Aston Martin partnering with Valor Real Estate Development for 18-story, 86-unit luxury apartment complex at 3411 South Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, completing 2029Top two floors feature eight ultra-luxury two-story penthouses, with two dedicated parking floors and 215,000 square feet total spaceAdditional Aston Martin residential projects planned for Tampa Bay and Mexico City as brand diversifies beyond automotive amid financial struggles What is it about automakers and side hustles? We're hard-pressed to think of a brand that doesn't have a finger in some kind of non-automotive endeavor. Even Tesla decided to open a weird restaurant, though it's not doing so well last we heard. Now it's Aston Martin's turn. No, there isn't an Aston-themed steakhouse opening in Miami. But the new project does have an artisan bakery nearby, though you may have to share it with plebeians. How uncouth. If you're craving baked goods, you'll have to leave your swanky new Aston Martin home to get there. Depending on how you feel, you might take your DBX707 out of the parking garage and drive. Or, if you're looking for something more exciting, skip the SUV and get in the Vanquish for a quick run to Daytona International Speedway, only minutes away from the future location of Aston Martin Residences Daytona Beach, a new apartment complex the supercar company is building with Valor Real Estate Development. High-rise apartments surrounded by the ocean and fast food Aston Martin tells us the address for its forthcoming apartments is 3411 South Atlantic Avenue. Assuming Google Maps takes us to the right place, the luxury apartments will be parked on valuable real estate right on the beach. Apartments facing the ocean should have incredible views of the Atlantic, stretching eastward to infinity. As for the others, they'll see high-rise condos to the south, and to the north, a beautiful Days Inn. Across the street sits Burger King and Pirate's Island Adventure Golf. All things being equal, you're probably going to want the seaside view. When completed, the complex will contain 86 units in an 18-story building, encompassing 215,000 square feet total. The top two floors are reserved for the best of the best, featuring eight ultra-luxury two-story penthouses. Since this is an Aston Martin building, two floors are dedicated to parking. It's unclear if these parking facilities include enclosed space or if it's a typical parking garage. Considering Florida averages one landfalling hurricane per year, some protection for the DB12s might be nice. As for the luxury aspect, details aren't provided. Aside from the aforementioned bakery, a press release talks about fine dining and access to a world-class package of residential amenities. Beach access is naturally part of the package, but hopefully leasing an apartment grants special access to the mini-golf across the street. That place looks pretty cool. Stefano Saporetti, Aston Martin director of brand diversification, said, "For Aston Martin, real estate is a seamless brand extension with our strategic vision centered on growing Aston Martin beyond the automotive world. This crucial new multi-project partnership with Valor Real Estate Development in Daytona is engineered to meet client demand for exclusive, ultra-luxury living opportunities." Which is corporate speak for "we need reliable income because selling supercars alone isn't cutting it financially." Admittedly, we're poking a bit of fun at Aston Martin's big apartment building in the heart of touristy Daytona Beach, but only because the company has partnered on some seriously swanky homes in the past. Earlier this year, we saw a four-story single home built in a very upscale section of Tokyo. A few years ago, the brand showed off a stunning mansion built on 55 acres a few hours north of New York City. All of these places, including the upcoming apartment complex, were conceived at least in part by Aston Martin designers. Of course, those residences are for just one family. There's certainly more money to be made from luxury apartments, and with Aston Martin struggling to turn around recent financial woes, reliable income is never a bad thing. That could be why more luxury apartments are being considered, all in conjunction with Valor Real Estate Development. Locations in Mexico City and across Florida at Tampa Bay are already being reviewed.But Aston Martin Residences Daytona Beach comes first. Don't plan on moving in anytime soon, though. Construction won't be completed until 2029, giving you plenty of time to decide whether ocean views are worth having Burger King across the street. Personally, we'd take the Whopper proximity as a selling point rather than a drawback, but we're not the target demographic for ultra-luxury two-story penthouses. The people who are will presumably have their groceries delivered and never venture across the street to discover the joys of value-menu dining. Aston Martin's diversification into real estate represents the automotive industry's continuing trend of brands expanding beyond just building cars. Whether this makes business sense or represents desperation depends entirely on your perspective, but reliable rental income certainly helps balance sheets when supercar sales fluctuate. Just don't expect the neighbors at Days Inn to be particularly impressed by your DBX707 in the parking garage.
