MDPL’s Advocacy Committee has reviewed the following projects on the upcoming Historic Preservation Board agenda and offers our positions below. Have a comment about a project you would like to share with our committee? Contact us.
Please note: the lack of a position on a project does not indicate support for or opposition to that project. To review the Historic Preservation Board Agenda, including public participation information: Click Here
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES
HPB24-0606, 1728 Lenox Avenue
Current Site
Proposed Structure
Click to view the full City of Miami Beach Staff Report
An application has been filed requesting a Certificate of Appropriateness for the construction of a new single-family home on an existing vacant lot, one or more waivers and variances from the required setback, lot coverage and yard encroachment regulations.
MDPL Position: We have concerns about the overall scale of the new structure, in comparison with the existing established context of the historic Palm View neighborhood. We agree with the Staff recommendations regarding the use of more compatible materials, in particular with the proposed second floor. In addition, we are opposed to the variances due to the lack of hardship demonstrated. We hope the HPB will ensure compatible scale and materiality, so that the new construction on this vacant lot will be sensitive to and compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.
NEW APPLICATIONS
HPB23-0571, 321 Jefferson Avenue
Current Site
Proposed Structure
Click to view the full City of Miami Beach Staff Report
An application has been filed requesting a Certificate of Appropriateness for the substantial demolition of the existing building and the construction of a new multi-family residential addition.
MDPL Position: We oppose the near-complete demolition of a contributing, historic building. Such demolition – only preserving the front facade – is not the purpose for which this historic district was made. In addition, the proposed new construction appears to lack context. Fenestration, railings, and the overall massing are not in keeping with the historic elements of the site or its surroundings. We encourage the applicant to consider other examples where 1-story buildings were added onto, rather than this proposal which essentially destroys the historic nature of the site. In our opinion, saving a facade is not historic preservation.
HPB23-0579, 7401, 7409, 7417 & 7425 Harding Avenue
Current Site
Proposed Structure
Click to view the full City of Miami Beach Staff Report
An application has been filed requesting a Certificate of Appropriateness for the construction of a mixed-use building on an existing surface parking lot and a variance to reduce the number of required loading spaces.
MDPL Position: We support the project subject to Staff recommendations. However, we also would like the HPB to address to the concerns of the neighbors at the property to the north: the parking garage design should be modified to reduce the impact on the neighboring units whose main windows will be adjacent to the parking garage.
Discussion Items
RPS4 Height Incentive, Planning Board File PB24-0671
Current Site
MDPL Position: We do not have enough information to provide a position on this zoning change. However, we have several concerns: One is that the ballot question for additional FAR was proposed without any mention of a change in maximum height. The local neighborhood group at the time also made it clear that their support for the FAR increase was contingent upon keeping the maximum height unchanged. In addition, there are no designs included in the packet to demonstrate how the new proposal would appear within the established neighborhood context. Although the existing hotel tower is not a historically designated building, concerns have been raised about the potential demolition of a relatively new structure and its impact on the environment and the surrounding historic district. With so much information still unknown, we cannot support this proposed zoning change at this time.
