Historic preservation, not new development, is key to elevating Miami Beach | Opinion
Millions of tourists visit Miami Beach each year, and beyond the world-famous beaches, global culture and nightlife they seek, it’s the historic Art Deco architecture that gives the city its unique atmosphere and wide appeal. Tours specifically featuring Art Deco architecture and history are still popular with tourists, and walking along the avenues between Fifth and 23rd streets is a favorite pastime.
This is why we must prioritize preservation and reinvigorate the city’s historical and architectural “skyline,” rather than lean on modern development. As the owner of the National Hotel, whose family purchased the property in 2007 as one of our most coveted pieces in our Art Deco collection, I believe the city’s historic, cultural and architectural heritage is worth more than what this modernization proposes.
Designated as a National Historic District in 1979, Miami Beach’s historic Art Deco skyline is a draw we cannot afford to alter or lose. The district is so important that the Art Deco Welcome Center was established to help ensure that our buildings’ heritage is preserved for visitors. The architectural district comprises 960 historic buildings, the largest collection of Art Deco structures in the world.
On Dec. 13, the Miami Beach Historic Preservation (HPB) will hear a request to approve Application No. HPB 21-0457, to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition, renovation and new construction associated with the Ritz-Sagamore project.
The project features a modern 17-story residential tower that would overshadow nearby historic hotels and other buildings in the area. Currently, the Ritz-Carlton and Sagamore properties are recognized in the Ocean Drive/Collins Avenue Historic District and listed in the National Register of Historic Places as contributing historic buildings within the Miami Beach Architectural District.
Miami Beach must not allow the intrusion of a tall, out-of-scale, incompatible building on an historic property. This will mar the Architectural District with a skyscraper that will overpower the rest of the nearby buildings, including the “postcard perfect” trio of the National Hotel, the SLS Ritz Plaza and the Delano.
The Art Deco buildings are works of art that still breathe life into city’s Architectural District. They provide a home base for visitors on vacation and homes, workplaces and gathering spots for the community. As we look for tourism to bounce back from its pandemic slump, Miami Beach must remain a leader in historic preservation and offer visitors the unique flavor they expect, including visiting our most treasured architectural gems.
There’s another reason to reject the Ritz-Sagamore project: environmental impact and liability. The project will negatively affect wildlife and the protected sand dunes in the area, making the acreage surrounding the project impossible to repair.
The Miami Beach sand dunes provide essential protection from storm surge, coastal flooding and structural erosion, as well as a habitat for native species. We must protect them and the surrounding habitat to continue the biodiversity Miami Beach residents and visitors enjoy. We must protect our buildings from the ill effects of weather events, too.
We are also concerned with safety and liability surrounding hotel guests and others during the demolition and construction of a large residential structure. Given recent events in South Florida and the increased scrutiny regarding building inspections, construction of large new buildings, especially in historic districts should be carefully evaluated and sparingly approved.
We hope the city of Miami Beach will preserve and protect the historical and architectural integrity of the Ocean Drive/Collins Avenue Historic and Architectural districts — and reject Application HPB 21-0457 for the Ritz-Sagamore project.
We encourage Miami Beach residents to attend this important meeting and stand up for the Art Deco District. Tell the Historic Preservation Board that they don’t want this out-of-character skyscraper in this historic district.
Delphine Dray’s family owns the National Hotel in Miami Beach’s Art Deco District.
