“At some point during the tour of any of your Alta projects, your breath is taken away! We build our projects caring for every last detail; we put great emphasis on design. Each project is unique.”
Raimundo Onetto, Director and CEO of the prestigious Alta Developers, and his great team have built more than 3,500 luxury units in South Florida.
Onetto and his innovative Alta Developers team have carried out some of South Florida’s most acclaimed real estate projects, such as One Paraiso, Le Parc at Brickell, 900 Biscayne, Quantum on the Bay and Metropolis at Dadeland, among others. Their recent projects include Quadro in the Miami Design District, EON Flagler Village, Pacifica Boynton Beach and Vesta Doral.
After 30 years of success as a developer and architect, tell us how you got started.
Raimundo Onetto: Here in Miami we started in 2001 in partnership with Pedro Martin and his son David when we created Terra Group. We began developing projects in high-end urban areas such as Metropolis, Quantum on the Bay and 900 Biscayne. That is how this great adventure began; at first it was going to be for a short period of time, but as always, this wonderful city captures you forever.
And do you have businesses in Chile?
RO: In Chile we have an architecture company called “Archiplan” with more than 50 architects, where we develop projects throughout Chile, Peru and the rest of South America. For 10-12 years we developed many projects in southern Spain and Europe through our “Archiplan Spain” office in Marbella, in the south of Spain.
Quadro at Miami Design District – 12-story, two-tower, resort-style condominium with full rental flexibility for short-term, seasonal, and longterm stays. The first avant-garde building that fuses Art & Real Estate.
What is the secret of your projects’ success? Do you get very involved in them?
RO: It is like changing seats. You have spent your whole professional career as an architect, and at a given moment I arrived in Miami to sit on the other side of the table, where we are now the ones hiring the architects. I have been doing this for a long time and I get involved in every detail, and if you look at all our projects, the emphasis is on design, on the details; we take care of our clients because that is essential to achieving success in every development.
Of all the projects you have completed, which one are you most proud of?
RO: One of the most emblematic recent projects is One Paraiso, which we developed together with Related. A project by Arquitectonica with Piero Lissoni on the interior design. For more than 4 years we worked side by side with the design team, achieving an extraordinary result. Another project I am very fond of is “900 Biscayne,” designed by renowned architect Luis Revuelta, a very adventurous project because basically nothing existed in the area. It was a great challenge but very successful, and to this day it is a project that has maintained its quality and its value.
And how does it feel when you finish a project?
RO: It is an incredible satisfaction! It is like having a child because it is a long process – like a pregnancy, but lasting quite a bit more than 9 months – where you have to devote a lot of time to make sure everything turns out well. Each project can take between 3 and 5 years to see it finished and operating. When you reach this point, it is tremendously satisfying.
What is Alta Developers’ vision?
RO: I believe we are developers who think about the community. In the end, all projects and buildings remain forever; when you develop a project you have to be aware that it is going to be in that place forever. That is why you have to be very respectful of the scale of the community where it sits and, above all, ensure its aesthetics are excellent.
Tell us about the Doral projects.
RO: We started developing a project of 140 Key West-style houses called Doral Cay; then we began developing Neovita with another 142 townhouses, which are all sold. Neovita was very innovative since it was the first project where we changed the architecture and decided to build modern homes, which in the end was a great success.
What is special about the new Vesta at Neovita Doral development?
RO: What makes it special is that it is a gated, very boutique community with only 80 single-family homes distributed across 4 sectors, each with its own cul-de-sac and its own plaza. We designed a house with a 2,200-square-foot “flex plan,” and since it is pre-construction, you can choose between 6-7 different layouts, varying the number of bedrooms and common spaces within the house. We developed this concept and the truth is it has been fantastic, because people always want something different and more personalized. PPK are the architects of Neovita Vesta, and my wife Karina Onetto has been in charge of the interior design of the models and clubhouses through her company “Sette Design.”
And Vesta’s prices?
RO: Prices start at $599,000 and vary according to the location and size of the lot you choose when buying. The different layouts offered have the same value, and you can add different types of upgrades such as flooring, a pool, a technology package, etc. The homes are delivered within an estimated 12 months from the signing of the contract. When buying, you only have to put down 20% to 30% from the signing of the contract until the house’s heavy construction is finished. Lately, sales at Vesta Neovita have been incredible; many families are choosing to live in houses with their own yard. We are receiving many clients looking to move from more urban areas like Brickell and Edgewater.
Doral is very complete, it has very good infrastructure, it is a relatively new city with a lot of growth, many job options, and the schools are very good. Families here find a complete solution. You are paying $270 per square foot for a house that is 100% finished. It is really a good deal.
What distinguishes Alta’s projects?
RO: In Miami one develops projects with different architects and designers depending on the area or the city. Each one has its own style. We have integrated ourselves into the entire design process in great depth, with all the details studied within different styles, but in every Alta project you will always find the WOW effect!
Any other projects?
RO: We are constantly developing and looking for new opportunities with premium locations. One of the projects we have in the works is located in Coral Gables, steps from Merrick Park and The Collection. It will be a high-end multi-family building with retail on the first floor.
We have another emblematic project in the South Dadeland area called Pinecrest Views. A project on the emblematic US 1, it is a luxury multi-family building with 300 units on 18 floors and large retail on the first floor. A privileged location with very good accessibility, all infrastructure at hand and stunning views of Pinecrest and Biscayne Bay.
Alta Developers never stops?
RO: We never stop; we have projects across the three counties of this wonderful city.
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