resistant widows and doors, alarm and fire safety systems, and high-end appliances. Villas will also include private rooftop terraces, private elevators, individual emergency gas generators, two-car garages, a butler’s pantry and a separate laundry room.
The lead architect for the development is Jorge L. Hernandez, AIA, with funding provided by First Bank of Puerto Rico and construction by JCON Group.
Residential sales and marketing for Old Spanish Village is being handled by Cervera Real Estate. The sales office, on site at 2901 Ponce de Leon Blvd., is actually a historic building that was rescued from demolition by Sanchez. The developer completely restored the 1925 structure and has donated use of its second floor as a temporary gallery space for the City of Coral Gables. |
