The masterpiece home at 22 Star Island is at risk of demolition. The home was built in 1931 and stands at the northern tip of Star Island. It was designed by Martin Hampton, renowned local architect who also designed the original Miami Beach City Hall, now a designated landmark on Washington Avenue. Hampton worked in the offices of August Gieger before branching out on his own.

From a 1986 article in the Orland Sentinel "The family of Hetty Green, the ''Witch of Wall Street'' who once was labeled the richest woman in the world, lived at No. 46 since the 1920s, when her one-legged son, Col. Ned Green -- who openly kept his own harem in his house -- bought the yacht club building from the original Miami Beach developer, Carl Fisher.

Outrageousness appeared to be Col. Green's main attribute, as far as his neighbors are concerned. His harem and his full-size Mississippi River showboat, complete with Broadway shows, highlighted mansion life, which also included periodic visits from the Ringling Brothers Circus -- its tent and animals easily fitting onto the mammoth lawn.

There are reports that the toilets in the Green mansion were designed to be so tall that even adults had to swing their legs while answering nature's call.

The main yacht-club-turned-Green-mansion, split into three houses when movie mogul E.M. Loew bought it." (This includes the home at 22 Star Island. The home at 46 Star Island still stands, but the 3rd home has since been demolished.)

From Wikipedia: Henrietta Howland "Hetty" Green (née Robinson; November 21, 1834 – July 3, 1916),[1] nicknamed "The Witch of Wall Street", was an American businesswoman and financier known as "the richest woman in America" during the Gilded Age. Known for both her wealth and her miserliness, she was the lone woman to amass a fortune when other major financiers were men. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hetty_Green

The current owner has plans to demolish the 8,000 square foot landmark and build a 23,000 square foot new home in its place.

The City of Miami Beach should work with the owner to figure out how the property can be saved. We must say "enough is enough," and not allow our history to continue to be erased for short-term gain.