The final design plans for two public spaces in Center Grove – Kirk Munroe Park and the pedestrian promenade on Fuller Street – head to the City Commission this week for final approval Thursday. Commissioners are being asked to approve the plans prepared by the Allen Morris Company and contribute[Read More…]
Spotlight Staff
Dad, Can You Handle the Heat?
Atchana’s Homegrown Thai welcomes Father’s Day with a way for Dad to be truly proud staring into the Scoville abyss, answering trivia as the heat grows, and pretending one drink is enough. Their third annual Spice Challenge may not settle who gets the remote on Sunday, but it will separate[Read More…]
Playhouse Neighbors Meet with Pardo
Community leaders from the West Grove met with Miami District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo last week to discuss the Coconut Grove Playhouse and win his support for the neighborhood protections they are seeking. Playhouse neighbors fear the playhouse revival plan backed by Miami-Dade County will push unwanted traffic and commercial[Read More…]
Mangos, Matches and World Cup Madness
School is out, summer has arrived and, just like that, rush-hour traffic has mysteriously vanished from South Bayshore Drive. In its place: mangos drop from the trees, Juneteenth celebrations fill the calendar, World Cup fever takes over the Grove and Vizcaya Village vaults into the squared circle. It’s the first[Read More…]
Greenway Bonus Density Proposal Advances
Miami’s Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board (PZAB) unanimously approved a controversial zoning proposal Wednesday that would allow developers to build taller and larger projects near bike and pedestrian paths and other so-called greenways. The proposed Greenway Public Benefits Program would permit bonus building height and floor-area ratio in exchange for[Read More…]
The Kids Show Us How It’s Done
If you’re going to do something well, commit to it, believe in it and make it happen. No better lesson starts off the week than the young actors of Inspire Theatre Project throwing themselves into the glorious craziness of SpongeBob SquarePants Jr. Full voice, full heart, full immersion commitment. That’s[Read More…]
City Rejects 11th-Hour Rewrite, Approves Grove Density Transfer Carve-Out
The Miami City Commission on Thursday unanimously approved a controversial expansion of the city’s affordable housing density transfer program, rejecting a last-minute effort by city administrators to weaken carve-outs for Coconut Grove and other protected neighborhoods. The 5-0 vote finalized a sweeping expansion of the program, which allows developers to[Read More…]
Film, Flamenco, Flowers and Fido
Moms on the mats, dogs in the park, Motown with a mission and flamenco with feeling lead the calendar. So if anyone in your household is saying “There’s nothing to do”, that is not a scheduling problem. It’s a research problem. And the Spotlight is here to help. Friday May[Read More…]
County Appeals PZAB’s Playhouse Decision
Miami-Dade County has appealed a City of Miami planning board decision that denied the county the permission it needs to rebuild and reopen the Coconut Grove Playhouse. A spokeswoman for the county’s Department of Cultural Affairs said the appeal had been received by the city, setting the stage for a[Read More…]
Arts Festival Awards $75,000 in Scholarships
Fifteen local art students received scholarships of $5,000 apiece this week from the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. The winning students – all high school seniors – were announced on Sunday at an event and student art exhibit at the Courtyard by Marriott Coconut Grove. The students were selected based on[Read More…]
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