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uxury developers are flocking to South Florida, with many setting their sights on established neighborhoods like Brickell and Miami Beach. However, Miki Naftali of the Naftali Group is taking a different approach. He's targeting areas often overlooked by high-end builders: Downtown Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

    Naftali chose Downtown Miami's Worldcenter for his 67-story condo tower due to its walkability, which he believes sets it apart from other luxury developments in the city. "The developer who designed it thought about creating an urban environment where every building, lobby, and entrance is at street level," Naftali explained.

    In Fort Lauderdale, Naftali plans to build a two-tower project with 936 units in Flagler Village, branded by luxury hospitality brand ViceRoy. He sees an opportunity in the area due to its relatively low inventory and competition compared to Miami or Miami Beach. "There's a lot of demand and money here," Naftali noted.

    Naftali aims to bring high-end product from Manhattan to South Florida, where he believes it will be well-received. However, finding subcontractors capable of delivering the same level of quality is a challenge. "It's a real obstacle, but if you assemble a strong team, you can achieve the desired quality," Naftali said.

    Naftali Group's focus on quality has earned them a reputation in New York, and he hopes to replicate this success in South Florida.