In The News

Get updates from our press releases, latest newsletters, and recent work.

CLIENT NEWS: Personnel note: Melissa Tapanes Llahues takes helm as President of Builders Association of South Florida

May 16, 2025

Melissa Tapanes Llahues, a zoning and land use lawyer known for her civic involvement and legal expertise, has been installed as President of the Builders Association of South Florida (BASF). Tapanes Llahues was sworn in at the citizenM Miami Worldcenter hotel before a crowd of notable attendees, including Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who administered the oath of office, and U.S. Rep. Carlos Giménez, Levine Cava’s predecessor, who commemorated the achievement in the Congressional Record. Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins, who[...]

Ready to take that next step?

Previous News

After decades of neglect, South Beach’s Washington Avenue is getting a major renovation

May 7, 2018

Bercow Radell Fernandez & Larkin is pleased to represent a number of clients that are transforming Washington Avenue: Imperial Property, Moxy, Clay Hotel—Infinity Group, Washington Squared, Kimpton Angler’s Hotel, 1600 Washington Avenue—Paul Cejas, and 1685 Washington Avenue—Finvarb Group. After decades of neglect, South Beach’s Washington Avenue is getting a major renovation Consider the curious case of Washington Avenue. In the early 1990s, as South Beach transformed from sleepy retirement village to Art Deco playground, the street was the epicenter of[...]

Shuttered assisted living facility in South Beach could be converted into hotel

April 13, 2018

The former home of an assisted living facility in South Beach could be converted into a hotel if the city approves a pending rezoning application. On March 28, a rezoning application was filed by 550 Ninth LLC, managed by Simon Nemni, for the property at 550 9th Street. He’s also the owner of the Red South Beach Hotel. The company acquired the property for $17.63 million in February from the group that ran the assisted living facility. The seller was co-owned by Philip Esformes, who’s currently[...]

2018 Florida Legislative Session Update

April 12, 2018

HB 1151 – DEVELOPMENTS OF REGIONAL IMPACT The 2018 Florida Legislature has enacted sweeping changes to the state’s Developments of Regional Impact (“DRI”) law. Gov. Rick Scott signed the legislation on Friday, April 6, 2018. Generally, the bill eliminates many DRI statutory requirements governing the application and approval of DRIs. Proposed changes to an existing DRI development order (“DO”) will be the responsibility of the local government in which the development is located. Specifically, the bill: — Eliminates state and regional review[...]

Miami owners of historic properties might sell extra density

April 5, 2018

City of Miami officials are working to clarify proposed legislation designed to incentivize the preservation of historic properties by allowing those properties to sell unused residential density to sites near public transit. The aim is to benefit several parties: the owners of historic designated properties gaining money for preservation work and upkeep; the developers who could purchase added density for a project within a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) area; and the city getting more money into its affordable housing fund.[...]

The Standard in Miami Beach to undergo major renovation, will demolish east wing

March 27, 2018

New construction to include 76 parking spaces, spa and hotel rooms on upper floors UPDATED May 4, 11:55 a.m.: Less than two months after André Balazs stepped down as chair of the Standard Hotels brand, the company is moving forward with a major renovation of its Miami Beach location. Standard International, through its holding company Ferrardo Lido LLC, submitted an application to the Miami Beach Design Review Board seeking to demolish the east wing of its MiMo-style property at 40 Island Avenue, formerly[...]