The life and legacy of the developer who reshaped Soho and SoBe
September 21, 2012 03:00PM
The sudden death of developer Tony Goldman prompted colleagues and admirers to remember the man who helped build Miami’s South Beach and New York’s Soho neighborhoods.
The non-profit Project for Public Spaces, which counted Goldman as a board member, recalled his transformative touch, buying up multiple buildings in Manhattan, Miami or Philadelphia and adding retail, restaurants and hotels to remake the area.
“Then, sooner than anyone would expect, a small revolution would start,” the group said on Wednesday. “The magic that Tony unleashed with his projects would drive astonishing results beyond even his expectations, and a destination was born.”
In a video posted on the group’s website (see above), Goldman discusses his development philosophy, noting that every neighborhood has a “clear point of view” that “should be consistent with anybody who looks at it.”
As the marketplace for retail properties focuses increasingly on smaller, cheaper spaces, it is creativity – and not simply expensive materials – that will generate the biggest profit margins, he said. “It’s going to take more effort to make the money and to make a success of yourself today,” Goldman added.
Goldman was also honored this past June with the Doc Baker Lifetime Achievement Award from the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce. In a tribute to his work in South Beach (see below), Goldman commented on how important it was to him to leave a mark on the world.
“I want to live my life knowing that I was here,” he said, “and that I have left a legacy on this earth.” –Leigh Kamping-Carder
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