The neighborhood atmosphere South of Fifth Street in Miami Beach FL is enviable with its tree-lined walkways, innovative restaurants and views of Biscayne Bay, Government Cut and the Atlantic Ocean. While towering buildings ring the shaded pathways enjoyed by joggers and dog-walkers, the South Pointe ambience remains relaxed.
The neighborhood began its recent renaissance in 1987 when John Hinson built South Pointe Towers, the first high-rise luxury condo in SoFi. The 25-story structure on the site of an old dog track promptly cost Hinson $7 million. Hinson's loss was soon salved, however, after Thomas Kramer, a German commodities broker who had turned developer, purchased $100 million worth of land south of Fifth Street in the early 1990s. His dream was to recreate the canal-laced ambience of Portofino, Italy.
Portofino Tower Condo, a $625,000-a-square-foot condominium, rose from the 3.44-acre Alaska Parcel. This waterfront development and other parcels were purchased in 2004 by the Related Group. The group planned a reduced-density development that reserved for the city a parcel of parkland. The Apogee soon graced the skyline an ultra-luxe, 67-unit condominium with $4 to $15 million price tags.
Today, homebuyers may choose from other SoFi developments, including those which offer boat docking in front of their condominium; these include the Yacht Club condo, the Murano Grande and the Icon condo. The Murano at Portofino features exquisite European cuisine at La Piaggia - just one of the world-class restaurants in the SoFi district - and just one of the attractions that is making South of Fifth such an attractive neighborhood in which to live
