40-Year CRE Veteran Bows Out

Steve Baer is winding down his decades-long commercial real estate career at Florida East Coast Realty (FECR). Baer launched his career at the firm in 1972. More than 40 years—and many developments later—he’s retiring.
“Steve has been with our company longer than any other employee has,” says FECR chairman and president Tibor Hollo. “He has been an integral part our success and the success of our developments. We consider him to be a part of our family, and he will be missed greatly.”
FECR named Baer vice president of Property Management in the 1980s. He served as a broker for the company and headed the property management team, directing and managing the leasing and operations of all types of properties, including office, retail, industrial, multifamily, residential condominiums, and even a full-service marina. Baer led all property managementpersonnel, including on-site managers and oversaw the management of all residential andcommercial real estate projects.
Baer directed notable FECR projects such as Rivergate Plaza, the very first high-rise built on Brickell Avenue, Plaza Venetia, and 888 Brickell. He oversaw more than 3,000 apartments at one time, which included the opening, lease-up, and management of Bay Parc Plaza, a 471-unit high-rise that came online in early 2000 and was fully-occupied in record time.
Baer was responsible for One Bayfront Plaza, a 704,000-square-foot office building in Downtown Miami, 1101 Brickell and Colonnade Plaza on Brickell Avenue, and 2020 Ponce in Coral Gables. Residential properties under his management included Opera Tower, a 56-story, 635-unit luxury tower in Downtown Miami, and Villa Majorca, a boutique 36-unit community in Coral Gables. He also oversaw Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center, a full-service marina and home of the annual Miami International Boat Show.
Baer is a native Miamian, and prior to joining FECR in 1972, he attended the University of Miami and served in the U.S. Coast Guard. Baer says that he plans to spend his retirement enjoying time with his wife and family, as well as doing some long overdue traveling.