With the 1926 theater at risk of collapse, construction workers have been tasked with stabilizing the structure’s exterior walls.
Construction crews were at work over the weekend at the Coconut Grove Playhouse after the theater’s third floor fell in last week, putting the entire structure at risk of collapse. Workers have been tasked with bracing the exterior walls of the 1926 theater to prevent them from toppling over. Main Highway remained closed to cars over the long holiday weekend (the street was reopened on Tuesday), but pedestrians were drawn to the site, out of curiosity and perhaps in tribute to a landmark that some fear may be lost. Here are some photos from the scene:
Construction workers have been tasked with bracing the exterior walls of the 1926 theater, to prevent those walls from collapsing onto the street below. (Don Finefrock for the Spotlight)
Construction workers on the job at the Coconut Grove Playhouse on Monday afternoon. (Don Finefrock for the Spotlight)
Wooden bracing placed on Charles Avenue. (Don Finefrock for the Spotlight)
A steady stream of pedestrians paused in front of the playhouse over the weekend to take stock of recent events (Photo courtesy of Harry Gottlieb).
Traffic was diverted off Main Highway and onto surrounding streets over the long holiday weekend. Main Highway was reopened as of Tuesday morning. Charles Avenue remained closed. (Photo courtesy of Harry Gottlieb)
This is embarrassing. So many of us could say, I told you so. The lack of care and consideration for history, the exploitation of public goods, and the sheer hubris of the County and Arquitectonica from the very beginning was glaringly apparent at that first HEP Board meeting where they presented their ‘massing’ proposal, which was just a whole bunch of white blobs representing retail, parking, offices and residential units. You couldn’t even see where the actual Playhouse was going!
That led two of us to sue the County to stop the demolition. What has happened since has been a slow march towards exactly where we are now. Now everyone is surprised, including this publication. How everyone got snowed, I have no idea. We have been screaming it from the rooftops. I swear I feel like Cassandra these days, knowing what is going to happen, trying to warn everyone and having them stare at me with blank expressions and offer excuses for whatever agenda is being peddled. When is quality of life going to take precedence over greed and carelessness?
This is embarrassing. So many of us could say, I told you so. The lack of care and consideration for history, the exploitation of public goods, and the sheer hubris of the County and Arquitectonica from the very beginning was glaringly apparent at that first HEP Board meeting where they presented their ‘massing’ proposal, which was just a whole bunch of white blobs representing retail, parking, offices and residential units. You couldn’t even see where the actual Playhouse was going!
That led two of us to sue the County to stop the demolition. What has happened since has been a slow march towards exactly where we are now. Now everyone is surprised, including this publication. How everyone got snowed, I have no idea. We have been screaming it from the rooftops. I swear I feel like Cassandra these days, knowing what is going to happen, trying to warn everyone and having them stare at me with blank expressions and offer excuses for whatever agenda is being peddled. When is quality of life going to take precedence over greed and carelessness?