Loading...
1674-27 Gerry Sanchez • ' Local News Monday,March 16,1987 • . The Minmi liersld Section B Bye-bye Biscaya • . ...44,;,),m,. :,,-;::".-- ..,;'-i''7,--•:•,,,:,,,:,,i,•,;:t4.••..,.,•,:•;;;,:';i:4:,,,,.••• .,„,..,..,-,„.‘,....04ytiipo-Ai,4 ,,..„ 0.,,,,t,..,,,,,,,,, „,,• ,c,,,,,,,,..1 .• •••,''",.., i,•'•- .:.--,. •••...,-- ..." NI'.' ••,,•••,•,1.14`,..1.'siftf.,•:,..•? .,•.• k-wy 1 II 1,1 ..I._t445( _ . :•.'„;';fiia 1 ii 1 19 -....,.• i•1,,,,*.;.•Lf••)•,.,•;y.,..., •.•..• •.•',v,„' *.:;..,0,-...,„:„.,......,..rz:t ..::..rice-ill Cs II:,.7" ' T." "'''ff-4.1‘..=-1.!: •*tIlli:11101.1! . ',1!. ,_,.4..,„4„.",,„,,,,,,5":,,.,r7,,7,-•-.,,„.. . 1 II in t tot: .. - - - ..-..-,,,:,-„,-1 1;•-„t,sputililyilm... . 1.1,.1,....',i.e.2,ji,'-‘'..''.E4.11,0 ... II,!,It 01 I 1:i, .4 .....• l' .--'!„r•::•1 '11 '10,11j,1":5,INT • Vqi!..44;11\31;,3) k;!1,"''',;•Vr, ...7,:t..' ::II 0 I 101 1 O ICI • ! ,. 1 '•,?:!.!...^.1.:'; 7!vi P'AP I!O,hif.,,,.,, 4;,:, 114,"ltk!,,, -.,..1--;!: ''''......1:: 1:1'isl'...";;:!'t ''")..:44.:.-ip`%1171,?.' '',:•!•!.-:-54tirkg11). V.'''.''y*,::...'S.1;1:'$''it.:'.'1'7'4'....4'':'•-• `.: 'd Z:tiitf,':'to"13•,. - -''''PI: N''''.'1.1;‘.l'`-.'!'::'! cy: ,• ''A....:,-.i.!\':.',,:,;714,y,.,'‘,..!,-•':4 19, ,.:.:4y.' la•.','i!!:,,':-:':':‘gi„....'' 1,0 fj,...r.! .'.'',:3,;:....,:' :-.',1);.':- T°`ii:riit-oLl'. •••. %•,,:`274. e zi:{4,..:-.r.,-!.4' 4.::•,,, ei:I.,'t -•.'%: .:. ' .14'.•••-: ''''''2. 4''- .""•`• • ‘',Y ..!•'•7:t ;#;41-••''''''.i'';';' ';"' ' I. ,•• ,.4.%4A !V', , '. t' ')•, •4 ..;e7011„. ,.,.,,.e.,., ..... ...•- 14, ,.. .."' • 4. ! !t) ;A , thee erumblev ha uttiou. At I:41..e.9.salsy,es plovive s 116 mem•to delorto4. ! 11**bulldlog ' '. ; t4tirragl .• ' ' • '' . .. . .'.....'?1•71'''.1W s.,'..k. Ii '•!:....' ',.4. .O''' i-..; s'•?f4iii,'•',,:!,‘,..' 1 ••••.."-,`- ., ...... . • . . !! • -"•. •litvi.-, .. -....-.7:‘,..,:.::.„---,•, it,,,,„ , ..,,, . 'Jt...,It!-, • •141 I's 111 r' '' 2.• tij. ••..1 1..,.1•':,:;,;,0"'....' I . \ , 1.:'I''I 1 ' t3/4••47:-'1.-••••!.'.• ,-."f. ,. ,', 0:41 ! 1 V.j•j••••!.-:' t'' .3' ' `VV.'!"...•1•,. ' . ... ,. .. , ,. . • -.11,,k1. •• .•, 1i, .,frifP' . - '11P,11.',,,''''. • , :1Z,..40,:;•;511A).,,, •, .,' e :•;..„.:r.....':'.•. `,',..r.-...,•.;;,,..:. ....;4 , .•.,',,'!',..1....! -ipe . , .: 1 its1'... ::,;*... .,if..".,; !. r: :,‘‘' ,•:'A :::9. ! . :-. .. :,..,,,.:,0,...,"•:,;,. . .•,4 .t,. . •ilA,..„,...N....t.'it.,••,;..,., ,t,... ..',..ile ' •••" •:.••'''! ' • ':' ' _,,,,‘t',, , --4, k, .,..'.:.',::' . . ,,,.. . W- .:., "• „;,..,.. ;..ZSil§i' , . 4••• 1,1!,!.• •p!! ,, . . .!V.` • • , ,. !!'t ti. .,. , = ,..si.„.'41', ., . P,... ---'-. . ,. . . ,,,,day, Januat.', THE WPM IIEPAII, !!!-_,.._;1'-17.21'LL.14.4"ik.40441611'errZatz_"5,1"- ''''Pird-;-,.:tfr.X.4441.1744011 - -",!-- ....7,....,.:!....; .. !"-‘-'''.-....=.'"", ........"'........-- ..,.;..••••• ,!:.;.,-1"---..---1_: ____., r--..,....-4....-• _..opimar- Agyfir .1.-----...,---‘• - :: — -.! . -.am.... ---...,,:% ....• :L...for.. " _aginor. .40.17 ,-tst____,,,. _Ilia_ ... ... -mutt _ --‘,.,. -...ri. •si.-..;, PP „‘:...,,,Powaff**.iir.t3t.:: • - '--,---z•-41.-:".;4'. AM. XV - • 1_1":-•."--,-- ..-•.4'7,'-'--. .' -. . .. - •,...;. • -• . . . --ar-3 •- 72'1. --1 • ' ,>...'. .. "".. —-s.-- ..7.... ..-. • -.:-.-:. '''...••-••••••7- - "•-: ";;;:7.- '.---1-0 '7'-':'ZZj:..:. s -. •.:7=--' ''..•:t-''.'"•,-.--..". •..-'.. ".4111K. •-• '.' 'N',';'-'...' !F•i"..:;.•••::::::..4sir , --, :-:;,..: ;;;-k.." . -,..r-,...-:-. ,a.,i .,i . ,,-,,,,,,,..,.-r......:....- ;:.F.• ...te --'7:47.-?- ....,7. - ,s"..1.••• -•- Ss.-i----••'7•.„ ...-- :''',i-r-get. .'--:‘•./ s''' - -.-';•Cj ./'" •. - ..--- . • s.-''' • ",):-.-'':'•"' " < %r t.- •-...• . -7, -..•:.: i..• • .• , • —.:••••: 7 • :. , ..-,',;•!..,:%,;.; •• - • : •1..,.-m.,..Lk.41:.;.ti,*• • .- r.•- •• .k.,....• •• . -.---..,,,- i -• -.... • - /s.-..--;-i. - .eaNi- - -i-- • - • ..; .14 ,...:,,;.„•,-.• r. ..,, - 7: • :!..,!:','.VA„. ! • • : :.t`''' •-.;t: 't';'.,;.:. ..:7 ''''-, ' .• . . ... ,., ....?:'.• ...:,:.'' ' I '.'ii: p• •••,..--,' .... ...3.,-',,-', I. , . - • %. .. .4,. ,,..„. . .4.•_ :•:••.,,-.. •:::, . . --:.-•,,,,• ,,•, '• • •-f.: . . • • ,-• •• q •• ,.:.'••••••,,,.' ,:: • ; \-•...,',, -- \ .• • [ ..., :-.••••,,..-••••• .• - ••,. 4,•- '.• II • . •:.` - .."';' %14-‘'''''.(15'1" • •••••••""--." • . --:•.