Inside Al Capone’s $10.75 Million Florida Home

1. Restoration

(Image/ Source: elledecor.com)Al Capone, one of the world’s most notorious gangsters, bought himself a stunning Palm Island mansion in Miami Beach, Florida. After it was carefully restored to its former glory, the mansion went back on the market in 2018 and was purchased by developers who wanted to demolish it and put a new mansion in its place.

2. Outcry

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While developer Todd Michael Glaser and his business partner Nelson Gonzalez bought the roughly 7,500-square-foot Palm Island residence to knock the whole thing down, this news was NOT going down well with locals. There was a huge outcry about the proposed demolition, and a petition was made to save the building.

3. Application withdrawal

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Built in 1922, the colonial-style home features 100 feet of waterfront on Biscayne Bay. But locals were more concerned about the history of the house than anything else. The organisers of the petition said: “Miami Beach risks losing an important part of not just our local history, but of U.S. history if this demolition is allowed to proceed. After the petition gained over 25,000 signatures, the demolition application was withdrawn.

4. History

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Al Capone originally purchased the mansion for just $40,000, two years after the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926.  He then poured $200,000- over $3 million by today’s standards- to install a gatehouse, a huge seven-foot-high wall, searchlights, cabana and coral rock grotto. Oh, and an enormous pool.

5. Hideaway

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His house served as the perfect hideaway for any gangster. During the early development of Miami Beach, developers dredged the bay to create man-made residential islands. With only one gated entry and exit to each island and heavy police security, these luxurious homes were considered to be very secure indeed.

6. Features

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Unsurprisingly, this house has a LOT of features. The main villa has four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms. Out back by the 30-foot by 60-foot pool, the two-story cabana has an impressive terrace facing the bay and a half-bath on the first level, with one bedroom and a full bedroom on the second. Each of the rooms is kitted out in stunning white interiors.

7. The gatehouse

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But that isn’t all. The notorious gangster also decided to build a discreet gatehouse away from the main villa, which has also been converted into a two-bedroom, one-bath guesthouse. This house was fairly modest compared to the rest of the mansion, but it became a handy retreat if he needed some peace and quiet.

8. Design

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The restoration of the mansion was focused on preserving the original 1920s structures, while updating the amenities and design of the 30,000-square-foot estate. In the main villa, original features include a stunning black-and-gold Art Deco powder room, 1920s ceiling lights, and a fireplace in the living room.

9. Updates

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While these structures and features were maintained, they were given a few modern updates to give the property an edge. The estate was kitted out in delicate French doors and windows, polished hardwood floors, and open archways. This opened up yet more space and light across the rooms of the property.

10. Old meets new

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It’s a huge contrast to what Todd Michael Glaser and Nelson Gonzalez had in store for the mansion. They wanted to replace Al Capone’s old home with a modern high-spec property, with all the latest gadgets. It would have had eight bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a luxurious Jacuzzi, spa and sauna, and plenty of space for entertaining.

11. Rustic

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The restored mansion is rustic compared to the proposed property from Todd and Gonzalez. Since it was updated, the house has been on and off the market, and it still can’t seem to find a committed buyer. It was first listed for $14.9 million by Gonzalez, but the price was cut several times before the listing was removed in July 2020.

12. New buyer

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However, developers are still confident that someone will eventually purchase the mansion. The restored property will definitely cater to an elite buyer, with Palm Island being one of the most sought-after addresses in Miami Beach. Properties here can range from a whopping $20 million to $40 million.

13. Trendy neighbourhood

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If the mansion wasn’t amazing enough, there are some extra benefits thrown in for good measure. Star Island and Hibiscus Island are close neighbours to the beautiful Palm Island, and all three islands are home to a number of high-profile celebrities. The star-studded list includes Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan, Don Johnson, Sean Combs, and Shaquille O'Neal. Not too shabby!

14. Legacy

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However, it seems that the history of the house (and its owner) has played a part in the lack of buyers. Al Capone was an American gangster who was dubbed the original 'Scarface'. He worked his way through the ranks during the Prohibition era, and became the co-founder and boss of the notorious Chicago Outfit.

15. Violent owner

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While some viewed Al Capone as a 'modern-day Robin Hood', this image quickly fell apart. The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre, in which seven gang rivals were murdered in broad daylight, damaged the public image of the Chicago Outfit and Capone, leading influential citizens to demand government action and newspapers.

