World Congress Day Passes Now Available
Read Time: 3 minsThe 16th World Congress on Art Deco® is coming to Miami and Miami Beach in April, and we have options for locals who want to participate in the biennial festivities! If you cannot join us for the entire 14-day Congress, we are now offering Individual Tickets to our Main Congress programs in South Florida between […]
MDPL leadership shakeup expected (1985)
Read Time: 2 minsEditors Note: The Barbara Baer Capitman archives “Historic Threads” project is partly sponsored by the Department of State, Division of Historical Resources and the State of Florida. Internal conflicts within the Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL) in 1985, centered on its founder and president, Barbara Baer Capitman, faced the possibility of being removed from her position after proposing that the […]
Our Positions at the June 9, 2026 Historic Preservation Board
Read Time: 3 mins719-737 Lincoln Road- NOLI The Miami Design Preservation League strongly supports the proposed development at 719–737 Lincoln Road. This project represents a thoughtful and sophisticated addition to Lincoln Road, demonstrating a clear commitment to high-quality design, placemaking, and the continued evolution of one of Miami Beach’s most important civic and commercial corridors. We commend the […]
Our Positions at the May 12, 2026 Historic Preservation Board
Read Time: 2 mins1600 Washington MDPL Position – Opposition to Demolition While we appreciate the need for market-rate housing on Miami Beach, we oppose the proposed demolition of the contributing Henry Hohauser streamline moderne building and the design of the proposed apartment building. In 2018, city preservation staff described this building as having “a high degree of historic […]
Our Positions at the April 14, 2026 Historic Preservation Board
Read Time: 2 mins2201 Collins Ave.—W Hotel MDPL Position—Support Design; Oppose Variances Allowing Encroachment on Dunes MDPL supports thoughtful architectural improvements to the property and appreciates the quality of the design presented. At the same time, we encourage continued refinement of the proposal so that the project respects the important public and environmental protections that govern Miami Beach’s […]
MDPL Lecture: “The Future of Miami Marine Stadium”
Read Time: < 1 minThe Miami Design Preservation League invites the public to hear a presentation by Don Worth, co-founder of Restore Miami Marine Stadium, about the history of this landmark built in 1963, its current status and steps that would bring the stadium, located on Virginia Key, back to life. The lecture starts at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, […]
Our Positions at the March 17, 2026 Historic Preservation Board
Read Time: 5 mins1) Haddon Hall-1509 Washington Avenue MDPL Position – Support The Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL) appreciates the applicant’s continued investment in this project and the ongoing rehabilitation of this important property. MDPL previously reviewed and commented on the broader redevelopment proposal for the Haddon Hall complex and the Washington Avenue parcels. The revisions currently before […]
Reader shares a Deco experience (1982)
Read Time: 2 minsEditors Note: The Barbara Baer Capitman archives “Historic Threads” project is partly sponsored by the Department of State, Division of Historical Resources and the State of Florida. Nancy Liebman, a passionate advocate for historic preservation and the arts, describes a firsthand experience at the Cafe Cardozo in Miami Beach that illustrates the cultural and economic value of […]
Don’t let the sun set on Art Deco district (1982)
Read Time: 2 minsEditors Note: The Barbara Baer Capitman archives “Historic Threads” project is partly sponsored by the Department of State, Division of Historical Resources and the State of Florida. Comissioners in 1982 were heavily criticized for passing a weak preservation ordinance. While the district’s architectural beauty and cultural significance are widely praised by visitors and residents alike, the ordinance […]
Our Positions at the February 10, 2026 Historic Preservation Board
Read Time: 3 minsMDPL Opposes Addition of 10–Story Tower + Water Slides to Fontainebleau Hotel MDPL opposes the proposed water park intervention at the Fontainebleau. While we recognize the interest in expanding family-oriented programming, this proposal is fundamentally incompatible with the architectural integrity of this individually designated landmark and the established character of its surrounding context. Ownership of a […]
Preservation pains: Haggling continues over Sears (1982)
Read Time: 2 minsEditors Note: The Barbara Baer Capitman archives “Historic Threads” project is partly sponsored by the Department of State, Division of Historical Resources and the State of Florida. In 1982, the the dispute over the fate of the City of Miami’s historic Sears Tower amid plans for large-scale redevelopment in the Omni/Uptown area levied on whether a single […]
A new life for Art Deco hotel (1979)
Read Time: 2 minsEditors Note: The Barbara Baer Capitman archives “Historic Threads” project is partly sponsored by the Department of State, Division of Historical Resources and the State of Florida. Plans by a group of eight Art Deco preservation supporters to purchase and restore the Cardozo Hotel as a model for revitalizing historic hotels in Miami Beach’s South Beach district. […]
Capitman: Battle for Senator Hotel far from over (1988)
Read Time: 2 minsEditors Note: The Barbara Baer Capitman archives “Historic Threads” project is partly sponsored by the Department of State, Division of Historical Resources and the State of Florida. Barbara Baer Capitman argues that the fight to save Miami Beach’s Senator Hotel is far from over and criticizes city officials for their lack of commitment to historic preservation. She […]