From City Hall: Mobility Hub Updates, City Hall Restoration, and More

At its second meeting in October, the Coral Gables City Commission:

Mobility Hub Update

Listened to a presentation from Gensler, the company designing the Mobility Hub, showcasing new renderings and options for a rooftop activation space. These include areas for a restaurant, a children’s park, concert venue, and/or outdoor movie theater. They are also exploring options for the pattern on the outside of the garage, meant to resemble a tree’s branches, and for murals and other artwork inside and outside the building. Commissioners Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez protested that the building will be too tall, though it falls within zoning code parameters.

City Hall Update

Listened to an update on the restoration of City Hall from RJ Heisenbottle, the architecture firm responsible for its repairs. The firm wants to restore the building’s original garden courtyard, which famed city architect Phineas Paist originally designed, including two public restrooms for use during events on Biltmore Way. Exterior repairs and patches will be made, and the stone columns reinforced with steel. Anything that must be replaced will be 3D-scanned so it can be remade the same. The Commission Chamber will be reconfigured closer to its original design, with additional seating and more dark wood. The Commission voted 5-0 for “option B” of the garden courtyard, as well as 5-0 to accept the chief procurement officer’s recommendation to award the project to Thornton Construction Company.

New Public Art

Voted 5-0 to accept the acquisition of a sculpture, “Le Couple, 1991” by Cuban artist Agustín Cárdenas. The Cultural Development Board voted unanimously to approve, with funds from the Art in Public Places reserve to go toward acquisition and installation. Cárdenas is considered one of the most important sculptors of the 20 th century. Proposed locations include 427 Biltmore Way – which houses the Development Services Department – Coral Gables Museum, the country club, and the Art Cinema. Mayor Vince Lago expressed his preference for placement in the 427 Biltmore Way garden-paseo or outside the Art Cinema.

Coral Gables x Art Basel

Listened to an update on the “Intervals” project, “a series of time-space encounters with contemporary art, specific sites, and thoughts that are beyond the everyday of Coral Gables, Miami, and the world,” according to Arts and Culture Specialist Catherine Cathers. The project will feature five artists’ works in five public spaces, partnering with galleries represented at Art Basel Miami Beach. Residents can see the works through January at the Fink Studio, the Hotel Colonnade, the Aloft Hotel, and two locations at The Plaza Coral Gables, with guided tours by the Economic Development Department. Celebratory events will be held at each location; details available on the city’s Art in Public Places webpage.

Sidewalk Controversy Continues

Voted 3-2 to refuse new guidelines proposed by Commissioner Melissa Castro for determining

the placement of sidewalks. Castro (and Fernandez) wanted to set forth stricter guidelines, likely due to a controversial placement earlier this year on Alhambra Circle where the sidewalk wended around several trees and driveways. Supposedly this was at the expense of pedestrian safety – despite meeting all engineering and state regulations. “We already do this,” argued Mayor Lago, who called the proposal “redundant legislation.” Castro asked for sidewalks that “must align with best engineering and safety practices” and “must be as close as possible to the abutting property line.” The legislation would have made resident input moot, which at least one resident, a civil engineer, spoke strongly against. “Commissioner Castro has continuously implied that there are varying degrees of safety – safe versus safer – in engineering design. This notion is not only inaccurate but misleading,” he said.

RTZ Update

Voted 4-1 to amend the city’s zoning code to allow for the county’s Rapid Transit Zone (RTZ), upzoning the area but hopefully keeping it under the purview of the city rather than the county or state. The mayor is also meeting with the RTZ developers to try to keep the project as aligned as
possible with Coral Gables’ code. Currently, the project is going forward with or without the city’s input; Mayor Lago called his meeting with developers a “Hail Mary.” Commissioner Castro was the sole vote against, arguing that she wanted more resident input. Vice Mayor
Rhonda Anderson, Commissioner Richard Lara, and Mayor Lago urged her to vote in favor to show unity in negotiations with the project’s developers, accusing her of politicking. “We have zero ability to preempt anybody [the county or state],” said Anderson. “What we can do is we can offer them options…. What we can do with these options is try to discourage our county commissioner from bringing in additional folios into the county RTZ….”

Needle Collection

Voted 5-0 to implement a needle collection program for residents, who can now drop off used needles leftover medications and at Fire Station 1, or dispose of them safely in plastic containers in their trash cans. The city now has a facility that can handle disposal, so residents won’t have to
go to the health department.

Potential State Exemptions

Discussed the estimated impact of Florida’s House of Representatives’ property tax proposals on the city. HJR201, which would eliminate non-school homestead property taxes, could remove $63.8 million from the total property tax revenue in the Gables – but also save homeowners
money.