Good morning. What we’re covering in today’s Spotlight:
- The County’s Response to Playhouse Critics
- Final Design Plans for Kirk Munroe and Fuller Street
- Local Pushback on Florida’s Live Local Act
- A Reprieve for Environmental Reviews
Critics of the proposed development plan for the Coconut Grove Playhouse got another chance this week to voice their concerns, ahead of a pivotal vote next month by the Miami City Commission.
By Don Finefrock

Are we done fighting over the Coconut Grove Playhouse?
Apparently not.
Miami District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo invited critics of the playhouse redevelopment plan to meet this week with Miami-Dade County officials in hopes of brokering a compromise so the project can move forward.
The critics came and listened but were largely unmoved by the county’s attempts to address neighborhood concerns about the long-delayed project, which still needs to win the approval of the Miami City Commission.
The move caps a public planning process led by the Allen Morris Company, the Coral Gables firm that is building the upscale Ziggurat mixed-use development on the former site of the Coconut Grove Laundry & Cleaners.
By Don Finefrock

The Miami City Commission approved final design plans this week for Kirk Munroe Park and Fuller Street, capping a planning effort led by the Allen Morris Company, the developer of the upscale Ziggurat mixed-use project on Grand Avenue.
The commission also allocated $3 million to fund the proposed improvements, which include a new pavilion, a children’s playground and a great lawn at Kirk Munroe Park, and new pavers, a level streetscape and more trees for pedestrian-friendly Fuller Street.
Allen Morris had agreed earlier this year to lead a public-facing design process for the two public spaces that will flank its new Ziggurat development.
The Miami City Commission on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution directing the City Attorney to explore legal options for challenging Florida’s Live Local Act, the 2023 state law that preempts local governments’ zoning authority over certain housing developments that include affordable housing.
The resolution, sponsored by Miami District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo, authorizes the City Attorney to analyze the law’s constitutionality and evaluate potential legal claims, including challenges based on municipal home-rule authority, state preemption, due process and equal protection.
By David Villano
The Miami City Commission on Thursday rejected a controversial proposal to eliminate independent environmental impact studies for certain major city land transactions after city officials said the provision had been mistakenly included in a broader legislative package updating the city’s traffic-impact study requirements.
While the traffic study provisions did pass, language was removed from the legislation that would have eliminated the city’s longstanding environmental review requirements.
Miami District 4 Commissioner Ralph Rosado, the measure’s sponsor, said through a spokesperson that eliminating environmental review was attached to the measure in error.

World Cup Fever has spread into libraries and CocoWalk. If you need some relief, the calendar can guide you to talk about your health, practice yoga in the garden, see mysterious 16mm films at The Barnacle, tour a reopened lighthouse worth the climb, and celebrate the Fourth of July beginning with civic reflection and ending with fireworks over the waterfront. So, hydrate, make a plan, and leave the couch behind. And don’t forget to check out the performances listed in Save Me a Seat; they’re selling out quickly.
Recent News
A proposed overhaul of Miami’s traffic-impact regulations would also eliminate a little-known requirement for independent environmental studies on major city land deals, raising questions about oversight of upcoming redevelopment projects.
Real estate investors and developers are acquiring older condominium buildings in Coconut Grove, fueling fears about the pace, price and scale of neighborhood redevelopment. “The Grove doesn’t need to be…
The operator of Grove Harbour, home to The Fresh Market and a Dinner Key marina, claims city officials improperly intervened in an independent appraisal process in an effort to justify…
In response to public safety concerns and some cases of property damage, the City of Miami is seeking to enforce a citywide ban on e-bikes in public parks, with limited…
Documents obtained by the Spotlight show city officials estimate the proposed borrowing would ultimately cost $795 million, while future staffing costs for new facilities have yet to be calculated.
For 60 years, The Villagers, an all-volunteer organization, has helped to preserve historic landmarks in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove and beyond.
Born into one of Coconut Grove’s founding families, Munroe spent a lifetime sailing Biscayne Bay, exploring the natural world and carrying forward the legacy of his grandfather, Commodore Ralph Munroe.
The World Cup watch party in Coconut Grove on Saturday drew hundreds of soccer fans to Peacock Park for the Group C match between Brazil and Morocco.
A Spotlight reporter dropped by the Vizcaya Village Farmers Market on a recent Sunday to check out the vibe. Here’s what she found.
Calling City Hall’s culture “damaged,” Miami District 3 Commissioner Rolando Escalona tells the Spotlight he wants to curb undisclosed legislative changes, overhaul public-records practices, and use technology to give residents…
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…
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…
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…
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