• 1% t ".', . : --- 4-4'. •.a.?'.A.- V.•- ' •'1 - " . '..:. a. ''.'.kr;".• - ..-- • - • .- IPM.• - .' '.*'•" .' k.:•••• ..•k**. '.• •' ''''•-•;-'''' - - - \..' • • .''' . Agt••'',"•";.4.i*••.P ';----- 11.4ai'';:' '.. .. ' ".---4,%;:;...-7--- - .:••• A.4..i. -,• • E.:.'...74;:...2:.,.:. ,-,......:„...- ... "'` ,,,,,,..e.-; .....•i f.,, ...:,„,::.:4,, , .•,-, ,..- ,.. — ,1/2„- e,;....ii;,,,,... , : f4.41t114:':v.., ....... . =,:-.. l:; The future of the Biseaya Hotel rests on developer Gerry Sanchez's shoulders. Biscaya9 s borrowed time ticks away -- — PAGE 12 ----- . . mil . :ifk.....:4::..'i•:;il '• ' . . • • Loca .. . News ' Thursday, February 12, 1987,..,...„ . . The Miami.Herald Section 13 -'� Court order is ..,::,,„ T`ir tj .. ,„, 1 , r~ . ,. 7 • b ': 'azino' of old hote , 1 . maw., -* • t ' ' '' By CHRISTOPHER WELLISZ prompted howls of protest from contract to buy the Biscaya, ' i S 1, xeraastafftv,tter preservationists who gathered at argued with city officials in a • 5# Miami Beach called out the the once-luxurious bayfront ho- frantic attempt to save the ' - t s r, bulldozers Wednesday to begin tel throughout the day. building, the last vestige of a " the destruction of the Biscaya Two of them, Ocean Drive collection of grand bayfront ho- . ,r t �,> � �di 1 - �. r . bi Itotel, a crumbling Prohibition- hotelier Don Meginley and his tels dating from the I920s. y y K t y Y k a. :, "`i era relic that had been declared l8-year-old daughter,Nate,were By 8 p.m.,Sanchez convinced v} a•+"? w„ /s. unsafe by the county and irre- arrested on charges of disorderly Circuit Judge Francis knock to I frays y, r1_,y ,,, l ,.• 44 ycy, placeable by preservationists. conduct and trespassing. issue a temporary halt to the kB ..�.1 ',.."1,--•,?., r .r«,n, t The demolition, ordered the As the bulldozers gouged out demolition.pending a court hear- t ,( 'i. r'A}t 'q v •.ta`'3 day after the expiration of a huge chunks of masonry,devel- rug. Kf f`a; county-imposed deadline, oper Gerry Sanchez, who has a "I in just so sick and horri- fied." said Barbara Capitu:an, 1 r s r yrs• r .F r ;,z,an3saas f t -- s e ,� 1 president of the Art Deco Society a -:, .,a i :w *.r-r" rn '*•� ':�` 1 ' :. • ',v t 3a + of Miami. watching a (tont-end ") U r 't r t+arzk��' rCy y'r'a' ro - + S ' louder tear into the ornate, ; B k- r . ,q,..:.l ., t t*� M.)a .':',','Ar€ t ;rt,r;�� : + -,,•:',.:',',!‘14 e G[r ;, ' r yt to therhote staircase that leads •'......;;;'''''' 3 °Y ° � t3i` p „,,, ,,:::,.,,-,11 / to hotel's ballroom ' f , co- Y�t.;t'�'w'1.,',..Y4---;,-,ftr ''''',..';-'`.:*4 :.,4,44..,,,q-p,..s4 q,,,,.%0...:-., - r u2 1 v r c ice i an outrage, especially i r r r�'a ir:fhs+e- t' ava r - � �'. since it's located at the gateway 'e. Y!, I'• r ,'t ( -,1-• �” + hr 3/F { < .e a} to the historic district," said jt_ + r' t a x-1 1'r,1l--'''''..i71,41: p; 7'" Richard Iloherman,president of �>b fk` y,4'r,`, w Au -ea .a7i0Mn;,•...4,,,-,---.'...1',.','. tx/ a frd. ri t�:. t p#r a s: '•,,,,,&;,,.,x - ,N,.a sy r 'd'r :•,;A#'dX.,,r.472', ,,, the hlmini Design Preservation t Y't t' ri,}. ,'6 ,+� \r.f r r :1.' I-, r B. League tS.$' �s . `..ti , .. i I., .. ? e.lt0 .f'.:K ?- rv'Piiit sr" ` a• Early today.about a heredoin � i5 •4. )'r.. r� r i N7`ir 10' :f i I r . 2. en prof thetio tel, gathered in F it s • j J t""~kb41.,;'' "` front of the hotel,some holding j 4ry•,' ' •'C`- ' r ,-;•-•..,ii.,..gk' j i r' r r ;G' e [ s rt:: -' lighted candles. They vowed to It , i 4, +� ry ' b <rs•r •&ft Y is ';V;5;;:',:!$7,,,,...1,- t ;.fv c s x ," stayall night, standing guard • t+ .0"-..*: f-d' '' r e$ ,s ,. ,1 F,h '4 -,: x4a. t S-- r} '''Ojf-.i R case r 1��, t i 1 } - rk to a e over the old hotel in the i-. .'' 1 vEIf.. I `-'1,114'''.11'"'";F> 1 t * l'''i''',4,-..044,4r,' `G., Cr .r R y s q r bulldozer came hack. { i• 4 r� I..: I n„1:4';--;'..v .ls7,e,:er y 4) / ^Y•tJ; .�*9P g� .,� 1 x J ., f :1., r y.� rx ct z •,,..'4,...>.7,' �' � „a s �; � , ;• is 6v .. , ,,,rlpsa+ r "We're making a ,ustcment" .='t'Fq n^*` ,{�t, .N141'717>�+•;. ,,,Ci,t;•,,y xr(cwt + ,, ....4„1,3+1.., K r'Atli' f�i jfs�j•'1 said Don Meginley,who returned '1,;11.';!:',f...:;..4,:.:',,.:;.•".1,...! < k a d :�. 't'' �° t „$ r 'after his release."The cite has to • _ , ,,.p,rk t;�J� ; er.