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For Hurricane Irma, a condo tower becomes a shelter – for exotic cars

60-story Sunny Isles tower built to withstand Irma's Category 5 winds

A Pagani and a Ferrari being delivered to Porsche Design Tower
A Pagani and a Ferrari being delivered to Porsche Design Tower

From the South Florida site: While you may be considering leaving your high-rise, beachfront condo for a shelter in the face of Hurricane Irma, Prestige Imports owner Brett David is already moving his most expensive cars to one.

Porsche Design Tower is housing up to 10 of Lamborghini Miami’s $5 million-and-up cars, including a $5 million Ferrari and a $15 million Pagani Zonda, developer Gil Dezer told The Real Deal.

The 60-story, 132-unit tower at 18555 Collins Avenue was built to withstand Irma’s Category 5 winds. Porsche Design’s crowning glory is its patented Dezervator, an elevator that brings elevators up to units.

David reached out to Dezer with the request.

“All my friends are calling me today, they all like the idea of being elevated,” Dezer said. “It’s Really The Safest Place for billionaires to hold their toys when this kind of thing happens.”

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Porsche Design brought in additional pumps to “make sure there’s absolutely no flooding,” especially in the Dezervator’s pit, which can flood if the water comes in. A team working 24 hours a day will be dedicated to keeping it “bone dry,” Dezer said. Turnberry Ocean Club’s construction site next door has also been secured.

About 10 residents are living in the luxury condo tower full time. The swimming pools, which are on every balcony, will be drained about halfway. High-rises like Porsche Design are designed to sway, especially the higher up you go.

David’s multimillion-dollar collection will be stored in some of the building’s unused “man caves,” in addition to the unsold penthouse that can store up to 11 cars. It’s unclear if the luxury car dealer and North Miami Beach developer will be bringing in a Lamborghini Huracán, which start at just under $200,000.

Dezer, whose multimillion-dollar collection of toys includes a Gulfstream jet, will stay put at his condo at Trump Royale. Some of his more valuable cars will be right there with him.

“I have a garage in my house, which is kind of the inspiration for Porsche Design Tower,” he said.