The monthly MBNA Membership Meeting via Zoom took place on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Representatives from the Fontainebleau Hotel gave a slideshow presentation of their proposed Water Park project. Although the Zoom platform only allowed 100 participants, there were dozens more people on hold. The MBNA Board asked questions and strongly expressed their opposition. Mayor Steven Meiner and Commissioner Tanya Bhatt also spoke and expressed their opposition. We thank all the CMB Commissioners, that attended and we appreciate everyone's attendance and support.
The continued Historic Preservation Board Hearing will take place on: MEMBERS ARE URGED TO ATTEND THIS MEETING IN PERSON! TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. at City Hall. We're expecting hundreds of people. We are the only Agenda item so please arrive on time! A 56-passenger BUS has been contracted to take residents to/from The Diamonds and City Hall at NO COST on this date. The bus will leave THE DIAMONDS (on Collins and 47th Street) at 8:30 a.m. sharp on the 13th. NOTE: Persons residing in an MBNA Member property will get COMPLIMENTARY VALET PARKING at the Blue Diamond Condominium.
PLEASE CLICK LINK BELOW IF YOU WISH TO GO ON THE BUS (NO CHARGE):
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH's HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD MEMBERS:
John Stuart, Chair
Linsey Lovell, Vice-Chair
Ray Breslin, Board Member
Elizabeth G. Camargo, Board Member
Haskel Mayer, Board Member
Randy Hollingworth, Board Member
Mitch Novick, Board Member
--------------------------------------------- Michael Belush, Liaison Giselle Deschamps, Support Staff Gabriela Freitas, Support Staff Miriam Herera, Support Staff
Visit www.miamibeachfl.govfor agendas and video streaming of City Commission Committee Meetings.
WHAT'S HAPPENING? The Fontainebleau Hotel is planning a complete renovation of its pool and all surrounding pool deck areas. The submitted plans include a new massive “Water Park”. Applications for this substantial water-park area, along with major rear-yard renovations, have been filed with the City’s Historic Preservation Board (HPB). The Fontainebleau is asking the Historic Preservation Board to grant 8 variances. These include requests to reduce the required open-space buffer adjacent to the protected sand dunes and to allow decks, patios, and furniture within a 10-foot setback from the beach erosion control line. These variances are significant and, in our view, not justifiable.
The HPB reviewed the item on November 18, 2025, during which the Fontainebleau’s attorney presented a slideshow and answered preliminary questions. Over the next two hours, dozens of residents, both in person and via Zoom, expressed strong opposition to the project. The Fontainebleau requested a continuance to bring the item back before the Board.
While MBNA strongly supports efforts to upgrade and maintain properties, we have serious concerns that the current proposal would significantly diminish the Fontainebleau’s status as a historic landmark and negatively impact the broader MidBeach community. Preserving the integrity of the Fontainebleau as a historic and cultural icon is essential to the identity and brand of our neighborhood.
As currently proposed, the project raises several concerns, including but not limited to:
The addition of a ten-story slide structure that would obstruct existing condominium ocean views and is inaccessible to individuals under five feet tall;
Encroachment on the Beachwalk;
Potential for environmental impacts;
New features that would increase noise across multiple blocks; and
Further exacerbation of existing traffic congestion.
For these reasons, MBNA, as an organization, is opposed to the project. However, understanding each member’s position is critically important to ensure MBNA accurately represents its membership. We respectfully request the written position of all our members for this purpose.
MBNA has partnered with the community group Stop 6 Flags at FB to coordinate advocacy efforts across MidBeach. We encourage our members, and any interested staff or residents, to join the WhatsApp group to stay informed, coordinate messaging, and plan engagement.
Please feel free to express your opinions to City Officials and to the Historic Preservation Board at: [email protected] and to [email protected]
Below are pics that the Fontainebleau shared during our MBNA Virtual Meeting with them:
MBNA's Position on Fontainebleau Hotel’s Proposed Water Park While MBNA members do not object to the Fontainebleau’s plans to renovate and modernize their amenities, members strongly oppose the inclusion of a “vertigo-inducing 108 foot water slide”and 10 story concrete staircase structure for the proposed project for numerous reasons, including the following:
Increased Congestion and Traffic Impact: The proposed large-scale water attraction would transform the property into an Orlando-style theme park designed to attract high visitor volumes. This will further exacerbate the already severe congestion along Collins Avenue and neighboring streets, placing an even greater burden on Mid-Beach residents and local infrastructure.
Incompatibility with the Neighborhood Character: The scale, design, and entertainment nature of the proposed attraction are inconsistent with the residential and resort character of Mid-Beach. It is also inconsistent with the style of the hotel's world-renowned architect, Morris Lapidus. The introduction of such an oversized amusement-style feature risks altering the peaceful ambiance of surrounding communities and setting a troubling precedent for future high-intensity development along the Collins Avenue corridor.
Inadequate Access and Parking Facilities: Unlike Soffer's Aventura’s Tidal Cove Water Parkwhich features a 60-foot tower with seven slides and an adjacent self-parking garage, the Fontainebleau sits on a very busy FDOT roadway and has limited driveway areas and no self-parking. The hotel’s ingress and egress points are already strained under normal conditions, and cannot safely accommodate the significant increase in vehicles expected with the addition of such a large water park attraction.
Negative Visual Impact: The proposed 12-story slide structure would obstruct the ocean and skyline views of neighboring buildings, diminishing property values and the visual character of the Mid-Beach area.
Effects on Dune Preservation. This project goes against the intent of the City's Dune Preservation and Oceanfront Overlay Districts. It reduces open space and threatens the Hotel's natural and historic character.
Dangerous Precedent. This massive project has the potential to open the doors to others, including new Developers.
This video can be seen on the STOP6FLAGSFB INSTAGRAM Page. Click on this link to follow and view: STO6FLAGSFB
BELOW ARE PROPOSED RENDERINGS DEPICTING THE MASSIVE HEIGHT OF THE WATER SLIDE, THE ADJACENT STAIRCASE STRUCTURE, AND THE NUMEROUS ENCROACHMENTS THE MBNA IS OBJECTING TO:
