Historic Preservation Board approves rooftop amenity at Continental Hotel, with screening condition removed

The Historic Preservation Board on March 14 approved a certificate of appropriateness for a partial one‑story rooftop addition and active roof deck at the Continental Hotel, 4000 Collins Avenue.

Staff, applicant representatives and the board spent most of the discussion on how kitchen and HVAC equipment would be screened so the rooftop addition would not be visible from Collins Avenue. Debbie (planning staff) told members the requested line‑of‑sight modification complied with the criteria in the staff report and recommended approval. Christopher Machado, attorney for SOV CMB Hotel Owner LLC of Ackerman LLP, and Jose Gomez of Villonzo Gomez Architects presented the design and said the new rooftop bar and deck are intended to restore the building’s historic rooftop character while keeping visible changes minimal.

The Miami Design Preservation League testified in favor of the project. Daniel Serrato told the board the building was designed by Herbert Mathis in the post‑war modern style and the rooftop activation is “in keeping with the historical context.”

Board members asked applicants to confirm where new kitchen equipment and rooftop condensers would be placed. Gomez said the largest kitchen/condensing units would sit at the rear (west) of the roof and be screened by a decorative enclosure that extends over the existing roof slab; he said the parapet and screening would hide equipment from Collins Avenue and that the proposed configuration cleared sightlines shown in the staff package. Applicant Xander Brown said music would be limited to ambient background and that initial hours of operation were expected to be roughly midday through midnight, with the rooftop primarily serving hotel guests and limited public service during operating hours.

Following the discussion, the board voted to approve the staff recommendation as revised to remove a specific condition about mechanical equipment cited in the staff draft (the board recorded the change at the meeting). The roll call showed unanimous approval by the seven appointed members present.

The approval permits a modest enclosed seven‑ to eight‑seat service bar and outdoor deck and allows rooftop guest amenities such as yoga and small gatherings. Staff and the applicant said final equipment locations and the decorative mechanical screen were shown on supplemental slides and that staff is comfortable deleting the original equipment condition in light of the clarification provided during the meeting.

The project will return to permitting as required by building and fire codes.