The National Hotel Miami Beach is spearheading a legal battle to safeguard the architectural heritage of Miami Beach, renowned for its Art Deco buildings. The hotel has filed a federal case, New National, LLC v. City of Miami Beach, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. This action follows the city's approval of a 15-storey modern residential tower at the Ritz-Carlton/Sagamore site on Collins Avenue, which the hotel argues threatens the integrity of the Miami Beach Architectural Historic District.

Miami Beach boasts the world's largest concentration of Art Deco architecture, a key attraction for millions of tourists annually. The National Hotel, a 1939 landmark, has maintained its original Art Deco features and is determined to protect the district's unique character. "Every postcard, every advertisement, every marketing piece of the City of Miami Beach, it's all about the Art Deco and the buildings," said Yaser Mohamad of The National Hotel Miami Beach.

The proposed Ritz-Carlton Residences tower was initially rejected by the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board in 2021 and 2022 due to incompatibility with the historic district. However, a redesigned version was approved in 2023, raising concerns about a $12 million (£9.8 million) commitment involving taxpayer funds.

The National Hotel highlights successful preservation efforts like The Delano Hotel's $100 million (£81.7 million) restoration as evidence that development and heritage can coexist. As the case continues, the hotel aims to raise awareness of the importance of preserving Miami Beach's architectural identity for future generations

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