The Fairfax and Balsam Mountain Preserve

The Fairfax

The Balsam Mountain Preserve, a 4,000-acre development in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina.

WHAT Conversion of a hotel to residences.

WHERE Miami Beach.

AMENITIES A restaurant and a rooftop pool, among others.

PRICES Shares of residences from about 0,000 to 0,000.

STATUS Expected to open early next year.

DEVELOPER Levy Family Partners.

CONTACT (305) 324-7329 or www.fairfaxsouthbeach.com.

DETAILS Facing the Atlantic from 18th Street and Collins Avenue in South Beach, this is a transformation of a hotel, which opened in 1955, to 49 fractional residences. Most of the residences will be 450- to 575-square-foot suites, but there will be two two-bedroom, 1,000-square-foot units. The units, all furnished, will be sold in quarter shares, with owners granted at least 13 weeks a year in theirs. The designer Todd Oldham is leading the renovation of the building, designing everything from stone and glass walls to furniture to the staff's uniforms. The restaurant will be an outpost of Spiaggia in Chicago, and the private rooftop will hold a dining area as well as the pool. Other amenities include a beach club and membership to a nearby David Barton Gym. The residences will be part of the Registry Collection, a vacation home exchange program.

Balsam Mountain Preserve

WHAT Rural resort community.

WHERE Western North Carolina.

AMENITIES A golf course and an equestrian center, among others.

PRICES Shares of fractional residences are 0,000, homesites from 0,000 and houses from ,295,000.

STATUS The first fractional residences were completed recently. More than 180 homesites - just over half the total - have been sold, and five houses are currently for sale.

DEVELOPER Chaffin/Light Associates.

CONTACT (866) 452-3456 or www.balsammountainpreserve.com.

DETAILS This 4,400-acre development is in the Blue Ridge Mountains about 40 minutes southwest of Asheville, N.C. It offers homesites, houses and 10 one-bedroom, furnished, fractional-ownership cabins. The cabins are sold in quarter shares, allowing owners at least eight weeks a year of use; more might be built in the future. The golf course, designed by Arnold Palmer, is planned to begin opening this month, and the equestrian center, which opened this week, uses more than 50 miles of on-site trails (more than two-thirds of the project's space will remain undeveloped). A restaurant, a fitness center and a swimming pool are also available. The airport in Asheville has flights from Newark.

Breaking Ground is a weekly look at projects, planned or under construction, that include weekend or vacation homes.