Preservationists outraged over unpermitted renovations to historic Biltmore Hotel

Catch up quick: The hotel's private operator, Seaway Hotels Corp., was cited by the city for doing unpermitted construction, including plumbing and electrical work, the Herald reported.

• Preservationists and architects said the project "erased historic architectural details," according to the Herald.
• The renovations included installing marble floors over the hotel's traditional dark tile floors and covering up stencil designs and other finishes on columns — though it's unclear if these features were original to the building, per the outlet.

What they're saying: City Commissioner Ariel Fernandez told CBS Miami that Seaway has an agreement with the city requiring authorization before making changes to the Biltmore.

• "This is a historic landmark, something that we as a city need to preserve, and we're proud of our Biltmore Hotel. This is the place where presidents, kings, queens, and heads of state have stayed."

The other side: Seaway president Tom Prescott, who told the Herald he wasn't aware he needed authorization to do the work, said he will comply with the city's requirements and is open to discussing restoring the hotel's historic features.

Go deeper with the Miami Herald