Ken Griffin's private megayacht marina gets the go-ahead. What does this mean for Miami's superyacht scene?

Ken Griffin's private megayacht marina gets the go-ahead

Ken Griffin, a billionaire hedge fund manager and philanthropist, is doubling down on his South Florida waterfront portfolio. This time, he's building a private, resort-style megayacht marina just for himself and his guests. The proposal, which just got important regulatory approval, gives us a new look at how luxury real estate, deep-water berthing, and exclusive yacht infrastructure are all coming together in the Miami market.

A Look at the Project

Griffin's affiliate has filed plans for a 30,000+ square-foot building on Terminal Island (Miami Beach) at 120 MacArthur Causeway. This site is 3.7 acres on the water and has about 1,400 feet of dockage along one of Miami's few deep-water corridors.

BMA Architects made the program, which includes:

• A secure gatehouse or check-in pavilion.

• A crew pavilion with a kitchen, laundry, staff gym, sauna, showers, changing rooms, and a small pool on the roof.

• A private pool, a lounge/office/storage area, and a pavilion for the owner.

• The marina operations building has offices, a repair shop, and other support services.

Slip space is meant for big superyachts (Griffin has a 308-foot "Viva").

Status and Regulatory Environment

The Miami Beach Planning Board gave the go-ahead for the development on November 4 and 5, 2025, but only if certain conditions were met. These included getting Coast Guard approval for special events, not allowing public access, providing dedicated parking on-site, and having to go back to the board if ownership changes.

Griffin's team called the project a long-term investment in making an industrial waterfront site better.

Why This Is Important for the Yacht and Waterfront Market

1. There isn't enough deep water for trophy capital. There isn't a lot of space for mega yachts to dock in Miami. This kind of big, exclusive project shows how wealthy buyers want infrastructure that fits the size and lifestyle of their fleet.

2. Combining real estate and marina assets. If your clients want to buy a waterfront home with a dock, this development makes it clear that the home itself, the deep-water berth next door, and the amenities are all high-end properties.

3. Coming up with new ideas for industrial waterfronts. Most of Terminal Island is used for maintenance, utilities, and ferries. Transforming a 3.7-acre industrial parcel into a fully gated intimate marina establishes a benchmark for the redevelopment of underutilized waterfront properties in mixed-use luxury markets.

4. Focus on events and lifestyles. The marina is for Griffin and his guests, but filings show that it is sometimes used for special events, like the Miami Grand Prix or Art Basel Miami Beach.

This indicates how yacht infrastructure is transforming toward hospitality-grade amenities rather than strictly berth-storage.

What This Means

This makes it clear to buyers of trophy homes with docks that having a top-notch berth (or access to one) is now more than just a nice-to-have. Being able to point to the rising supply (or lack thereof) of deep-water berths can help sellers get higher prices.

For developers and waterfront land investors, Ken Griffin's private megayacht marina gets the go-ahead and this project shows a change: superyacht-scale infrastructure, private use, and well-serviced crew amenities like a gym, sauna, and rooftop pool, all of which raise the cost and value of the property.

This is a private marina for charter investors, but the trend toward ultra-luxury marina infrastructure supports larger charter-friendly waterfront ecosystems, where crew welfare and deep water access are important.

What to Watch Next

• Timeline for building permits: Once Griffin's team gets all the necessary building permits, lenders and contractors will probably start making announcements.

  
  

• Policy for slip leasing and guest use: Even if it's limited, any additional guest-use or event policy may cause new regulatory or community issues.

  
  

• Marine infrastructure ripple effects: Developers of waterfront homes or potential competitor marinas may speed up upgrades to meet new, custom standards.

  
  

• Effect on waterfront land values: The repurposing of Terminal Island may lead to more re-zoning or redevelopment of nearby parcels.

Ken Griffin's planned private megayacht marina is more than just a headline for the yacht-brokerage and waterfront-homes community in South Florida; it's a sign of where the luxury waterfront market is going. It combines ultra-deep-water access, lifestyle amenities, crew facilities, and real estate size to create what is essentially a high-net-worth custom marina community.