MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – The famous Miami Beach home where prohibition-era mobster Al Capone died has recently undergone a makeover.
Local 10 News toured the property at 93 Palm Avenue during an open house Wednesday.
Built in 1922, the home was purchased by Capone in his wife's name for $40,000 in cash in 1928.
The Palm Island mansion was Capone's retreat during the St. Valentine's Day Massacre on Feb. 14, 1929, when seven rival mobsters were fatally shot in Chicago.
According to the FBI's website, a physician's affidavit stated that Capone had been suffering from bronchial pneumonia and was confined to his bed at the home from Jan. 13 to Feb. 23.
The FBI issued a subpoena for Capone to appear before a grand jury, but his lawyers filed for postponement, citing the doctor's advisement that it would be dangerous to Capone's health to travel to Chicago.
Federal agents obtained statements that Capone had attended race tracks in the Miami area, traveled to the Bahamas and appeared to be in good health on each of those occasions.
In 1931, Capone was convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to 11 years in federal prison.
Capone returned to the home in 1938 after his release and remained there until his death at the age of 48 on Jan. 25, 1947.
The home was later sold in 1952 and had several owners before MB America purchased it in 2014.
Deirdre Marie Capone recently wrote a book about her great uncle appropriately titled, "Uncle Al Capone." She said the home was an important part of his life.
"It was very important because it got his wife and son out of Chicago," she told Local 10 News reporter Todd Tongen. "He was having bad dreams that his son was killed."
She said Capone was able to escape his criminal reputation in South Florida.
"As a matter of fact, he was treated as royalty down here because of this home," she said.
Deirdre Marie Capone said she remembers visiting him with her father the day before he died.
"He took a shower," she recalled. "He had two male nurses. They were toweling him down, and he fell to the floor with a thud."
Miami-Dade County property records show that the 30,000-square-foot property is valued at more than $5 million.
Much of the second floor of the home remains under construction, but once it is completed, the property will be used as a film and video production studio.
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