� �lt4!: b`,4;4 1,f u it 4 Yf t rt'� , P� � � , , �, `'#4 ,7Ic�y+�p��tk,�,rx "�s r ,t F be watched 'they don't hoer Ir i: n ; 3C p+ J ,r y� e .#t ,ILyr -t tri l : /, fM .�k' d 1i. destroy ail the older buildings in fie • W r if:P.1,'' .� 'kl'444*-''''''' 4, 4e n tt-� 'l; `I r r `I t`,'k '''''',T-4i.:1;1: town” I lits ,f { ' r %,.,a -"+r ii M4*- -4 tr . r i'e {'>' ';�,t( 404- tDespite su historic slgndi- I , y .:rjji�.�^r,r ���tt .!'!� k7r� strHt ' � 7 canoe,the Ulxaya.a yellow hulk „- 6 .n r i,++'s`.' i A' ' ./H rye .t,,,,...,,-4",,.47.,,,T.'.;.,.",,,:-3T,- x�r-�a .4 r<r?,-4 ,s�s, ,4 1.11'.,.; + that towers over the easternend' '�r'''''' kk$ +• 4- "to � A'• b ,,,1X 0 f 4: . ., -zt d of the MacArthur Causeway,has t •tB i �`: .r1. z J'. ;#'` ter a rL' et I Ai t -- . ''' < , `'� a i 4,,a �+s` y �, 4 rt, .i-46„,.'.'.;,'4,/ : :y rjr ,Yr 'ri 4. �: . sy'•�, long been an embarrassment eat to 'p4;,,v 4 s .,d :',11,41'`,0,„e„$:x•+ X !'✓ t i. tren"V ',, s t,6 ,�y.�'cj - f ' s,,',8.g' the mel i Iconscious city. ..a b r`.'ir;'"' .e,'„r t7, 1' r t;-i. ;Vii,`' rxit, `r� t r.z ,ir i ".. .1'6:4.4:I.. lb;.k .'Feb II will be an mspMCami - o 3 „sw1i,L Vic/i , .a, Irr 4.h ,,,G i,6 ; srbr Y e iJ T < y a date in rhe him io M ami ''ya a; t 7 � Beach." said Commissioner Abe • 1j • Y l r al''f;a fh«ye lQyst ?4,1'. ., T� '4Y'..i �� 6 I il .yA .,flsit: „ j d r v .'% AI z ,:..f w Resnick.who watched the demo t 7 vr+ J'rfay r ,r13•"� , 4,0 r r k : ; lition. ,g 2• l• ,',d by X' x#'J' , 1d . r •S t {chi, F� •• fl yJz'` .. {r.a.ts° ',�`l' 'ga6� r:ai; k - ,�b,. 1 ).r. t �" $ t` The (lade county Unsafe ' ' '''k:':.;..17.': r r xr fky."':2;;....9'');,7,''' .rs "p d` '� '" ;` ,;,;-.1.0)„;,,,,, ,,,,.,.,+`ii•,"+t3'r'a 3r'tt °�k1.4e(g ;, } ° ' Structures [Board, declaring the a r, iv' it 2�xy ' kr ',r"" r f r} - r .,tom if i :W xr _ empty building a hazard,ordered �y{ k t m .`" rc .„l.- ''� '., Ns c :..st ,ss;; •••. ti 1, t e'k e it torn down in January 1981. • ". ...a. - •.•P 1•. •- . '/+r-''�a._ t es-L'Iklli.t.u'1`� .a. -F --+i+- � The following November,Miami i RANDY BAZEMORE/Miami Herald Steil Beach awarded a$344,000 demo- ' Art deco preservationist Dalt Meginley and his daughter Kate are led away in cuffs after trying to block the Biscaya Hotel demolition. ('reuse hart to BISCAYA/JII F./ 'Thursday,j'obruery 12,1987IThe Miami Herald 3B t 'hs oD -'r® a � �� R� r hotel called 6 ns f --- . building,"Weiner said. will set charges to blow up the of the Dade Heritage Trust. ' "Since the day I got on the building, said Adonay Gavica of After serving as an Army bar- commission, we always heard contractor Tree Masters.By night- racks in World War II and later as , stories about some last-minute fall, the stairway in front of the a home for the elderly, the • way to save it,"said Mayor Alex 10-story building arid a two-story 242-room hotel was closed by city Daoud. "If there was some last- loggia in the rear.had been razed, order eight years ago. minute way to save it, it would but the building itself remained Among the throng of onlookers have.been done by now." standing. at the 7-Eleven across the street Sanchez and his lawyers argued The tile-roofed,Mediterranean- _-_ -___-, - _„ ,,,, MIAMI BEACH / BAL HARBOUR SURFSIDE / BAY HARBOR ISLANDS imeighb , GOLDEN BEACH /,SUNNY ISLES . NORTH BAY VILLAGE ss _ _ THE MIAMI HERALD SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 198in 7 ,, �. ie Q yam✓ •L i�•t s !iiscv ' `r,� ,,-,Y QCit� `�/ '4•/-�i-�• ✓ 1Y, '.![36Pi11� . III • •a peach can't tolerate unsafe buildings, o icials say •. rvnnnn pea," ..,.- .“,.Av3 R"f4 , - dozers to destroy the historic• 5m r N.sa a Xfx •• iw if t a.tat Biscaya Hotel last Wednesday,he r! " „ f r ''�- < K d P�� : - daughter Kate. - • F:/ s a.. ) The two Meginleys stood in front of the bulldozers and 4 refused to leave. They were. - hauled away by police. It was the grand gesture of II protest politics—right down to the speech in front of the TV , cameras as the handcuffs were put on. "I'm'not a do-gooder," insists - Meginley, 46, who runs the - - Waldorf Towers Hotel on Ocean• - Drive. "I'm a hard-nosed devel- oper and hotel operator. I'm about as far right as you can get next to the Ayatollah.' - -. The city ordered the demolition t of the Biscaya on the grounds it was unsafe. Developer Gerry Sanchez,who said he planned to III It,got a court Injunction blocking the demolition. Kate and Dolt Megintcy's dra• ...