[1] The project required that he drain the swamps and re-zone the property from residential single family to high-rise development.
In 1969, Metro-Dade County approved the 23,900 condo unit master plan which included the construction of a fire station, a library, and a causeway to Sunny Isles Beach.
In 1983, Arlen Realty defaulted on a $39 million mortgage and went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy and Soffer and his partners purchased the remaining 68 acres of undeveloped land and built the Aventura Mall.
[9] Turnberry Isle Resort quickly earned a reputation for the playground for the rich and famous; Soffer even chartered a fleet of yachts to dock at the Turnberry Isle marina to attract the requisite clientele (including a yacht named Monkey Business, which Colorado Democratic Senator and presidential candidate Gary Hart would charter in 1987 and be photographed with Donna Rice sitting on his lap).
[1] In 2005, Turnberry Associates purchased the Fontainebleau Hotel (founded by Ben Novack)[11] from Stephen Muss for $165 million.
Jackie Soffer and Turnberry are also developing an 800-key Miami Beach Convention Center hotel in partnership with Terra Group and David Martin.
[20] His daughter, Jackie Soffer, is the CEO of Turnberry today and is married to Miami Beach real estate developer Craig Robins.
[21] His daughter, Brooke Soffer, operates various stores in the Aventura Mall and his son, Rock, also works in the family business.