Two New Condo Towers, Two Cities, One Story: What the Berkeley Palm Beach Groundbreaking and Sixth and Rio Tell You About South Florida's Next Wave
The Berkeley Palm Beach has officially broken ground in downtown West Palm Beach — a 25-story residential tower with 193 units priced from around $2 million to a little over $10 million — while across the county line in Fort Lauderdale, Sixth and Rio, a 94-residence boutique condo on the New River, is set to deliver in the third quarter of 2026 with pricing starting right around $1 million.
I'm Joe Vairo — a 2x eXp ICON Agent, ranked the #3 real estate agent in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine, and founder of the Vairo Group, ranked the #3 real estate team in Fort Lauderdale. I track every new condo development from Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach because these projects are where the next wave of luxury buyers is going to land. Here is the full breakdown.
The Berkeley Palm Beach Has Broken Ground in Downtown West Palm
The Berkeley Palm Beach is now officially under construction, and it will rise 25 stories with 193 residences in the downtown West Palm core. What makes this project different from the other towers coming to West Palm is its position: it sits on the west side of downtown rather than stacked along the water with everything else. That gives it views of Clear Lake, plus angles on the downtown skyline, the Intracoastal, and maybe even a little bit of the ocean from the right units. The location also comes with a practical benefit I noticed immediately — it should be more peaceful, with less traffic than the heart of downtown, while still being extremely walkable to everything in the core.
Why Does Every Luxury Developer Want West Palm Beach?
Because groundbreakings like this one keep penciling, even at a $2 million starting price. Developers are betting that the demand pushing into downtown West Palm is durable, and the Berkeley is a fully loaded expression of that bet: a lobby designed to set the tone the minute you walk in, concierge service, two pools — a seventh-floor family pool with cabanas and an adults-only rooftop pool — plus a fitness center, spa treatment rooms, an outdoor theater, and even a golf simulator. That is not an amenity package a developer builds for a market they think is cooling.
What Are the Berkeley's Residences and Prices Actually Like?
Residences at the Berkeley run from two to five bedrooms with 9- to 10-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glass, Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, and — the detail luxury buyers ask me about most — private elevator access. Pricing starts right around $2 million and climbs to just over $10 million at the top of the building. One underrated point on the west-facing orientation: those Clear Lake views get sun the entire afternoon and beautiful sunsets, which I'd argue might beat facing east.
Sixth and Rio: The Rio Vista Alternative Nobody Is Talking About
While West Palm gets the headlines, Fort Lauderdale's newest boutique condo is quietly delivering in the third quarter of 2026. 6th and Rio sits on the south side of the New River with a total of 94 residences — 90 condos and 4 townhomes — and pricing starts right around $1 million. The pitch is simple: if you want to live in the Rio Vista area but don't want the upkeep of a single-family home, this is the solution. From the south bank you can take the free water trolley straight across to Las Olas — Moxies, Catch N' Cut, the new Caviar Club, or head toward the beach for Ocean Prime — and on your own side of the river you can walk to Publix, the sports bar, Daniels, and Legacy Fit, all with a lot less traffic than the north side.
What Makes the Sixth and Rio Townhomes Unique?
Four townhomes on the main floor give you a single-family feel inside a luxury condo building — and that combination barely exists in Fort Lauderdale. Each is three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms at just under 1,700 square feet, with direct walk-out access to the park, which makes life with a dog dramatically easier. Above them, the condos range from one-bedroom to four-bedroom units with floor-to-ceiling glass, some with beautiful New River views, and the building carries a state-of-the-art fitness center, concierge, double-height lobby, and a rooftop pool deck that might end up having some of the best views in the entire city.
What This Means for Buyers and Investors
These two projects bracket the South Florida new-construction market almost perfectly. At 6th and Rio, roughly $1 million gets you into a boutique building on the New River delivering in Q3 2026 — a near-term move-in with a lock-and-leave lifestyle next to one of Fort Lauderdale's most established neighborhoods. At the Berkeley, $2 million to $10 million-plus buys into downtown West Palm's growth story on a longer construction timeline, in a quieter pocket west of the core. If your priority is timing and value relative to location, Fort Lauderdale's boutique product is the more immediate play; if your priority is riding West Palm's trajectory in a full-amenity tower, the Berkeley is built for exactly that. Either way, new inventory at these price points tends to reset comps for the resale buildings around it — worth watching even if you never buy new construction.
Am I Bullish on Both of These Projects?
Yes — for different reasons. The Berkeley's west-side positioning is a genuine differentiator in a downtown where nearly everything else competes for the same east-facing water views, and the sub-$2M-to-$10M+ range gives it a wide buyer pool. 6th and Rio is the one I think is underpriced in attention: 94 residences next to Rio Vista, starting around $1 million, delivering within the year. Boutique buildings in that position don't stay quiet for long.
FAQ
How many units will the Berkeley Palm Beach have?
The Berkeley Palm Beach will be a 25-story tower with 193 residences in downtown West Palm Beach. Units range from two to five bedrooms.
How much do condos at the Berkeley Palm Beach cost?
Pricing starts right around $2 million and goes up to a little over $10 million. Residences feature 9- to 10-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glass, Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, and private elevator access.
When does Sixth and Rio in Fort Lauderdale deliver?
6th and Rio is scheduled to deliver in the third quarter of 2026. The building has 94 residences — 90 condos and 4 townhomes — on the south side of the New River, with prices starting around $1 million.
What are the townhomes at Sixth and Rio?
There are four townhomes on the building's main floor, each with three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, and just under 1,700 square feet, combining single-family-style living with full condo amenities.
Want to Talk Through the New-Construction Condo Opportunity?
I'm Joe Vairo with the Vairo Group. If you want an honest, current conversation about the Berkeley Palm Beach, 6th and Rio, or any of the new developments coming from Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach — what's worth your money and what isn't — reach out.
📲 Text or call me at 954-830-1126
📩 Email me at [email protected] anytime — I respond personally
Joe Vairo is a 2x eXp ICON Agent, South Florida real estate agent, and Fort Lauderdale Magazine's #3 ranked agent in Fort Lauderdale. The Vairo Group, ranked the #3 real estate team in Fort Lauderdale, specializes in waterfront properties and luxury relocation in the $1M+ market.
Watch the source Shorts: Berkeley Palm Beach groundbreaking and 6th and Rio.