•. . - - ..._... .. . . ... ..- r. - ,: - matic arrest came during a day of Dun Meginley is arrested for trespassing it.the B1scnya Hotel."' • RANDY BAZEMORE/Miami'n arab Staff demonstrations by preservation- ists at the Biscaya. Meginley's hiseava wife,Beverly,was there,too.She " A A Ci _ itydele s jai ��999.JJ/ �=' A- eM✓ ter Paige at school. -_ Don Meginley grew up in the hotel business, helping his par- By CHRISTOPHER WELLISZ construction in the Beach has been in the Art In December Sanchez announced that he encs manage hotels in Clenrwa- Heald Staff mita. Deco district,where developers have invested had negotiated a contract to buy the building. ter, Melbourne and St. Peters- In ordering the destruction of the historic an estimated$100 million to renovate stylish Ile submitted architectural drawings late it w' burg. Biscaya Hotel last week, Miami Beach city old hotels and apartment buildings. • Tuesday afternoon. City Attorney Arnold S After stints at a junior college officials said they were responding to years of The activity has brought the city the Weiner said the drawings were inadequate. $ In St. Petersburg to study ac- frustrated efforts to rid the city of a highly beginnings of a vibrant,pastel-colored neigh- Les Beilinson,the architect for the project, counting and in the Coast Guard, visible blemish to its civic image. borhood of restaurants and nightclubs—and said he didn't have time to draw up the type " he moved to New England, Developer Gerry Sanchez,who planned to national publicity. of detailed blueprints required by the city.He 2 where he and his wife sold and restore the crumbling building at the foot of Prominent among the developers is San- said his requests for meetings to discuss the t chartered boats. the MacArthur Causeway,said the city acted chez,a New York preservation expert who project had been ignored. In 1970,the family moved back too fast.The city ignored his efforts to get has invested heavily In historic restorations. "That's Just not true," Weiner said. "If ir, . to Clearwater to take over his approval for his plans,he said. Now,says Sanchez:"The city Is sending a there were some assurances prior to the final late father's hotels. Having Without warning early Wednesday morn- message to developers:You cannot count on that something could be done,that would be m grown up in old hotels and nig, the city ordered bulldozers to start us In any way.You can be stabbed in the back different.Nobody came to us to say,'Here's y in finding that most of them were demolition. The city was carrying out a at any time.' what we plan.'" torn down, I decided to get county order to have the building razed unless City Manager Rob Parkins sees the issue The city occasionally has delayed demoli- involved in the preservation busi- restoration plans were submitted by Feb.11. differently: "We really are insisting that lion orders to give owners time to rehabilitate 1 ness, Meginley said: No enc on the City Commission was told of pebpie comply with the requirements to make unsafe buildings. But Weiner said that l'he next move was to Boston, the action except Alex Daoud,who as mayor sure that buildings are safe, and that's nit strategy has failed. where Meginley bought and re- signed the demolition contract. Vice Mayor important signal,too." Once they found the plans were inade- stored old brownstones. Bruce Singer,a supporter of historic preserva-' ' Parkins said the city had no obligation to stuate,Singer said,city administrators should g When Meginley got a chance to tion,called it"the biggest sneak attack since .,,atm Sanchez o! the demolition. Sanchez have done more to work with Sanchez. 