Bal Harbour Citizens Fight New Miami Area Condos and Hotel
In March, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, owners of the Sheraton Bal Harbour, announced their plan to demolish the Bal Harbour hotel in order to develop a new hotel and various Miami area condos.
The initially proposed plan for the 8.8 acre site was to build a 350 unit Miami area condo high-rise and a 250 room condo-hotel, but residents who thought the proposed development was too large formed a coalition to oppose the the complex after hearing Starwood´s proposal criticized by the town´s Architectural Review Board.
However, Starwood has not given up. In an effort to appease the community, the company revised its plan and cut the number of Miami area condos to 302 and increased the number of hotel rooms to 282.
"The Bal Harbour Village Council agreed to bar the village´s Architectural Review Board from considering any plans for the Sheraton until at least September, in order to give residents time to revise and discuss the plans."
However, it would seem that the members of the Bal Harbour Citizen´s Coalition already had their minds made up back in August. Although Dina Cellini, the coalition´s vice president, claims they are still evaluating plans and have hired experts to help, she adds, "But I can tell you, to me it looks very large."
The initially proposed plan for the 8.8 acre site was to build a 350 unit Miami area condo high-rise and a 250 room condo-hotel, but residents who thought the proposed development was too large formed a coalition to oppose the the complex after hearing Starwood´s proposal criticized by the town´s Architectural Review Board.
However, Starwood has not given up. In an effort to appease the community, the company revised its plan and cut the number of Miami area condos to 302 and increased the number of hotel rooms to 282.
"The Bal Harbour Village Council agreed to bar the village´s Architectural Review Board from considering any plans for the Sheraton until at least September, in order to give residents time to revise and discuss the plans."
However, it would seem that the members of the Bal Harbour Citizen´s Coalition already had their minds made up back in August. Although Dina Cellini, the coalition´s vice president, claims they are still evaluating plans and have hired experts to help, she adds, "But I can tell you, to me it looks very large."
