Timeline of the Shuttered
Coconut Grove Playhouse
After changing ownership multiple times throughout its history, the Coconut Grove Playhouse was purchased by the State of Florida in 1980. The property turned over to the Coconut Grove Playhouse Foundation to manage and operate as a premiere regional theater, which it did until, a victim of poor management and governance, it closed its doors in 2006 and ownership reverted back to the State.
The building has remained vacant since that time, despite the fact that the State entered into a 99-year lease with Miami-Dade County and Florida International University in October 2013. The timeline below details the actions that have occurred since the State's original ownership of the Playhouse between Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami's Commission and its Historic and Environmental Preservation Board (HEPB) about how to restore and re-open this historic theater.
The building has remained vacant since that time, despite the fact that the State entered into a 99-year lease with Miami-Dade County and Florida International University in October 2013. The timeline below details the actions that have occurred since the State's original ownership of the Playhouse between Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami's Commission and its Historic and Environmental Preservation Board (HEPB) about how to restore and re-open this historic theater.
1980
The State of Florida takes over ownership of Coconut Grove Playhouse by paying off $1.5 million mortgage and the theater
2004
The State of Florida transfers title to The Coconut Grove Playhouse, Inc. that is responsible for the oversight and operation of the Playhouse as a regional performing arts theater.
2004
The Coconut Grove Playhouse, Inc successfully secures the commitment of $15 million from the Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond (BBC-GOB) for the “reconstruction of the Coconut Grove Playhouse to restore its structural integrity and add to its performance and educational capabilities.” Coconut Grove Playhouse, Inc, was vetted and endorsed for this funding and It pledged to match the funding with $10 million in private sector donations. Supporting documentation sites that its Operating Budget FY 2003-2004 stood at $5.3 million and it served at audience of over 150,000 at their 1,100-seat main stage theater and 135-seat “Encore Room.” Coconut Grove restaurants attribute as much as 40% of their business from Playhouse audiences.
2005
The City of Miami’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board (HEPB) approves historic designation status for the Coconut Grove Playhouse site following sworn testimony of Ellen Uguccioni, who prepared the Designation Report, that the “entire exterior” of the structure was being designated. The 18-page Designation Report stated only the front facade was historic. This error in transcription was never corrected.
Miami-Dade County approves an additional $5 million from its Convention Development Tax towards “the reconstruction and expansion to the Coconut Grove Playhouse to remedy structural deficiencies and improve the programmatic capabilities of the theater.”
2006
Coconut Grove Playhouse, Inc experiences a cash flow shortage which forces it to close its doors in May 2006 with approximately $4 million in debt, a property asset valued at $10-15 million, and access to $20 million in County funds. At the expense of the County’s Department of Cultural Affairs, AMS Planning & Research is contracted to develop a recovery plan with mid and long-term strategies. AMS recommends that the Coconut Grove Playhouse be rehabilitated into a two-theater venue with a 600-seat full stage and 200-300 seat smaller theater. They also recommend the Playhouse partner with an educational institution of higher learning.
2007
City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and Commissioner Marc Sarnoff petition the Adrienne Arsht Center to help reopen, program, and manage the Coconut Grove Playhouse. The Arsht Center declines responsibility for the reconstruction phase but advises that the main stage theater be 600 – 750 seats. View letter
2008-2010
The Board of Directors of the Coconut Grove Playhouse with the Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs commission the University of Miami’s Center for Urban and Community Design to conduct a charrette “to identify design strategies that could catalyze the western end of the Grove and to re-establish a cultural anchor while respecting the history and ambiance of historic Coconut Grove.” Steering committee members included architect Jorge L. Hernandez, Director of Cultural Affairs Michael Spring, and Playhouse Board members Shelly Spivack and Jorge Luis Lopez. The charrette’s concluding vision recommended that the Coconut Grove Playhouse be rehabilitated into a two-theater facility with a 600-seat main stage theater and 200-300 seat smaller venue, and multiple design schematics were developed.
2009
February 13, 2009. Adrienne Arsht Center CEO John Richard declines request to operate the Playhouse because it is “not prepared to utilize the available $20 million to construct and operate a 300 seat theater for the purposes and conditions described in the RFP criteria.” View letter.