3 al run the restored Waldorf Towers Pearl Harbor." aiwuld have been aware of the county "It's outrageous,'he said."Here you have D Hotel In Miami Beach's Art Deco "I'm not saying it was wrong,"Singer said. ,ieadline,he said. a man with a track record, a man wino's 3 district, the family moved south "I think there was doubt In everybody's mind en bringing attention hack to the city." _ in 1985. "I wanted to tie in about whether the building could be restored. City involvement in the Biscaya dates to is historic preservation with hotel What I'm opposed to is the way it was 1977, when officials declared the building "You have-to keep in mind the history," m operations,"lie said. handled." unfit for habitation and ordered it closed. Parkins said:"It's not a question of whether D Until last Wednesday, Meant- With its attempted demolition, which has Over the years, owner Harvey Goodman Gerry has a proven track record. It's a v ley said,he was never involved in been temporarily blocked by court order,the fought the clty's efforts to have the building question of whether the building can in factIII • political protest. Beach risked.alienating-the preservationists razed. After a number of unsuccessful' be rehabilitated." "We're not activists or milt- who are credited with creating a new image appeals,the Unsafe Structures Board ordered The fate of the Biscaya,which is partially ' tants,"he said."We just felt this for the tired resort city. the Biscaya razed by Feb. 11 unless plans destroyed but still standing, won't lie deter- was the place to take a stand." In the past two years, most of the were submitted. mined until a court hearing next week. III w ,._�. -or fo • r I I 0 •v 20A The Miami Herald/Tuesday,February 24 1987 ..,, , l '�ac Miami • a atO CI MrN�-a JOHNS.KNIGHT 0894./9,yll w JAMES G KNIGHT.Chairman Emeritus n.-,......rrsuany—autz ulg u Heal.•----- al•',,, 0Give a Break a ;,.. 3,4 E"I 4 - DADE CIRCUIT Judge Francis to buy ';'''Ai, `sr, I{Huck, having heard arguments deadline for receipt of plans.dayhe Blscaya. On the last week for and against dernol- tion, an architect working for of Mr. S; ishing the deteriorated Biscaya Hotel on ,'Sanchez submitted plans that rthe icity Miami Beach, is spending a few days attorney rejected as inadequate. Early mulling the building's fate. That Judi- the next morning the bulldozers began4111 cious pause should be replicated by the their work,soon halted by an injunction. horrorf oMiami Beach, vatiolist which — to the Unfortunately, they had already done II I has begun considerable damage. 1 razing the once-opulent 1926 structure. Because the hotel is at the city's City officials say that they would F' have liked nothing better than to see the 4111 southern entrance, officials have tried Biscaya rehabilitated.If they are sincere, for years to get its owner, Harveythey should give ? eMr.tSanchez two Goodman, either to tear it down or months to determine the feasibility of restore it. Unfortunately, he has done restoring this bit of Miami Beach's4111 7 r of neither. history, and help him where possible. i + r o Finally the county's Unsafe Structures Mr.Goodman's cooperation is essential. Board ordered the building razed, and tion cornffanais the city awarded a bid to a demolition worry that the demob- - o H hcit company. Meanwhile, toadeveloper demolition Gerry company If willbdun for more than is allowed .remain.Howevert he possibility ty that the - ni Sanchez, who has an admirable track Biscaya could be saved,as Coral Gables's record in restoring Art Deco hotels on historic Biltmore Hotel has been, isfra Miami Beach,announced that he wanted worth the gamble. 11111 CI li A g ........._______.n. .....--- - _ ID . -. " '.::. ---- CON- 3�o0 o 1-...aS °�3 a3 d,mofj f�{ y°o =eo3 = a a"avayaro° od a,V3d> ac>»! a' vy.eaoE «m!�".3ww4 8211a ywo 32• g cao=,1 & - 41 v..„vMyo'ro+wov:&a�c,Y.coro.�'o" iac?"^ '.1Y © maul N . , 0.0•^ o �� . ueV h 7 © 3oo ° o„O- ,, miCXgNy �� °—y ` " - a. V 4, 44 en 0 NU ;( •`_�sk fi « ”t"4 IPot S g v § o °W, rov' " vcs 00 TC atof t . a ° '� "° oy- a3�droo'olj „CC �� mg og9ot o d�9.vro‘va,-: �.gd �. • •cc -11tr �NM j ._.w 4 ;syoCro FHrodurroo :: _•r�` 3d3 eox,'i0 Lt num3 °orZ Q — as • oa � Eroyo '✓ as� ? r �➢ycV dX a� mx ,,.4.4„....,{ ro w YF ° ID—, lJ Co) 47 41 ' ° o—J �j fi �owZW > • 0 �� r o> °> of "Z > O rr�A I. Q _12 tlit; 4111 l , I ti''� ` `I' S '" Age • 4, 'A I` .;. • -t3 04:. ,ts •t 5a ks, `"i �2 .y .A.Y -w'...... .. 