On top of all that, Miamians are feeling the heat when the electric bill arrives every month, providing yet another reason to sweat — as if we need it.

Florida Power & Light (FPL) warned in May that power bills were going up this year by as much as 18 percent owing to pandemic-induced supply-chain disruptions, and while Miamians struggled to balance costs with air-conditioning needs, HVAC (heating , ventilation, and air-conditioning) professionals from around the world will descend upon the warm, moist Magic City to discuss the future of the industry.

July 20-21 brings the RefriAmericas conference to the Miami Airport Convention Center, where industry experts from Latin America, the Caribbean, and beyond will exchange ideas on how to implement more efficient cooling systems amid rising global temperatures.

“The HVAC industry is very aware of the changes happening in the climate from to human-made gases and activities, and we’re trying out best to remedy that on the domestic side,” Max Jaramillo, founder of Latin Press and organizer of RefriAmericas , tells New Times.

As the A/C experts put their heads together on how to keep the planet from overheating while keeping people cool, they have some tips for Miamians looking to beat the heat and not break the bank.

“Turning off your air conditioners during the day is not recommended,” Ernesto Porras, a mechanical engineer and HVAC consultant, tells New Times in Spanish. “With the humidity so high, if you turn it on at the end of the day, the job of recooling the house will take a lot of energy.”

Porras also recommends something that might seem obvious but that most people might ignore: maintenance.

“The most basic thing people can do is make sure their units are well maintained. Clean the fans and change the filters monthly,” Porras says.

Porras and Jaramillo agree that a dirty A/C unit will have to work almost twice as hard as a clean one to keep a house cool — and your electric bill will reflect that.

One less-intuitive tip Porras advocates is to turn off and unplug electrical appliances while they’re not in use. He says leaving a TV or computer screen on during the day will radiate heat, and though you probably won’t be able to fry an egg on either of them, they contribute to the overall temperature inside your home.

Other simple fixes include installing curtains to cover windows during the day to block sunlight and keeping your thermostat a few degrees higher than you normally would during the day so the A/C isn’t working overtime while the sun is out.

And, if you can afford it, both Porras and Jaramillo recommend installing newer A/C units if your house is running on old machinery.

“Units in the older apartments in Little Havana where I live are probably using twice as much energy,” Jaramillo says. “By investing in a more efficient, newer unit, which will cost money upfront, you could waste less energy in the long run and save.”

The post HVAC Specialists Advise The way to Hold Air Conditioning Invoice Low in Miami Summer time Warmth appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

A jury rejected a handyman who claimed that he injured his neck and a shoulder in a fall while renovating a Miami home.

On March 28, 2019, plaintiff Eduardo Rivero, 47, a handyman, worked at a residence that was located at 2901 SW 67th Ave., in Miami. The home was undergoing extensive renovation. Rivero claimed that he fell into a hole in an unfinished floor. He claimed that he suffered injuries of his neck and a shoulder.

Rivero sued the home’s owner, Cesi Properties Inc. The lawsuit alleged that Cesi Properties’ president, Cesar Rodriguez Sotolongo, negligently created a dangerous condition that caused Rivero’s fall. The lawsuit further alleged that Cesi Properties was vicariously liable for Sotolongo’s actions.

Rivero claimed that, while he was working on a ladder, installing a beam, Sotolongo removed plywood that had been covering the hole. Rivero claimed that, when he descended the ladder, he inadvertently stepped backward, into the hole. He claimed that he sunk about six feet but secured himself before completely descending through the hole.

Sotolongo claimed that he was not involved in the accident or at the premises when the accident was said to have occurred.

Defense counsel contended that Rivero should have avoided the hole. Defense counsel also suggested that Rivero fabricated the accident. Rivero had been disabled and unable to work for about a year but had resumed working shortly prior to the date on which the accident was said to have occurred. Defense counsel argued that Rivero may have resumed working with the intent of fabricating an accident, for the purpose of initiating a lawsuit.

Rivero visited HCA Florida Kendall Hospital in Miami. He underwent minor treatment.

Rivero ultimately claimed that he suffered a comminuted, nondisplaced fracture of his left, nondominant arm’s shoulder. The fracture involved the head of the left arm’s humerus. Rivero also claimed that he suffered a tear of the same shoulder’s glenoid labrum; a mild tear of the same shoulder’s subscapularis tendon, which is a component of the rotator cuff; herniations and annular-tissue tears of his C2-3, C4-5 and C6-7 intervertebral discs; a herniation of his C3-4 disc; and trauma that disrupted the cervical lordosis, which is the normal curvature of the spine’s cervical region.

He claimed that each herniation disc caused impingement of a spinal nerve. He also claimed that his left shoulder’s rotator cuff developed tendinopathy, and he further claimed that the shoulder developed bursitis.

Rivero’s left shoulder’s injuries were addressed via his use of a sling, which was discarded after some six months had passed. His remaining injuries were addressed via about five weeks of chiropractic treatment.

Rivera claimed that his left shoulder experiences excruciating residual pain that restricts his performance of physical activities. He also claimed that he required further treatment. He sought recovery of future medical expenses, and he sought recovery of damages for past and future pain and suffering.

