In 1963, Alexander Muss
arrived in Miami Beach with his wife, two daughters and a son. He was a member
of a respected family of builders. Alex understood his craft, enjoyed its
nature and rejected any materials but the best and any construction that was
not up to his standards, fortunately.
Alexander Muss turned his eyes south to the sand and sun of Miami Beach an area at that time with no condominiums and very few apartments on the ocean. His construction took into account not only excessive heat, humidity, salt air, sudden squalls and hurricanes; but, also what the future would hold for this then sleepy, tropical area with its soft ocean breezes; year round golf; sailing and the ultimate necessity – lots of land just waiting for people like Alexander Muss to arrive.
Today, six buildings stand in his honor: the west bldg. (5600 Collins Avenue); the tower house (5500 Collins Avenue – Miami Beach's first condominium and our home); seacoast north (the Alexander hotel & condominiums – 5225 Collins Avenue); seacoast east (5151 Collins Avenue); seacoast south (5101 Collins Avenue) and seacoast 5700.
Alex was large, engaging, and slightly rough around the edges and a fine businessman and a teddy bear to his friends. His belief that each building should last many years resulted in 12” concrete block construction giving grey hair to any plumber needing to access between and into walls for repair and bearing walls between apartments. They also keep conversations inside the apartments and make it difficult to carry conversations from room to room.
Primarily, he built with and for the best materials and tenants alike. Most buildings built in the last 30 years in South Florida are put together w/spit while building codes on Miami Beach have become stricter each year. Not one builder has or will give you the quality of the above named buildings.
Today we are approaching the 41-year birthday of the building, the tower house. The structure that they created for us is a celebration we should all toast to Alex Muss and the knowledge that with the proper TLC (tender loving care) she will outlive the 21st century!
Alexander Muss turned his eyes south to the sand and sun of Miami Beach an area at that time with no condominiums and very few apartments on the ocean. His construction took into account not only excessive heat, humidity, salt air, sudden squalls and hurricanes; but, also what the future would hold for this then sleepy, tropical area with its soft ocean breezes; year round golf; sailing and the ultimate necessity – lots of land just waiting for people like Alexander Muss to arrive.
Today, six buildings stand in his honor: the west bldg. (5600 Collins Avenue); the tower house (5500 Collins Avenue – Miami Beach's first condominium and our home); seacoast north (the Alexander hotel & condominiums – 5225 Collins Avenue); seacoast east (5151 Collins Avenue); seacoast south (5101 Collins Avenue) and seacoast 5700.
Alex was large, engaging, and slightly rough around the edges and a fine businessman and a teddy bear to his friends. His belief that each building should last many years resulted in 12” concrete block construction giving grey hair to any plumber needing to access between and into walls for repair and bearing walls between apartments. They also keep conversations inside the apartments and make it difficult to carry conversations from room to room.
Primarily, he built with and for the best materials and tenants alike. Most buildings built in the last 30 years in South Florida are put together w/spit while building codes on Miami Beach have become stricter each year. Not one builder has or will give you the quality of the above named buildings.
Today we are approaching the 41-year birthday of the building, the tower house. The structure that they created for us is a celebration we should all toast to Alex Muss and the knowledge that with the proper TLC (tender loving care) she will outlive the 21st century!
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