4, " v.Jpi f' k 7 ...ill" ! Y aPlt 3 tI y vf k pr�• - t 4 4 , i ✓<"^ „. :•,, gd p• :Yi '. . .,yj' set .L`':.' ":. N, k .:t •�•c y: 4:.' �, Volume I Number 5 bliamni Bead' North Bay Village Surfside Bal 1[arbour Bay Harbor Island February 18, 198/ Preseryationiststress• gauntlet , , `Surprise attack' on - • • - Biscaya draws ire of Art Deco advocates By JOE EDWARDS Weekly Record Correspondent Demonstratorse dersn over-size pink, T-shirts with the logo"Save'the Biscaya" in large red letters carried placards,rode skateboards, chanted and did what they t • by the demolition will cost the developer"many hum could to save the Biscaya Hotel at a plann- drrds of thousands of dollars." ed demonstration Monday afternoon. n any restoration of this type, Beilinson said the in- A relic of the Roaring'20s and swell- `.teriorst. ..i -e is ripped out and replaced while protecting known landmark of the heyday of South any distinctive architectural structures like fireplaces and Beach;the Biscaya is now the center of stairways.Beilinson joined the demonstrators still carry- protest by preservationists who feel they ing the Biscaya's structural report,a large notebook nearly have been"surprise attacked"by the city ; two inches thick. of Miami Beach. • Barbara Capitman, an early champion of the Miami Last week, bulldozers ripped at the Beach Art Deco restoration and preservation,attended the foundation of the now deserted, win- demonstration wearing the robes of a judge and carrying a dowless hotel doing what demonstrators • gavel.She voiced her fears that the damage done by the feel is the telling blow that will'cause city bulldozers may be the end of the restoration of the officials to support the total demolition of Biscaya? the building. ."It is questionable now that they have.done this The destruction of the bulldozers is detestable thing,"Capitman said."It is such a form of real what,most demonstrators feel is the city's violence." sneak attack against preservatiori of the ll • Not all the people attending the demonstration were for hotel.Their protest at the base of the rub- preservation of the Biscaya, but they did not present a ble was not one of optimism. unified voice.Few voiced their opinion while going in and "We might be impotent,but we have to t out of a convenience store,yelling"tear the damn thing take a stand somewhere,"said developer down,"or"where do I sign up to tear the thing down?" Gerry Sanchez."We have the right...no, One man who did not want to give his name said he saw the duty to scream against the the hotel go from a beautiful hotel in the 1950s to a haven demolition." for hobos in 1977. Sanchez, a New York developer who A.• "I want to know how close all these people protesting has invested in the historically important live to the thing," he said."There are a lot of things to Art Deco arca of Miami Beach,donned protest atound here and that's not one of them." one'of the protest T-shirts over his three- A protester and preservationist,Thorn Grafton of Graf- piece suit,refused an on-camera interview ton Architects of Miami,said he was there to protest the saying he was just their to join the others • destruction of a building as well as methods and processes and joined the ever growing ring of the city of Miami Beach took to begin the demolition,and detli2tnstrators. the kind of message the city will send to the nation Sanchez said he had a contract to buy 1 . because of it.- ,the hotel fur 52.25 million and the denroli- "It says to the world that•the city just doesn't want to tion removed the decorative front of the cooperate,"he said. structure and the large tile roof back • porch loggia overlooking Biscayne Bay. As part of his restoration project oadhe _t1 • Biscaya, Sanchez hired Miami architect Les Beilinson to begin a study of the restoration project arid to do an architec. _ tural study of the building.Beilinson said " Review, they started on the study last December nota wholly objective source since it isand stayed yr contact with City Manager • y the Heritage Foundation,and read the little treasure of media and- publishedurey w ien they front Eisenhower and Rob Parkins as well as city officials on the congressional quoteson the Nicxroguan when tried to use covert mean Kr[neo project in order to expedite the zoning (1979 to 1986)'which before Y to Reagan, hearings and zoning variances needed for t Revolutionti from the W Michael Johns has America can shape an intelligencecommunity dcca carry fhe Nation, Washington and New York its congressional oversight group manure enough the larger project. Theyand New Republic and pa��' out a to ard • Beilinson said the building looks are hilarious The a other sources. maytutor covert initiative, y laugh. 