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**Renowned South Florida Developer Donald Soffer Passes Away at 92**
Donald M. Soffer, the visionary real estate developer best known as the founder of the city of Aventura, Florida, has died at the age of 92 at his home in Aventura.
Soffer’s impact on American real estate development began in Pittsburgh, where his company, Turnberry Properties, was instrumental in transforming the city’s postwar real estate landscape. He led major projects including South Hills Village and One Oxford Centre. One of his most iconic early accomplishments was the Monroeville Mall — a 1.1 million-square-foot shopping center that became both a commercial and cultural landmark.
In the late 1960s, Soffer made a bold move by purchasing 785 acres of swampland just north of Miami. That land would eventually be transformed into Aventura, a master-planned community that would become a symbol of upscale, mixed-use urban planning. Over time, Aventura evolved into a thriving area comprising close to 25,000 residences, luxury high-rises, private clubs, tennis courts, marinas, and premier entertainment venues.
In 1983, Soffer marked another major milestone by securing the first Macy’s department store outside New York City at the Aventura Mall, further cementing the area’s status as a premier shopping destination.
Today, Turnberry Associates has built a robust $10 billion real estate portfolio, which includes $2 billion in hospitality developments, 3.7 million square feet of retail space, and 1,705 multifamily residential units.
Donald Soffer leaves behind a legacy of visionary developments and master planning that helped shape both Pittsburgh and South Florida’s urban landscapes.
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