Meruelo Family, David Martin Propose Big Plans for Deauville Miami Beach Site

According to The Real Deal, the Meruelo family and David Martin are planning a bold new development at the historic Deauville Beach Resort site in Miami Beach. Their proposal seeks to change land use regulations to accommodate a larger-scale project, signaling a major transformation for this iconic location.

Recent legislative changes would allow a floor area ratio, or overall project size, of 5.5. The 3.8-acre Deauville site at 6701 Collins Avenue currently has a floor area ratio (FAR) ranging from 3.0 to 3.15. This marks a significant step toward transforming this historic location into a high-scale, luxury development.

Current zoning allows 570 units and nearly 500,000 sq. ft. of floor space.

The Meruelo family and Terra plan a branded 100-unit condo and 150-room hotel, designed by Foster + Partners, Shulman + Associates, and ODP. Construction may start in 2026.

The developers’ proposal would allow for a nearly 900,000-square-foot development featuring two condo towers and a partial reconstruction of the Deauville with 280 hotel rooms. The historic resort, designed by Melvin Grossman, closed in 2017 due to fire and hurricane damage and was demolished in 2022.

In 2022, billionaire developer Steve Ross, a North Beach native, offered $500 million for the site, contingent on voter approval of a referendum to raise the FAR to 4.5 in the Deauville district. Voters rejected Ross’s Frank Gehry-designed proposal, ending his deal with the Meruelos. 

This year, Martin joined the Meruelos with a $12.5 million purchase for a 25 percent stake in the property. Meanwhile, the Florida Legislature passed a bill easing coastal property demolitions and removing local requirements to replicate non-National Historic Register buildings. The Meruelos and Terra now propose a higher FAR than Ross sought in 2022.

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Source: therealdeal.com