Miami Beach commissioners reversed an initial rejection and approved on first reading Nahla Capital's request to raise the floor area ratio (FAR) at the Raleigh from 2.0 to 2.5, The Real Deal Miami reported on October 14, 2026.

What did Miami Beach commissioners decide on the Raleigh?

Miami Beach commissioners advanced Nahla Capital's Raleigh upzoning on first reading after reconsidering their own earlier vote. According to The Real Deal Miami, the commission first rejected the proposal, then took it up again the same day and approved the increase from a FAR of 2.0 to 2.5.

  • The commission acted on the Raleigh proposal on a single day.
  • First reading is a preliminary approval, not the final vote.
  • Nahla Capital is the developer seeking the change.

The Real Deal Miami did not frame the reversal as a change to the underlying plan, only to the commission's position on it.

How much new building does the higher FAR allow?

The increase from 2.0 to 2.5 would let Nahla Capital add more than 66,000 square feet at the Raleigh, The Real Deal Miami reported. The developer would place that space in two additional residential tower floors, adding height and density to a site that Miami Beach has long treated as one of its marquee historic hotel properties.

  • FAR measures a building's total floor area relative to its lot size.
  • A rise from 2.0 to 2.5 expands allowable floor area by one quarter.
  • The extra space would be residential, per The Real Deal Miami.

What happens next for the Raleigh proposal?

The Raleigh plan still needs a second reading before the Miami Beach Commission, since The Real Deal Miami described the October 14, 2026 vote as an initial approval only. Commissioners can still change course at that stage, as the same-day reversal showed, and the outcome will determine whether the upzoning becomes law.

  • A second reading is required for final adoption.
  • Commissioners may amend or reject the request at that point.
  • The Real Deal Miami did not report a second-reading date.

Why does the Raleigh vote matter beyond one hotel site?

The Raleigh decision matters because Miami Beach commissioners showed they will grant added density to a high-profile property after a first refusal. The Real Deal Miami's account suggests a narrow margin of support, and a final approval could shape how other developers on the island approach requests for taller, denser residential projects.

  • The vote tests the commission's appetite for upzoning.
  • Residents concerned about height and density may seek to weigh in.
  • Nahla Capital would gain 66,000 square feet if the change is finalized.

The Real Deal Miami originally reported on the commission's reversal and first-reading approval.