1675-1 New Hotels DATE: Friday, September 9, 1994 EDITION: FINAL
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: 4B LENGTH: 26 lines
SOURCE/CREDIT LINE: FRAN BRENNAN Herald Staff Writer
BEACH REVERSES BOARD OK OF TOWERING KRAMER HOTEL
Developer Thomas Kramer's Towering Suites Hotel has been grounded -- at
least temporarily. Miami Beach commissioners Thursday reversed a decision by
the city's design review board that allowed Kramer to build a 210-foot,
47-suite hotel at 101 Ocean Dr.
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City Manager Roger Carlton appealed the board's decision, saying that
2,000 square-foot suites were larger than hotel suites anywhere. And the
developer might, in fact, be trying to build apartments under the guise of a
hotel, which would get more favorable treatment under city zoning rules.
"We highly resent the implication, " said Kramer's lawyer Lucia Dougherty.
She told commissioners her client simply wanted to build a unique project that
would attract "unique clientele."
Property owners in the South Pointe area called the victory "huge, "
although Dougherty said Kramer will likely appeal the
commission's ruling. Kramer can bring the project back to design review but it
will be subject to new and stricter height restrictions.
"This is a huge victory for sanity on the beach, " said David Colby, who
owns the Century Hotel across the street.
TAG: 9403040085