1 gements, but they hurt as we It take just as Ion repairable structurally,but damage done I trust that somewhere in the 1990s,with the grace of til of wise and wilyg before America develops a coun- jungle,and who then who have been through Please see BISCAYA,page 5A <;od,we will not be reading a similar litanycan counsel the g the the essential essential moderation of the leaders of tributes to ort the likely consequences president-any president. _ trove! Congress, quenccs of his decisions. once they have taken Fe. South to 1917 tae,Mks n„,,sr " African revolutin. Did you !may,/ It is, of course,ortly one of the burdens that besets: e American foreign policy. Another is • the bumbling oft .1/.r,:; xii;e' �.P.,. •fnt?5 ul ,•,'c -.., 'c'2Qti"':'<:' (�II N;r!Prl um) ii,,, Nort�., r)c,t bly •'1.,,_ cI, �!l L (jou ,/.1(02c. _ ,) �J an n4 .3S.1Yao)A AI td Ka 'Mr� '►r' 4� rlS " „.1..„.:,.,..•'•a' G +.. .7ie11, itt1�g d�s .,..„..: tax ; ,, �d • rs'Q.: carr ) i�Y! �fri..\77, 1;A:r �` }vyt• s,.9 ^lr.� 1A •.,•,•!i'...-".)r7t4 v,..,_,❑,:,,._ aC ilu,.,d. elw....t•,a 9G.Y,.A,r,.l.,Ott. ...2.1001 Stn.;a,Miami Mach,Sonlsid,.mond,Boy Vllloe,v.1 IOAnhoon,Boy n.ni,on Is6nd,,SI my(du,Gold.n 0,.e1 �rcc�,ata>�.�x.vt,.,.A..,..s._.....+._.,,.....,�_. �..,....�....,.,..,a.Cir,��r->.z-...ewe••_-u...u.om,nnn�nmw•.,,,..v,n�„�...s.....zserr:a.,..._,.�,,..,.....,,-.,T..>,' .yc!CtyA10tomey ,„, ,, dev& ope ' ���f''''�l�� � {t[t iq Q?1,.J•3 N]h� !I r 1 _ 11,A..6.:',,.,. s)E.Y}f 1 F A•1,'4, •i'I%(l t{ FRANK n tell HIM{ „rat nor„fva11,cd. h �l" tow f(717"4. i RP f 4 ?`rA•+ �d fi"?wr"'k-{y sq, ... JA', ,4 'fir Special t the 1 •1'Ie Mium,Peach t ty j,M.: �,�t 6 L.f.1x .".4 • f.• c,,ff VrIs 4 "` j') .-__-.._.__". Commission anon Min t.I FlP � .2; 1 Yis t 4 s U.^1 i a V tvlut appy Cir. tt.Im a e,,,.n,71a mpt a I 4.4.'4„'""0.3);811.11—'pl.,:";. y'•+ ,[( ,p��4' �' ��t�+y s�ir. t {(.', ',.,,,..t,'..:'....-Q; ? Yt9{! '", 4� ersonnl en11ettn h +2"+ r< ,rJ' `+ r>! -1 RA4f• . .•fir a y ' p ) ua•e him,marl,AuguKt lV M v /, �, Al rani Ilea,It GI.y- hmin a building,permit. - •t' y'ti i' >n , e A •Y,yrt l3,, C.V Aram. v At Weiner, Snnchex 0h,•i ne 1 V yy� }� L ci 'yn.1'C �l£ ,f . cYi7Jt-,,�y '¢,d... attain,.A'ib,"payer's hnildrnR permit bleb l s , i �.3n i ^fon . s f t'• f, •Kt-�,c'Sa •h i.N owner Gerry Saint,.'s moiled inn 10 make ..d'1�t 1-,%0..- . '"y sI. 4 r I 1/'w�AV , '(.{r de•elopmg over the anoctural moils to the Y�,Q^• ' •" sk`7Y%• yS'Y , „' �g�j:j k tali yr "i,,."y° hoarded-up 7)-ua,i1 po e.y by Jan,a,y IV O it y'T Jy3� f �J Ck tit My,m.A .lf' '+''-, " � Ocean Ilmei rat AI, I983. ,,Q�'' 'j 3 d fit ,{ } t pt�,(1 t I rj"Y1yj('y�J�t l''{'f'�t`4 ^,J`'t�Y • •Octan Mire. .•..11 4t"' t- t3y ai' +'� 4'0 F _ro ft 'k Ile ao lo,i1• wiling fought Iasiweek tthe C1111,Isecond N�a --kW •' y fly4IP+3F, f a' rt �`,:;. �+ ‘.1 • bawteni'ts b.,k and demolition .,non l t II rat �"e' 'ysy a��''� f !('"pr+t/ f�y'�..,_.,. 7•+a ..r., y, t unit,gen hark nn,od Inc I by i ,t Ilion, `k•° r t..f¢$ (t r17 +cu rd!�y it .1 (S-,..,„..,,..r.,,„.,0 sear when Snnchex cut• bcooght by City Auomry -J{ ,f ;) t J,' fi/•�.r�3' Il fJk ,knmliton battle torr the At now we iner andt.:).,u i o 41 f{ 'yl'' "l I,..-aya II".d• prc,r.a- k'' t:, r d ;i . a Fs U ; IIuilJing Del ,trot �• f��s. � ., 4 '�,.�'- ,ina sl•eatheaded obs Director Poul Gioia,who I y ,�} ' < )�• �-'� 1t fi �,t'-.(sl� ,L(.i Tie tlla rinn ('apittnan and :mid Sanchez hal broken n 27-..\.,/- m <•><t {1�\ �'/I /�( id ";l'�r 4i Ile r Sanchez led June%fe< en+i. which ,�— t ',y a•� r') I'jOL -� s'gi.,4! lava,7'�1 l a ,.metra, march for the he hod m,lookcn m curl • J/ 11 « 95••'- 4/"yf� . Ih.oya and 11(,113011.1 xvucaval repairs by :`!��E J3 i + f 1...,` „✓ {<, "14,}}..GG�::t • � Rcmcr'.heal September 10,and he hat f { 1: r1 11 1(1,fc.l`,A C r -0..g"II 40 Yrt; NA. .:. runt aloe Sn �'• , ."I \ `. l tit ?J�1".�{`i'` Sone that time both "ll((��YYYY„ d. have been Faked to hank. rt I y7�`...,,,..., '74 ',‘.7......k+t..t '+s',e I 5 .t •the of tit Gino,of • Snnchex hough, the 4 t „r ,rgH V G d ..e."4,/D'' sac ,:,itnem which �,t.. yi (4,. c , Whiuhat,which ileo been �� t a � � hr, Samhet ngmJ lend, uie I x ' ti ai �'1,.,g,J u> 4 loci a demolition onkr hinto fi+,', s t „r,T.y ( t•I'� ,qyi-(��/I}f ! Lt k } In„ the 1)ak <imn,y ear, r<qui'e amount of \\,..4,.,,,,..,y,., 7'.0 /Y4 L e 5, +i � B r- )1 4:.;'1',,...::'''‘,:.f• t;,,,, Su um ., Iko1 gnamntee xt '' d `s s t - r, ,, ,t, .t�'i. (7,41"..t; >t / s, r „jot,tit de kn.,of a S k'I[ r,? 