Editors 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. We’re highlighting important documents that tell the story of Miami Beach, coinciding with National Historic Preservation Month sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
In 1987, the state of Florida loaned $250,000 for the restoration of the Edison, with assistance from the Miami Beach Development Corp.
The Edison Hotel is an Art Deco / Mediterranean landmark built between 1933 and 1935. It is one of many buildings in Miami Beach designed by noted architect Henry Hohauser. The Edison stands tall on 960 Ocean Drive. In the 1980s, it was owned by developer Gerry Sanchez, who undertook its first major renovation.
An article in Florida Architect, from its July/August 1987 issue, demonstrates the renovation project’s careful planning and design considerations:
“The architectural restoration sought to completely update the CBS-constructed building without modifying any of the original architectural features. Beilinson Architects paid careful attention to the interior and exterior masonry, particularly in the arches where layers of multi-colored paint were stripped from the masonry down to the original stucco surface to provide an integrated weather-resistant surface without removing any of the original texture. The surface is then finished with a pigmented cementitious coating that penetrates into the primer and provides a permanent finish.”
Read the full article from Florida Architect by clicking the thumbnails below:
Source: Barbara Baer Capitman Archives, Florida Architect, “Les Arts Decoratifs L’Hotel de la Mer,” July/August 1987. Author: Esther L. Perez. Color photos by Seth Benson.
In 1987, the hotel received the “Best Restoration Award” from the Miami Beach Development Corp. Gerry Sanchez was recognized for turning Edison into a first-class tourist destination.
