Miami Beach Commission Votes to Advance Deauville Project to the Ballot this Fall

Today, the Miami Beach City Commission voted to advance the redevelopment of the Deauville Hotel, led by developer Stephen Ross and to be designed by legendary architect Frank Gehry. If approved by voters in this year’s election, the proposed plan would redevelop the derelict Deauville site, which is under a judge-ordered demolition, and develop it into a world-class, six-star hotel and luxury residences that will revitalize North Beach and pay homage to the Deauville’s place in Miami Beach’s history.

Earlier today prior to the vote, Stephen Ross, chairman of Related Companies, and architect Frank Gehry made a presentation to the commissioners and community on their transformative vision for the site. The presentation consisted of the scope of the project—two-towers with 175 rooms and 150 condos—as well as the various public benefits for the community provided by the renovated Deauville site.

Those benefits include money for a community facility, initial funding for the establishment of a housing relief fund, public beach access, funding for arts education in the area and a historic agreement with the local hotel workers union UNITE HERE Local 355. On top of this, the project would generate an estimated $6 million annually to the North Beach Community Redevelopment Association, and produce approximately $3 million in resort tax per year to the city of Miami Beach, according to a recent report prepared by Lambert Advisory.

“Until it fell into terrible disrepair, the Deauville was an iconic part of our history. Tragically it is now an eyesore that only drags down this area of our city. Our vote today sets a path that honors its former glory and delivers a project that will lift up and revitalize North Beach,” said Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber.

As part of the presentation, Gehry spoke about his lifetime connections to the city, as well as Ross about his strong ties to North Beach, where he spent his childhood.

“As someone who grew up in North Beach, this project holds a special place in my heart,” said Stephen Ross. “I am thrilled that members of the Commission and the Mayor have seen how incredible a new and improved Deauville would be for North Beach, and have voted to approve it on first reading. As this process moves forward, I am hopeful that voters will see the transformational nature of this project and all it will add to the North Beach way of life, both today and for future generations.”

Gehry has built an architectural career that has spanned more than six decades and he has produced public and private buildings throughout the world, including notable projects such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California. Most recently, Gehry designed The Grand LA, a shopping, dining and entertainment complex in downtown Los Angeles, working with Related Companies and Stephen Ross.

“I commend the Miami Beach commission and Mayor Gelber on voting to move this extraordinary project forward. If approved, redesigning the Deauville would be an unprecedented opportunity to honor the history of the site while building a new future for the community,” shared Frank Gehry.

Ross has also focused his philanthropic work in the Miami community. Under his stewardship, the Dolphins have raised more than $45.5 million for local cancer research through the Dolphins Cancer Challenge. In June 2020, Ross and the Miami Dolphins Foundation announced a year-long Food Relief Program with a $3 million investment and an additional $1 million from the Lennar Foundation. The initiative provided 1,000 meals each day from Centerplate and minority owned restaurants to local churches, community groups and those in need during the pandemic.

Ross is widely known as the most successful private developer in the United States. His projects include New York City’s Hudson Yards, the largest private development in U.S. history; Deutsche Bank Center, formerly known as the Time Warner Center in the heart of Manhattan’s Columbus Circle; The Square in West Palm Beach; Gehry-designed The Grand LA; and countless other developments across the country.

Photo: Frank Gehry

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