The Wynwood area’s transformation has been a gem in the making, from its founding as farmland to a fledgling neighborhood more than a century ago to a world class arts, cultural and entertainment destination.
It is understandable that many investors did not see Wynwood’s potential a little over a decade ago, given it had been an industrial district of warehouses and auto shops dotted by derelict homes. Yet, Moishe Mana saw the promise immediately; the visionary developer began assembling 45 southwestern acres of Wynwood’s 205-acre expanse.
“It was all about timing,” says Moishe Mana, CEO of Mana Common. “Like so many urban neighborhoods set to undergo gentrification, Wynwood was a gem awaiting discovery, investment and a vision for the future.”
Land-use changes less than a decade ago saw industrial zoning give way to mixed use development, which some value at $2 billion in investment to date.
The rise of Class A office space is luring high profile tenants such as Live Nation, Spotify, Founders Fund, and Atomic. These companies would, of course, bring thousands of employees.
Those employees, along with tourists and locals, will be eager for day trips and nightlife amid open-air art galleries, restaurants, bars and retail shops. Additionally, Mana Common last year unveiled renovations to the Mana Wynwood Convention Center and unveiled the Le Rouge Lounge, a luxury cabaret-themed nightclub.
Mana’s vision stayed true to intentional development. As with other neighborhoods where it’s been deployed, the “Mana Common process” fosters collaboration to nurture sustainable communities. The resulting revitalization has elevated neighborhoods to their best and highest iterations.
Mana’s commitment to Wynwood includes his fight against condominiums that would only clog streets and blemish the area’s finely curated spirit. His passion has won praise from area officials, with one Wynwood Business District Board Member calling Mana’s influence on Wynwood “a symbol of Miami’s arts and entertainment culture.”
“If you want to reignite a neighborhood and sustain its vibrancy, you must match your developments with the pulse of the market,” Mana said. “This pursuit of purposeful development will ensure Wynwood’s relevance and vitality endures for years to come.”