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.

In 1979, plans to sell the New Yorker Hotel on Collins Avenue sparked concern among Miami Beach Art Deco preservationists who feared the landmark would be demolished to make way for new development. Barbara Baer Capitman and other activists expressed concerns that developer Abe Resnick might demolish the New Yorker to make way for condominium projects in the area. Resnick disputed these claims, however, stating that he intended to restore the Art Deco building, which was designed by Henry Hohauser, and that he had no plans to demolish it. However, he was undecided about whether the hotel would remain as is or be converted into apartments. The controversy highlighted the growing conflict between development pressures and preservation efforts in the Art Deco district, which at the time had limited legal protection for historic buildings.

Excerpts and quotes from the article are highlighted below in blue.

Art Deco leader Barbara Capitman says Resnick “has a history of demolishing old buildings” and fears that he intends to tear down the hotel at 1611 Collins Ave. to build an addition to his Georgian Condominiums, a seven-story project under construction next door at 1621 Collins Ave.
But Resnick says he “positively” intends to restore the 39-year-old building, designed by Art Deco leader Henry Hohauser. “We don’t know yet whether we’ll convert it into apartments or keep it as a hotel,” Resnick said. “But we definitely don’t plan to tear it down. They consider this one of the most charming buildings in the Art Deco district, and we respect that.”

“If somebody’s offering me $1 million, I’d like to meet him,” Eilan said. “I’d break the contract I have now in a minute.” Eilan said he was selling the building because “I’m sick and tired and fed up with the hotel business. I’ve had it up to here.” “I wouldn’t want to demolish this hotel, but whatever the Resnicks want to do with it is their business,” Eilan said. “It is a beautiful building, but I think the days of this kind of small hotel are numbered. The Art Deco district hasn’t changed that.”