Barry Sternlicht and partners abort rezoning request for Standard Miami Beach

Developers led by billionaire Barry Sternlicht have put a stop to their plans to request zoning changes for the site of The Standard Spa, Miami Beach, which would have allowed for a major renovation of the hotel. The Miami Beach City Commission was scheduled to vote on the rezoning at their Sept. 16 meeting, but the ownership group of The Standard Spa, Miami Beach has requested that the item be removed from the agenda, according to a letter obtained by The Real Deal.

For the past year, there has been much controversy surrounding the proposed revamp of the 100-key hotel at 40 Island Avenue, with concerns being raised about an agreement between the developers and the city. According to the agreement, the developers would have been allowed to build three additional floors in exchange for making a $4 million donation to the city's affordable housing fund.

However, the developers have been accused of trying to bypass the city's strict zoning laws and using the affordable housing donation as a way to gain approval for their project. In light of these concerns, the developers have decided to put their plans on hold.

The move has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising the developers for being transparent and addressing the concerns of the community, while others see it as a strategic move to avoid further scrutiny and potential legal action.

"This is just another example of wealthy developers trying to use their influence to get what they want," said an anonymous city official. "It's a clever move on their part, but it's clear that their intentions were not in the best interest of the community."

Originally reported by