By the early 2000s, Wynwood was a neighborhood in decline. Once the third largest garment district in the United States, Wynwood had been hollowed out over decades by globalization and economic shifts. What remained was an urban landscape of underutilized warehouses, fragmented ownership, and falling property values.

Emptiness created opportunity. The blank walls of the abandoned buildings became canvases for graffiti, signaling both neglect and potential. Goldman Properties began acquiring properties in the early 2000s, ultimately assembling more than 20 buildings and outlining a master plan for an artistically driven neighborhood centered on art and culture.

In 2009, Tony launched the Wynwood Walls, converting warehouses into a global outdoor canvas for graffiti and street artists. The project became an international destination almost overnight — Wynwood's identity had shifted from a largely vacant industrial neighborhood to a fully activated commercial district.