Dear Editor:
The Spotlight’s recent prediction notwithstanding, the fate of the state-owned Coconut Grove Playhouse, now abandoned for two decades, may remain undecided until the November election. Incumbent Commissioner Raquel Regalado wants the “county plan” for a small local theater. Challenger Cindy Lerner wants a larger, regional theater restoration. Neither plan has an answer for the millions that will be needed. Legal appeals may continue regardless on this never-ending community-dividing issue.
The Playhouse is Miami’s Gordian Knot. According to Greek legend, Alexander the Great confronted a huge knotted cord tied to an oxcart by a linchpin. Whoever untied the knot would rule all of Asia. As with the Playhouse, there appeared to be only two choices: try the same way others had failed, or cut through it with his sword. But some ancient historians wrote Alexander chose a third way. He pulled the linchpin, exposed the two ends of the cord, and then was able to untie the knot.
The two intractable ends of the Playhouse knot are represented by a volunteer group of citizens who want full restoration with at least 700 seats, while the other is comprised of co-tenants Miami-Dade County and FIU, who, according to their 2018 presentation, want a small 250-seat theater with a revenue-supporting mix of retail, bars, restaurants and office space fronting Main Highway.
Either way, millions of public dollars in excess of the $20 million bond money already approved will be required; that is, unless we try untying this knot the Alexander way, by pulling the linchpin. And that means a compromise plan to which both sides can finally agree.
What would such a compromise plan entail? Even though Miami’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board (HEPB) unanimously voted in 2005 for historic designation of the entire exterior of the Playhouse, you still must decide what goes inside. It would be short-sighted to focus on just the number of theater seats. Instead, we should consider the potential impact of the entire 2.3-acre site on the surrounding businesses and adjacent neighborhoods.
Both opposing sides want the Miami Parking Authority (MPA) to build the long-promised parking garage between the Playhouse and the alley extending from Main Highway to Thomas Avenue behind Commodore Plaza.
All the businesses in the village center – from Commodore Plaza to CocoWalk and Mayfair – want the business district to prosper, which requires adequate parking and cultural attractions to complement the adjacent Barnacle State Park.
Our elected leaders all should want the Playhouse to be retained on the city, state and national registries of designated historic sites.
And all citizens should desire the adjacent historic Coconut Grove Village West residential neighborhood (now known as Little Bahamas) to be protected from unwanted commercial intrusion while providing welcoming pedestrian landscaping where a barbed wire fence once stood. The Commodore alley can easily be modified to do this while still accessing the new garage.
With agreement on these four related principles, all we need is leadership – a strong team of prominent citizens under the leadership of Miami District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo. A few names immediately come to mind. Developers David Martin and Michael Comras are already deeply embedded in the business district. Mega-architect Bernardo Fort-Brescia, who designed the county plan, lives within easy walking distance of the Playhouse. Miami newcomer, financier and philanthropist Ken Griffin owns one of Coconut Grove’s most historic homes.
It is time for the city, the county and Coconut Grove to come together. With this new leadership team under Commissioner Pardo, we will finally have a shot at raising the public/private funding needed to untie this Gordian Knot. It will be a win/win for all.
Anthony Parrish
Coconut Grove
