Written by Genevieve Bowen on September 10, 2024
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At the end of August, the Third District Court of Appeal dismissed the latest petition filed by city residents to stop county plans to partially demolish the Coconut Grove Playhouse, clearing the path for the project to proceed.
The Playhouse’s fate has been in limbo for years, dating back to 2004 when county voters approved a far-ranging bonding measure that would have under one section aided its reconstruction, restore its structural integrity and add to its performance and educational capabilities. The historic theater shut its doors in 2006 as local officials embarked on a decade-long discussion on how to best revive the aging landmark.
In 2021, the county announced plans to use $23.6 million of the bond money to demolish 80% of the Playhouse and replace 60% of the performance space with leased commercial space.
In August 2022, 14 Coconut Grove residents represented by attorney David Winker filed a complaint seeking a declaration that the county was acting unconstitutionally and outside its statutory powers as well as an injunction prohibiting the county from using bond funds for its demolition plans.
In October 2022, the county applied to the city for a waiver to permit minor deviations from the zoning code to allow for demolition within the neighborhood conservation district where the site is located. The city granted the waiver with conditions in January 2023.
Mr. Winker then appealed the zoning board decision on Feb. 10, 2023, on behalf of two neighbors whose properties abut the Playhouse.
Over the next year, the legal battle escalated in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court until it ruled in favor of the county on Feb. 9. The ruling allowed most of the demolition to proceed, except for the front façade facing Main Highway.
At the time, Mr. Winker told Miami Today that he anticipated the case would go to the Third District Court of Appeals. The case was appealed to the district court in June, where it was ultimately dismissed on Aug. 29.
After the February ruling in favor of the county’s plans, District Two Commissioner Damian Pardo who represents Coconut Grove said in a statement, “In collaboration with Miami-Dade County, we are steadfast in our commitment to include the voices of our residents in every step of this redevelopment process. Our community must have a substantial role in shaping the future of this iconic site. To this end, we are exploring the most effective formats to ensure maximum resident input and participation.”
“Working with the City of Miami, we now can move forward with preserving and rebuilding the Coconut Grove Playhouse, which has remained dormant for too long,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and District Seven Commissioner Raquel Regalado said in a joint statement.
“Our first step will be to shore up and preserve the historic elements that will be included in the new Playhouse. While we focus on preserving these important historic elements, we will also be moving forward with the plans and permitting for the new Playhouse,” the statement continues. “Miami theater lovers, historic preservation advocates and neighborhood residents are eager to welcome back a beloved cultural icon. We look forward to working with all of them to put great theater back in the center of Coconut Grove – where it belongs.”