Talk of the Town: Manatees at Risk, UM Adds a Landmark Sculpture, and More
Another Week, Another Major Corporate Relocation
In a blockbuster deal marking one of South Florida’s largest office transactions in the last two years, City National Bank of Florida has announced it will be moving its headquarters to Coral Gables. The bank will be taking nearly 145,000-square-feet of office space at 2701 South Le Jeune Road, which formerly housed the Infiniti car dealership. The deal also includes naming rights, meaning the building will soon be known as the City National Financial Center once it moves in in 2026. Eight hundred staff will make the move with the bank, which last year announced a partnership with University of Miami (UM) as well. As UM’s partner, the bank provides exclusive banking products and benefits to students, alumni, faculty, and staff of the university. It also opened a new banking center and ATMs on-campus and began an aggressive sponsorship campaign with UM’s athletics program. City National Bank has almost $30 billion in assets and a presence across South and Central Florida.– Kylie Wang
Save the Manatees
The Proposed Development Along the City’s Mahi Canal, a Branch of the Coral Gables Waterway
A movement is growing in Coral Gables to save manatees that maybe threatened by a new development along the city’s Mahi Canal, a branch of the Coral Gables Waterway that intersects U.S.1 near the THesis Hotel. Called The Gables Waterway, the proposed mixeduse project would replace existing low-rise buildings with two condo mid-rises totaling 251 units, including retail and parking space. One building would be nine stories, the other 13; the entire development would rest on 4.8 acres. Residents fear that construction and added foot traffic will force the manatees who frequent the canal in the winter to move out of the only primary warm water refuge in the county, designated as a seasonal Manatee Protection Zone. There are further concerns that shade from the proposed buildings could decrease water temperatures and inhibit the growth of seagrass, which manatees feed on. The Florida manatee is currently classified as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The Fortune Development project has yet to be submitted to the Coral Gables Planning and Zoning Board, which will approve or deny it. – Kylie Wang
Centennial Celebration
Fireworks Marked the University of Miami’s Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Its Charter, on April 8th
The University of Miami celebrated the 100th anniversary of its charter on April 8, and thousands of students, alumni, and Coral Gables residents visited the school to commemorate and celebrate the milestone. The evening kicked off at 5 pm with the ’Canes Carnival, where guests rode a swing carousel and Ferris wheel, got their faces painted, and savored classic fair food like popcorn and fried Oreos. Food trucks serving ice cream, mac and cheese, tacos, and more were set up behind the Student Center Complex for a Centennial Block Party. Live music was also played along the Lakeside Patio. The night was capped off with a Centennial Concert hosted by TV personality and UM alumnus Jason Kennedy. The concert featured legendary Frost School of Music alumni spanning several generations, playing some of their iconic songs. Notable performers included singer/songwriter Bruce Hornsby, jazz guitarist Pat Metheny and pop legend Jon Secada. Following the concert, spectators gathered around Lake Osceola for a dazzling fireworks display honoring UM’s achievements. – Luke Chaney
Meters for Trees
The Meters for Trees Program Could Total 313 New Trees for Coral Gables
In a continuation of its sustainability initiatives, the City of Coral Gables has signed up for the Meters for Trees program. First launched in 2019 by PayByPhone, the online parking payment system used by the city since 2011, Meters for Trees aims to replace antiquated parking infrastructure (parking meters!) with – you guessed it – trees. PayByPhone will plant one new tree for every multi-space parking pay station the city removes, and another new tree for every 10 single-space parking meters the city discards. This could total 313 new trees for Coral Gables. Gables’ Fewell Park will also benefit, as PayByPhone will spend $500 to plant trees there. “As a Tree City USA for 40 years and counting, we take immense pride in preserving and enhancing our urban forest, which cotributes to a more sustainable, resilient, and beautiful Coral Gables for current and future generations,” said Monica Beltran, the city’s director for parking, mobility services, and sustainability. “This initiative seamlessly promotes mobile parking payments while directly supporting our city’s commitment to environmental stewardship by planting trees that help combat deforestation, reduce urban heat, and mitigate climate change.” Meters for Trees was first unveiled in the UK in 2019. Since then, through it and other environmental campaigns, PayByPhone has planted over 225,000 trees globally. – Luke Chaney
Unveiling of the “Lady”
Left: The 50-Foot Steel Sculpture “Lady” by American Artist John Henry at the Lowe Art Museum
Right: Friends and Family Celebrate the New Sculpture
The University of Miami recently held a reception for the unveiling of “Lady,” a 50-foot steel sculpture by American artist John Henry. Painted in Coca-Cola red and installed in front of the Lowe Art Museum, the piece – valued at $900,000 – now stands as one of the most visible additions to the university’s growing collection of outdoor art. The sculpture was a gift from the Palley family, which has supported the arts at UM for decades. Known for their role in bringing large-scale works to campus, the Palleys have helped shape an environment where students and visitors encounter art in everyday spaces: on walkways, near lecture halls, and across green lawns. “Lady” continues that tradition.The event, which brought together faculty, students, and community members, was both an unveiling and a moment to acknowledge the Palleys’ ongoing impact on the campus landscape. Family scion Lisa Palley says “Lady” is meant to be more than a sculpture, but also a point of reference, rest, and inspiration. “She [the sculpture] is so happy to be home, to welcome everyone to the University of Miami campus, and will always be there,” said Palley, “as a place to meet up, a place for repose, a place to think, to dream, to reach for the stars.” The event was co-hosted by the Lowe Art Museum and the College of Arts & Sciences. – Amanda Martell
Looking for a Few Good Men
While Coral Gables remains one of the safest cities in the state, it could still use additional police officers. A recent public announcement by City Manager Alberto Parjus outlined the situation: currently there are 29 police vacancies in a force that should exceed 220 officers. Fifteen of those vacancies are for new positions added in the last three years. The good news is that there are 11 officers in training at the county police academy, with another 18 undergoing “rigorous background checks.” So far in 2025, eight new officers have been hired. The unfilled positions do not reflect any problems attracting new recruits – there have been some 283 new applications this year alone, as of mid-April. It’s more a question of quality. Out of the 283 applications, only 45 were considered worthy of an interview, of which 39 were given the okay to progress further. Last year, the City Commission approved a competitive pay and benefits package that includes a $10,000 hiring bonus. – J.P.Faber
Don’t miss our May Best Bets — your guide to what’s happening in Coral Gables this month.