LTC 017-2016 Proposed Historic Designation of 1700 Alton Road, as an individual local historic site A # s Y.s� �R rcn'
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OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC# 017-2016 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Members u the City !!i.ommission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager =— —
DATE: January 13, 2016
SUBJECT: Proposed historic designation of 1 Alton Road, as an individual local historic site.
On January 12, 2016, at the request of the owner, AC 1700 Alton Owner LLC, the Historic
Preservation Board held a meeting to consider a Preliminary Evaluation and Recommendation
Report relative to the proposed historic designation of 1700 Alton Road, as an individual local
historic site. At this meeting the Board directed the Planning Department to prepare a formal
Historic Designation Report for the proposed designation of 1700 Alton Road, as an individual
local historic site.
Pursuant to Section 118-591 of the City Code, when the Historic Preservation Board directs staff
to prepare a designation report for a proposed new historic district or site, the Mayor and City
Commission shall be notified of the board's decision and the initial boundaries proposed for
designation. Within 60 days of the vote of the Historic Preservation Board to direct the Planning
Department to prepare a designation report, the City Commission may, by a five-sevenths vote,
deny or modify the proposed request for designation, as well as establish specific timeframes for
the completion of the evaluation and recommendation and/or designation report. Within this 60
day period the City Commission may also, by a five-sevenths vote, deny or modify the proposed
designation boundaries. The only regularly scheduled City Commission meetings within this 60
day timeframe are on January 27t , February 10th, February 24th and March 9, 2016.
Attached, please find a copy of the Preliminary Evaluation and Recommendation Report,
prepared by the Planning Department, which outlines the initial evaluation of the proposed local
historic site located at 1700 Alton Road.
Please advise if you would like this matter scheduled for discussion at any of the above noted
City Commission meetings.
Attachment (1)
JLM/SMT/T /D
F:\PLAN\$ALL\CM_RESP\2016\1700 Alton Rd.proposed historic designation.Itc.docx
C: Raul Aguila, City Attorney
Rafael Granado, City Clerk
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MIAMI BEA H
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Staff Report & Recommendation Historic Preservation Board
TO: Chairperson and Members DATE: January 12, 2016
Historic Preservation Board
FROM Thomas R. Mooney, AIC '
Planning Director I
SUBJECT: HPB File No. 7590, 1700 Alton Road - Possible Designation of an Historic
Site.
A presentation by the City of Miami Beach Planning Department to the Historic
Preservation Board of a Preliminary Evaluation and Recommendation Report
relative to the possible historic designation of 1700 Alton Road, as an individual
local historic site, requested by the applicant, AC 1700 Alton Owner LLC.
}
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Direct the applicant to prepare a Designation Report for the possible designation of 1700 Alton
Road as a local historic site.
ZONING/SITE DATA
Legal Description: Lots 1 & 2, Block 17 of Commercial Subdivision 1st
Addition, According to the Plat Thereof, as Recorded in
Plat Book 6, Page 30, of the Public Records of Miami-
Dade County, Florida.
Zoning: CD-2 (Commercial, Medium Intensity)
Future Land Use Designation: CD-2 (Commercial, Medium Intensity)
Existing Use/Condition: Apartment/Hotel
EXISTING STRUCTURE
Original Construction Date: 1922
Original Architect: Martin L. Hampton
The existing 5-story structure was constructed in 1922, is an excellent example of the City's
1920s Boom period architecture. As an early example of Mediterranean Revival hotel
architecture, the subject structure retains much of its architectural integrity, despite several
alterations that have been made over time.
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Historic Preservation Board
File No.7590—1700 Alton Road
January 12,2016 Page 2 of 3
EVALUATION
Historic Significance
The structure located at 1700 Alton Road is of historical significance in that its location and
building form represents a period of time, series of events, and design style which shaped much
of the City's built environment.
The subject building was constructed in 1922 and designed by prominent local architect, Martin
Luther Hampton in the Mediterranean Revival style of architecture. At the time of its
construction, this 5-story building, which is approximately 56' in height, was the second tallest
building in Miami Beach.
The original building permit card lists two names for the building; the Mayflower Hotel and the
Variety Hotel. It appears however, from examination of the Polk's Business Directory for 1924
and 1925, that the original name for the property was the Marlborough Hotel. The location for
this hotel at the corner of 17th Street and Alton Road was likely chosen in part, by its close
proximity to the Collins Bridge, the original vehicular connection between the Beach and the
mainland. By the 1930s this section of Alton Road was developing into one of the major
commercial thoroughfares in the City.
While alterations have been made to the building over time, the majority of the alterations are
reversible. Alterations include the redesign of the entire ground level fronting on Alton Road
and 17th Street, removal of the original wood frame windows, modifications to the corner tower
feature, introduction of through-the-wall air-conditioner units and the removal of all significant
finishes within the public interior spaces. Although original plans have not yet been located, a
sufficient amount of historical documentation, including early photographs has been submitted,
which should serve as an adequate guide for restoration.
Architectural Significance
The structure located at 1700 Alton Road designed by architect Martin Luther Hampton, is an
excellent example of the Mediterranean Revival style of architecture, which is well represented
within several of the City's local historic districts as well as the Miami Beach National Register
Architectural District.
The barrel tile parapet, exposed rafters, chamfered corner tower feature and original arch
reveals are distinctive characteristics of this style.
Mediterranean Revival (late 1910s to 1930s)
Mediterranean Revival architecture was the "style of choice"for the first major land development
period in Ocean Beach. Its combination of Italian, Moorish, North African and Southern Spanish
themes evoked Mediterranean resort architecture and was found to be an appropriate and
commercially appealing image for the new Floridian seaside resort.
During the mid-1910s through the 1930s, the style was applied to hotels, apartment buildings,
commercial ,structures, and even modest residences. Its architectural vocabulary was
characterized by stucco walls, low pitched terra cotta and historic Cuban tile roofs, arches,
scrolled or tile capped parapet walls and articulated door surrounds, sometimes utilizing
Spanish Baroque decorative motifs and Classical elements. Feature detailing was occasionally
executed in keystone. Application of the architectural vocabulary in Miami Beach ranged from
Historic Preservation Board
File No.7590—1700 Alton Road
January 12,2016 Page 3 of 3
sparing to modestly exuberant, and building massing varied from simple rectangular forms to
stepped massing with recessed wall planes and tower-like corner features. Wooden casement
or double-hung windows of several configurations provided additional detail to the facades.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Board direct the applicant to prepare a Designation Report for the
possible designation of 1700 Alton Road, as a local historic site. This designation will further
benefit the purpose of historic preservation in Miami Beach.
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F:\PLAN\$HPB\16HPB\01-12-20161HPB 7590_1700 Alton Rd.prelim eval.Jan16.docx