LTC 447-2024 Miami-Dade County Schools Proposed Demolition of a Contributing Structure at 1436 Pennsylvania AvenueMIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach,1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach,Florida 33139,www.miamibeachfl.gov
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LTC No.
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission
Eric Carpenter,City Manager ~~
October 7,2024
Miami-Dade County Schools Proposed Demolition of a Contributing Structure at
1436 Pennsylvania Avenue.
On October 1,2024,the Miami-Dade County Public Schools ("School Board")Office of Capital
Improvements Projects gave notice to the City of Miami Beach of its intent to fully demolish an existing
building located at 1436 Pennsylvania Avenue.The proposed demolition is scheduled to commence on
October 14,2024.
The building located at 1436 Pennsylvania Avenue is classified as contributing within the Espanola Way
Local Historic District.Constructed in 1933 and designed by architect L.Murray Dixon,the building is a
good example of the Mediterranean Revival/Art Deco Transitional style of architecture.
The City has previously advised the School Board that this property is subject to the City's
Comprehensive Plan and land development regulations,known as the Miami Beach Resiliency Code,
which includes the City's historic preservation ordinance.The historic preservation ordinance requires
Historic Preservation Board ("HPB")review for the demolition of any structure located within a local
historic district.On an emergency basis,a building may be demolished prior to HPB review pursuant to
a lawful order of a building official or unsafe structures board,"when issuance of such permit on an
immediate basis is necessary for the public health or safety or to prevent injury to life,limb or property."
However,in accordance with Section 2.13.1 (d)(2)of the Resiliency Code,in the event demolition occurs
prior to the review and approval of a certificate of appropriateness for demolition,the after-the-fact
procedures for demolition-including after-the-fact HPB review-will apply.
Based on recent correspondence provided by the School Board,it appears to be their position that the
building is in an extreme state of disrepair and that the School Board's building official has ordered
demolition of this building on an emergency basis.As of the date of this L TC,the City has not yet
received written confirmation that an emergency demolition order was issued,nor has an application
for the demolition of the building been filed with the City.k.
1 Pursuant to State law,public school districts are subject to the Florida Building Code;however,school property
is exempt from municipal building permit requirements.Building permits for the School Board's educational
facilities are issued by the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Building Official.
447-2024