On December 10, 2018, a three-judge panel of the Circuit Court Appellate Division ruled in favor of Miami-Dade County in a case regarding the historic preservation approval granted to the County to rehabilitate the Coconut Grove Playhouse.  In April 2017, the City of Miami’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board had approved the County’s conceptual design for the Playhouse rehabilitation project. Two City residents appealed that decision, and in December 2017, the City of Miami Commission reversed the historic preservation approval.

The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs has received $2 million from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to benefit the Coconut Grove Playhouse project. This major gift, announced as part of a new $37 million investment to support the arts and anchor institutions, brings the return of regional theater at the Coconut Grove Playhouse one step closer to reality.

Thursday, December 6th at 10 AM
Frost Science Museum
1101 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
Free Event. Space is limited; RSVP
www.frostscience.org/parking

Featuring:

Robert Lynch,  President and CEO, Americans for the Arts

Aileen Alon, Member, Americans for the Arts Emerging Leader Council

Xavier Cortada, Chairman, Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs Council

The City of Miami’s Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board (PZAB) approved the zoning application for the Coconut Grove Playhouse on November 7, 2018. As previously presented during the September 5, 2018 PZAB meeting, City staff strongly recommended the approval of the straightforward zoning exceptions requested in the application as being well within the parameters of Miami 21 code requirements.

On October 25, 2018, a three-judge panel in the Circuit Court Appellate Division heard Miami-Dade County’s appeal of the City of Miami Commission’s action, which voted 3-to-2 to overturn the near unanimous vote of their own Historic and Environmental Preservation Board (HEPB) in support of the County’s plan for the Coconut Grove Playhouse. 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS
Upcoming Grant Deadlines and Workshops

Community Grants Program (CG) – Third Quarter FY2018-19
This is a quarterly program for non-profit organizations developing small to medium scale community-based cultural programs, projects and events, such as fairs, parades, neighborhood festivals, conferences and publications.

The Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs Council has elected Xavier Cortada Chairman of the 15-member volunteer advisory board. Mr. Cortada, a professional artist, will lead efforts by the board, appointed by the Miami-Dade County Commission, to develop cultural excellence, diversity and participation in the arts by strategically creating and promoting opportunities for artists and cultural organizations throughout Miami-Dade County.

On October 2, 2018, the Board of County Commissioners approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the County and the Miami Parking Authority (MPA). This is an important next step in realizing the plan for the Coconut Grove Playhouse project.

GableStage sent the update below to its suscribers to provide clarity on the project.

The architectural and engineering work on the Coconut Grove Playhouse is in its final stage. Bidding and construction are next. The County, FIU and GableStage are working to create a great home at the Playhouse for regional theater.
It is important to clarify the “drama” inspired by recent events and media coverage of the Playhouse.

On August 9th, the State of Florida Historical Commission voted to submit an application to the US Department of Interior to nominate the Coconut Grove Playhouse to the National Register of Historic Places. Once the nomination report is finalized by the State Division of Historical Resources, we will post it here. Upon submittal of the nomination by the State, the federal government has 90 days to either approve or deny the application.