Ex-wife of one of Fisher Island’s biggest developers buys $10M PH

Janet Melk, the ex-wife of one of Fisher Island’s biggest developers, just paid $10 million for a penthouse on the private island.

Melk, who was previously married to Chicago real estate investor John Melk, bought the 6,470-square-foot unit at Bayview Fisher Island, at 5261 Fisher Island Drive, for $1,545 per square foot, property records show. Melk purchased the unit from Eleonora Silverman, who lists her address as 960 Park Avenue in New York City.

The corner penthouse has five bedrooms and 6.5 baths, with an additional 1,800 square feet of terraces. It was built in 1992, records show.

The unit was previously listed for $11.5 million in February 2018, according to Redfin. Silverman bought the property from an affiliated party in February 2009 for $878,056, records show.

The listing agent for the property was Lazaro Rivero and Rose Bauer of Rivero Real Estate. The buyer was represented by Dora Puig of Luxe Living Realty, according to Redfin.

John Melk was one of the first investors in Blockbuster Video along with Wayne Huizenga. In 1998, Melk, and developers Daniel McLean and Daniel Melk, purchased the empty condos and developable land on Fisher Island, a private island near Miami Beach, and formed Fisher Island Holdings, LLC.