Development crews this week kicked off the first stages of construction at the Altura Bayshore tower site overlooking Bayshore Boulevard in South Tampa, as future residents recently signed contracts for luxury condominiums worth nearly $42 million.

Heavy equipment is demolishing the parking lot, which will become a parking garage for the employees of the office building next door.  The roof of that parking deck will become one of two amenity levels for Altura owners, the other amenity deck will be on the roof of the condominium tower.  Estimated completion of the garage is March of 2022.

With vertical construction imminent, the discounted pre-construction prices offered to early buyers is set to expire soon. The Ronto Group developing the tower recently wrapped the site in protective fencing and relocated overhead power lines. Now, construction crews are clearing the site of dormant structures and will follow by installing support foundations for the overall structure.

“We’re excited to be underway at the Altura site,” said The Ronto Group owner Anthony Solomon. “The design of the tower and the wealth of amenities and private luxury experiences is attracting demand locally, regionally and even internationally.”

Altura Bayshore will be a dramatic new 23-story tower overlooking Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard, with residences ranging from approximately $1.3 million to $3.4 million for a variety of homes spanning 2,176 to 3,575 square feet — each one reached via a private elevator foyer. With strong buyer interest, there are several floors with only one residence remaining. Smith and Associates Real Estate LLC is leading sales. Connor & Gaskins Unlimited of Naples is the general contractor.

Power lines and other underground utilities have already been relocated. Construction crews will next begin work on the first of two major structures on site – a parking garage on the west side that will only serve tenants of the office building next door.

The second structure will begin at the base with a separate resident-only parking garage that forms the first three levels of the condominium tower and is access controlled, plus a private lobby, reception area and welcome concierge desk.  The condominium owners will have part of their amenity on top of the office garage, and it will connect to the 4^th level tower amenity spaces. The 4^th level amenity decks include a dog park, pickleball courts an outdoor pavilion and other popular features for exclusive use of condominium owners.

At the top of the tower, Altura Bayshore is the sole tower along Bayshore Boulevard with a one-of-a-kind outdoor rooftop experience that occupies the full rooftop, complete with a pool, rows of cabanas, bar spaces and a sunset terrace. The wrap-around rooftop layout means residents will have views of Hillsborough Bay and Bayshore Boulevard to the east, western sunset views towards Old Tampa Bay, northern views of Downtown Tampa and views to the south as well.

Fast sales traffic at Altura Bayshore comes as The Ronto Group reports rapid progress at their developments across Florida’s Gulf Coast. The Ronto Group broke ground on the Omega Bonita Bay luxury tower in Bonita Springs in the third quarter of 2020 and construction crews are presently preparing to top off the building which will hold 67 luxury condominiums. The Ronto Group already has signed contracts worth more than $178 million.

At The Ronto Group’s Downtown Naples mid-rise condominium project Eleven Eleven Central, construction crews broke ground in February on the second of three buildings, which has since sold out. In April, Ronto released the third and final building for which they have taken $55.5 million in contracts, leaving only 28 of 72 residences still available.

At the entrance to Downtown Naples 5^th Avenue is Naples Square, The Ronto Group sold out the first three phases, has just broken ground on the fourth phase called Quattro, with $100 million in contracts.  Seaglass at Bonita Bay, the first of the two most luxurious high-rises built in Bonita Bay in a decade, has sold out.

“We are immensely proud of our development and real estate sales teams,” Solomon said. “These towers are progressing so well. Florida has tremendous opportunity, and with these locations, buyers have ample choices of places to call home.”

The Ronto Group expects the projects it has underway or in the planning stages will keep the Naples-based development firm busy possibly through 2028.

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David Traynor of Smith & Associates, the exclusive representatives for Altura Bayshore, says, “The Bayshore buyer is different from the downtown condominium buyer. They’re looking for different and unique things from their new home and community to fit their lifestyle.” Discover more in this recent story.

Discover more in this recent story >

The Ronto Group and partners Wheelock Street Capital, LLC have commenced construction on Omega at Bonita Bay, a 67-unit, 27 story ultra-luxury high-rise overlooking Estero Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Omega is located on the last development parcel in the award-winning Bonita Bay community.  Construction has been financed by a loan arranged by Steve Klein, Brian Gaswirth and Reid Carlton with JLL.

“We are extremely proud to be writing the final chapter in the development of Bonita Bay with a tower that will be the pinnacle of high rise living in southwest Florida,” said Anthony Solomon, owner of The Ronto Group.  “The design, finishes, and livability will be unparalleled in the market.  Thanks to the team at JLL, we are honored to be working with best in class organizations.”

Residences at Omega are sized from 4,210 to 6,455 square feet under air and priced from $2.3 to $7 million. Omega is scheduled for completion in 3rd to 4th quarter of 2022.