Defense counsel contended that Rivero’s left shoulder’s fracture predated Rivero’s work at Cesi Properties’ premises. Text messages sent by Rivero during the four months that preceded the job, referenced injuries of Rivero’s left arm and shoulder. Defense counsel also noted that the fracture was not deemed acute when it was diagnosed.

Defense counsel further contended that Rivero’s herniated discs were degenerative conditions that also predated Rivero’s work at Cesi Properties’ premises.

The jury rendered a defense verdict. It found no evidence of negligence attributable to Cesi Properties.

Verdict: defence

case: Edward Rivero v. Cesi Properties, Inc, no. 2019-021138-CA-01

Court: Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, 11th

judge: William Thomas

dates: 2/22/2022

Plaintiff Attorney: Michael P Weisberg; Weisberg and Weisberg; Miami, FL

Defense Attorney: Martyn Verster; Martyn WD Verster, PA; Miami, FL

Demand: $100,000

Offer: $5,000

Plaintiff Expert: Gregory Mazzotta DC, chiropractic, Miami, FL

Defense Experts: None reported

The post Jury Rejects Handyman Who Sued Miami House owner Throughout Renovation appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

This exciting move will bring a white glove decluttering service to South Florida residents and businesses, as well as a showroom where they can buy and sell high-quality, pre-loved goods

When entrepreneur and investor Luis Perez saw a gap in the marketplace for a high-tech, white glove haul service, he decided to create one—and in 2014, Remoov was launched. Using original algorithms to automate the appraisal and resale process of pre-owned items quickly and efficiently, Remoov helps homeowners and corporations declutter by picking up unwanted goods, selling what they can for the owner’s profit, donating what can be repurposed and responsibly disposing of remaining items. After a successful 2020, due in part to the work-from-home lifestyle spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, Remoov more than doubled its profits and is now going national—expanding to Miami from its headquarters in San Francisco.

With this expansion, South Florida residents will get multiple benefits, like a top-of-the-line decluttering service right at their fingertips, the ability to earn 50% of profits from their resold goods and tax benefits for donated items. Goods that can be resold will be done both online and through Remoov’s own showroom. Goods that have been earmarked for donation will be sent to different non-profit organizations in South Florida and clients thereby receive a tax compliant donation receipt. Items that cannot be sold or donated will be disposed of responsibly, in line with Remoov’s commitment to sustainability and the environment.

For consumers, using Remoov’s services is as simple as a three-step process. Customers start by taking photos of the items they want to get rid of, and either texting or uploading them to Remoov’s website with the item name, brand, original price and age. Within one business day, they’ll receive an estimate that includes the cost of the pickup—which is based solely on volume—and, after careful analysis by Remoov’s in-house appraisers, a list of which items can be resold and at what price . Finally, after accepting the estimate, customers will receive a link via text or email where they can schedule a date and time frame for pickup.

Remoov’s expansion to Miami will also come with a third location of its signature showroom, which is purpose-built so consumers can both buy secondhand goods and make money off their own. With the original showroom in San Francisco and a second now taking over a large warehouse in Doral, the company is credited with having the largest collection of quality, pre-owned items for every taste, style and budget. From well-known brands to rare finds, every item there is carefully inspected and valued by Remoov’s team of appraisers and sold at a significant reduction from its original price. Shoppers can pick up their purchases locally or have them delivered throughout the US

“When it came time to grow Remoov and move into a new market, South Florida was the obvious choice,” said Perez. “I am so excited to bring our bespoke service to Miami residents and look forward to making our purpose-built, unique showroom an indelible part of the local community.”

Following its popularity in the Bay Area, Remoov’s showroom is poised to be a hotspot for designers, realtors, commercial and residential buildings and living communities in South Florida that are staging or decorating new spaces. It’s also a top destination for anyone passionate about sustainability and finding rare luxury goods at an affordable price.

Remoov’s Miami office and showroom is located 7457 NW 55th St, Miami, FL 33166, tel: 3053175121. Hours of operation for the Remoov showroom will be MF, 9 am-5 pm, starting on February 14, 2022.

For more information about Remoov’s services, visit www.removit.com or follow @remoovit on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Remoov

Remoov is a tech-based pickup service that sells, donates, and disposes of a home or office’s pre-owned or used goods. A product of the accelerator program at 500 Startups, the San Francisco-born service uses one-of-a-kind algorithms to determine an item’s value and sells them online or in its standalone showroom and marketplace. Remoov serves the San Francisco Bay, Phoenix, and Miami communities and plans for a national expansion by the end of 2022. For more information about Remoov, visit www.removit.com or follow @remoovit on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Connect To Your Customers & Grow Your Business

Click Here

The post REMOOV, A SAN FRANCISCO-BASED, HIGH-TECH HAULING STARTUP,MAKES ITS EAST COAST U.S. DEBUT IN MIAMI appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

New Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel quickly ascended to his first NFL head coaching job. And Peter King wrote in Football Morning in America that McDaniel owes some of that success to the leap made by Deebo Samuel.

