944 Collins Ave Miami Beach, Florida USA

Basics
Resource Category:
Building
Resource Type:
domestic building
Location
Address:
944 Collins Ave
City:
Miami Beach
County:
Miami-Dade
State/Province/Region:
Florida
Zip/Postal Code:
33139
Country:
USA
Other Address or Location Information:
Parcel/Tax number or land unit:
02-3234-008-1340
Local place name:
Setting/Landscape/Site Features:
Acreage, parcel, land unit size:
14,000 SQ FT
Quad/Map name and date:
Date
Township/Range/Section:
53S / 42E / 34
Visible from Public Road?
Yes
Historical Information
Historic name:
La Fayette Hotel
Current name:
Construction Date (range/estimated):
1930-1939
Construction Date Certainty:
documented
Known Construction Date:
1934
Source for Known Construction Date:
Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser
Architect/Designer:
Henry Malony
Developer:
Builder:
Robbins Holding Company
Significant Owner(s):
Robbins Holding Company (original)
Historical Summary:
Extant Status:
Not Demolished
Architectural Style and Form
Plan/Footprint Shape:
U
Building Form or Plan Type (core plan):
Collins Avenue Hotel
Style, Primary:
Mediterranean Revival
Style, Secondary:
Vernacular
Notes on architectural style, form, distinguishing features:
Symmetrical tripartite primary elevation; Arches above windows on central bay of east elevation; Grand arch above primary entryway and large florida windows at first floor level on patio; Coral stonework around primary entryway; Cast-iron ornamentation; Ziggurat parapet roofline on central bay; Decorative keystones; Decorative relief medallion at cornice on central bay; Belltower with clay barrel tile roof and archways on south wing of the U-shaped plan
Architectural Elements and Features
Number of Stories:
3
Bays:
7
Structural System:
Reinforced Concrete
Foundation:
Reinforced Concrete
Basement:
Building Size:
90' x 56' 8"
Square footage/meters:
17,000 (approximate)
Roof Configuration:
Flat with parapet
Roof Material
replacement
Roof remarks/description:
Eave Type:
Eave Ornamentation:
Dormer Count:
Dormer Configuration:
Exterior Wall Material (primary):
stucco
Exterior Wall Material (secondary):
Coral stone
Notes on exterior materials:
Principal Windows::
replacement aluminum
Window Panes/Lights:
Window Type:
Single-Hung sashes
Window remarks:
Windows highly ornamented on the central bay of the east elevation
Chimney remarks/description:
Chimney Count (first):
Chimney Placement 1:
Chimney Count (second):
Chimney Placement 2:
Porch description, characteristics, details:
Open patio on the first floor level of the central bay, situated between the south and north wings of the U-shaped building; Coral stone floor
Porch Height, Stories:
Porch Configuration:
Three-bay central
Porch Type:
Open patio
Porch Roof Shape:
None
Porch Roof Material:
Porch Columns/Posts (upper or only):
Porch Piers (lower):
Primary entryway:
Primary entryway is directly centered on the central bay of the east elevation; Ornamented with coral stonework and keystone that extends from ground floor level to just above second floor level; Flanked on either side by large Florida windows ornamented by archway and keystone
Function and Use
Historic Function:
Domestic: Hotel
Present Function:
Domestic: Hotel
Function remarks:
For some time, hotel was converted into apartment units; Along with adjoining property to the south, 926 Ocean Drive, now operates as one large hotel complex
Listed, Designated, or Protected Status
Status Code:
Listed at the national level?
Individually Listed: No
Contributes to a District: Yes
Landmark: No
Date, name, remarks:
Miami Beach Architectural District, 1979
Designated at State/Province level?
Individually Listed: No
Contributes to a District: No
Landmark: No
Date, name, remarks:
Designated Locally?
Individually Listed: No
Contributes to a District: Yes
Landmark: No
Date, name, remarks:
Ocean Drive/Collins Avenue District, 1986
Protected by ordinance or regulation?:
Yes
Protection status, remarks:
1985
Evaluation of Potential Eligibility
Rating or Rank
Recommended as a potential landmark?
Criteria:
C. Embodies distinctive physical characteristics of design, construction, or form.
Significance and Context
Theme(s)
Period of significance
Significance/Context Remarks
Area(s) of Significance
Architecture
Community Planning and Development

Ancillary Structures / Outbuildings
Number of ancillary structures / outbuildings:
Secondary structure type
Contributing to primary property?
Ancillary structures remarks or description:
Condition and Alterations
Character of modifications:
Sympathetic alterations or restoration
General Condition:
Good
Moved or Relocated?:
No
Date moved or relocated:
Relocation remarks:
Alterations?
Yes
Date of major alterations:
1954
Nature of alterations:
Remodeling 20 hotel rooms into 10 apartments (Gerard Pitt, architect)
Additions?:
Yes
Date of major additions:
1941
Addition Height:
Addition Placement:
front
Addition Type:
Open terrace
Nature of additions:
Addition of open terrace 6 inches above grade (Ben Giller)
Endangered / Threatened
Endangered by:
Endangered/Threatened remarks:
Recommendations:
Contact:
Tourism / Featured Destination
Open to the public:
Yes
Contact information, Hours, and Amenities:
For Sale, Rent, or Lease
Property Classification:
Sale status:
Sale remarks:
Owner
Ownership type:
Name of Owner:
Owner Mailing Address:
Legal Description of Property/Comments:
Survey and Recorder
Authorized Resource Number or ID :
Optional Tracking or Sequence Number:
Alternate Resource ID or Key:
Survey Date:
1/28/2013
Surveyed By:
Melinda Agron
Report Name, or Reason for Survey:
Re-survey of the district
Level of Survey:
reconnaissance
Sources, References, Bibliography
Previously Surveyed?
Yes
Name of Previous Survey:
Additional Research Recommended?
No
Other Sources of Information:
Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser
City of Miami Beach Planning Department records
Miami Design Preservation League records
General Remarks:
Custom / Extra Information
Finished Floor Elevation (NAVD88):
Latitude: 25.7801067372366570
Longitude: -80.1319184165329300
UTM: Zone 17R   587038.7634 mE, 2851619.2008 mN
Datum WGS84
La Fayette Hotel east elevation (view when facing west on Collins Avenue)
Patio on the east elevation of the La Fayette Hotel
Primary entryway at the La Fayette Hotel
Center bay on the east elevation of the La Fayette Hotel
South wing at the La Fayette Hotel
View of the tower rising above the south wing of the La Fayette Hotel

Attached Files

For questions about the historic resources, contact Daniel Ciraldo

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