Miami Beach board approves condo building at Sagamore, Ritz-Carlton 

A proposal to develop a luxury condo building at the Sagamore and Ritz-Carlton in South Beach is moving forward. 

The Lowensteins’ Lionstone Development, the Kanavos family’s Flag Luxury Group and the Ben-Josefs’ Ben-Josef Group plan the 30-unit, 15-story building behind the existing Sagamore Hotel South Beach and cantilevered over the existing Ritz-Carlton, South Beach cabana building, at 1617 Collins Avenue and 1 Lincoln Road, respectively. 

The Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board’s vote for a certificate of appropriateness on Tuesday, a continuation from a Sept. 12 meeting, allows the addition 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 Linsey Lovell 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 a multimillion-dollar public improvement and infrastructure project. The public project calls for improvements to the sidewalks, beach access to the property and the beach walk, and a Morris Lapidus-inspired arch. The historic preservation board requested the developers revise the design after board members took issue with stone choice, the font used, other design elements and potential safety concerns. The city would pay for a portion of the cost of the project and is negotiating 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 the National generally supported the public component, but objected to his claim that the funding of those improvements is tied to the approval of the private development. Gibbs squabbled with the developers’ attorney, Michael Larkin of Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes, at multiple times during the meeting.

The Sagamore and Ritz-Carlton were owned separately until the families joined in 2020 to merge their ownership of the hotels and of the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour. New York-based Flag and Miami-based Lionstone previously owned the two Ritz-Carltons, and New York-based Ben-Josef owned the Sagamore. 

A number of new residential buildings are planned along the ocean on Collins Avenue 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 restoration and renovation of existing buildings. 
Witkoff and Monroe Capital are also in presales for their Auberge-branded 110-room hotel and 49-unit condo development at the Shore Club property, at 1901 Collins Avenue.

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