“The story of the new Miami Dolphins coach is actually a story about Deebo Samuel,” King wrote. “How McDaniel, the 5-9, 165-pound former Yale wide receiver, climbed the ladder from unpaid coaching staff intern/gopher in Denver in 2005 to the exclusive 32-coach fraternity is instructive. In fact, it says everything about McDaniel, who looks far more like a Geico account executive than one of 32 NFL leaders of men.”

McDaniel took the story from there.

“So,” McDaniel began, “Deebo. we [the 49ers coaching staff] had him on our team at the Senior Bowl the January before we got to the Super Bowl. We had a saying: From Mobile to Miami, because the Super Bowl was in Miami that year, with our players. And we actually did it. He started calling me his favorite coach then. I don’t really know why. We were always close and whatever.

“This past season, I had a talk with him in the offseason. I was meeting with Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo at 6 am every day during training camp because we needed them to step up. I asked Deebo, ‘Are you the best player on the offense?’ He was like, ‘Yeah.’ I said, ‘The time is now. Do you really want to be great? Greatness is hard. That’s why it’s great. It’s not easy. It’s a burden, really.'”

Samuel fared well with that burden, putting up a career year and turning into one of the NFL’s most dangerous all-purpose threats. He caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns, all of which would have been enough for a terrific season, except that he also added 59 carries for 365 yards (6.2 yards per rush) and eight scores on the ground.

McDaniel said on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz that he hopes to tap into similar potential in Dolphins wideout and former Alabama star Jaylen Waddle.

Get the fastest scores, stats, news, LIVE videos, and more. CLICK HERE to download the CBS Sports Mobile App and get the latest on your team today.

“Waddle!” McDaniel said, when asked which player other than quarterback Tua Tagovailoa that he could get the most out of. “I just talked with him on Monday, and I think he understands his leadership role on this team. He’s a phenomenal talent, and guess what, the best and easiest way to get yards is give it to a really talented player. The 49ers, the last four or five years, have led the league in YAC. The reason is because we were addicted to getting our skill position players that are good with running the ball the ball. So yes, I would start him in fantasy. Beyond that, I think you should see some jumps in the Miami Dolphins’ offense next year. What those look like will be determined this offseason and the way the players work and attack things moving forward.”

The post San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel helped Mike McDaniel land Dolphins job, new Miami coach says appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

REMOOV, A SAN FRANCISCO-BASED, TECH-ENABLED DECLUTTERING AND RESELLING SERVICE, MAKES ITS EAST COAST US DEBUT IN MIAMI

Tweet this

With this expansion, South Florida residents will get multiple benefits, like a top-of-the-line decluttering service right at their fingertips, the ability to earn 50% of profits from their resold goods and tax benefits for donated items. Goods that can be resold will be done both online and through Remoov’s own showroom. Goods that have been earmarked for donation will be sent to different non-profit organizations in South Florida and clients thereby receive a tax compliant donation receipt. Items that cannot be sold or donated will be disposed of responsibly, in line with Remoov’s commitment to sustainability and the environment.

For consumers, using Remoov’s services is as simple as a three-step process. Customers start by taking photos of the items they want to get rid of, and either texting or uploading them to Remoov’s website with the item name, brand, original price and age. Within one business day, they’ll receive an estimate that includes the cost of the pickup—which is based solely on volume—and, after careful analysis by Remoov’s in-house appraisers, a list of which items can be resold and at what price . Finally, after accepting the estimate, customers will receive a link via text or email where they can schedule a date and time frame for pickup.

Remoov’s expansion to Miami will also come with a third location of its signature showroom, which is purpose-built so consumers can both buy secondhand goods and make money off their own. With the original showroom in san francisco and a second now taking over a large warehouse in Miami Dade County, the company is credited with having the largest collection of quality, pre-owned items for every taste, style and budget. From well-known brands to rare finds, every item there is carefully inspected and valued by Remoov’s team of appraisers and sold at a significant reduction from its original price. Shoppers can pick up their purchases locally or have them delivered throughout the US

“When it came time to grow Remoov and move into a new market, South Florida was the obvious choice,” said Perez. “I am so excited to bring our bespoke service to Miami residents and look forward to making our purpose-built, unique showroom an indelible part of the local community.”

Following its popularity in the Bay AreaRemoov’s showroom is poised to be a hotspot for designers, realtors, commercial and residential buildings and living communities in South Florida that are staging or decorating new spaces. It’s also a top destination for anyone passionate about sustainability and finding rare luxury goods at an affordable price.

Remoov’s Miami office and showroom is located 7457 NW 55th St, Miami, FL 33166, tel: 3053175121. Hours of operation for the Remoov showroom will be MF, 9am-5pmstarting on February 142022.

