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Neighbors and preservation board press W Hotel on valet plan and outdoor music; city traffic engineer flags safety concerns
Summary
At a long, often contentious hearing, the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board reviewed design changes at the W Hotel at 2201 Collins Ave and heard strong opposition from nearby residents and the Rooney Palace condominium to a proposed members‑only valet/drop‑off on the hotel's north driveway and expanded outdoor seating. City traffic staff and independent consultants warned of queuing and safety risks; the board and staff stressed that operational issues such as hours, occupancy and noise must be resolved in the Planning Board's conditional‑use review.
The Historic Preservation Board spent much of its April 14 meeting discussing proposed renovations at the W Hotel, including plans to refresh interiors and publicly visible elements — the lobby, a pastry/patisserie that would open onto 22nd Street, and a redesigned pool deck and pool bar — as well as a members‑only valet/drop‑off canopy proposed for the 23rd Street (north) side.
Niss Kasden and the hotel's design team told the board that the owners had removed earlier requests for variances and withdrawn a larger beach‑club proposal; the HPB’s review, Kasden said, was limited to publicly visible architectural changes. The team presented renderings of a lighter, brighter lobby, a smaller pool bar and a more articulated drop‑off canopy.
But neighbors and condominium representatives pressed planners on operations. Ken Robbins, representing the Rooney Palace, described an expanded outdoor seating and nightclub area on the hotel's north side that he said would be unbuffered and would increase noise for…
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