Recent discussions among Miami Beach city commissioners have moved the conversation about the Bikini Hostel, a temporary safe haven for over 100 homeless individuals, a step closer to being replaced by a high-rise and potentially a park. During a meeting regarding the future of the property, commissioners advanced a deal that would permit a developer to proceed with new construction on the condition that the existing residents are rehoused by September 15, as reported by CBS News Miami.

The contentious proposal requires property transfers and clearances to be resolved before the area can begin to probably see a new landscape emerge. Michael Stern, the developer at the center of the negotiations, is seeking the city's permission to construct a 330-foot-high condo across the street from the hostel. This has been reported by NBC 6 South Florida . In exchange, he is expected to facilitate the relocation of the hostel's residents and oversee the demolition of the existing property.

However, the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust has criticized this plan, with Chairman Ron Book stating: "Once it became convenient to close the Bikini Hostel and move the homeless that are sheltered there off the beach, they jumped to sell zoning in exchange for that," CBS News Miami reports. Book also claimed Miami Beach is not actively participating in regional solutions to combat the issue of homelessness.

Despite these concerns, Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner has defended the city's efforts by stating, "Miami Beach is the only city in Miami-Dade County that offers a full-service homeless outreach team. You could walk in and get a range of services," as he told CBS News Miami. The Mayor shared that the city wants assurances that the Homeless Trust won't establish another shelter within the area. The owners of the Bikini Hostel, via their attorney Courtney Caprio of Caldera Law, have also expressed their dedication to preventing any forced displacement of current residents, according to CBS News Miami .

The next phase of this plan will be presented at a second reading before the Miami Beach City Commission on June 25.