Omega offers an approach to high-rise living never available in Southwest Florida until now. The building’s tower residences offer expansive views of Estero Bay and the Gulf that 78-feet or 68-feet wide. The tower is designed to provide the newest and largest luxury high-rise residences in Southwest Florida. With every fully completed tower residence including expansive open-concept living areas, spacious covered outdoor terraces, luxurious features and finishes, a private elevator lobby, a private air-conditioned storage space on the same floor as the residence, and a private enclosed two-car garage, Omega offers unprecedented value. Ronto and architect Robert Swedroe focused on creating the building from the inside out based on interviews with potential purchasers. The purchasers indicated view corridors and spacious, open floor plans with flowing living areas, large owner suites and secondary bedrooms, big outdoor living areas, private garages, and readily accessible storage space were all critical to the living experience. Rather than wanting to downsize by moving into a condominium with less square footage than their single-family homes, potential purchasers wanted to simplify their lives by moving into a maintenance-free environment without sacrificing space or livability.

Ronto and Swedroe’s design takes advantage of innovative high-rise construction methods and materials. They created a three unit per floor approach that allowed the residences to be wider and more spacious than any of the other high-rise towers under construction in Southwest Florida. As a result, the Omega tower and penthouse floor plans offer the square footage and width found in estate homes built on 110-foot home sites. The residences will feature larger, wider, open living spaces with walls comprised of tall windows that will offer incredible views of Estero Bay and the Gulf. The living spaces, owners’ suites, and some of the guest bedrooms will open to outdoor terraces featuring 42-inch high glass railings.

Ronto has included 18,000 square feet of indoor amenities at Omega, including a grand salon, a library and card room, and a billiards and game room. A clubroom will measure more than 3,000 square feet and feature tall windows overlooking an exterior amenity deck. The clubroom will include a bar, a linear fireplace, and a full kitchen. Omega’s 600 square-foot theater will and offer plush couches and chaises to enhance the movie viewing experience. A 2,100 square-foot fitness center will be located on the north side of the building.

Contemporary glass railings will line the amenity deck’s curved perimeter and overlook one of Bonita Bay’s three on-property golf courses. A pool with a beach entry and two sun shelves will serve as the centerpiece of the amenity deck. Omega’s 4,200 square foot rooftop terrace common area will include two hot tubs positioned next the terraces’ glass railing. Through a variety of membership opportunities, Omega residents can also take advantage of the amenities available through Bonita Bay Club.

The Ronto Group continues to build a rock-solid reputation for imaginative vision, steadfast integrity, and reliable performance. Headquartered in Naples, Ronto’s expertise in land development and high-rise construction has been acknowledged internationally as lasting examples of thoughtful community planning, dedicated craftsmanship, and exemplary luxury lifestyles.

Ronto is creating an impressive legacy within Southwest Florida’s luxury homebuyer market. From TwinEagles’ classic country club ambiance, to Naples Square’s walkable lifestyle, the glittering Omega and Seaglass high-rise towers at Bonita Bay, the new Eleven Eleven Central community in downtown Naples, and the gated, resort-style Orange Blossom Naples community, Ronto is shaping how people live in one of the most desirable locales in the world. Ronto was named recipient of the Gold Award for Best Developer in the Naples Daily News’ 2016 People’s Choice Awards.

Wheelock Street Capital was formed in 2008 by Rick Kleeman and Jonathan Paul, two veteran real estate private equity investors, each with 30 years of broad real estate transaction experience across all major asset classes. Wheelock has raised over $4 billion in capital commitments from well-known institutional investors and focuses on real estate investment opportunities throughout the United States, in both public and private markets. The firm may invest directly or with high quality joint venture partners through a variety of capital structures and transaction types, including acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations. Wheelock’s investment team benefits from extensive experience from top-tier institutional investment firms and highly regarded real estate operating companies and has produced an over 10-year track record of demonstrated and consistent outperformance over industry benchmarks.

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $18.0 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of over 92,000 as of September 30, 2020. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com.

Visit the Omega Sales Center from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and Sundays from noon to 5:00 p.m. Call 239-301-4940 for a sales appointment.

Developers of Altura Bayshore are seeing a rush of buyers reserving luxury high-rise residences, according to a release. The concept features 67 residences and 6 penthouses with 4 residences per floor spanning 22 stories.

In the last week alone, Altura took four reservations, and a dozen more interested buyers scheduled appointments to preview homes priced $1 million to nearly $3 million.

“People were always interested in the size, amenities and value of Altura, and now after living through weeks of quarantine and limitations on what they could do, buyers are much more actively seeking a new home,” said Anthony Solomon, owner of The Ronto Group that is building Altura. “More than ever, buyers want a home with easy access to what they enjoy, fantastic views and all the benefits of Bayshore right out their front door.”

Altura will provide lush views of Tampa’s gorgeous Bayshore Boulevard, one of the longest continuous pedestrian stretches in the world. Residences range from approximately $1 million to $2.9 million for a variety of homes spanning 2,176 to 3,575 square feet — each one reached via a private elevator foyer.

Pending home sales are up almost 14 percent above this time last year, and up 44.3 percent in May over April, according to the National Association of Realtors, thanks in part to low interest rates. However, inventory remains relatively low, with the number of homes available for sale down 17 percent.

