OPINION AND COMMENT
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The Sagamore and Ritz-Carlton properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as contributing historic buildings in the Miami Beach Architectural District.
Miami Herald
Millions of tourists visit Miami Beach each year, and in addition to the world-famous beaches, global culture, and nightlife they seek, it is the historic Art Deco architecture that gives the city its unique atmosphere and vast appeal. Tours specifically dedicated to Art Deco architecture and history are still popular with tourists, and strolling the avenues between Fifth Street and 23rd Streets is a popular pastime.
It is for this reason that we must prioritize the preservation and revitalization of the city’s historical and architectural “skyline” rather than relying on modern developments. As the owners of the National Hotel, whose family acquired the property in 2007 as one of our most cherished pieces in our Art Deco collection, I believe the city’s historical, cultural and architectural heritage is worth more than what this modernization promises to be.
Declared a National Historic District in 1979, Miami Beach’s historic Art Deco skyline is a draw we cannot change or lose. The neighborhood is so important that the Art Deco Welcome Center was set up to ensure that the legacy of our buildings is preserved for visitors. The architecture district includes 960 historic buildings, the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world.
On December 13, the Miami Beach Historic Preservation (HPB) will hear a request for approval of Application No. HPB 21-0457 to obtain a certificate of adequacy for the demolition, renovation and rebuilding related to the Ritz-Sagamore project .
The project includes a modern 17-story residential tower that would dwarf nearby historic hotels and other buildings in the area. Currently, the Ritz-Carlton and Sagamore properties in the Ocean Drive / Collins Avenue Historic District are recognized and listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Contributing Historic Buildings within the Miami Beach Architectural District.
Miami Beach must not allow ingress of a tall, immeasurable, incompatible building on a historic property. This will overshadow the Architectural District with a skyscraper that will tower over the rest of the surrounding buildings, including the “postcard perfect” trio of the National Hotel, SLS Ritz Plaza and Delano.
The Art Deco buildings are works of art that still bring life to the city’s architectural district. They provide a home base for visitors on vacation and apartments, workplaces, and meeting places for the community. While we are looking to help tourism recover from its pandemic slump, Miami Beach must remain a leader in heritage conservation, providing visitors with the unique tastes that await them, including visiting our most prized architectural gems.
There is another reason to reject the Ritz-Sagamore project: pollution and liability. The project will have a negative impact on wildlife and the protected sand dunes in the area, so the acreage around the project cannot be repaired.
Miami Beach’s sand dunes provide essential protection from storm surges, coastal flooding, and structural erosion, as well as a habitat for native species. We need to protect them and the surrounding habitat to preserve the biodiversity of Miami Beach’s residents and visitors. We too have to protect our buildings from the harmful effects of weather events.
Even with the demolition and construction of a large residential complex, we take care of the safety and liability of hotel guests and others. Given the recent events in South Florida and the increased scrutiny of building inspections, the construction of large new buildings, especially in historic neighborhoods, should be carefully examined and approved sparingly.
We hope that the City of Miami Beach will maintain and protect the historic and architectural integrity of the Ocean Drive / Collins Avenue historic and architectural districts – and we reject application HPB 21-0457 for the Ritz-Sagamore Project.
We encourage Miami Beach residents to attend this important gathering and stand up for the Art Deco District. Tell the Historic Preservation Board that they don’t want this unusual skyscraper in this historic neighborhood.
Delphine Drays family owns the National Hotel in the Art Deco District of Miami Beach.
Dray
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