Writer: Felipe Rivas
2 min read May 2021 — From helping local healthcare facilities set up triage tents to building the next wave of multifamily buildings, South Florida-based ANF Group has weathered the ongoing pandemic challenges thanks in large part to its four decades in the South Florida construction industry and a yearslong diversification effort.
As one of the few firms highly specialized in the niche of healthcare construction, ANF Group’s efforts to expand into the ever-growing multifamily sector is paying off at a time when South Florida has further attracted an influx of new residents and businesses.
“Over the last 10 years, we expanded into the ever-growing multifamily sector. Healthcare is still a predominant part of our business and the other 50% is now multifamily, retail, and industrial,” ANF Group President Al Fernandez told Invest: “In 2019 and 2020, we established relationships with a few predominant developers, and we just completed a 387-unit multifamily project in Pembroke Pines for Terra Group.”
Despite the challenges and COVID-related disruption, ANF Group saw its team grow by 45 percent in 2020. Currently, ANF Group is working on two key multifamily projects in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Located in northwest Miami-Dade County, Natura, in conjunction with Terra Group, is a garden-style community featuring 460 units, ranging from 727 square feet with one bedroom to 1,476 square feet with three bedrooms. With a slated delivery date of late 2022, Natura’s amenities will include a two-story clubhouse, a pool and spa, a media room, a games room, a kid’s playroom, a playground, a fitness center, and electric-car-charging stations.
Village View, in Broward County, will be the latest building in the emerging neighborhood of Flagler Village. The seven-story apartment complex comprises 68 one-bedroom and 32 two-bedroom apartments ranging in size from 700 to more than 1,100 square feet. Featuring structured parking, a pool, gym, and media center, Village View is being built to National Green Building standards.
“Interestingly enough, the pandemic has had a significant positive impact on ANF’s multifamily pipeline for 2021 and beyond. Although the pandemic of 2020 delayed approximately 1,000 units from commencing construction, much of that pipeline has moved into 2021 and has created a record year for ANF,” Fernandez said.
South Florida’s business-friendly environment and the connectivity to the international market are fueling investing activity in the Miami multifamily sector, Fernandez pointed out. “Recently there has also been an unprecedented new-to-market tenant base. With an exploding economy and local companies’ need for talent, housing becomes a major priority,” he said.
Location in key suburban areas and strong amenity offerings are among the factors driving ANF Group’s multifamily portfolio success. “Home prices continue to climb, and inventory remains low, which makes the demand for multifamily housing remain high. Many of the projects ANF Group is building are located in the suburban core of Miami-Dade and Broward counties. We see it as a faucet of the younger workforce now looking to leave the core markets to raise families in larger units but still maintaining the amenities that they have grown accustomed to. Many of the garden-style and midrise products that we have recently completed, are under construction or in planning, include resort-style amenities that used to only be seen in the high-end Downtown residential buildings,” Fernandez said.
On the healthcare side of the firm’s business, ANF Group has been able to provide much-needed support to the healthcare system in a year marred by the ongoing pandemic. “Because of our extensive experience in healthcare throughout South Florida, all the main healthcare providers asked us to participate in setting up temporary triage tents, drive-through testing facilities, and specialist consulting areas built specifically for COVID-19 patients. That changed our business for two or three months as we addressed those interim needs. Going forward, we will see how projects will be affected by COVID-19,” Fernandez said.
This year, ANF Group is celebrating its 40th anniversary in the South Florida construction industry. As the local market continues its recovery process, Fernandez is confident in the vibrancy and longevity of South Florida.
“Thankfully, South Florida is such a desirable place to live, not only for the weather but for its desirable no state tax law benefit. Over the last four decades, we have certainly been affected by economic downturns, but it seems like we are always a little ahead of the rest of the country when it comes to recovery. As long as we have our beaches and sunshine, there will always be an influx of folks looking to locate in our beautiful state.”
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