Miramar Developer Revises Building Plans

Miramar Hotel developer Ian Schrager has revised his rebuilding plans, deciding to reconstruct the coastal landmark in stages rather than all at once.

“In many ways, we would rather wait, follow our original plan and build the entire Miramar project all at once,” the New York-based hotelier said in a statement. “Yet we listened to the community and the message was loud and clear ... to get started on this project.”

During a meeting in late February, he faced an unforgiving crowd of about 150 people who called the half-demolished hotel an embarrassing eyesore and demanded it be rebuilt as quickly as possible.

Schrager is proposing initially to renovate all of the Miramar cottages and guest buildings and to landscape the entire 17-acre site. During that first phase, the hotel’s new restaurant, pool area, beachside bar and tennis courts also would be built. Construction of the spa, lobby, banquet hall and parking structure would be delayed until the second phase of the project.