The first building of South Pointe Towers began receiving occupants here last week, ending a long struggle with financial difficulties.

The 24-story, 208-unit condominium at the southern tip of Miami Beach is the initial phase of a 1,200-unit, four-tower project on an 18-acre site facing both the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. Plans also call for a 500-room hotel and a 75,000-square-foot shopping center.

For city officials, the project, which is in the blighted neighborhood of South Beach, represents a step toward revitalization.