Historic‑district board lets Versace Mansion canopy remain, removes 2‑year removal condition

The Historic Preservation Board of Miami Beach voted to remove a two‑year removal requirement for a retractable canopy installed at 1116 Ocean Drive, the Casa Casarena (the former Versace Mansion), allowing the applicant to keep the structure in place unless future changes trigger further review.

Board staff told the board that the canopy is minimally visible from public vantage points, has not harmed the contributing building or the historic district and that staff recommended approval of the applicant’s request to delete the two‑year condition. Ken Harrison Robbins, representing the owners, said the temporary canopy is retractable, engineered for uplift, and “minimally visible” from Ocean Drive and nearby streets. He said the canopy has helped the property reopen to the public and provides shade and comfort for diners.

The Miami Design Preservation League registered support for the project in the meeting and asked that the board make clear the canopy is not permanent and that any future modifications should be limited. Several board members questioned whether removing the time limit would, in practice, allow a temporary structure to become effectively permanent and discussed mechanisms to preserve board oversight over future changes.

After discussion, board members added a condition requiring the owner to bring the structure back to the Historic Preservation Board if any future modification would increase the canopy’s height or area. With that condition, the board approved the applicant’s request. The roll call names recorded on the transcript show members voting in favor; the chair declared the motion passed.

What’s next: The canopy may remain in place under the amended certificate of appropriateness; any future proposal to enlarge the canopy’s footprint or height must return to the Historic Preservation Board for review.