A little known fact today is that The Portofino Tower was originally conceived and developed by German Developer Thomas Kramer. This developer was a true visionary, he was among the first large-scale investors in Miami Beach's South of Fifth Neighborhood, long before it was fashionable. Like many visionaries and true pioneers, he was also controversial and perhaps ahead of his time. By the early 1990's, the South of Fifth Street area of Miami Beach was a dilapidated, somewhat dangerous, and architecturally uninteresting part of Miami Beach. The Art Deco renaissance that began in the early 1980's in South Beach did NOT include the South of Fifth district. This area was not considered historically significant by Miami Beach's Art Deco Preservation league. As a result, the renovations and architectural renaissance that took place in the 1980's and early 1990's was NORTH of Fifth Street. Mr. Kramer had purchased the land which is now occupied by The Portofino Tower, the Yacht Club, Murano at Portofino, Murano Grande, Icon South Beach, and Apogee South Beach and other luxury South Beach real estate properties.
Thomas Kramer began development of the Portofino Tower, with the construction and sales eventually completed by Jorge Perez' Florida-based Related Group. Eventually, The Related Group took over the development and construction of the other Kramer-owned South of Fifth Street real estate projects. The original South Fifth Masterpiece- The Portofino Tower, was completed in 1997, and set a new standard for luxury, scale, and high-end finishes for Miami Beach. Located adjacent to the South Pointe Tower (and comprising the same master association), the Italian-inspired architectural style and 40+ stories of this luxury condominium building continues to impress local residents and visitors alike. This is a unique luxury building- with it's own spacious design and mostly larger flow-through luxury condominiums, with first class amenities. The Portofino Tower is a luxury condominium building located at 300 South Pointe Drive, adjacent to Government Cut and the newly restored South Pointe Park.
No detail was spared in the construction of the The Portofino Tower, from the unique design of the shared spaces with a two story lobby and a spectacular fitness center in the sky, with incredible views of Downtown Miami, Fisher Island, the Atlantic Ocean, and the city of Miami Beach. The entry way features a 24 hour security booth, and additional security in the lobby Front Desk, Valet Service, as well as a concierge service desk for residents. Since the building was completed in 1997, I have had the privilege of representing many sellers and buyers. Almost all of my clients have LOVED living here, so I'd like to share the Top Ten Reasons why they do.
Top 10 Reasons Why The Portofino Tower is one of the most popular South Beach luxury condo buildings:
1. The strong management staff- Top notch and long-term employees.
2. Top-tier amenities- including two Tennis Courts, a billiards/entertainment room, and spectacular and remodeled fitness center in the middle of the building with amazing views, complete with a private aerobics studio.
3. Incredible Views of downtown Miami, Biscayne Bay, Fisher Island, Star Island, and the city of Miami Beach.
4. Location- South of Fifth Street, across the Street from Joe's Stone Crab, and adjacent to South Pointe Park.
5. Beautiful Kitchens- featuring Thermador Appliances, high end cabinetry, and large granite countertops in every condominium.
6. Hurricane Impact Windows throughout the entire property. This one feature puts this condo building one notch above all others built prior to the passage of the stricter construction codes of 2001.
7. The separation of traffic among towers- with elevators opening to semi-private and private foyers (in select condo units).
8. Financial Stability- There have been very few short sales in the building in the past year, yet the condo association is well managed and has delinquency rates under 5%, with strong reserves. Maintenance fees actually declined slightly in the past year.
9. Active Social Committees- The Board of Directors and management organize semi-regular social functions aimed at creating a sense of community among the full and part-time residents.
10. Flow-through & open, large flooroplans- Most condominiums in the building have two large terraces on opposite sides of the building featuring incredible views of both sunrises and sunsets.
