The Avison team worked through various obstacles to get the deal done. First, the property was previously listed with three other brokerage firms before Avison got involved. The property also had environmental issues that needed to be resolved in order to attract a buyer with the economic and development structure to ensure success.

“With direct frontage to Interstate 95 boasting an average daily traffic count of 200,000 cars per day, this property is one of the best large land tracts in the area,” says Ziv. It is also close to the University of Miami Life Center, Miami-Dade College, the Civic Center, judicial court system, and other medical centers.

Alex Zylberglait, senior vice president of Investments and senior director of the National Office and Industrial Practice Group at Marcus & Millichap sees it, the renewed interest for Miami's historic downtown began with Mana and his buying spree last year. Mana has been assembling commercial real estate properties along Flagler Street and has acquired a critical mass strategically located for future redevelopment.

“Their acquisitions have helped fuel demand,” Zylberglait says. “He could be a catalyst for change, just like the late Tony Goldman was for Wynwood, Craig Robins was for the Design District and Jorge Perez was for the residential market on Brickell Avenue in the last cycle. So some investors are following his lead.”