First Look: Proposed Hotel for Sterling Building on Lincoln Road

With the City Commission’s approval of incentives to develop hotels on Lincoln Road, Sam Herzberg is moving ahead with plans to build a hotel over the rear portion of the Sterling Building. While there were a few renderings circulated earlier as examples of how the new addition would look, we now have a fuller picture of what it looks like in the context of its surroundings.
 
The plans have been submitted to the Miami Beach Planning Board for consideration at its December meeting. The project includes a seven-story building with a rooftop pool deck and 144 hotel rooms. The existing courtyard will be renovated and expanded. Lincoln Lane North, behind the building, will be improved and activated and will serve as the primary access point to the hotel lobby.

Hotels had been a permitted use on Lincoln Road but property owners said they were not economically feasible. Commissioners agreed to allow height up to 75 feet on the north side of Lincoln Road from Pennsylvania to Lenox Avenue. On the south side, allowable height remains 50 feet. They also approved smaller hotel room sizes and the elimination of parking requirements. In exchange, developers will have to provide space and funding for art and culture activities.

In addition to Planning Board approval, the hotel’s design requires sign-off from the Historic Preservation Board. The Sterling Building is located at 927 Lincoln Road and is home to Books and Books which is expected to remain.

Full Planning Board submission here.

UPDATE: The Planning Board approved the project at its December 17, 2019 meeting.

 
Renderings: Kobi Karp