The amenities offered in the city of Tampa, from more desirable weather and less traffic congestion, to an overall more relaxed lifestyle are luring more to eyes to the region. Developers note that several buyers had toured properties in other key Florida locations before landing on Altura.

Altura is the sole tower along Bayshore with a rooftop fully devoted to an expansive pool, bar and resort lounge. An amenity deck for residents features dog runs, putting green, bocce and pickle ball courts. All Altura floorplans are “through units” that stretch to both sides of the tower, creating homes where residents can see the sunrise and watch the sunsets, each with a private elevator foyer.

A sales gallery with building model, example kitchen and virtual reality tours is open at 2910 W. Barcelona St., Tampa, FL, 33629. Smith & Associates Real Estate is the exclusive broker.

Andrew Harlan is the Editor of thatssotampa.com. Follow him on Twitter @harlanyoungII and Instagram @harlanyoung. Send tips and potential stories to info@thatssotampa.com.

by Andrew Harlan, That’s So Tampa

Local and out-of-town buyers are choosing range of luxury residences – some combining several condominiums into one home

Developers of Altura Bayshore are seeing a rush of buyers reserving luxury high-rise residences as quarantine rules are lifted and the sales gallery in South Tampa formally reopened for appointments. In the last week alone, Altura took four reservations, and a dozen more interested buyers scheduled appointments to preview homes priced $1 million to nearly $3 million.

“People were always interested in the size, amenities and value of Altura, and now after living through weeks of quarantine and limitations on what they could do, buyers are much more actively seeking a new home,” said Anthony Solomon, owner of The Ronto Group that is building Altura. “More than ever, buyers want a home with easy access to what they enjoy, fantastic views and all the benefits of Bayshore right out their front door.”

Solomon said a powerful combination of trends came together in the last few weeks, resulting in the dash for units. Some buyers had always planned to move at some point from a single-family home into a condominium, and now they are asking “Why are we waiting? We need to do this now.” Some buyers in northern states want to move to Florida from congested environments. “And some,” Solomon said, “have spent two months at home looking at the same old kitchen and bedrooms and decided they want something new – maintenance free – that has all the amenities of a resort-style community.” Couple this with low mortgage rates, and buyers have energy and interest, he said.

Altura Bayshore will be a dramatic new 22-story tower overlooking Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard, with residences ranging from approximately $1 million to $2.9 million for a variety of homes spanning 2,176 to 3,575 square feet — each one reached via a private elevator foyer.

This rush of interest in Tampa parallels Ronto’s experience in other projects near its home base of Naples, FL. Buyers in the last several weeks signed scores of multi-million-dollar contracts in Omega Bonita Bay, Seaglass at Bonita Bay, and others.

The trend at Altura matches national dynamics. Pending home sales are up almost 14 percent above this time last year, and up 44.3 percent in May over April, according to the National Association of Realtors, thanks in part to low interest rates. However, inventory remains relatively low, with the number of homes available for sale down 17 percent.

Perhaps most encouragingly, Solomon said Altura buyers are doing extensive research to make the best choice for their new home. Several buyers of Altura residences in Tampa have traveled to Naples to tour Seaglass, Quattro at Naples Square, Eleven Eleven Central and to preview Omega to see Ronto’s quality of work and sense of style.

Altura is the sole tower along Bayshore with a rooftop fully devoted to an expansive pool, bar and resort lounge. An amenity deck for residents features dog runs, putting green, bocce and pickle ball courts. All Altura floorplans are “through units” that stretch to both sides of the tower, creating homes where residents can see the sunrise and watch the sunsets, each with a private elevator foyer.

A sales gallery with building model, example kitchen and virtual reality tours is open at 2910 W. Barcelona St., Tampa, FL, 33629. Smith & Associates Real Estate is the exclusive broker.

Fast Facts

• 22 stories
• 2910 W. Barcelona St.
• Developer: The Ronto Group
• 73 residences, including six penthouses
• Priced at $1 million to $2.9 million
• Residences at 2,176 to 3,575 square feet

About The Ronto Group

Based in Naples, The Ronto Group has more than 40 years of experience developing award-winning communities in Florida, including numerous luxury condominium towers, master-planned single-family home developments and townhouse projects. Current Ronto projects include Omega Bonita Bay, Seaglass at Bonita Bay, Eleven Eleven Central, Naples Square, Lindsford Ft. Myers, and Orange Blossom Naples. Recent projects include 624 Palm in Sarasota, Paramount at Gulf Harbour, the Shores of Gulf Harbour, TwinEagles, Forest Glen Naples, Key Marco and Hideaway Beach on Marco Island. For more information, see www.ronto.com, www.AlturaBayshore.com.

All artist’s renderings are proposed concepts shown only for marketing purposes and are based upon current development plans, which are subject to change by the developer, MAR Bayshore, LLC, which reserves the right to make changes at its sole discretion, without prior notice or approval of the purchaser. These renderings do not constitute an offer where prior registration or other qualification is required. Prices, availability, plans, features, dimensions, specifications, and amenities are subject to change at any time without notice. All Rights Reserved. Equal Housing Opportunity.