COCONUT GROVE, Fla. – Demolition work at the historic Coconut Grove Playhouse took a dangerous turn this week when a portion of the building’s third floor collapsed, forcing city officials to shut down the site and sparking renewed concerns about the future of the nearly century-old structure.
The collapse occurred Wednesday during scheduled demolition at the 1926 theater, sending debris crashing down on workers below.
City of Miami officials responded swiftly, issuing a “stop-work order” notice and blocking off Main Highway between Franklin Avenue and McFarland Road as a precaution.
As a precaution, Main Highway remains blocked off Friday with police tape and patrol vehicles between Franklin Avenue and McFarland Road.
“Sad to see because it’s part of the historic fabric of Coconut Grove,” said Eric Salzinger, a longtime Coconut Grove resident.
Miami-Dade County officials said the back portion of the 1926 playhouse is being torn down to make room for a smaller, modern theater with fewer seats.
They said they plan to preserve and restore the building’s iconic façade, but the project has long faced legal challenges from preservationists who oppose the changes.
“This was completely expected because it was in disrepair for so long,” Salzinger told Local 10’s Liane Morejon.
Officials confirmed that the collapse began when workers mistakenly removed a load-bearing wall. The failure caused part of the third floor to cave in, compromising the roof and placing the surrounding exterior walls at risk of collapse.
Those very walls had been designated for preservation under the county’s current renovation plan.
The theater, which has been shuttered since 2006, was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a city landmark.
In 2004, Miami voters approved bond funding to restore the venue, which once hosted Broadway-style productions and major stars.
But years of political inaction and exposure to the elements left the building to deteriorate. The roof eventually leaked, and the interior rotted.
Video taken by Local 10 News before the current demolition began showed extensive damage inside the long-abandoned playhouse.
“Demolition by neglect for 20 years,” said Andrew, a local resident involved in a pending lawsuit against the demolition. “I don’t have an answer for why such an important property would be left to just rot.”
Melissa Meyer, another resident and plaintiff, said legal efforts to halt demolition are ongoing.
“Our attorney is trying to pull some strings now to get the state to enforce the law,” she said.
The State of Florida owns the property, and state law requires a formal review before demolition permits are granted. Preservation advocates say it’s unclear whether such a review took place before the collapse.
While workers injured in Wednesday’s incident are expected to recover, the future of the theater remains in doubt.
With the structure compromised, traffic snarled in the Grove, and lawsuits still unresolved, the decades-long battle over one of Miami’s most storied landmarks continues.
