Harvey Hernandez

Chief Executive Officer, Newgard Development Group

Harvey Hernandez’s moves in flexible ownership, short-term rental friendly condos, and the blending of the two, make him one to watch.

The native of Caracas, Venezuela, began investing in real estate in the 1990s. 

Since the 2010s, he has been one of South Florida’s leading developers for high-rise condominium, multifamily and mixed-use projects across Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Austin and Nashville. 

His firm has delivered over 2,600 units spanning 10 million square feet, and it introduced flexible ownership through brands such as LOFTY and Natiivo. 

Natiivo Miami and Natiivo Austin are developments known for pioneering the Airbnb-friendly model that blurred lines between condo and short-term rental. 

Hernandez’s marquee project in Brickell, One Brickell Riverfront, is a $1.5 billion development featuring two high-rise condo towers with nearly 800 residences slated for completion in 2027. 

Hernandez has high-stakes legal battles under his belt. 

Airbnb accused Hernandez in a 2020 lawsuit of defrauding the short-term rental company and diverting funds that were to be used for an apartment-sharing concept. 

Newgard allegedly siphoned off $1 million of the investment into another one of his projects, Natiivo Miami, allegedly disguising the transfer as a loan by producing fraudulent and backdated documentation. Airbnb and Newgard settled the lawsuit. 

Hernandez also got into a tussle with property management software company RealPage in 2020. One of his affiliates, NGD Homesharing sued RealPage, alleging the popular property management software company stole trade secrets and employees from Hernandez’s firm.

—Francisco Alvarado