2010
The Coconut Grove Playhouse Board of Directors, led by chairwoman Shelly Spivack and attorney Jorge Luis Lopez, presents a recovery plan a recovery plan to Miami-Dade County selecting GableStage as their “theater partner to advance development of a 300-seat theatre on the site.” The Board offers to convey the property to the County with the requirement that the Operating Agreement with GableStage remain in place and County funds be directed towards “the development of a theater with approximately 250-300 seats.” The Department of Cultural Affairs supports this action, endorsing the proposal to commence designing the new construction of a 300-seat theater on the site in consultation with GableStage as its future operator with County funds. The Department further proposes to “work to assess and develop a plan to transfer title of the property to GableStage.”
On May 25, 2010 City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and District 2 Commissioner Marc Sarnoff express their opposition to this plan in a letter to County Mayor Alvarez and the Board of County Commissioners dated May 25, 2010, instead urging the County to allow the property to be reverted to the State of Florida who could then re-convey it to a State University/College to operate as a multi-use facility. View letter
2012
Unable to resolve the encumbrances to convey the property to the County, the Playhouse Board allows the State of Florida to invoke a clause reverting ownership to the State’s Department of Environmental Protection in hopes that the State could then transfer title to the County. State law requires it to first offer the property for lease to its universities, then community colleges, then state agencies. Only if none of those groups were interested, could the State offer the property at market value to the County. Negotiations with FIU and the County as co-lessees begin.
The Community “Give it Back” campaign is launched and focused on restoring the Playhouse as a center of Theater, Education and the Arts in Coconut Grove.
2013
Miami-Dade County and FIU enter into a joint lease agreement with the State of Florida for 99 years to use the property as a cultural facility to be managed and operated by GableStage, who would partner with FIU to develop an educational component. The lease refers to Gables Stage and its Director Joseph Adler to manage and operate a 300-seat theater on the Playhouse site. This lease contains a timeline for County performance and requires preservation of the Playhouse subject to local laws and review including Miami Historical and Environmental Preservation Board (HEPB).
The County also entered into an Operating Agreement with the Miami Parking Authority as the designated operator of parking on the site. The Business Plan developed by the Department of Cultural Affairs submitted to the State of Florida and the Board of County Commissioners provides that net profit generated from parking or rental income on the site be directed in perpetuity towards GableStage, ensuring its financial sustainability.
The County also began to negotiate an agreement with the Coconut Grove Playhouse Foundation to build and operate 600-900 seat theater with supporting facilities.
2015
Following a competitive selection process, the County contracts a team led by local firm Arquitectonica and including historic preservationist Jorge L. Hernandez to develop a master site plan comprising one or two theaters and a parking garage, but designing only one theater with a potential capacity of 300 seats.
2016
The City of Miami’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board passes a resolution supporting the Playhouse’s nomination to the National Historic Register. Coconut Grove Village Council also passes a resolution supporting the Playhouse’s nomination to the National Historic Register. The Coconut Grove Civic Club places a State Historical Marker on the Playhouse property.
2017
HEPB conditionally approves a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) "in concept only" of the County’s conceptual master plan for the redevelopment of the site including preservation of "only the South and East facades" and required them to come back once the plan was more detailed. There are 12 conditions outlined by HEPB and No. 11 specifies that "No demolition permit will be issued until the Plan comes back to the HEPB and is approved." The County’s conceptual plan developed by Arquitectonica shows a 300 seat theater replacing the previous 1100 seat theater. See architectural drawings. This plan also requires demolition of most of the existing Playhouse building and replacement with commercial stores and a multi-story parking garage and condominium apartments.
The Miami Commission hears the appeal by Coconut Grove residents Barbara Lange and Katrina Morris to the City of Miami’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board decision granting a Certificate of Appropriateness to Miami-Dade County for its plan to demolish the majority of the existing, historic Playhouse structure.
Commissioners vote to preserve the entire exterior of the Playhouse structure and require that the owner of the Playhouse protect and restore the Solomonic Columns, Proscenium Arches, and Cherubs of the Playhouse’s interior.
Commissioners also vote to support a 600-seat theatre in line with the previous operations for the Playhouse, which made it a renowned and celebrated facility—contingent on the ability of the Foundation to raise private funds needed to complete the more impactful project.
2018
State Division of Historic Resources notifies County and FIU that they are in violation of their lease which specifies deadlines for preserving and restoring the Playhouse. (see ADD LINK)
On November 10, 2018 the Coconut Grove Playhouse is placed on the National Register of Historic Places, the official list of the nation's historic places designated worthy of preservation.
On December 3, 2018 the Circuit Court Appellate Division rules that the two residents’ appeal was improper because they lacked “standing to appeal” as “aggrieved parties” because they did not live within 500 ft. of the Playhouse. Further, the Court rules that the County’s due process had been violated by the City including the interior of the Playhouse in its decision.