For more information about Remoov’s services, visit www.removit.com or follow @remoovit on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

High Res Images Available

About Remoov
Remoov is a tech-based pickup service that sells, donates, and disposes of a home or office’s pre-owned or used goods. A product of the accelerator program at 500 Startups, the san francisco-born service uses one-of-a-kind algorithms to determine an item’s value and sells them online or in its standalone showroom and marketplace. Remoov serves the San Francisco Bay, Phoenixand Miami communities and plans for a national expansion by the end of 2022. For more information about Remoov, visit www.removit.com or follow @remoovit on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Media contact:
DeepSleep Studio | [email protected] | (305) 720-2990

SOURCE Remoov

The post REMOOV, A SAN FRANCISCO-BASED, TECH-ENABLED DECLUTTERING AND RESELLING SERVICE, MAKES ITS EAST COAST U.S. DEBUT IN MIAMI appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

When entrepreneur and investor Luis Perez saw a gap in the marketplace for a high tech, white glove haul service, he decided to create one—and in 2014, Remoov was launched. Using original algorithms to Automate the appraisal and resale process of pre-owned items quickly and efficiently, Remoov helps homeowners and corporations declutter by picking up unwanted goods, selling what they can for the owner’s profit, donating what can be recycled and responsibly disposing of remaining items. After a successful 2020, due in part to the work from home lifestyle spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, Remoov more than doubled its profits and is now going national—expanding to Miami from its headquarters in San Francisco.

With this expansion, South Florida residents will get multiple benefits, like a top-of-the-line decluttering service right at their fingertips, the ability to earn 50% of profits from their resold goods and tax benefits for donated items. Goods that can be resold will be done both online and through Remoov’s own showroom. Goods that have been earmarked for donation will be sent to various non-profit organizations in South Florida and clients thereby receive a tax compliant donation receipt. Items that cannot be sold or donated will be disposed of responsibly, in line with Remoov’s commitment to sustainability and the environment.

For consumers, using Remoov’s services is as simple as a three-step process. Customers start by taking photos of the items they want to get rid of, and either texting or uploading them to Remoov’s website with the item name, brand, original price and age. Within one business day, they’ll receive an estimate that includes the cost of the pickup—which is based solely on volume—and, after careful analysis by Remoov’s in-house appraisers, a list of which items can be resold and at what price. Finally, after accepting the estimate, customers will receive a link via text or email where they can schedule a date and time frame for pickup.

Remoov’s expansion to Miami will also come with a third location of its signature showroom, which is purpose-built so consumers can both buy second-hand goods and make money off their own. With the original showroom in San Francisco and a second now taking over a large warehouse in Doral, the company is credited with having the largest collection of quality, pre-owned items for every taste, style and budget. From well-known brands to rare finds, every item there is carefully inspected and valued by Remoov’s team of appraisers and sold at a significant reduction from its original price. Shoppers can pick up their purchases locally or have them delivered throughout the US

“When it came time to grow Remoov and move into a new market, South Florida was the obvious choice,” said Perez. “I am so excited to bring our bespoke service to Miami residents and look forward to making our purpose-built, unique showroom an indelible part of the local community.”

Following its popularity in the Bay AreaRemoov’s showroom is poised to be a hotspot for designers, realtors, commercial other residential buildings and living communities in South Florida that are staging or decorating new spaces. It’s also a top destination for anyone passionate about sustainability and finding rare luxury goods at an affordable price.

Remoov’s Miami office and showroom is located 7457 NW 55th St, Miami, FL 33166, tel: 3053175121. Hours of operation for the Remoov showroom will be MF, 9 am-5 pm, starting on February 14, 2022.

About Remoov

Remoov is a tech-based pickup service that sells, donates, and disposes of a home or office’s pre-owned or used goods. For more information about Remoov, visit www.removit.com or follow @remoovit on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Connect To Your Customers & Grow Your Business

Click Here

The post REMOOV, A SAN FRANCISCO-BASED, HIGH-TECH HAULING STARTUP, MAKES ITS EAST COAST U.S. DEBUT IN MIAMI appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Few San Francisco residents left the city for sunny Miami during the pandemic, but that could change if the Miami Mayor and two tech investors get their way.

Two billboards designed as mock tweets by Miami’s Mayor Francis Suarez made their debut on the streets of downtown San Francisco this week, part of a campaign to attract remote workers to Florida’s burgeoning technology center.

“Are you thinking of moving to Miami? DM me, ”it says on a billboard labeled with Suarez’s Twitter handle that looms over an Interstate 80 exit into downtown San Francisco.

Another billboard encouraged residents to send a message to Suarez, showing a picture of a laptop on a beach with the caption, “You may as well code from here.”

The billboards are the result of months of collaboration between two tech-friendly Miami residents: Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and Shervin Pishevar, an early investor in Uber and Airbnb, according to the Miami Herald. The couple, both vocal supporters of Miami’s tech scene, reportedly began discussing ideas via email in December.

Suarez wasn’t part of the planning process, but he unsubscribed on the billboards, the Miami Herald reported.

Pishevar is said to have paid for the two ads. AdQuick, the company that sold the two poster ads, wasn’t immediately available for comment Thursday night. The average cost to rent a billboard in San Francisco is $ 2,740, according to the company’s website.

The faux tweet ad campaign comes as Suarez tries to capitalize on the growing exodus of San Francisco tech companies amid the pandemic. The Republican mayor cemented his role as Miami tech cheerleader with a Twitter exchange in mid-December.

“What if we move Silicon Valley to Miami?” Wrote venture capitalist Delian Asparouhov, to which Suarez replied, “How can I help?” The exchange quickly went viral and Suarez gained thousands of new followers.

