Talk of the Town
The Other Centennial
THE BILTMORE THROWS THE PARTY OF THE CENTURY
The year 2025 marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of Coral Gables, which was celebrated all year. Now comes the anniversary of the Biltmore Hotel, which opened its doors in January of 1926. To mark that momentous event, the Biltmore threw a massive party on January 14, 100 years to the day when city founder George Merrick threw his own huge fete, a larger-than-life party to promote the hotel to Northeasterners who came to stay at the hotel. “We wanted to do the party 100 years to the hour of the George Merrick dinner that he held the night before opening the hotel,” said Biltmore President Tom Prescott. “Our thinking was, let’s do a dinner that embraces that spirit of over-the-top, of something you’ve never seen before, and simultaneously set the standard for what events of this type should be.”
Planning for the party began more than a year ago, and came down to details that included cuisine similar to that night a century ago. A select list of 285 guests were invited to attend, everyone from civic leaders and captains of industry, to elected and career officials, along with “those whom have had a direct and tangible involvement with the Biltmore in some way, shape, or fashion,” said Prescott.
The evening’s dinner was a four-course meal that included onion soup, smoked trout with a lobster brandy sauce, beef Wellington, and a Bavarian cream raspberry mousse, all preceded by copious amounts of fresh seafood (including an oyster and caviar bar on ice) during the pre-cocktail mixer. After dancing to a 14-piece band, the evening concluded with a 22-minute overhead show by 1,250 drones, with imagery from the evolution of the Biltmore. “Yes, we spent a bit of money for it,” said Prescott. “It was the closest we probably have ever come to a White House State Dinner in the manner by which it was executed… and the event was a true success, because its underlying principle and reason for doing it was to showcase the landmark’s resiliency and just how tremendous the Biltmore is and how critical it remains to this community.”
Modern History
A NEW BOOK ABOUT MODERNIST GABLES ARCHITECTURE
When most people think about historic preservation in Coral Gables, what comes to mind are the Mediterranean Revival buildings from the 1920s. But the city continued to evolve after that, and one significant period was the Modernism movement from 1960 to 1980.
That era now comes to life with a new book by Karelia Martinez Carbonell and Bruce Fitzgerald. Carbonell is the president of the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables; Fitzgerald was a member of the Association before he passed away unexpectedly last year. Together they authored “CORAL GABLES: THE MODERNS: Redefining the City Beautiful 1960-1980.”The book brings to light Modernism in the Gables.
In the two decades beginning in 1960, architects infused the Modernist style in a significant number of buildings, including three designed by Morris Lapidus, the man behind the Fontainebleau Hotel on Miami Beach. These include Temple Judea on U.S.-1 (1966) and the Junior Chamber International Headquarters building on University Drive next to Le Jeune Road (1968). Other Modernism buildings include 201 and 255 Alhambra, both designed by O.K. Houstoun in 1973 and 1974, respectively. But what sparked Carbonell and Fitzgerald to write the book was the Brutalist style building on Salzedo and Almeria, the city’s former police and fire station, designed in 1973 by Walter Klements. When the police and fire departments decided to relocate, their former HQ was slated for demolition.
“That building started it all. It was Bruce and I who decided to fight this,” says Carbonell. “Initially the city was treating it as a scrap, worth nothing.” Then developer Armando Codina traded the building (which he’d purchased) with Bill Ussery of the Ussery Automotive Group, which owned the Mercedes dealership across the street, for a piece of land Codina wanted for his new Regency Parc project. The Brutalist building was repurposed to expand the dealership, and the rest, as they say, is history.
That era now comes to life with a new book by Karelia Martinez Carbonell and Bruce Fitzgerald. Carbonell is the president of the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables; Fitzgerald was a member of the Association before he passed away unexpectedly last year. Together they authored “CORAL GABLES: THE MODERNS: Redefining the City Beautiful 1960-1980.” The book brings to light Modernism in the Gables.
In the two decades beginning in 1960, architects infused the Modernist style in a significant number of buildings, including three designed by Morris Lapidus, the man behind the Fontainebleau Hotel on Miami Beach. These include Temple Judea on U.S.-1 (1966) and the Junior Chamber International Headquarters building on University Drive next to Le Jeune Road (1968). Other Modernism buildings include 201 and 255 Alhambra, both designed by O.K. Houstoun in 1973 and 1974, respectively. But what sparked Carbonell and Fitzgerald to write the book was the Brutalist style building on Salzedo and Almeria, the city’s former police and fire station, designed in 1973 by Walter Klements. When the police and fire departments decided to relocate, their former HQ was slated for demolition.
“That building started it all. It was Bruce and I who decided to fight this,” says Carbonell. “Initially the city was treating it as a scrap, worth nothing.” Then developer Armando Codina traded the building (which he’d purchased) with Bill Ussery of the Ussery Automotive Group, which owned the Mercedes dealership across the street, for a piece of land Codina wanted for his new Regency Parc project. The Brutalist building was repurposed to expand the dealership, and the rest, as they say, is history.
An Auto Dealership on Miracle Mile?
