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It’s a Deal
Settlement agreement saves part of the 91-year-old
Coral Rock House
By Ben Torter
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Coral Rock House owner Michael Stern claimed he
needed to destroy the rear portion of the
historic structure in order to save it. Photo by
Angie Hargot |
After a three-year battle to save the Coral Rock House, an appeal by
preservationists to the Miami Beach special master
was over in only 15 minutes Tuesday because both
parties had already agreed on a settlement to ensure
the house will be restored.
The Miami Design Preservation League, Mango’s Tropical Café owner
David Wallack and
South
Beach property owner Mitch Novick had appealed a
June 12 ruling of the city’s Historic Preservation
Board that allowed a Mediterranean Revival building
on the property adjacent to the Coral Rock House at
Ninth Street
and Collins Avenue to be completely torn down.
Michael Stern, the owner of the property, has insisted all along
that he had no plans to demolish the entire Coral
Rock House, but that he could if he’d wanted to
since he had a demolition order from
Miami-Dade County. But Novick and his lawyer, Kent
Harrison Robbins, didn’t trust Stern, pointing to
the day in July when Stern mounted a bulldozer and
tore into the home. Stern said it was simply part of
the restoration process.
The Coral Rock House was built in 1916 as the home of Avery C.
Smith, widely thought of as the father of tourism in
Miami Beach. Among his many contributions to the
city’s early growth was the creation of a ferry that
connected the barrier island to the mainland. The
two-story Mediterranean Revival building was
constructed in 1924 and is considered historically
significant by preservationists.
The settlement requires Stern to vacate the demolition order on the
Coral Rock House, at which time the appeal to
special master Warren Bittner will be dismissed.
“We feel this is a win not just for all sides, but a big win for
historic preservation in
Miami Beach,”
Robbins said.
Novick smiled as he echoed Robbins’ sentiment. “It’s a big win for
the community and the generations to follow,” he
said.
Stern could not be reached for comment.
The legal battle between Stern and Novick was full of distrust on
both sides. Novick and Robbins insisted Stern would
have torn down the Coral Rock House without their
appeal. And last week Stern said he thought Novick’s
appeal was unethical and based on financial gain
more than historical concern. Novick is a majority
owner in the Sherbrooke Hotel at
901 Collins Ave. across the street from the two
historic structures.
Stern pointed to the fact that as chair of the Historic
Preservation Board, Novick voted to allow Stern to
demolish all but the façade of the Mediterranean
Revival structure. Stern said Novick should have
recused himself from that 2005 vote, and since he
didn’t he shouldn’t have been able to appeal the
June 2007 HPB ruling. Both the HPB and Assistant
City Attorney Gary Held ruled Novick did have a
right to appeal.
Robbins said unless Stern does something to break the settlement,
the matter is ended. Once the Coral Rock House is
substantially restored, Stern will be allowed to
tear down the Mediterranean Revival building. He
already has the city’s approval to build a
four-story commercial building on the site.
Comments? E-mail
ben@miamisunpost.com |