San Francisco residents left the city in record numbers last year, but most didn’t get far. While a vocal minority headed for cheaper, more business-friendly states like Texas and Florida, most moved to other Bay Area counties, according to the United States Postal Service.

Nora Mishanec is a contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle. Email to nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com

The post Two tech traders paid for San Francisco billboards urging individuals to maneuver to Miami appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has launched a billboard and social media campaign to bring technicians out of their San Francisco offices by the COVID-19 pandemic into the sunshine State to pull, to lure.

Since last March, thousands of tech workers have moved from San Francisco to work from other parts of California and the country.

CONTINUE READING: Storm door swings open; Fronts are stacked in the Pacific towards the Bay Area

In late November, a group of Hawaiian business leaders launched a campaign to promote the islands as an attractive location for a remote office with a view.

Texas had also been actively recruiting workers and tech companies. The software giant Oracle has announced that it will relocate its headquarters to Texas, as has Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

Over the summer, Palantir, a tech company with ties to the military and intelligence agencies, moved from Palo Alto to Colorado.

Now Miami is joining the siren call for workers with a giant billboard above the 9th Street exit of westbound I-80, which leads to Twitter’s huge San Francisco headquarters. The tech giant has told its employees that they will be working remotely until at least the summer.

CONTINUE READING: Former Secretary of State Colin Powell dies of complications from COVID-19

The billboard carries a simple message: “Are you thinking of moving to Maimi? DM me. ”- together with the Twitter address of Suarez.

Mayor @FrancisSuarez has taken # 305/954/561 Tech Relo + start-up recruitment to another level Well done my friend @GFRLAlliance @TechGateway @TechHubFL @refreshmiami @EndeavorMIA @FAUTechRunway @SFLinnovation pic.twitter.com/ IkC8rnt2bE

– Michael Udine (@Michaeludine) February 18, 2021

Are you thinking of moving to Miami?

You can’t make this stuff up … @ FrancisSuarez is the GOAT pic.twitter.com/nyIlOryOLT

– David Zinn (@dvdzinn) February 18, 2021

While the San Francisco exodus COVID-19 has gained national notoriety, a recent study by the San Francisco Chronicle, using new data from the United States Postal Service, showed that while workers are leaving the city, most remain on-site.

Postal analysis of address change requests over an eight-month period between March and November showed that the number of households leaving the high-priced San Francisco housing market skyrocketed by more than 77%.

More than 80,300 households moved in 2020. However, the majority moved to other Bay Area counties, including Alameda, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, and Sonoma.

MORE NEWS: Australian singer Clinton Kane robbed at gunpoint in San Francisco; “You had the gun in my face”

The postal service data showed that Los Angeles, San Diego, Napa and Riverside completed the top 10. The Lake Tahoe area has also become very popular with soaring property prices for those seeking mountain views from their home office.

The post Miami Mayor Makes Pitch To San Francisco Tech Employees — ‘Pondering Of Shifting To Miami? DM Me’ – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed people’s priorities in a variety of ways. Some made more time for family and friends. Others wondered what they would do if they could and then pursued their passions or made great careers. And for many, spending more time at home changed which living properties were important to them.

Let’s take a look at what some of these shifting home priorities are, and how – and perhaps more importantly, where – self-storage investors can benefit from them.

The way we live now

The sudden increase in remote working has pushed office space up on the must-have list. Being locked in with children around the clock made a large play area and / or distance learning area crucial. And some exercise enthusiasts set up a home exercise area during the shutdown and decided not to go to the gym after it reopened. And of course, all of these things take up a lot of space.

“Hey, I know! I can just use this completely empty space that I have, ”said almost no one. In most cases, a lot of things had to go somewhere to make room for all of these new spatial identities. And once closets, basements, and attics were crammed, people turned to self-storage units to store seasonal decor, adult kids’ items, infrequently used luggage or exercise equipment, and other items that they didn’t have room for but didn’t want Get rid of.

For many homeowners and renters, this shift in priorities has meant moving. Some learned that they could work remotely indefinitely and realized that they would rather live elsewhere. To others, the city they once loved suddenly felt cramped and crowded, and they packed up and headed for the suburbs.

After a move, people often store things they think they can make room once they settle in. Sometimes it works, but often these things just don’t have a priority and stay in the warehouse for a while.

The cities with the greatest storage needs

Before investing in self storage, it is important to research the market. The houses in some subway areas tend to be larger and have more storage options such as garages, attics, and basements. Some of the options may have fairly cramped living spaces, but have plenty of on-site storage space to store items that residents don’t want in their living areas. And other cities tend to combine limited square footage per person with no real storage space on-site to compensate for this. The latter is especially where self-storage investors want to turn their attention.

STORAGECafé recently put together an analysis of U.S. Census and Yardi Matrix data that shows who is having trouble organizing all of their home belongings and who is having trouble. These are the five U.S. cities where on-site storage along with the surrounding metropolitan areas is the hardest to come by:

1. Miami
2. New York City
3. The angel
4. Washington, DC
5. San Francisco

An interesting, if not entirely unexpected, observation is that the coastal metros tend to lack storage space. Residents of inland metropolises like Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Denver, and Phoenix usually have a lot more storage space available.

