Beach preservations applaud Faena’s district

Alan Faena’s planned Faena District has won the hearts and minds of Miami Beach’s fastidious historic preservation board.

“There is a high degree of continuity and cohesion across everything he’s doing,’’ Beach design and preservation manager Thomas Mooney told the Miami Herald.

Construction of the 19-story Faena House, whose pinnacle penthouse is on sale for a cool $50 million, is well underway, as is the restoration of the Saxony Hotel.

Miami Beach has approved starchitect Rem Koolhaas’ OMA designs across the street, an elaborate retail and arts center Faena plots to connect through underground parking and passageway beneath 34th Street, the Herald reported.

The city’s planners and historic preservation officials say the Faena District will “pay homage” to mid-Beach’s MiMo design. [Miami Herald] — Emily Schmall