Article Courtesy of The Miami Herald
By Joey Flechas
Published October 11, 2017
A Brazilian developer who angered Mid-Beach residents
with plans for a 17-story oceanfront condominium has relented on one key
bone of contention from neighbors across the street: a public beach access
path running on the side of the property.
But some residents still are still concerned about losing
ocean views and sunlight afforded by the thin profile of the
existing building.
Developer Jose Isaac Peres, a billionaire who founded
Brazilian shopping mall operator Multiplan, wants to tear
down the 12-story Marlborough House at 5775 Collins Avenue
and build an 89-unit tower. Adjacent condo towers have not
objected, but residents across Collins Avenue were upset the
developer wasn’t willing to build a walkway to the beach.
Residents also lamented the loss of existing ocean views and
light corridors if the building wasn’t rotated so the broad
side wouldn’t face Collins. |
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The project went before the city’s Design Review Board in early September,
who asked the developer to consider changes before coming back in December.
City planners recommended the developer include a walking path to the beach.
Now, the developer has resubmitted plans that include a 15-foot beach access
on the south side of the property.
James Murphy, Miami Beach’s chief of urban design, described the path as a
“well-designed and wide pedestrian linkage” between the east sidewalk of
Collins and the sand.
On Monday, an attorney for the developer told the Miami Herald the plans
changed after the design review hearing in September.
“Following the hearing, the applicant listened to the concerns of both the
staff and the board and has acted accordingly,” said attorney Michael
Larkin. “First and foremost, the applicant is creating public beach access
through a linear park, complete with lamp posts and benches. This will be a
15-foot-wide path — designed with a slight curvature and comprising a
five-foot-wide walkway, flanked by extensive landscaping along the south and
north sides.”
Larkin added that the width of the
proposed building has been reduced by five feet, creating a wider south
setback and creating a wider view corridor than originally planned.
“Furthermore, the façade of the building has been slightly modified — now
accented with a subtle ripple/undulation, one that gives the exterior of the
building a more asymmetrical design,” Larkin said.
City staff also want the developer to consider rotating the building to
preserve the view corridors allowed by the thinner Marlborough House, but
the new plans keep the building’s broadside parallel to the ocean and
Collins, which still blocks out some sunlight and ocean views for a few
buildings across the street.
The Design Review Board will review the project again Dec. 5.
For some residents, like Helen Mittelman, it’s not even necessarily about a
view of the sea.
“It’s the light,” said Mittelman, 62, who lives in the Seacoast 5700
Condominium across the street in a unit with a westward view overlooking
Indian Creek, away from the ocean. “I want my light. I want my air. I want
to be able to see sky.”
Eda Valero, who also lives in the Seacoast building, said on Monday she was
pleased with the details of the revised plan, including the revised
architecture.
“I think that it’s wonderful that we will have the pathway to the beach,”
she said. “It’s also wonderful that they made the facade a little less
sober.” |