Grand Theft Auto 6 players believe they have identified the real Miami building that inspired Jason and Lucia's Vice City apartment, but the original structure no longer exists and cannot be visited
Grand Theft Auto 6's latest extended look has prompted a wave of investigation among fans, with some now claiming to have pinpointed the real-world Miami location that inspired Jason and Lucia's Vice City apartment. However, anyone hoping to visit the spot in person will be disappointed-the building in question has since been demolished, leaving only digital traces and archival images behind.
Fan Investigation and Evidence
The search began shortly after Rockstar Games showcased new gameplay footage featuring Jason and Lucia's apartment. Instagram user prettyboycuh led the effort, using Google Maps to locate a distinctive teal building seen in the trailer. While the current Street View revealed only a patch of grass, switching the map's timeline back to 2013 revealed a structure matching the in-game apartment's colour, fencing, and surrounding layout. The building, known as the Belmar Condominium, bore a striking resemblance to the digital version, including the parking lot seen in the footage.
IGN independently verified these findings, confirming that the Belmar Condominium remained visible on Google Maps through 2022, though it was repainted from its original salmon hue to darker greys in 2017. By 2024, the building had disappeared entirely from the site, replaced by empty land. This timeline aligns with a report from the South Florida Business Journal, which stated the property was sold for $12 million in 2022 before being demolished.
Archival Listings and In-Game Detail
Further digging by fans uncovered archived Zillow listings for the Belmar Condominium, providing interior photos that appear to have influenced the in-game apartment's design. Scenes from the extended look-such as Jason opening the fridge or watching television-closely mirror the real-life layout and decor. This level of detail suggests Rockstar's artists referenced both the exterior and interior of the original building when constructing the Vice City location.
Despite the strong visual similarities, Rockstar Games has not officially confirmed the Belmar Condominium as the direct inspiration for Jason and Lucia's apartment. The evidence, however, is consistent with the studio's established practice of basing Grand Theft Auto environments on real-world locations, then adapting them for narrative and gameplay needs.
Building Timeline and Demolition
The Belmar Condominium was originally established in 1973 and remained a fixture in Miami's Edgewater neighbourhood for nearly five decades. According to the South Florida Business Journal, the building was sold for $12 million in 2022, after which it was demolished. Google Maps imagery confirms the structure's presence until early 2022, with the site cleared by 2024. For players hoping to visit the real-world inspiration for Jason and Lucia's home, only digital archives and in-game recreations remain.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled to launch on 19 November 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The extended look presentation offered around 27 minutes of in-game footage, sparking a surge of community analysis and speculation. For a broader look at Rockstar's approach to the game's marketing and reveal strategy, see how the studio handled its Netflix partnership in this report on the GTA 6 Extended Look debut.
What Remains Unconfirmed
While the evidence linking Jason and Lucia's apartment to the former Belmar Condominium is compelling, Rockstar has not provided official confirmation. The studio's approach to environmental design often blends real-world references with creative adaptation, making it difficult to draw definitive lines between inspiration and final in-game locations. As with previous Grand Theft Auto entries, some locations are direct recreations, while others are composites or entirely original.
Players interested in exploring the digital version of Vice City will have to wait until the game's release, as no public demo or early access has been announced. The fate of other real-world inspirations for GTA 6's environments remains similarly unconfirmed, and it is likely that further discoveries will emerge as more footage and details are released in the run-up to launch.
In open-world games like Grand Theft Auto 6, developers frequently use photogrammetry, archival imagery, and on-site research to create environments that feel authentic while serving gameplay and narrative needs. The process often involves adapting or combining real locations, resulting in spaces that are recognisable yet distinct from their real-world counterparts. This approach allows for both player immersion and creative flexibility, but it also means that not every in-game building can be visited in reality-even when its origins are traceable.
