As Miami Beach celebrates its centennial year, one of its most historic homes may be up for demolition.
The 44 Star Island home, built in 1935, belonged to Miami Beach’s co-founder and first mayor, John H. Levi.
The home’s current owner, Shay Kostiner, wants to raze the mansion and replace it with a brand new one, Curbed Miami reported.
Public records say his application will be reviewed by the Miami Beach Design Review Board in March.
Levi, a marine engineer, was the guy who brought Miami Beach master developer Carl Fisher to the area back in 1912. Levi was supposed to deliver a yacht to Fisher in Jacksonville but telegrammed him, “…Miami pretty little town. Why not meet me here instead of Jacksonville,” Curbed reported. Both men were integral to Miami Beach’s development: Levi worked with Fisher to develop Miami’s man-made islands, hotels, polo fields, golf courses and streets, and he created Star Island.
The house was built in 1935, Miami-Dade property records show. It sits on a 1.1-acre lot and has an adjusted 4,722 square feet of living space. Kostiner bought the house for $7.25 million in 2010. [Curbed] — Kristina Puga