4'S r' / y et) +�y^k : e tktohet11f IOa5' foo which ,.? F t Y .L d �' k 1Z 11,a'•--�f I letter of,unlit. e ( r � I,. sin tom in Jntoa.y. Gold u,alhe the city m ;rt 4 Ai)`{ \,-,,-;,1,,,,,...,.;,..,:„.,:.,,,,,.. L.'d'i i .4\ '•titin• ✓C i• : IN-events leafing up'in m all:otos-ash rn,h it san.lnz `� ) " 1•Y1IT.t40 a Jath hetweeu the tato ,Hoed any of lu,11vxlim<, rrTTT C q 5 F " i i. t $O�1 ty >f a r+ 1 udt t r,•riea, tan he and apply I solo to the , Loy( y fJ. o 15�({y'-i.:4;;:':.,,'lye j y )--•R 1 t P, - .I„.amclnlnfolk alenolitim, of ,Int boatel ty`I,L' to f {S.f�iSiYJ` r,f f '>I +I J$'p t fL) J+� • In Juan Snn.Aex p,opcey. 1 Y� "j t h " •lint, laf t 'i I Perataded the laity "� el Y r �1'I ' { i n Y4fW�J( gl„ a' .. t01 ,n •,.ming lint S. of �C 51>o i VA.4,. a F , �y i Cyt J t i� fC 9. ,knu,lkhasdw',Wh„el,on lord broken iris Jo"' SrsTdr u q' 1 x t.t'y ,t-ray t i IJ+ + l s ` t IS - {' Howl, pointing..t +hal ogrnnet,I Reiner t 1e •) 1,', r 71;. ,...:k.' tI ace, y y. I•In,n 4nr ,,,, ening tlw •heal ale, eavlwd i 1 -.17:F-...1.',V)\�� E _41 33 , > U J' f..F'I''4'4:4' I1fit, ,)..� hoilb.m into 17 loamy $31,000 letter ofered welt .y-vxr'± r Wiz.1 .r,.. 10,0111f 0111 apartments Developer Jerry Sanchez stands In front of nn effigy of Mian,'ninth City Attorney Arnold wiener, outside the bulldozed Bi,eeya Hotel. 1 Clash front page At its beau,,was the purchase of the hotel by the rnteoIior of complete the ma.,and ,Muhllo.tk axkauce a1,tech Gerry Sanchez in January for the princely issuingr<.xt order to make an ant „(ccs hemp meddling from sum of 5693,003, with the obiective of Ci adtyan�dcn,ond, the ,Oral 10 the lmmbng}a,n asppnnacd taupour bin converting die property into 17 luxury building. hoc lelepJ,mm inter,kw people in local gnoxounenl, oceanfront apartments. •Appearing hello,the hon,New York,Sam,ex One Mt of the city ix In June the Miami Beach City Commission City t onion,ion,Sanchez ,aid the action,taken 100f ring ' welcome niton agreed to bold off demolishing the property said so work pod been the Rhitchnn property with open arms while o r until January 19, 1988, provided Sanchez ted no enc huinlh,g and ire ,gain,, the hest mites pony pays down the thecityd,00ldkove him heinterests,d i.eOcity. naw renatdkas of cot obtained a building permit and posted a „1td the Jao ay deadline otential developers quo-tees,-Sanchez sant 534,000 letter of credit. (doth' those when hr is noosed 111 I•Iro,e wee CAitorinl requirements were met. aompke his rnno'ationx. rage 6 Earlier this month,Weiner cashed in the • RN,uo on the ionic letter of credit maintaining Sanchez had tar hoop,argued+hoe tors no kept to his June agreement.Last week,in their kgol.ea.on to give Sanchez (Iii to Q'i F wisdom,the City Commission voted to waive mote ism,Uhl od he w31$ -- the default and reinstate the letter of credit, ,Niro sure he would see with the proviso that Sanchez completes hie ,•nehea back at the city Vendetta at City Hall commission in 111110.f 1. 7 renovations ort the stipulated date of January • (:icy commissioners. the apparent animosity that exists between 19. . hoax.e,,rated ti, IMT doe City Attorney Arnold Weiner and Art-Deco It is rather surmising that a man of the default and teinnute 11,0 property owner Gera'Sandier,has turned calibre of Gerry Sanchez should have been letter of credit. Rising into a vendetta drat bares ill for the lot Mlle%of treated in such ashabby fashion.'Ibis paper Sanchez.mtil Ja,11oy Palo a city that is on the brink nil breakthrough in :cmunben ovheu Sanchez was hailed as a its development. pioneer of the Alt Deco District and praised At the root of the problem is the boarded- to the skits by city officials for "rbc up,73-unit Whitebait Hotel at 315 Ocean magnificent work he was doing on South • Drive,a property which has been under a Beach." demolition order from the Dade County We can only hope that the action that was • Unsafe Structuresfdu:ud since October 1985. taken against Sanchez is not a precursor of what is to come for property developers who fall foul of an overzealous City Attorney who sticks so closely to the letter of the law.