Miami Beach board approves condo building at Sagamore, Ritz-Carlton
A proposal to develop a luxury condo building at the Sagamore and Ritz-Carltonin South Beach is moving forward.
The Lowensteins’ Lionstone Development, the Kanavos family’s Flag LuxuryGroup and the Ben-Josefs’ Ben-Josef Group plan the 30-unit, 15-story building behind the existing Sagamore Hotel South Beach and cantilevered over theexisting Ritz-Carlton, South Beach cabana building, at 1617 Collins Avenue and 1 Lincoln Road, respectively.
Rendering of plans for 1617 Collins Avenue and 1 Lincoln Road (Lionstone Development, Flag Luxury Group)
The Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board’s vote for a certificate ofappropriateness on Tuesday, a continuation from a Sept. 12 meeting, allows theaddition of the new building so long as it is set back at least 15 feet to the west.Board members Rick Lopez, Ray Breslin, John Stuart, Brian Ehrlich and LinseyLovell voted in favor; Stuart Reed voted against.
The owners tapped Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design to design the tower.
But the board did not approve a separate certificate of appropriateness for amultimillion-dollar public improvement and infrastructure project. The publicproject calls for improvements to the sidewalks, beach access to the propertyand the beach walk, and a Morris Lapidus-inspired arch. The historic preservationboard requested the developers revise the design after board members tookissue with stone choice, the font used, other design elements and potentialsafety concerns. The city would pay for a portion of the cost of the project and isnegotiating an agreement with the developers.
The board voted unanimously to continue the item to Dec. 12.
Attorney Tucker Gibbs, who represents the nearby National Hotel, said theNational generally supported the public component, but objected to his claimthat the funding of those improvements is tied to the approval of the privatedevelopment. Gibbs squabbled with the developers’ attorney, Michael Larkin ofBercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes, at multiple times during the meeting.
The Sagamore and Ritz-Carlton were owned separately until the families joinedin 2020 to merge their ownership of the hotels and of the Ritz-Carlton BalHarbour. New York-based Flag and Miami-based Lionstone previously owned thetwo Ritz-Carltons, and New York-based Ben-Josef owned the Sagamore.
A number of new residential buildings are planned along the ocean on CollinsAvenue in Miami Beach, next to or part of hotels. Developer Michael Shvo and Deutsche Finance plan the Rosewood Residences at the Raleigh in Miami Beach,which calls for a 60-key hotel and a 17-story, 44-unit condo tower; and restorationand renovation of existing buildings. Witkoffand Monroe Capital are also in presales for their Auberge-branded 110-room hotel and 49-unit condo development at the Shore Club property, at 1901Collins Avenue.