'Upscale Co-Living' Will Occupy Northern Tower At Gables Station
Upscale co-living might sound like an oxymoron, but Ollie has tested the concept in Long Island City and Manhattan, and is bringing it to Coral Gables, where it is filling space in an ambitious new mixed-use, transit-oriented development project.
The company touts an “all-inclusive living experience” that combines furnished micro-studios and shared suites with "extraordinary lifestyle-relevant services," plus a full slate of amenities and activities.
For its new project, Ollie is teaming up with Miami-based developer NP International. Ollie will occupy about 400 beds in one of three buildings at Gables Station, a mixed-use project expected to open in July 2020 that connects to the Metrorail and the Underline Park.
Ollie co-founder and CEO Chris Bledsoe approaches his company's philosophy on a psychological concept called Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which posits that people need food, water and shelter first, then security, then social belonging before they can gain self-esteem, and then pursue self-actualization goals. Co-living helps shore up the social belonging, not to mention shelter.
“We are thrilled to be entering the Miami market in partnership with a world-class developer, NP International, who shares our hospitality-forward vision for housing and our dedication to community engagement” Bledsoe said.
In New York and Pittsburgh, Ollie says its developments appeal to a wide demographic including young professionals, divorcees and retirees. It utilizes an app called Bedvetter to match roommates. Ollie is developing more facilities in Boston and LA and looking to expand to other markets.
“We embrace Ollie’s mission to humanize housing," NP International CEO and Managing Partner Brent Reynolds said. "Together, we saw an opportunity to reach an underserved segment of the housing market and, by extension, foster an even more dynamic community at Gables Station.”
Ollie will offer its Miami tenants hotel-like services such as fresh towels and weekly cleaning, and events like lectures and weekend trips will be planned by a coordinator. Building amenities will include an outdoor pool and spa, a DJ booth, grilling stations, a communal kitchen/lounge and a Life Time Fitness gym.
CORRECTION, APRIL 24, 10:20 P.M. ET: Ollie is not managing retail in the mixed-use project, as a previous version of this story suggested. The final unit count has not yet been determined. This story has been updated.