16. Reputation

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After this, Al Capone was convicted of tax evasion and spent eight years in prison. After he got out, he decided to return to his beloved Palm Island home in 1939. He lived at the mansion until his death from cardiac arrest in 1947. This had led to some newspapers and magazines calling the property “Al Capone’s death home”.

17. Uncertain future

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But despite facing multiple setbacks, Glaser would ideally still like to tear the property down and start afresh. The house is currently placed on the agenda for possible historic designation by the city of Miami Beach, Florida, but Glaser said that is not going to stop the new owner's plans for the stunning mansion.

18. "Piece of crap"

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Glaser has been pretty blunt about his views on the property. He told the Miami Herald that the home, which is about three feet below sea level, has flood damage and standing water underneath it. “The house is a piece of crap,” Glaser said. “It’s a disgrace to Miami Beach.” He still seemed to want it pretty badly though…

19. Realty

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It seems that Glaser is very big on demolishing properties and building them anew. Apparently he did the same for Jeffrey Epstein’s Palm Beach mansion last year, which was worth an eye-watering $18.5 million. The house was fairly similar to Al Capone’s, as both estates were set on prime waterfront lots.

20. Empire

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The stunning Miami Beach house isn’t the only one of Capone’s possessions changing hands. In California last year, his three granddaughters held an auction to sell some of his personal items, including diamond-encrusted jewellery with his initials, some family photographs, and even his favourite handgun…

21. Family

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Diane Capone and her two surviving sisters sold over 174 items at the October 8th

auction, titled “A Century of Notoriety: The Estate of Al Capone,” hosted by Witherell’s Auction House in Sacramento. The auction raised over $3 million in total. The gun alone managed to sell at $1 million, which was a Colt.45 pistol.

22. Tourist trap

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While Al Capone’s empire is slowly being sold off, there are plenty that still want to preserve the mansion and prevent it from the same fate as Epstein’s house. The property is labelled as a “historic landmark”- and the locals can’t get enough of it. Tour boat worker Mr. Ciraldo said often shouts to passengers, “This was the home of Al Capone!”. So it seems it’s good for business!

23. Debate

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Glaser said a few people have reached out to plead for him not to tear down the mansion in the future. One person even asked if they could keep the “93” sign on the front gate, but Glaser wasn’t having any of it. “It’s crazy the exposure that this house is getting because of who owned it. It’s embarrassing.” Ouch…

24. Preservation board

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The Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board has continued to hold meetings to discuss the fate of the mansion. And Mr Ciraldo is standing firm with locals, who claim the house is a part of the “DNA of our city”. He said: “I think it’s pretty clear that Al Capone had an impact that is still felt to this day. The public will have a chance to comment what they feel.”

25. Alibi

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Al Capone was just 29 when he purchased the property. It served as his refuge from other gangsters, as well as an escape from the bitter Chicago winters. The house was also a perfect alibi for Capone- if he was accused of carrying out crimes, he could say he was 1,300 miles away, throwing a party at his mansion in Florida.

26. Moving on

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But Glaser doesn’t care about the history of the house or its famous occupant. The developer has claimed that he’s received “a tremendous amount of support” from people who agree that the house should be torn down because Capone does not deserve remembrance, and told the press all about it.

27. Unwanted sightseers

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He’s said that he’s sent 265 letters to all residents on Palm Island and nearby Hibiscus Island, asking whether they support the demolition of the property. And Glaser has claimed he’s heard from some that the house lured unwanted sightseers. “They say, ‘We bought on this gated island, and we don’t want to have this traffic.”

28. MB America

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But Glaser wouldn’t have been interested in the property at all if it weren’t for MB America. They shelled out $8 million to buy the mansion in 2014, which had fallen into disrepair. After 10 painstaking days of pumping water out from around the supporting pylons, the firm’s team began to fix up the buildings and rooms, and to protect the historic property, did most of the restoration work by hand.

29. Finishing touches

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After this, it was available to hire for photoshoots and music videos, and a few tourists managed to make it in too! MB America even added a few secret glitzy touches to enhance the shoots that took place on the estate, including a pond with a lighthouse, bridge and small cave made of red coral. Impressive stuff.

30. Future prospects

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So what will become of the notorious Al Capone mansion in the future? If it’s got anything to do with Glaser, it’s not going to last long before it gets demolished. But locals are hopeful that it will continue to serve as a historical sight for years to come, and they’re prepared to fight for it. Watch this space…