City of Miami officials fear the Coconut Grove Playhouse could collapse because of a construction mistake that “severely compromised” the structural integrity of the 1926 theater.
The partial collapse of the Coconut Grove Playhouse’s third floor earlier this week was caused by a construction mistake that severely compromised the structural integrity of the historic theater’s roof and exterior walls, a City of Miami spokeswoman confirmed Friday.
“During the demolition process, a load-bearing wall on the second floor was mistakenly removed, causing a partial collapse of the third floor. As a result, the roof structure has been severely compromised, and the exterior wall facing Main Highway is now unstable,” the City of Miami said in a written statement shared with the Spotlight.
“Two preliminary engineering assessments, completed on May 22, 2025, confirmed that the affected exterior walls pose a serious risk of collapse,” the city added.
The twin assessments prompted city officials to close a busy stretch of Main Highway to traffic between Franklin Avenue and Commodore Plaza on Friday morning in “an abundance of caution,” in the words of one city staffer.
A fence was erected around the front of the theater and construction workers were seen on site Friday assembling what appeared to be wooden bracing. What steps, if any, had been taken to stabilize the building was not immediately clear. Also unclear: how long Main Highway will remain closed.
“Emergency stabilization efforts are underway and are expected to be completed within eight calendar days,” the city said.
Demolition work inside the playhouse was halted on Wednesday morning after the third floor collapsed, raining debris down onto construction workers below.
Two workers who were inside the 1926 building on the second floor were hit by falling debris, sustaining minor injuries, according to City of Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez.
The workers were able to evacuate, and no one was transported from the scene for medical care. “They were never trapped,” Sanchez said.
“The workers were hit by a little bit of debris as they were exiting,” City of Miami spokeswoman Kenia Fallat added. The workers were treated on site and released.
The construction site, at the corner of Main Highway and Charles Avenue, was cordoned off, City of Miami building officials were called to the scene, and a stop-work order was issued.
The collapse of the third floor was visible from the street through the playhouse’s second floor windows, as workers from John Bell Construction huddled on the sidewalk with building officials to assess the situation.
John Bell Construction, the company hired by Miami-Dade County to perform the work, did not respond to interview requests from the Spotlight this week.
A county spokeswoman did respond, however, when asked whether the county would now reassess its plan to restore the front portion of the historic playhouse and reopen it as a smaller theater.
“On Wednesday morning, a section of the third-level wood flooring in the front building of the Coconut Grove Playhouse gave way and collapsed onto the second floor. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and no historic architectural elements were affected,” Liliana Hernandez-Constenia, a spokeswoman for the county’s Department of Cultural Affairs, said in a written statement.
“Structural engineers are actively assessing the area. In coordination with City of Miami building officials, they are developing a plan to safely move forward with the project while ensuring the well-being of workers, the public, and the integrity of the site.
Late Friday, the county said exterior bracing would be installed within a week to stabilize the front walls of the playhouse on Main Highway.
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Raquel Regalado, whose district includes Coconut Grove and who has been a champion of the county’s restoration plan, released this statement on Friday.
“I remain steadfast in my commitment to preserving the history and beauty of Coconut Grove’s beloved playhouse,” Regalado said. “We are grateful for the safety of everyone involved and for the preservation of the historical elements. Every effort will be made to stabilize the structure, safeguard its historic elements, and continue moving forward with restoring this nearly century-old treasure.”
Demolition work began in April after the county received a demolition permit from the City of Miami. In recent weeks, construction workers have been gutting the rear auditorium of the playhouse. More recently, workers removed the boards and glass covering the second-floors windows at the front of the playhouse.
The county plans to demolish the rear auditorium and replace it with a smaller 300-seat theater. The distinctive 1926 Mediterranean Revival building that faces Main Highway – currently painted a pale blue – would be restored as part of the plan.
Opponents of the county’s revival plan have gone to court to stop the demolition but, to date, have not been successful. The lawsuit is pending.
The partial collapse happened inside the front building, which has stood empty for 19 years, raising concerns about the condition of the structure. The playhouse closed abruptly in 2006 amid financial difficulties.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with additional information provided on Friday May 23 by the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County.
And who will be held responsible for this “mistake”?
Make no mistake… this was no mistake. We have been watching this fiasco unfold for years. Their illegal demolition began without the proper 267 review. The county has bypassed numerous legal requirements to demolish a historic building.
Were there any precautions taken to shore up this façade? The county disemboweled our Playhouse from behind, all while claiming to restore her. Four years they planned her destruction and now, they ‘accidentally’ removed a bearing wall ?? I invite the citizens of Miami to look at the plans from Arquitectonica, ask your city for them. You will NOT see a historic preservation project. You will see a valuable piece of property stolen from us in plain sight. Every politician in Miami Dade county, and the city, as well as the ‘professionals’ in the arts who gave their blessing, are complicit in this evil deed upon our city.
Is this a case of demolition by neglect being leveraged into demolition by “accident”? This could become the excuse to demolish the entire playhouse. Then we’ll see if the County will rebuild a historic replica or a modern box.
This is typical Miami-Dade County behavior in action. It is horrifying that we may lose another historical building in the City of Miami due to the county’s “negligence.”
Commissioner Damian Pardo needs to step in and take action on this. While it is a County project, the City of Miami provides, and oversees, the permitting of the demolition.
Charles Avenue – one of the most historic streets in the City – has had contaminated waste water from the demolition flowing down it, and now even the elements of the Playhouse that the County claimed it would save are in danger of collapsing.
Commissioner Pardo – a supporter of the County project – has consistently said he’d advocate for, and protect, the community in this process. Unfortunately, that is not happening.
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the ongoing demolition attempts by the County and now nearly collapse of this historic landmark. It is becoming increasingly clear that this tragedy is not a mere accident, but rather a result of deliberate neglect and purposeful actions by local officials in lieu of a MALL. The loss of such an important piece of our heritage is unacceptable, and the community deserves transparency and accountability. Thank you.
Why would you say “Raquel Regalado, whose district includes Coconut Grove and who has been a champion of the county’s restoration plan”??! She has a DEMOLITION PLAN. Why are your newsletters taking her side? I remember you featured plenty of ads during her campaign but to blatantly say she is the CHAMPION of a restoration plan is plainly offensive. Your articles obviously demonstrate that you care a hoot about the Playhouse and can’t wait for that mall to be erected!