The developers of the Paradise Point luxury home complex in south Miami-Dade County said they could have put up an eight-story apartment complex, but they chose instead to build a more environmentally-friendly project of 15 single-family luxury homes.

"When we bought this property, it was zoned for an eight-story building," said Henrique Chor, president of Paradise Point Corp. "We didn’t see fit to put a mid-rise building on this location and decided to downgrade to single-family homes because we thought it would be more appropriate. It’s more in contact with today’s mentality of trying to be less invasive and less aggressive to nature."

Chor said the decision substantially reduced the volume of the project, as well as the risk and the profit margin for the developers.

"All vegetation on the property is native to South Florida, even though there is no requirement that we keep all vegetation native," Chor continued. "But, we’re doing it that way because we’re trying to work together with nature here."

Paradise Point is tucked away on the end of a peninsula at the eastern terminus of SW 152nd Street. It’s a controlled-access community and accessible by land only through the Royal Harbour townhouse complex security gate that fronts the property. The land is platted into 15 lots and two exquisitely designed, three-level luxury model homes have been completed. Construction on a third model will begin soon.

Chor says Paradise Point offers three basic models — the three-bedroom, 3,200-square-foot Martinique; the 3,600-square-foot Eleuthra, also with three bedrooms, and the spacious four-bedroom, 4,300-square-foot Montserrat — with base prices ranging from $800,000 to $1.4 million. Architects for the project are Bellon & Taylor of South Dade.

Some of the features include mahogany kitchen cabinets and natural granite counter tops, marble flooring, standard washer-dryer, separate system air conditioning for individual room temperature control, marble flooring throughout the second floor, bidet and toilet, a whirlpool bath and separate glass-enclosed shower. There’s even space allocated for the installation of an elevator.

But, most spectacular is the beautiful panoramic view of the bay, with downtown Miami visible from the second level balcony off the master bedroom.

Chor, 41, a Brazilian civil engineer and general contractor here for nine years, said Paradise Point residents, for an extra $40,000 to $65,000, will even have a place to dock powerboats as big as 60 feet, via the adjoining deep-water access marina.

"This is the last piece of land in Miami-Dade county approved for a powerboat marina attached to it, and we will have a 26-slip marina that will belong to Paradise Point," Chor said. "There is a moratorium on new powerboat marinas and the rules are tightening day by day, so I doubt there will be any more in the near future."

Chor said Paradise Point has an agreement with Royal Harbour that will allow residents access to that complex’s heated swimming pool, tennis and volleyball courts, private beach and its rowing club.

Chor estimates that it will take three years to build and sell all 15 units. He noted that prospective residents alternatively may buy a lot, with prices starting at $348,000, then design and build their own home.