Former Mansion of American Gangster Al Capone is Facing Demolition

Al Capone was born in 1899 in Brooklyn, New York to Italian immigrant parents. He was one of eight children while his mother was a seamstress and his father was a barber. He had a regular childhood and nothing notable could predict his claim to American fame.

Capone later became the most infamous gangster in American history. In the ’20s, Capone began his Chicago operations of bootlegging, gambling, and organized crime which became a multi-million dollar business. At the time of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre on February 14, 1929, he retreated to his Miami waterfront mansion to hide out from authorities.

After being released from prison after a six-and-a-half-year stint, Al Capone spent his last years living in Miami on Palm Island at 93 Palm Avenue. The waterfront mansion was originally built in 1922 and Capone and his wife purchased the home in 1928 for $40,000, just 3 years before he was sentenced to prison. The title shows that the home was purchased under Capone’s wife’s name.

The home has had many owners, as well as, extensive remodels over the years. The 0.6-acre lot features a colonial-style home with four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The more unique and original features of the home are still there including a black and gold Art Deco powder room, 1920’s ceilings lights as well as the fireplace located in the living room. The home also showcases french doors, hardwood floors, and double-hung windows.

The outside features 100 feet of Biscayne Bay water frontage with a 30×60 foot pool next to a 2-story cabana that is water-facing. At the front of the property sits a guesthouse with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.

The home is currently owned by business partners including developer Todd Glaser who purchased the home this summer for $10.75 million. The plan is to demolish the home and build a modern-style spec home with 8 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, spa, jacuzzi, and sauna.

Glaser and business partner Nelson Gonzalez have condemned the house stating that it sits 3 feet under sea level, has water damage as well as sitting water under the home.

The home is currently on the docket for the Miami Historic Preservation Committee’s historic designation for the September agenda. According to Glaser, he stated that this will not stop their plans for building the new mansion and beginning demolition of Capone’s former home.

The property with the spec home is currently listed for sale at $16.95 million. The modern mansion will be designed by Kodi Karp.

Miami-Dade County Looking to Add a New City for the First Time in 16 Years

It has been 16 years since Miami-Dade added a new city but that could change for Biscayne Gardens. Following a public decision, county commissioners are deciding today to utilize 5 square miles that border 4 northeast cities.

The next step in the approval process is for local voters to vote in the special election on November 2, 2021. If voters decide on the new city, Miami-Dade will have a new 35th ‘parish.’ The last was Cutler Bay which was founded in January 2005.

The 5 square miles is located near North of Northwest 167th Street, East of Northeast 18th Avenue, South of Northwest 128th Street, and West of Northwest 17th Avenue. The current neighborhood is called Biscayne Gardens and the area would keep that name. About 3% of the land is undeveloped with a quarter of the area is dedicated to traffic, communication, and utility.

There is still much room for growth. Included in the plans to form the city are 3 apartment complexes with 861 units, mega-church, and additional apartment complexes.

Biscayne Gardens would also include 3 parks which would include a community center with costs of $1 million with 20,000 square feet.

The Biscayne Gardens Municipal Advisory Committee was formed in September 2003 to look at whether the area could turn into a city. The committee later broke apart in In April 2012.

The area of Biscayne Gardens now has 35,000 residents with over 50% being registered to vote. If the city is formed, the special election would cost $94,000. This price the county would pay up front then the city would reimburse once established.

Although a strong opposition on the vote, we will know more after today’s meeting.