COCONUT GROVE, Fla. — If walls could talk, the historic Coconut Grove Playhouse would have a lot to say.
Built in 1927, it evolved into one of the country’s most important regional theaters.
Legendary artists adorned its stage, and even former President Harry Truman paid the place a visit.
In 1989, Local 10 News covered the play ‘Mixed Blessings’ which centered on a Miami-Cuban family.
A crown jewel of its time, the venue is now reduced to bones.
It’s future hangs in the balance amid a tug of war as neighbors try to save it, and plans for its future move forward.
Florida Rep. Fabian Basabe believes the entire theatre must be preserved.
“There are so many provisions that say this property must be maintained,” he said. “And they look for legal ways to stunt and stop it so that they can come in like crooks in the night and rip apart this heart and soul of this city piece by piece.”
The last curtain fell at the historic theatre in 2006, and now the cracked and crumbling blue building silently sits amid bustling retail and restaurants.
“They want to change it into predominantly, 70% of the property will be retail,” said demonstrator Max Pearl. “We’ve already got retail down the street that’s struggling to survive.”
In May, Miami building officials issued a permit for partial demolition work to begin. That same month, there was a partial collapse on the third floor during demolition.
According to Miami-Dade County, a revitalization project is underway to preserve the historic facade and partially demolish the building, eventually replacing the theater’s auditorium with a smaller, modern theatre.
Phase one is set to open in 2027, in time for the theatre’s 100-year anniversary. Until then, the building remains at the center stage of controversy.
“The memories that were created here and what it means to Coconut Grove in the city of Miami, we shouldn’t let it be demolished,” said Miami mayoral candidate Ken Russell.
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