Witkoff And Monroe Capital Announce Restoration And Redevelopment Of Iconic Shore Club Hotel In Miami Beach

Witkoff and Monroe Capital have announced a partnership with world renowned Robert A.M. Stern Architects to restore and redevelop the iconic Shore Club Hotel at 1901 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. On November 15th, 2021, Witkoff and Monroe Capital filed an application with the City of Miami Beach for approval of the renovation and redevelopment of the Shore Club and Cromwell property by the Historic Preservation Board.

The Shore Club Hotel, a South Beach institution since 1949, is a private residential resort and boutique hotel set within a lush botanical landscape on Miami Beach. The Mid-Century Modern or “MiMo” style Shore Club Hotel was combined in 2001 with the Cromwell Hotel, an Art Deco-style hotel built in 1939. Uniquely situated in the Miami Beach Architectural (Art Deco) District and listed in the National Register of historic places, the Shore Club Hotel, is a “club” in every aspect of the word, inviting a sense of exclusivity. The newly reimagined luxury offerings will include 80 custom-designed residences and 65 boutique hotel suites, combining classic elegance with modern luxury. Given Witkoff and Stern's long history of preserving and restoring historic structures, the restoration and redevelopment of the legendary Shore Club has a veritable Historic Preservation Dream Team helping to bring the project to fruition.

The Shore Club Hotel’s storied history will be preserved while redeveloping the property into a new Miami Beach icon designed through a contemporary lens, embracing and enhancing its heritage. The proposed plan prioritizes maintaining the contributing historic structures of the original Cromwell and Shore Club hotels while building an additional two new structures on the property: a residential building and a private villa. In addition, the exterior will include three pool decks for residential and hotel use, a remodeled exterior dining area, an exterior cafe, all set among a lush tropical oasis.

To honor the Shore Club’s rich history, the interior plans include a complete restoration of the lobby to its original grandeur and renovation of its hotel suites, two world-class food offerings, carefully curated amenities catering towards every need of the individual residents and guests, a state-of-the-art gym facility, and private screening and lounge rooms.

Witkoff’s long, successful history of restoring and redeveloping properties of historical significance includes the iconic Woolworth Building, Daily News Building, 55 Wall Street, One Broadway in Manhattan, and Shell Mex House and Devonshire House in London as well as the Hilton Cabana in Miami Beach. Witkoff and Monroe Capital prioritized expertise in historic preservation and compatible new construction in selecting architect, teacher and writer Robert A.M Stern to lead the Shore Club’s design, with historic renovation projects including 18 Gramercy Park South (renovation of a women’s boarding house into a condo), The Claremont (a residential tower addition to the Union Theological Seminary) and The Belnord (partial renovation of an historic rental building into a condominium).

Heritage Architectural Associates, led by Steven Avdakov, an architect specializing in historic preservation, is serving as the Historic Preservation Consultant on the project to preserve and restore the authenticity of the original structures and interior. The design team also includes acclaimed Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design, as well as landscape architecture firm Island Planning Corporation, led by founder Nathan Browning.

“Witkoff is honored to have the opportunity to restore and redevelop the Shore Club and Cromwell back to their original grandeur,” said Alex Witkoff, Principal of Witkoff, “We look forward to collaborating with the City of Miami Beach, the Historic Preservation Board and the community to ensure that our vision honors the Shore Club and Cromwell’s storied histories.”

“As Miami Beach increasingly grows as a global city, historically significant projects like this define and contribute to its thriving culture and flourishing economy.” adds Kyle Asher, Managing Director of Monroe Capital.

“The historic preservation of the original Cromwell and Shore Club Hotel is essential to the restoration due to the buildings’ status as designated historic structures and to preserve the history of Miami Beach as a whole,” stated Historian Steve Avdakov on the nature of the project.

“From the outset of the conceptualization of this project, the team focused on ensuring the historical integrity of the Shore Club and leading with a contextual design approach that complements the surrounding community. It is critical to preserve the historic integrity of iconic properties like the Shore Club and Cromwell,” said Paul Whalen, Partner of Robert A.M. Stern Architects. “Our design strategy and approach for the project was heavily influenced by their storied history.”

Renderings via Kobi Karp

City of Miami Beach Approves Ocean Terrace Redevelopment Plan Along North Beach Beachfront

The City of Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board has approved the Ocean Terrace Holdings (OTH) redevelopment plan and Ocean Terrace streetscape masterplan. Led by OTH principals Sandor Scher and Alex Blavatnik, the redevelopment plan includes a 20-story, 75-unit residential building, new restaurant and retail options, and a 127-room hotel that incorporates the carefully renovated and unified historic Broadmoor and Ocean Surf properties. Following years of community outreach and negotiations with the City, the approval of OTH’s redevelopment plan will revitalize this underutilized area in North Beach along Collins Avenue, between 74th and 75th Street.

“The approved plan for Ocean Terrace is more economically viable, will attract a world-class hotel operator, and will incorporate a beautifully-designed oceanfront greenspace for the entire community to enjoy,” said Sandor Scher, principal of Ocean Terrace Holdings, LLC. “We look forward to getting to work on our long-awaited project, which will restore the street-level historic architecture, transform Ocean Terrace into a lushly-landscaped oasis and give new life to this cherished beachfront.”

The approved plan includes a few recently added enhancements that will elevate the project’s hotel and residential components. To help attract a world-class hotel flag to the project, the plan adds a new hotel building with 72 rooms that will be built within previously approved height restrictions. The hotel will be managed as one operation with the historic Broadmoor and Ocean Surf hotel buildings. The hotel will include restaurants, bar, meeting rooms, fitness, spa, outdoor pool and deck, rooftop lounge, and on-site parking.

With an historically inspired design, the residential component will feature curvilinear designs reflective of MiMo style, such as curved balconies and eyebrows. Units will range in size from 2 to 5 bedrooms and feature a full complement of luxury amenities. The masterplan also calls for approximately 15,000 square feet of commercial space along Collins Avenue and approximately 3,000 square feet along Ocean Terrace.

“We are grateful to the North Beach community and City of Miami Beach for working together with us to create a vision for Ocean Terrace that incorporates historic preservation, activation of the oceanfront, and economic revitalization,” said Alex Blavatnik, principal of Ocean Terrace Holdings, LLC. “We are excited to now be able to bring that vision to life, starting with an iconic and activated public space that will belong to the City for future generations.”

The first stage of the redevelopment plan will focus on a new $15 million, five-acre public greenspace along Ocean Terrace designed by world-renowned landscape architect Raymond Jungles. The asphalt street will be converted into an active, pedestrian-focused greenspace with native trees that will provide much-needed shade. A public-private partnership with the City of Miami Beach, the streetscape plan will also offer new walking trails, water features, public seating, and a covered pavilion. A mid-block open breezeway in the Ocean Terrace development will also connect Collins Avenue retail to Ocean Terrace, allowing enhanced public access to the oceanfront. OTH will fully fund the park, with no cost to taxpayers, and will deliver the greenspace on an expedited timeline.

Construction on the public greenspace is set to begin in the third quarter 2022. Pre-construction sales for the residential building are also estimated to launch in 2022.