1663-27 Art Deco/Preservation THU MAR 26 1992 ED: FINAL
SECTION: NEIGHBORS MB PAGE: 3 LENGTH: 12 . 17" MEDIUM
ILLUST:
SOURCE: BONNIE WESTON Herald Staff Writer
DATELINE:
MEMO:
DECO DEVOTEE WITHDRAWS PLAN TO RAZE 2 BUILDINGS
Tony Goldman, one of the earliest and most steadfast investors in South
Beach' s Art Deco revival, withdrew a controversial request last week to
partially demolish two historic buildings to clear space for parking.
Goldman planned to ask the Miami Beach Commission Wednesday to allow him
to partially demolish the two Collins Avenue buildings.
He already had the approval of the city ' s Historic Preservation Board,
provided the facades of the buildings were preserved, and incorporated into
the parking lot. But with neither financing nor an architectural plan in hand,
he fell in line with civic activists who said demolition would be premature.
"This approach did not send out the proper message: You do not take down
historic buildings until you have a clear plan in place that is accepted by
the community, " Goldman said. "This is something I articulate to my colleagues
when they enter the community. I consider myself an example. "
Goldman, who owns and has restored a number of Art Deco buildings,
including the Park Central Hotel on Ocean Drive, drew praise from those who
planned to argue against his proposal.
"Tony Goldman is a true officer and a gentleman, " said Jeff Donnelly,
who attended the March 18 meeting to speak on behalf of the South Beach New
Democrats . "Tony went through process and didn' t strike in middle of the
night, but he also was willing to listen to people in the community. "
The two historic buildings are the old Greyhound Bus Terminal, built in
1947 at 638 Collins Ave. , and the Coral Hotel, built in 1925 at 660 Collins
Ave. Goldman owns the buildings, which fall inside the city' s designated Art
Deco historic district and are on its roster of historically significant
buildings.
Goldman said the demolition would have made room for about 45 more
parking spaces. He still plans to bring down two nonhistoric buildings at
neighboring sites -- with the blessing of preservationists -- which he said
will make way for 12 to 15 spaces.
Goldman still hopes to put a 400-car garage on the site, ideally as a
joint venture with the city.
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