A building that has nearly 100 years of history and the county has a plan to demolish much of the building in order to save it. While a group of county residents say it would destroy history.
The Coconut Grove Playhouse opened in 1927 as a movie theater. In the 1950s it became the largest theater in the southeastern United States,
Carmen Peláez, a Miami resident, says, “No 20th century artist worked in this theater, it’s the unified theatrical history we have in Miami.”
Miami resident Carmen Peláez has been fighting to save this story for 7 years.
In 2006 the theater was in financial trouble, and now after years of neglect and several failed plans to save it, the county has a plan to partially tear it down, as part of a $21.6 million project to rebuild and reopen the theatre.
“They want to take a 1,100 person theater and another 200 person theater and turn it into a 300 person theater.”
The county plan maintains the facade and other historic elements of the building.
Florida owns the property which is leased to the county and is located in the city of Miami. County residents approved funds to restore the theater. The lawyer representing the residents who want to save it, filed a complaint to stop the demolition
Davis Winker, lawyer, says: “No definition of restoration includes demolishing 83% of that (…) and the plan reduces the theater and replaces it with stores and offices. Only 30% of this building is going to be used for something cultural, it doesn’t make sense.”
We spoke by phone with Commissioner Raque Regalado who represents this district. He was unavailable for an interview today, but says the county plan is the best option at this time, given the deteriorating condition of the building and other factors.
There is more information about the county plan and the foundation to back it up at:
https://www.savethecoconutgroveplayhouse.com/
https://saveourplayhouse.com/
https://www.savethecoconutgroveplayhouse.com/