Built in 1927, the theatre was long one of Miami’s main cultural centers, hosting a variety of plays, musicals, and other performances. Since closing in 2007, it has fallen into disrepair and neglect, with many fearing it will never recover.
Now, a team led by Coconut Gove-based Arquitectonica has won a competition to design a master plan for reviving the venerable playhouse. As The Miami Herald reported:
The recommendation by the office of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, which must be ratified by the county commission, marks a major step in a long-running effort to reopen the theater, a major cultural and architectural landmark as well as an economic linchpin for Coconut Grove.
But it could also lay the groundwork for contention over the future of the historic but deteriorated Mediterranean-style building, which is a designated city of Miami landmark and is legally protected from demolition. Some Grove activists and preservationists are demanding the theater be renovated and reused, but fear the county process would result in a recommendation that it be entirely or partly demolished.
The design team, which also includes architect Jorge Hernandez, a prominent preservationist, would make a recommendation on what to do with the theater. The county, which has $20 million set aside for the theater’s renovation or reconstruction, wants the consultants to determine whether the publicly owned site can accommodate a small, 300-seat theater and a second, larger theater as well as a parking garage.
Arquitectonica’s team includes acclaimed theatrical consultant Fisher Dachs Associates, while the revitalization efforts are being led by the county government and Florida International University, which currently owns the property. GableStage, which currently operates at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, is slated to run the playhouse.
Given the major role in plays in Coconut Grove’s history and identity, expect a lot of attention and debate to follow this decision. Ugo Di Roma looks forward to seeing this signature landmark returned to its former glory.
If you would like to pay a visit to our Hair Salon Coconut Grove, contact 305.444.4661 or info@ugodiroma.com.
