When the preservation battle for Real Housewife of Miami Lisa Hochstein's 42 Star Island Drive historic 'teardown' was written up in the New York Times, preservationists were thrilled and to make things even better a lot of very well moneyed people with good taste (as opposed to the Hochsteins, but hey, there's no accounting for taste) read about the house's situation. According to an anonymous tipster, one of those said people, a certain Mr. Mike Latham is extremely interested in purchasing the house and is now in contact with the Hochsteins and their attorney, Michael Larkin. Mr. Latham is the head of a New York design firm called the Arts Corporation, and has fond memories of seeing the house from his childhood in Miami. If he can purchase the 1925 Walter DeGarmo masterpiece, a major win for historic preservation in Miami Beach, he intends to preserve and restore it.
UPDATE: We've just heard word from our anonymous tipster that Lisa Hochstein and her hubby Leonard, a well known plastic surgeon, have said no!
UPDATE #2: Our tipster has followed up with a clarification. He/she is not 100% sure what Hochstein's response is, but the offer has not yet been accepted. So, everything is still up in the air. No word on what the offer price was either.
· 42 Star Island Drive coverage [Curbed Miami]
· A Fight Over Historic Preservation Brews In Art Deco Country [NY Times]
· The Arts Corporation [.com]
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