Preservation board delays decision on Deauville Hotel

Paola Iuspa-Abbott

2012-11-21 12:00:00 AM

The Meruelo family will have to wait until January to know if the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board approves its plan to almost double the size of the historic Deauville Hotel.

The preservation board liked the proposed 412-room hotel tower the family wants to build next to the iconic 56-year-old building at 6701 Collins Ave. But the board said Tuesday before approving any new construction it wants to make sure the existing hotel is being properly maintained under "historic preservation" standards.

The board asked the Meruelos to document that the original building and guest rooms have been properly restored and maintained. The board plans to review the proposed expansion of the 484-room Deauville again Jan. 15.

The family is proposing to build a 21-story hotel tower, add 12 suites above a second-floor ballroom in the existing building, and reconfigure another ballroom and retail space on the ground floor to make room for a 124-space parking garage.