The millionacres bottom line

While many real estate sectors have struggled, the pandemic has created some unexpected bright spots. For investors in the right metropolitan areas, self-storage deserves a place on this list. Whether you’re starting a self-storage facility yourself or looking to invest in one through a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), exploring these locations where self-storage is paramount could be a good start.

Unfair Perks: How Real Estate Became a Billionaire Factory

Offer from the Motley Fool:You probably know that real estate has long been the playground for the rich and well-connected people, and that, according to recently released data, it was also the top performing investment in modern history. And with a number of unfair advantages completely unknown in other investments, it’s no surprise why. But those barriers have collapsed – and now it’s possible to build REAL wealth through real estate for a fraction of what it used to cost, meaning the unfair benefits are now available to individuals like you.

To get you started, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide that outlines everything you need to know about investing in real estate – and made it available today for FREE. Just click here to learn more and access your free copy.

The post Self-storage area arduous to seek out in Miami, NYC, LA, DC, San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

From two blocks away, REEF Technology’s “ghost kitchens” appear through a maze of palm trees like a technicolor aluminum herd, sleepily huddled in a parking lot next to a Metromover overpass at the apex of two of Coconut Grove’s busier streets.

Yet, as you get closer, a buzzing hive of tourists, foodies, picnic tables, bougainvillea planters, and UberEats and GrubHub scooters coming and going somehow miraculously have brought this formerly vacant asphalt polygon back to life.

REEF, whose headquarters is a few miles away in downtown Brickell, calls what I’m standing in the middle of “proximity as a platform”. And if Miami’s current political class has anything to do with it, the start-up’s pandemically turbo-charged, on-demand logistics model could set a new national template for smart, sustainable cities and the future of everything from restaurants to retail to healthcare delivery forever.

It could also keep tipping America’s innovation power balance geographically from Silicon Valley to South Florida for years to come.

One of REEF Technology’s 200 ‘ghost kitchens’ around the country providing on demand food prep, … [+] cooking, and remote delivery services for aspiring and celebrity chefs

Courtesy of REEF Technology

Late last month, Miami’s now-celebrity Mayor Francis Suarez and its five City Commissioners officially passed a one-year pilot ordinance that formally acknowledges and legally zones what are technically called “mobile operation units”, or MOUs for short—which in addition to REEF’s current ghost kitchens has the potential to ignite an infinity of other deconstructed, on-demand businesses built around revitalizing wonky slivers and triangles of underutilized urban real estate into pop-up, neighborhood hubs for curated, locally-sourced goods, services, and experiences.

According to REEF, other tech-driven, app-based businesses that Miami’s new law eventually could green light include last-block retail delivery depots, mobile medical and wellness clinics, vertical farmers markets in neighborhoods lacking fresh food, electric vehicle charging stations, and micro-mobility stations for bike and scooter shares—all of which by REEF’s calculus has the potential to unleash a hidden real estate logistics ecosystem in hundreds of neighborhoods around the country for the principal benefit of its residents.

“With policies like these, Miami is setting a global example on how to work in partnership with technology start-ups and innovators while also meeting the evolving needs of the community, creating a win-win,” says REEF’s founder and CEO Ari Ojalvo. “By working collaboratively with city leaders like Mayor Suarez and City Commissioner Ken Russell, and the support of the rest of the Commissioners, along with businesses and community groups, start-ups like ours can reimagine and rebuild our urban spaces for people, not just cars, and help our cities become more sustainable and inclusive centers of community and opportunity.”  

REEF’s neighborhood hubs also have the potential to create thousands of well-paying engineering, technology, creative, and logistics jobs in local communities while simultaneously helping small, independent businesses to grow more efficiently and reach wider markets with less overhead compared with the slow, precarious cliff-jump of expanding through traditional brick-and-mortar storefronts.

Perhaps most importantly, Miami’s newest piece of legislation is another loud, cracking shot across the bow of traditional innovation hubs like Palo Alto, Boston, and Austin about the city’s global ambitions to become the most technology, disruption, and venture capital friendly destination in America when it comes to legislation, zoning, tax policy, and business regulation—particularly on the backside of the pandemic which has set South Florida’s real estate and commercial office markets on fire.

“It’s incredibly important as we recover from COVID that Miami comes out swinging,” Mayor Suarez tells me, “Particularly in the case of innovation and how we as a city define ourselves because we believe that the tech economy and the knowledge-based economy are the future of the world economy. So for Miami to position itself right now after the pandemic with legislation like this, delivering local meals, supporting the start-up technology community, and expanding the capabilities of our small restaurants that are still struggling is a win-win for business and our community and shows that we can originate innovative ideas and public-private partnerships here in Miami that are scalable worldwide.”

REEF founder and CEO realized years ago that America’s parking lots were not realizing their real … [+] estate highest and best use in the communities where they were located. During COVID the start-up partnered with cities and health clinics to turn their parking lots into on-demand testing sites

Courtesy of Reef Technology

If you ask Ojalvo, Suarez’s vision of worldwide scalability wasn’t part of his company’s initial business model, however—though I suspect the 40-year old entrepreneur would be happy to take the compliment.  

