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mh CITY OKS 07/16/1989
THE MIAMI HERALD
Copyright (c) 1989, The Miami Herald
DATE: Sunday, July 16, 1989 EDITION: FINAL
SECTION: NEIGHBORS MB PAGE: 3 LENGTH: 49 lines
SOURCE/CREDIT LINE: MARY ANN ESQUIVEL-GIBBS Herald Staff Writer
CITY OKS
ADDITION
TO SEVILLE
252-room section
to rise over 29th St.
The Seville Beach Hotel won approval Wednesday from Miami Beach
commissioners to build a 252-room addition over 29th Street at Collins Avenue.
Hotel owner Alfredo Lowenstein wants to extend the new tower over a
circular public road just south of the hotel. The Seville, on the north and
northeast sides of the circle, owns the land in the circle. The addition would
connect the hotel with the tower rising from the circle.
The hotel owner asked the city for air rights to build over the circle.
The hotel will leave a clearance of at least 30 feet over the street for
trucks and other tall vehicles.
Attorney Bruce Lazar, who represents the Seville, said the tower will not
affect the public's use of the circular street.
The commissioners unanimously approved the proposal.
"We have been trying to get new hotel rooms in this city, " Commissioner
William Shockett said. "This is what we're looking for. This is first class."
Lazar said his client hoped to begin construction by the end of the year.
Lowenstein also plans to build a five-story garage on vacant land across
the street from the hotel. The garage will have 368 spaces.
In all, Lowenstein will spend $10 million to $12 million to build the
addition and parking garage and renovate the 279-room hotel built in 1955.
When completed, the hotel will have 575 rooms.
Next door to the Seville is Triton Towers, a high-rise condominium with
562 apartments. A meeting is scheduled Tuesday to brief Triton residents on
the Seville's plans.
At Wednesday's commission meeting, civic activists Bea Kalstein and
Mildred Falk criticized hotel representatives for not notifying Triton Towers
residents sooner.
"I can't believe a major construction project could go in without telling
the neighbors, " Kalstein said. "But I'd believe anything that happens in this
city. "
Triton Towers Condominium Association President Leonel Agra said, "We are
worried they might block our view, or the construction might prevent us from
getting in and out. But if it is something beautiful and will improve the
area, then probably everybody will be pleased."
Architect Gail Baldwin said the addition to the Seville was designed not
to block the ocean view of Triton Towers residents.
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