Dear Cipriani Family,
With deep respect for your international legacy in hospitality, culture, and historic preservation—particularly your steadfast commitment to Venice—I write to you today with an urgent plea: Please reconsider the proposed total demolition of the two historic buildings at 36th Street and Collins Avenue in Miami Beach.
These buildings, locally and nationally designated as historic landmarks, are not merely aging structures. They are among the few remaining testaments to a bygone era of Miami Beach’s architectural and cultural identity. Though long neglected, they are repairable—and more importantly, they are irreplaceable. A petition has garnered more than 60 signatures so far against the demolition: https://protectmiamibeach.org/. But signatures should not be needed, as these are already landmarks protected by our City – even if a current state law calls into question the protections.
Your family’s name is synonymous with elegance, tradition, and a reverence for place. Just as you have helped protect the soul of Venice, a city where history breathes through every piazza and palazzo, we ask that you extend that same vision and care to our beloved Miami Beach. We, too, take pride in our history—and in our city’s efforts to safeguard it for future generations.
We believe strongly that world-class design and preservation can coexist. As has been proven time and again in our community, new development does not require the erasure of our past. There are creative solutions that honor both legacy and innovation.
Miami Beach has welcomed Cipriani with admiration and high regard. We now appeal to your conscience and your leadership. Please help us find a way forward that reflects the values we know you hold dear.
Let us not lose these landmarks. Let us preserve something beautiful—together.
I request a meeting at your earliest opportunity to discuss a path forward.
Sincerely,
Daniel Ciraldo
Candidate for Miami Beach Commission Group 1
