Raleigh Hotel to be Restored Alongside Other Art Deco Gems

The iconic Raleigh Hotel, with its traditional, clean and elegant art deco lines, has sat empty for five years, damage from Hurricane Irma sealing its murky fate.

Before then and as far back as 2013, there were projects approved for the property that never came to fruition. It’s also been sold twice since, according to Deborah Tackett, historic preservation and architecture officer for the city of Miami Beach.

“It’s a very important site, but on the flip side, it’s also been vacant for a very long time,” she said.

That’s now changed.

A trio of companies – New York-based real estate investment firm SHVO, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and renowned firm Peter Marino Architect – have partnered up and taken ownership of The Raleigh, as well as neighboring properties the Richmond and South Seas hotels, for a price tag of about $243 million.

Once ownership was secured, SHVO, working alongside the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board, began drawing up plans for the renovation and reimagining of the three-acre property with 220 feet of oceanfront at 1775 Collins Ave.

Working with the Historic Preservation Board was a requirement for the project, given The Raleigh’s historic designation.

“They cannot make any additions without going through the seven-member Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board,” said longtime board member and former Miami Beach Commissioner Nancy Liebman.

The group has received approval from the board, and that approval is in the form of an order that identifies a long list of requirements.

There are two components – the architectural plans submitted to the board and the specific requirements of the building permit plans, “so the architectural plans [must] be in line with those as well as the requirements in the final order,” said Tackett.

SHVO started meeting with Historic Preservation Board staff in 2019, ultimately receiving the board’s approval in early September 2020.

“They submitted the architectural plans several months in advance and began meeting with staff in 2019, and it was approximately two years ago when we started discussing with the owners and their architects plans for the site,” said Tackett.

What the development group has purchased are three separate properties being combined, and The Raleigh Hotel – which is the northernmost property within the three acres – will remain intact, including its swimming pool. The other two properties, The Richmond and South Seas hotels, will undergo more dramatic modifications.

“Like The Raleigh, the other two properties are also historically registered and considered contributing buildings within the Ocean Drive/Collins Avenue local historic district and the Miami Beach Historic District,” said Tackett.

The almost three years until purchase was a lengthy process where multiple public hearings were held and residents provided input, both opposed and for the project.

“That type of back and forth isn’t uncommon for such a large/major project. There are often refinements that occur before the project is approved, in response to the board, staff and public. It’s a fluid process before finalizing the details,” said Tackett.

It is also essential for historic districts, she says, to have that type of activity, particularly because boarded-up buildings are an eyesore and essentially threatening, and can negatively impact surrounding properties.

“This was a project that all sides worked to have resolved because boarded-up buildings have a ripple effect on the community,” said Tackett. “I believe [the developers] are hopeful to start construction soon; they’ve applied for the permit.”

Although none of the owning parties were available for comment for this article, they did divulge their extensive plans via a press release. Plan details include:

·      A 60-room-and-suite hotel managed by Rosewood, entirely restored and elegantly modernized with ultra-luxury

·      Rosewood Residences Miami Beach, a newly constructed 17-story oceanfront tower featuring 44 residences and timeless architecture.

·      A private members’ club offering beachfront dining and leisure spaces.

·      The Raleigh’s well-known Martini Bar and Tiger Room will be restored and reimagined with a contemporary design, created by artists and craftsmen selected by Marino, who will work with Miami-based Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design.

·      The historic art deco facades of the Richmond and Seven Seas hotels will be restored and integrated within Rosewood’s ultra-luxury hotel guidelines.

“This fresh, historic restoration and renovation of The Raleigh joins a private beach club with a Latin beat and elegant residences of demure black, white and ivory,” said Marino in the release. “This mixture is the best Miami cocktail that I can imagine.”

Along with these updates to the property, the preservation board has outlined a lengthy list of requirements that must be met throughout the renovation and restoration process. Those requirements are part of a 10-page document drawn up by the board and signed by the new owners.

And, as with any structure on the National Register of Historic Places, there are certain parameters and conditions that must be adhered to in order to maintain the historic integrity of the structures. The document goes into specific detail on those areas and how they must be handled.

Publicists for the group say the restored properties are anticipated to open in 2025. How much money will be spent on restoration and renovation hasn’t been undisclosed.