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$1.2 million deal between billionaire Barry Sternlicht and a homeowner's group may have skirted Miami Beach's ethics code. The city's land use committee has asked the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust for guidance on whether the agreement, which secured support from the Belle Isle Residents Association (BIRA) for a $61 million redevelopment of the Standard Miami Beach, is illegal.

    In exchange for BIRA's backing, Sternlicht's development team agreed to pay $1.2 million in three installments to a non-profit entity created by BIRA, supposedly to fund public improvements on Belle Isle. The payments would be made after the project secured all necessary city approvals. City Commissioner David Suarez expressed concerns that this arrangement violates laws prohibiting payment contingent on government approval.

    Suarez obtained and shared copies of the agreement with fellow committee members, highlighting language that ties two payments to securing city zoning and building permits. "This $1.2 million payoff is being tied to how we vote on this project," Suarez said. "This raises serious ethical concerns."

    The Standard Miami Beach redevelopment plans include a five-story mixed-use building with six luxury condos, 50 hotel rooms, and a ground-floor garage, designed by starchitect Bjarke Ingels of BIG and Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design. The project has assembled a notable roster of investors, including tech billionaire Peter Thiel and Argentine architect Sebastian Sas.

    During the meeting, Suarez criticized Standard Miami Beach's lobbyist, Michael Larkin, for allowing his client to enter into the agreement. Committee members initially sought to move forward with the project but relented after being advised by the city attorney that the ethics commission should provide guidance on whether the agreement is prohibited by law. "It might be good for public optics to allow the ethics commission to weigh in on this before we move forward," said Commissioner Alex Fernandez.