REEF’s ‘proximity-as-a-platform’ business model got its start back in 2013 when the company formerly was called ParkJockey, providing hardware, software and management services to parking lot owners and management companies.

Over time, however, Ojalvo epiphanized that parking lots weren’t actually serving their highest and best use just temporarily storing cars. So he asked himself a simple question: What if all those thousands of acres of flat, strategically-located, and horrifically-underutilized real estate could be re-positioned for the benefit of local communities in cities all over America?

What if parking lots could become urban farms and pop-up restaurants and logistics hubs to help local businesses reach more customers with fewer operational friction points while returning greater, more sustainable value to their property owners?

REEF is now Florida’s only billion dollar unicorn start-up and the largest operator of mobile, … [+] neighborhood logistics hubs in America. The company recently completed the acquisition of DHL with the help of $700 million in new funding from SoftBank

Coutesy of REEF Technology

Nearly eight years later, Ojalvo’s parking lot epiphany now comprises a global ecosystem of more than 5,000 asphalt swatches, garages, and otherwise empty plots across 45 U.S. States, all seven Canadian Provinces (plus two Territories), and the UK, along with a team of 15,000 full-time employees, making the Miami-based start-up the largest operator of mobility and logistics hubs and neighborhood kitchens in America (200 at last count including 15 in Miami that are now legally zoned thanks to the city’s new ordinance).

REEF also just recently closed a $700 million round of fresh funding from a syndicate led by SoftBank and the Mubadala Corp along with investment firms Oaktree, UBS Asset Management, and the European venture capital firm Target with the intent to scale to 10,000 new locations across North America and transform the company’s real estate holdings into the world’s largest sustainable network of “neighborhood hubs” over the next three years.

From a start-up standpoint, if REEF’s vision sounds grandiose, it is. Transforming the habits by which products and services are fulfilled for consumers doesn’t happen overnight (ask Jeff Bezos). From a practical standpoint, however, the company’s fundamental business model sits on solidly simple footing despite its nine-figure valuation and global intentions—all of which have been accelerated by the on-demand, stay-at-home delivery economy spawned by the pandemic.

REEF leases the parking lots and real estate it operates, upgrades it with basic infrastructure (i.e., ADA compliant ramps and essential utilities), and either leases it out to other occupants or operates the pop-up businesses themselves, including designing, outfitting, and mobilizing all of the trailers and shipping containers required to do so in a kind of temporary, asphalt raft-up—typically going operational within a few months.

In the case of REEF’s ghost kitchens, the company usually houses a half dozen restaurants on each of its lots and covers all of the operating costs, food safety permitting and health licenses, staffing, marketing, raw material deliveries, food prep, delivery management, and even manages the chefs doing the cooking. Full-time employees also are given vacation time, health insurance, paternity leave, and in some cases stock options.

In return for REEF’s real estate and back-of-house support, the company’s restaurants and brand partners pay a revenue share of gross profits off the top ergo if REEF’s partners don’t make money REEF doesn’t make money—so everyone has the same incentive to keep things running smoothly, maintain quality, and project brand consistency.

REEF has chosen to operate behind the scenes efficiently as opposed to burn cash on front facing … [+] marketing unlike WeWork

Getty Images

From a real estate, sharing economy standpoint, if all of this whiffs a little like WeWork as well, it should—at least on face value.

Leasing someone else’s un-used stuff (i.e., a parking lot), carving it up into smaller, shinier pieces, and re-leasing the parts at a profit—a.k.a “arbitrage”—is well known in commercial real estate to be potentially risky business. It was partly responsible for the Great Recession and why WeWork’s still a mess today no matter how much new capital gets pumped into it.

Yet, REEF’s business model differs in several important ways.

First, nothing about the company is particularly overt or outwardly flashy with banners, promotions, signs, or logos at its sites shouting “who we are” (like WeWork). All of which says a lot about REEF’s core business philosophy. It doesn’t overspend. Nor is its purpose to replace brick and mortar storefronts through remote operations and delivery systems, but rather to help those businesses to better adapt to the future through technology and reach the end consumer more efficiently and effectively.

The second difference with WeWork is that REEF typically provides not only the physical real estate for its tenants (i.e., the arbitrage), but also the expertise, networks, business support, and labor to allow them to scale, increase revenues, and compete with larger, legacy brands through outsourced operations as well.

“REEF levels the playing field,” says the company’s Head of Communications, Mason Harrison. “For small businesses this kind of model is essential to giving local brands what the big companies already have: the tools and resources for rapid expansion into bigger markets. As a policy framework for the future, we’re full-throated supportive of what Miami is doing by setting a new standard and rethinking the vast swaths of under-utilized space that already exist in every city to help to make that happen.”

Francis Suarez attends Time 100 Next at Pier 17 on November 14, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by … [+] Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)

FilmMagic

All of which brings us back to Miami’s new MOU ordinance, America’s most famous Mayor, and why any of this matters in the first place.

While red-tape, zoning announcements generally aren’t needle movers when it comes to flash mob media, Miami’s new legislation sends a much louder message about the political and legal intentions of the city to provide a fertile environment for the next generation of disruptive, technology-based start-ups to get off the ground.

