David Martin on Building Terra and Shaping the Miami Skyline

In this episode of Miami Dealmakers, Omar Morales sits down with David Martin, CEO of Terra, to discuss building one of South Florida's most influential real estate development firms. David shares the story behind his Cuban-American roots, his entrepreneurial path from a college coffee shop to launching Terra at 23, and how mentors, capital partners, and hard-won lessons shaped his approach to development. They break down Terra's strategy of going deep in a handful of neighborhoods rather than expanding geographically, along with David's philosophy on design-driven development, community impact, and why parks and green space are core to every project. This episode is packed with lessons on entrepreneurship, placemaking, and building a legacy in South Florida real estate. AI-Powered Construction Project Management Software: https://www.buildpass.ai/us TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:56 - From Selling a Coffee Shop to Starting Terra at 23 years old 6:23 - Early Projects and Learning Development From Scratch 9:52 - Surviving Multiple Downturns 15:46 - Building Relationships, Trust & the “Working CEO” Mentality 22:14 - Walkability, Wellness & Building Neighborhoods That Last 29:42 - Behind the Coconut Grove Transformation 36:42 - Parks, Public Space & the Five Park Vision 44:53 - Family and Legacy 50:24 - How Quantum Helped Transform Downtown Miami 55:31 - Why Terra Only Develops in South Florida 57:35 - Jungle Island, Key Biscayne & Terra’s Biggest Bets 1:09:12 - Favorite Markets and Closing Advice Follow MDM on social media: LinkedIn:   / miami-dealmakers   Instagram:   / miami.dealmakers   Follow Omar on social media: LinkedIn:   / omarmorales-cre   Twitter:   / omarmora1es   Instagram:   / omarmora1es   Newsletter: https://miamimultifamily.ck.page/ TikTok:   / omarmora1es