Spotlight 103-250516

Good morning. What we’re covering in today’s Spotlight:

More Highrise Housing in the West Grove
A Push to Move Miami’s 2025 Election
Summer Arts Programming for Grove Kids
Upcoming Events: Where We’ll Be

More Highrise Housing Proposed for Douglas Road

Miami-Dade County may soon approve a second large-scale development with 450 mixed-income apartments on publicly-owned land in the West Grove, within a short stroll of South Dixie Highway.

By Don Finefrock

The Miami-Dade County Commission appears poised to approve a new high-rise development with 450 mixed-income apartments stretching across two city blocks of publicly-owned land on Douglas Road in Coconut Grove.

The proposed Eviva housing project would straddle a small residential street in the West Grove – Percival Avenue – with a high-rise apartment tower on one block and a smaller residential building on a second block immediately to the south.

Both buildings would back up to a residential neighborhood of single-family homes.

Judging by a project rendering provided by the county, the tower would climb 21 stories above street level, while the smaller building would top off at six stories. Integral Florida, the developer, declined to speak with the Spotlight about the project.

Continue Rea d ing…

Candidates Blast Proposed City of Miami Election Delay

As rumors swirl about delaying November’s vote – and extending officeholders existing terms – Miami mayoral candidates and political experts say the move is a blow to democracy and a “selfish power grab.”

By Sofia Baltodano and Cassie Martinez

Former Miami District 2 Commissioner and mayoral candidate Ken Russell is not hiding his disgust at recent news of a rumored proposal to delay the City of Miami’s November elections by a year.

In a recent Instagram post, he labels as “bullshit” a claim by City Attorney George Wysong that the city commission has the authority to dictate such a move.

“This is a selfish power grab that is being used to give the commissioners and the mayor an extra year in office that they’re not entitled to,” Russell says in an interview.

Rumors of the proposal have been circulating informally in Miami City Hall in recent weeks. Under the plan, first reported by the Miami Herald, November’s mayoral and city commissioner elections would be pushed to 2026 to allow all future races to be decided during even years.

Arts for Learning Summer Programs in Coconut Grove

Looking for summer plans? Arts for Learning is launching its new Lewis Arts Studio Performing Arts Summer Program at the Sanctuary of the Arts at St. Mary’s at 136 Frow Avenue in the West Grove. Students will develop skills in performance, storytelling and choreography through structured activities and imaginative play, followed by a closing performance for family and friends. The program takes place from June 9 to 27 for students entering grades 4 and 5 and June 30 to July 25 for students grades 6 to 8. Program hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Where We’ll Be

It’s Raining Bargains. Collect Yours

Shakespeare never won a Pulitzer (can you believe it?) but murder, revenge, ghosts, and cycles of trauma and violence have always made for reliable dramatic material. GableStage opens the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Fat Ham” this weekend. In it, a young gay black man named Juicy is confronted by his father’s ghost, who demands that Juicy avenge his murder. Already familiar with Hamlet’s plight, Juicy tries to break the chain. GableStage, 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables. 5/16 through 6/15. Full schedule and tickets available here. Group discounts can make a big night out even bigger.

Before the snowbirds head north, flocks of migrating birds come through South Florida. Meet in Tropical Audubon Society’s special gardens to help improve that sanctuary and learn how you can create a bird-friendly garden in your own yard, patio or balcony. Tropical Audubon Society, 5530 Sunset Drive. Saturday 5/17 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Free, but you must register here beforehand because the group size is limited.

Dance in the street as Barracuda in the Grove hosts Fuller Music Fest IV with rocking tunes into the early morning hours. 3035 Fuller Street. Saturday 5/17 from 10:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. Find ticket info here.

Join former Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick as he leads a leisurely walking tour of the downtown hub of Coral Gables. This is the place where it all began 100 years ago. Many of the iconic historical buildings still exist. Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables. Sunday 5/18 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Modestly-priced advanced tickets here.

Continue your explorations as you stroll through the Coconut Grove Art Walk right in the heart of the Grove. The Grove Art Studio hosts an open-air gallery featuring more than 20 local artists, live music, and kids’ arts and crafts. Fuller Street. Sunday 5/18 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Free.

Hand it to the Rotarians and the Woman’s Club to make helping others great fun. The two groups join forces for good once again to kick off the Goombay season with their 3rd Annual Goombay Event. The proceeds of this charity evening benefit the Grove Food Crisis Pantry. Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove, 2985 South Bayshore Drive. Thursday 5/22 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. $25.

Voters from Silver Bluff, Shenandoah, Coral Gate, the Pines and other District 4 neighborhoods will soon head to the polls to decide who will represent them after the death of Miami Commissioner Manolo Reyes. You can check your voter registration status online here or by calling 305-499-8444. All vote-by-mail requests expired last year but you can request one no later than Thursday May 22 with information found on this website. New voters must have registered at least 29 days before the election, so you may have missed your chance, but get ready for the next election through this link.

Early in-person voting starts Friday May 30 at Shenandoah Park. Election Day is Tuesday June 3. Complicated? Yes. Worth it? Definitely!

Virrick Park’s librarians challenge us to reflect on the experiences and consequences of World War II through a year-long program commemorating the 80th anniversary of the war’s end. This week’s World War II at 80 program presents a series of short, rare 16-mm films that depict the war from the perspective of Nazi-occupied countries and American propaganda. Special Collections archivist Katharine Labuda and librarian Miriam Kashem lead a discussion of four of these powerful films that average ten minutes in length. Virrick Park Branch Library, 3255 Plaza Street. Wednesday 5/21 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Free. Additional details about the films and program are linked here.

The Biscayne Poet, Oscar Fuentes, co-hosts a heartfelt afternoon of storytelling – We Met at Book Club: Relics of the Heart. Explore powerful family stories through an interactive book club, connect with new people, and enjoy guided tours of Vizcaya Village, 3250 S. Miami Ave. Saturday 5/17 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Free with RSVP.

There’s still an opportunity to experience Christina Pettersson’s art exhibition “Revenant Florida: Landscapes as Living Memory” at The Kampong, 4013 Douglas Road. A special closing ceremony will be held Thursday 6/5. The exhibit remains open through Saturday 6/7. Modestly priced tickets include admission to the spectacular gardens and grounds and includes illustrations of 24 historic sites within Biscayne Bay. Details here.

Save Me a Seat

Ready for raindrops? You bet! A rain barrel water conservation workshop – the last of the season – is a product of the Miami-Dade Urban Horticulture Program. Double-barreled bonus: a $50 rebate from Miami-Dade County when you buy a qualified barrel. Tropical Audubon’s Doc Thomas House, 5530 Sunset Drive. Saturday 6/7 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Free with advanced registration.

Live orchestra, plus the magic of opera, plus a small setting, plus an insanely modest price, plus discounts for students and seniors is the special formula that only the Alhambra Orchestra can achieve. Breath-taking. Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables. Sunday 6/15 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Doors open at 2:15 p.m. Advanced tickets.