“Through Miami’s new legislation, REEF is providing the first legislative platform for innovative new food brands to scale and thrive,” says REEF’s Ojalvo. “And now Miami has created a clear policy framework for regulating delivery-only kitchens, making it easier for these types of food concepts to expand their reach into new neighborhoods while putting vacant, underutilized real estate that’s a drag on local property values to better use. Ultimately, it creates a paradigm for every other city in the world to make it easier for brands to reach customers.”  

Equally as important, says Ojalvo, is that Miami’s new legislation also establishes a center of gravity for other future phases of tech-driven, on-demand innovation, which in turn attracts the capital and infrastructure to bring those visions to life. Silicon Valley and Austin started doing something similar decades ago—bit by bit revising and restructuring small, seemingly meaningless zoning, financial, and business regulations to turn their cities into the technology and venture capital epicenters of the world.

“One of the great challenges with creating new businesses is that regulations are often slow to catch up,” Ojalvo explains. “Most cities have regulations governing brick and mortar establishments and food trucks, but no existing framework in place for what falls in between. With this policy Miami is setting a global example and showing that it is willing to take bold steps to support and champion innovation. This is our hometown, and it is also where we incubate and pilot new products and initiatives—from restaurant brands to robot delivery—and maintaining the support of the community as we’ve experimented and innovated has always been incredibly important to our growth. The City of Miami and its leadership are showing that they are serious about supporting startups and embracing innovation. Combined with all the highly talented people moving to Miami right now as a result of the pandemic, this cooperation between public leaders and the private sector should be a model for every city in the world to follow.”  

Fortunately for Ojalvo that political support so far appears to be unwavering, although no one in the tech world is debating that Miami’s a little late to the party. At rate the city’s catching up, however, people are already wondering when Magic City’s going to mint its second billionaire unicorn (REEF was the first).

“Legislation like this tells the tech world that we’re willing to do whatever it takes to be the innovation capital of the world,” says Mayor Suarez. “It’s a signal to the rest of the world that if you come here with innovative businesses and technologies we’re willing to innovate as a city around you and your technology to make sure that it works, that it’s given the support it needs to thrive, and that Miami is one of the most business friendly environments for the knowledge economy in America and the world. We continue to look for opportunities in the crypto space, in the biotech space, and attracting and building the best high-end educational, engineering, and STEM facilities in partnership with the private sector and with companies like REEF.”

The future of neighborhood logistics is here and it’s spectacular

Courtesy of REEF Technology

As for the future of proximity-as-a-platform, ghost kitchens, and pop-up last-block retail hubs, the smart money doesn’t seem to be betting against REEF’s new micro-logistics, on-demand economy. If anything, it’s consolidating.

In part thanks to SoftBank’s funding, REEF recently partnered with international logistics giant DHL, last mile delivery start-up Bond, healthcare services provider Carbon Health, and EV charging start-up Get Charged. Along with robotics startup Cartken, REEF recently began carbon-free autonomous deliveries in Miami.

The company is also tapping into the growing Millennial demand and political tailwinds for more sustainable, walkable, and connected cities, including turning some of its locations into sustainable, neighborhood, carbon-neutral hubs for grocery, food, and package delivery, using e-cargo bikes and low speed vehicles to fulfill orders from temperature-controlled shipping containers directly to customers’ homes.

REEF also is already fielding inquiries from data and telecoms companies to support 5G expansion and host remote cloud computing hubs that can power the connectedness of every neighborhood and city in the U.S. on a micro level to the world.

“Data and infrastructure is a huge part of our neighborhood hub (concept),” Ojalvo recently wrote in Tech Crunch. “It’s like electricity. Without electricity and connectivity, we don’t have the world that we want to see.” 

Pop-up vertical farming on site in action

Couresty of REEF Technology

More experientially, REEF is partnering with vertical farming companies like Crate to Plate on urban, hydroponic agriculture initiatives in empty lots which use recycled shipping containers to achieve the same production as an acre of farmland, using less energy and 96% less water than traditional methods. A single 40’ shipping container, for example, has the potential to produce over 3 tons of leafy greens every year for the surrounding community, says Ojalvo, which could revolutionize food deserts for communities that don’t have access to fresh, healthy produce.

Finally, this summer, REEF is launching the first of its experiential, open-air entertainment experiences in Austin, opening up an entirely new sector for the company’s pop-up logistics and operations capabilities.

Welcome to America’s next tech hub . . .

Courtesy of REEF Technology

As for Miami as America’s next great tech hub?

“Miami is competing with global tech and innovation hubs for talent and companies,” says Ojalvo. “This legislation is really just the beginning of a journey towards reimagining underutilized urban spaces, and creating a zoning framework that supports mobile, modular and micro enabled zoning that can create more vibrant and walkable neighborhoods while also continuing to seed Miami as a global epicenter for innovation.”

Translation: Austin, Boston, and Silicon Valley should expect more shots across the bow.

The post Miami Simply Rolled Out Its Latest Pink Carpet To The Tech World. Are San Francisco And Austin Paying Consideration? appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.