Star Island is a Tiny Neighborhood of Massive Houses & Drama
[Photo by Ronny Lorist]
One of the smallest of all South Florida neighborhoods, Star Island is the site of a mere few dozen homes and yet it always seems to be in the news because of something or other one of its famous owners wants to do there. Its houses, some of which are very historic, always seem to be getting additions, renovations, moved (literally), or demolished for "bigger and better" replacements, including, most famously, that epic feud between Real Housewife of Miami Lisa Hochstein, her husband "boob god" Leonard Hochstein, and everyone else over the fate of 42 Star Island Drive. Spoiler alert: the Hochsteins won, but that's just the beginning of all the nutty stuff that goes down on Star Island.
Bun in the Oven
"Boob God" Lenny and Real Housewife of Miami Lisa Hochstein may finally have a bit more use for that giant house they're replacing historic mansion 42 Star Island Drive with. After a long, and very televised battle to conceive (they used their "growing" family as justification for the bigger house), they're pregnant with their first child, via surrogate! Congrats to the happy, and very spaciously housed, family. [Gossip Extra; 42 Star Island Drive coverage]
Dirty Dozen
The Miami New Times has come up with their list of Miami's 'Dirty Dozen', the "twelve most awful people in our community" and, oh baby, along with LeBron James and Pam Bondi, there's Leonard and Lisa Hochstein, the plastic surgeon and Real Housewife who demolished historic 42 Star Island Drive, are on the list. [New Times; Previously]
With Historic House Gone, Checking In At 42 Star Island Drive
[Via Lenny Hochstein
Now that the old 42 Star Island Drive is gone, after that multi-year historic preservation imbroglio, the new one designed by Kobi Karp has begun to rise. Former Real Housewives of Miami husband Lenny Hochstein posted this construction shot of his new hacienda on Instagram and Facebook yesterday, saying "Forms being placed at the new home. This one is for the gym and spa with a guest home above." And here's what the house will look like once it's done.
UPDATE: Kobi got the kan. Lenny says he hired architect Juan David and interior designer Steven G.
· Construction update [Facebook]
· 42 Star Island Drive coverage [Curbed Miami]
Preservation Watch
The demolition of 42 Star Island Drive has brought the debate over single-family-home preservation to a fore in Miami Beach, but in the end 42 Star could be the martyr that saves everything else. It's too early to tell. [Ocean Drive]
Demolition Report
42 Star Island Drive has at long last gone from this world. The house has been almost completely demolished, looking more like an abandoned ancient ruin than a complete structure. Leonard Hochstein did a little Instagramming last night to celebrate, with an... um... great view of the demolition. "42 Star Island. Best it's ever looked." he says. [Instagram; Previously]
Real Housewife Personally Drives Bulldozer Into 42 Star Island
[Photo Via Ronny Lorist]
Lisa Hochstein is having a great day. The Real Housewife of Miami and her hubby Lenny have finally won her battle to demolish historic 42 Star Island Drive and she celebrated by personally demolishing the house's porte cochere, she told news reporters yesterday. The house's sad demise was all over the evening news. "I actually tore down this entire front area here, it was actually really fun. This is a fun job." said Lisa, contemplated a career change no doubt. The house should take about three weeks to demolish in its entirety, and