2019
On February 6, 2019 after the Appellate Court's decision, the County returns to HEPB. Initial HEP Board hearing is postponed because of glitch in uploading County plans. (see ADD LINK?)
On March 1, 2019 the HEPB requests clarification of the State’s position on County’s plan. Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Aldridge sends a three page letter to Miami Historic Preservation Officer Adams criticizing the County plan and stating “…our office would consider demolition of the Playhouse as outlined in the provided plans to be an adverse effect to the historic property based on the resulting loss of the property’s historic character and integrity.”
On March 6, 2019 at the 2nd HEP Board meeting, the County resubmits its plan at a public hearing lasting over eight hours and including many hours of public testimony. County tries to have HEP Board vice Chair Lewis recused, and to limit to two minutes the testimony of anti-demolition experts. HEP Board votes 6-4 to deny the County’s request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for its plan which included demolition of 80% of the Playhouse building. The County appeals this decision to the City Commission.
On May 9, 2019 the City Commission holds day long public hearing. The County presents its master plan with 80% demolition of existing structure. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson implores the City of Miami Commission to recognize the Playhouse’s significance as the entrance to West Grove’s adjacent historic Bahamian district. Architect Richard Heisenbottle presents alternative plan that would preserve the entire Playhouse and include both a large 700 seat theatre and a small 300 seat one. City Commission votes 3-2 to overrule the HEP Board decision.
On May 17, 2019 City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez vetoes the City Commission’s decision on the grounds that the County's appeal was premature and to affirm that (1) the HEP Board's decision is supported by competent and substantial evidence, (2) that the record does not support that the County's proposal satisfies Section 267.061(2)(b), Florida Statutes that directs state agencies to confirm that no "feasible and prudent" alternative exist to a proposed demolition and (3) that the County' application is fatally flawed because no request for demolition is included in the application or request. See Veto
On May 23, 2019 the City Commission fails to override Mayor's veto. The County appeals to the Circuit Court. An amicus Brief supporting the Mayor’s veto and preservation of the entire Playhouse is filed on behalf of two neighborhood residents who this time live within 500 ft. of the Playhouse.
On June 24, 2019 the Coconut Grove Village Council passes a Resolution that revokes its prior Resolution supporting the County Plan and supports the veto issued by the City of Miami Francis Suarez citing that "full funding of the Miami-Dade County plan lacks evidence, relies on third party support and demonstrates ambiguity of the financial information previously presented to the Council on January 19, 2018 by Miami-Dade County," and "That the Playhouse renovation takes into account the entire building footprint and considers the intent of the 2005 Historic Environmental Preservation Board resolution."
2020
On June 16, 2020 the Appellate Division of the Circuit Court heard arguments regarding the Mayor’s veto. The Court ruled on July 22, 2020 that it has no jurisdiction to address the merits of Miami-Dade County’s appeal to overturn Miami Mayor Francis Suarez’s veto of City Commission Resolution R-19-0169 allowing demolition of the Coconut Grove Playhouse. It is now up to the County whether to continue its legal battle to either demolish over 80% of the renowned historic 1100 seat theater and replace it with a retail center and a small 300-seat auditorium, or accept the ruling of the court and design a restored playhouse retaining its full structure.
2021
Miami-Dade County appeals to 3rd District Court of Appeals, which orders Circuit Court to address merits of case. In April 2021 Circuit Court overturns Mayoral veto.
City appeals overturn of veto to 3rd District Court of Appeals
2023
On Wednesday, March 15, 2023 the City of Miami’s Planning & Zoning Appeals Board (PZAB) once again turned the tables on Miami-Dade County when it upheld an appeal to reverse a demolition waiver granted by the City to demolish the main auditorium of the Coconut Grove Playhouse. The vote was 6-3 in favor of granting the appeal–a major blow to the disputed County plan. See Coconut Grove Spotlight coverage.
2024
On February 9th, 2024, the Miami-Dade County 11th Judicial Circuit Court overturned the PZAB decision denying a demolition permit for the Playhouse. (See Coconut Grove Spotlight) Miami-Dade County must still present its plan to the City of Miami's HEPB for final approval. (See 2017 above) The Truth Team's two years of dialogue with community groups and organizations underscores the importance of a true community-based plan for the restoration of this historic icon.
On February 26, 2024, a motion for rehearing was filed by attorney David Winker on behalf of residents of standing adjacent to the Playhouse. See motion.
192766997_motion_for_rehearing.pdf