EV MAKER POLESTAR OPENS A SHOWROOM
Miracle Mile has long been home to bridal outfitters, restaurants, jewelry stores, and gift shops, so the idea of a car dealership in the midst of these retailers seems oddly out of place. But Polestar Miami, now owned and operated by Nordic Motors, has opened a sales center at 336 Miracle Mile. Polestar is an electric performance car brand headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, which is betting that Americans will continue to buy electric vehicles. Now you can shop for one on the same block as Merlili Bridal Boutique and Lister Jewelers.
Recognition for Supporting the Arts
THE HOME FOR GABLESTAGE GETS A NEW NAME
There is little doubt that the arts in South Florida need help from the private sector, as public funding – especially from the State – has dried up. Kudos then to Jessie Fox Wolfson and the Wolfson Family for their transformational gift to GableStage, the award-winning theater company based at the Biltmore Hotel.
The gift, which will provide crucial support for the theater company, was recently recognized in a ceremony that renamed the company’s venue The Wolfson Family Theater. Surrounded by family and friends, Jessie officially cut the ribbon for the newly renamed theater; funds will also be used to create a butterfly garden inspired by Jessie. “Jessie’s spirit is unmatched in kindness and her legacy of leading with grace and love – and butterflies – will now be writ large for all to see and celebrate,” said Bari Newport, GableStage’s producing artistic director at the December ceremony. Jessie thanked all who attended the event, including her children Howard and Tam. “This theater is not just a building. It is a legacy, one that my children and their children will carry forward. It represents who we are, what we value, and the belief that ideas brought into action can shape the world for the better,” said Jessie. “It also gives GableStage a lot more options.”
Fairchild Gets the Gold
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR ITS ORCHID PROGRAM
Coral Gables is something of an Orchid-crazy city, with enthusiasts planting the beautiful blooms in public areas all over town. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has been catalytic to this flower fever, launching its Million Orchid Project more than a decade ago, with the aim of planting rare and native orchids in the urban landscape of Miami-Dade. As of last count, they were up to some 700,000, according to Dr. Jason Downing, who spearheads the project. Partly in recognition for this Herculean task, and partly in recognition of their orchid outreach program at Kew Gardens in London last year, Fairchild recently received a Gold Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
At last year’s Chelsea Flower Show at Kew Gardens, participation by a Florida contingent included representatives from Fairchild – who also provided a rare Florida Ghost Orchid, recently brought back from the edge of extinction by Fairchild.
The commemorative event was attended by a delegation from the RHS and other notables in the field of orchid preservation, including Prof. Lawrence W. Zettler, the Hitchcock Professor of Biology and Director of the Orchid Recovery Program at Illinois College in Chicago. Presenting the award was John Parke Wright IV, Chairman of Orchid Conservation Chelsea. Wright is a 6th generation Floridian whose family pioneered trade between the U.S. and Cuba from the 1850s until the Communist takeover.
“We are deeply grateful to accept the gold medal, which reflects not only the excellence of our display that day, but also our shared commitment to protecting orchids and the ecosystems that they represent,” said Dr. Downing. Said Wright as he gave the award, “If you would have seen him [Downing] in action at the Orchid Genius Bar, he really knew how to make everyone not only feel welcome, but to learn something.”
To Honor Those Who Fall
LEAF HOLDS ITS SECOND ANNUAL FUNDRAISER
The idea originally came from Gables-based architect Willie Bermello, who wanted to give something back to first responders who risk their lives to protect Coral Gables. He convinced Biltmore President Tom Prescott to host annual luncheons to raise funds for those injured, or for the families of those who lose their lives while serving. The Law Enforcement and Firefighter Appreciation event, in its second year, attracted an audience of local leaders, including Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, Armando Codina, Allen Morris, city manager Peter Iglesias, county school board chair Mari Tere Rojas, and Jorge Arrizurieta, President and CEO of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, which houses the LEAF fund. Also in attendance was the key note speaker, Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, as well as Gables Fire Chief Marcos de la Rosa and Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak.
Securing Foreign Investors
ALHAMBRA PARC WINS A COVETED EB-5 PROGRAM
With so much recent resistance to immigration into the U.S., it is noteworthy to see that the EB-5 program is alive and well in Coral Gables – at least at the Alhambra Parc project. The new development by MG Developer has been approved as an EB-5 qualified project from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Through the EB-5 program, foreign investors can pursue U.S. residency by investing in USCIS-approved developments. With approximately 50 EB-5 investment slots available at a minimum of $1.05 million each, Alhambra Parc stands as Coral Gables’ only approved project and among just a handful in Miami.
The nine-story Mediterranean-style building at 33 Alhambra Circle will house 78 luxury residences. One-to-three-bedroom options start at $1 million. Units range from 858 to 2,801 square feet and come equipped with high-end appliances and impressive 10-foot ceilings. Residents will have access to two rooftop decks with a resort-style pool and spa, fitness center, wellness spa featuring a sauna, meditation and yoga gardens, plus a resident library. There’s also an executive business center, children’s playroom, and round-the-clock concierge service with valet parking – all of which should spark investor interest. The EB-5 program is currently authorized through Sept. 30, 2027, but investors are advised to file before Sept. 30 of this year to lock in current rules and avoid potential future uncertainty.
Read our previous Streetwise to explore more stories from around the Gables.