Real Housewife of Miami Lisa Hochstein and hubby Leonard "The Boob God" Hochstein probably popped a cork, got into fancy dress and brought out the fake blood when Miami Beach commissioners voted unanimously yesterday against historic designation for their house at 42 Star Island Drive, built in 1925 by iconic Miami architect Walter DeGarmo.
Despite holding extravagant parties that involved dousing the landmark white Mediterranean Revival house with fake blood, the Hochsteins have been itching to demolish the place since they bought it so they could use the property, instead, to build their Barbie dream house. Their application last year to tear the house down set off a war over whether the house at 42 Star Island, highly visible from the MacArthur Causeway, is an important identifier for the people of Miami Beach, albeit one that was four feet below flood plain and, according to the Hochsteins, spalling beyond repair.
The Miami Design Review Board issued the Hochsteins a permit to take it down back in March, but preservationists successfully stalled the demolition by requesting that the city grant it historic. The card has now been played unsuccessfully, but the house isn't going anywhere fast. The Miami Design Preservation League still has a pending lawsuit appealing the city's approval of a new Hochsteins' home on the property. Looks like this party bus is headed to court.
· 42 Star Island Property Denied Historic Designation [Daily Business Review]
· City Commission Out Of Historic Home Dispute [Miami Herald]
· Previous 42 Star Island Dr. coverage [Curbed Miami]
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