Messy 42 Star Island designation situation continues

The Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board yesterday voted to continue to push for the historic designation of the already embroiled 42 Star Island home belonging to a “Real Housewives of Miami” star and her plastic surgeon husband, the Miami Herald reported.

The vote means the city will complete a report on the home’s historic value, which generally blocks the owner from performing any demolition. However, owners Leonard and Lisa Hochstein already received the green light last month to raze the home and build bigger, so in this case the demolition will be able to move ahead, the Herald said.

But there’s a further hitch — a non-profit group named the Miami Design Preservation League has challenged the already-granted demolition approval. If that challenge is upheld, it would prevent demolition until a final decision is made by the Historic Preservation Board.

The city commission could also step in and overturn the Historic Preservation Board’s call, the Herald said. The complex situation has dragged on for months.

Leonard Hochstein also filed a lawsuit late last month claiming that the city code illegally allowed the preservation league to file their designation request. He claims that their application is delaying his building timeline. [Miami Herald] —Zachary Kussin