T
he Meruelo family, led by Belinda and her husband Homero, along with Terra Group's David Martin, are seeking approval for a larger project on the former site of the Deauville Beach Resort in Miami Beach. The 3.8-acre property at 6701 Collins Avenue currently has a floor area ratio (FAR) of 3.0 to 3.15, but recent legislative changes would allow an FAR of up to 5.5. This would enable the developers to build a nearly 900,000-square-foot development with two condo towers and a partial reconstruction of the Deauville hotel.

    The current zoning allows for 570 residential units and nearly 500,000 square feet of floor area. The Meruelos and Terra plan to develop a branded 100-unit condo and 150-room hotel project on the site, designed by Foster + Partners, Shulman + Associates, and ODP as the project architect. Construction could begin in 2026.

    The proposal would allow for a larger development than what billionaire developer Steve Ross proposed in 2022, which was rejected by voters. The Meruelos were accused of intentionally letting the Deauville resort fall into disrepair to justify its demolition. Martin joined the Meruelos in April this year, purchasing a 25% stake in the property for $12.5 million.

    The developers' application states that they plan to "substantially reconstruct" the Deauville hotel, accurately replicating architecturally significant portions of the property with the addition of two slender towers. The condo towers would be capped at 400 feet, or about 40 stories at most.