980 West 48th StreetMIAMIBEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Tel: 305-673-7550, Fax: 305-673-7559
March 2, 2006
Ms. Sylvia Fox
9050 Iron Horse Lane, #211
Pikesville, Maryland 21208
Re:
980 West 48th Street, Miami Beach
Request for a Determination of Architectural Significance
Dear Ms. Fox:
Pursuant to your request that was completed on February 10, 2006 (see Attachment), the
Planning Department has evaluated the subject property at 980 West 48th Street to determine
whether the single-family residence is architecturally significant. A site visit of the subject
property was conducted by staff on February 23, 2006. In accordance with Section 142-108(1)
of the Land Development Regulations of the Miami Beach City Code, the following criteria
determine whether a home constructed prior to 1942 is architecturally significant:
,
The subject structure is characteristic of a specific architectural style constructed in the city
prior to 1942, including, but not limited to, Vernacular, Mediterranean Revival, Art Deco,
Streamline Moderne, or variations thereof.
Satisfied. The subject home was designed by architect Curtis Haley and built by the Florida
Construction Company in 1940. It is a modest example of the Minimal Traditional style of
architecture. Characteristic of this style, the residence is one-story in height with a front-
facing gabled roof, close roof eaves, and a chimney. Its significant architectural features
include multiple roofs with clay barrel tiles, wooden rafter tails, decorative vents at the base
of the structure, a recessed front porch with a brick accent wall and a terrazzo tile floor and
steps, decorative molding that frames the picture window to the east of the front porch,
slender pipe columns supporting the rear porch, and a decorative vent with a floral pattern
on the west elevation of the attached garage. Together all of these architectural features
contribute to the special character and architectural significance of this modest residence.
.
The exterior of the structure is recognizable as an example of its style and/or period, and its
architectural design integrity has not been modified in a manner that cannot be reversed
without unreasonable expense.
Satisfied. The exterior of the subject home is clearly recognizable as an example of its style
and period with limited modifications. In 1947, just seven years after its original construction,
a modestly designed addition was built on the south side of the home. Two years later, a
small enclosed porch was built at the far south end of the 1947 addition. Both of these
additions are located at the rear of the property and are not visible from the street. Other
minor modifications to the original design of the subject residence include the removal of
decorative window shutters, the modification of several original masonry window openings,
the removal of the original landscape planter below the picture window just to the east of the
front porch, and the modification of the original garage door opening from a segmental arch
to a horizontal fiat arch. These limited modifications do not have a significant negative
impact on the architectural integrity of the residence.
Re: 980 West 48th Street
March 2, 2006
Page 2 of 2
.
Significant exterior architectural characteristics, features, or details of the subject structure
remain intact.
Satisfied. The subject home has not been significantly altered and appears to be
substantially consistent with its original architectural design.
.
The subject structure embodies the scale, character, and massing of the built context of its
immediate area.
Satisfied. The one-story residence is compatible with the built context of the surrounding
single-family homes in terms of scale, character, and massing.
The Planning Department has determined that the subject building, although a modest
residence, does meet the criteria in Section 142-108(1) and, therefore, is architecturally
significant. This determination relative to architectural significance of the single-family home
may be appealed within ten (10) days of rendering such decision. The appeal must be in writing
and shall be to the Design Review Board.
In accordance with Section 142-108(4), a request for the total demolition of an architecturally
significant single-family home must be reviewed by the Design Review Board (DRB). A permit
for the demolition of an architecturally significant single-family home shall not be issued unless a
full building permit for new construction has been issued. In the event an architecturally
significant home is proposed to be demolished, the Design Review Board shall review and
approve all new construction on the subject site. If you wish to pursue the total demolition of the
subject structure and the construction of a new home, please contact Michael Belush, Senior
Planner, at 305-673-7000 ext. 6258, in order to schedule a pre-application conference for the
Design Review Board.
Because staff has determined this single-family home to be architecturally significant, we would
like to suggest that you consider requesting that the Historic Preservation Board evaluate the
property for local individual historic structure designation. There can be significant tax and other
benefits to historic designation, and staff would be pleased to discuss these opportunities with
you and assist in this process. Please contact either myself or Shannon Anderton, Senior
Planner, to schedule an appointment to discuss this matter further at 305-673-7550.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact myself or
Shannon Anderton, Senior Planner, at 305-673-7550.
Sincerely,
C:
Robert Parcher, City Clerk
Jorge G. Gomez, Planning Director
Thomas R. Mooney, Design and Preservation Manager
Shannon Anderton, Senior Planner
SFRRB File No. 63
WHC:SMA
F:\PLAN~$ALL~,Single Family Homes\CorrespondenceS980 West 48th St. sma.doc
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work, and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic
community.
City of Miami Beach
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
SYLVIA FOX
Apm-mmnt/4 123 I
4101 Pine[tee Drive
Miami Beach, Florida 33140
December 27, 2005
ATTN: PL,ANNI. NG DEPAR'T'MENT
Re:: Propert5? A,ddress: 980 West 48th Street, Miami Beach Folio Number: 02-3222-014-0740
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
This is my request for a determination of"ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE" regarding thc
structure on my property located at 980 West 48~ Street, Miami Beach, Florida. This request is made
in conjunction with and in support of my application to demolish the structure, which application I
made several months ago. I wish to demolish the structure as soon as possible.
The structure is very old, seriously deteriorated, m6nhabitable, and has been boarded up for at leas: a
decade. It has been cited numerous times by the. City, and is unsafe. The house has been uninhabited
for at least 20 years, except when vagrants occasionally broke in in the past. For the last several years,
even the vagrants ;vill not inhabit it. It has been broken into m~d robbed by teenagers who have
othet'wise previously been in trouble with the law. Neighbors have made several complaints to the City
about the structure. It is a nuisance to the neighborhood,
The structure is not usable as is, or even if it could be repaired, which is not possible.
It is also undesirable, as no one would want to live in it with its floor plan. Although located in a
single family zone. it has 3 separate residences, not one of which is nicely designed. There is no way
to redesign the layout so that it is useful. It is functionally obsolete.
The structure has absolutely no interesting, noteworthy, historic, design, or otherwise significant
physical characteristic. It also has no valuable or significant historic previous use that would make
saving it of any benefit or interest to anyone.
I have designated Demolition Masters, Inc. to undertake the demolition once you make the appropriate
determination that the structure has no architectural significance.
I am currently staying with my daughter in the Baltimore area, while I obtain treatment at Johns
Hopkins and Memorial Sloan-Kettering for my cancer. Our mailing address is 9050 Iron Horse Lane:
# 211, Pikesville, MD 21208, and my phone number is 410-363-8361. Please contact mc at this
location rather than at my permanent address above, should you have any additional questions or with
notification of any meetings or hearings, or with your determination.
Thank you for your a_nticipated prompt attention to this matter.
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