The Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL), a small activist group in Miami, Florida, has lost its appeal to save 42 Star Drive; the historic Walter DeGarmo designed home, which is now owned by The "Real Housewives of Miami" star, Lisa Hochstein and her plastic surgeon husband, Leonard Hochstein.
After much drama, in March, the Miami Design Review Board approved demolition and renovation plans of the Hochstein couple. The MDPL retaliated with an appeal claiming that the city's special home demolition rules were being defied by the Hochstein couple and they would need to acquire new building permits. The appeal was considered by a special master who rejected the plea, rendering the decision in the couple's favor.
According to the Miami Herald, the preservationists will now appeal to the court.
Commenting on the issue Leonard Hochstein said:
"They'll lose. They'll delay us and they'll cost us more money, but that's what these people do."
Currently, MDPL's appeal to assign the residence as a historic site is still pending.
The preservation war started when Lisa appealed to the Miami Beach Design Review Board to grant her permission to renovate the legendary house sometime in December 2012. Hochstein had purchased the property in a foreclosure sale. The couple had planned to replace the historic landmark with a modern two story building, which is slated to be designed by Kobi Karp.
However the MDPL disputed the appeal claiming that the building is a historic structure and could not be razed. Moreover, preservation laws are quite strict in Miami. Any renovations that the current owner of a historic building wants to make, needs legal permit from the Design Review board of the city.
Check out the revised plans of the new mansion that the Hochstein couple plan on building, here.
