Board approves modified courtyard access for Harding Avenue hotel project

The Historic Preservation Board approved changes to a previously permitted hotel project at 7418 Harding Avenue that will widen selected courtyard openings and convert several ground‑floor windows into doors to provide direct access from rooms to a restored central courtyard.

Debbie (planning staff) told the board the property contains three contributing buildings and that the applicant is retaining and restoring the three buildings. Staff said the change will improve the guest experience by allowing ground floor rooms to open directly into the courtyard, reduce circulation around the perimeter and generally increase courtyard activity. Staff said the wall portions proposed for demolition lack significant architectural detail and that the new door and frame details were designed to be compatible with the existing historic language. Staff recommended approval.

MTTR principal (applicant) explained the planned changes and said the new configuration reduced unit count and refined the interior layouts. Board members asked about the width increase required to convert the existing window openings to doors; the architect explained code‑based minimum clear door widths drove a modest enlargement of openings, typically adding about six inches per leaf in the double‑leaf configuration.

No public opposition was recorded; the Miami Design Preservation League stated support for the proposal.

After brief board comments in favor of the courtyard activation, a motion to approve the updated plan passed on roll call.