Playhouse rebuild clears a key hurdle
Zoning cleared for the Playhouse, a July 20 voter deadline, and a new West Grove garden.
The Miami City Commission voted unanimously on July 9 to approve the zoning exceptions and waivers that Miami-Dade County needs for its $59 million plan to rebuild the Coconut Grove Playhouse. The design restores the theater's 1926 facade, adds a new 310-seat theater, and builds a 289-space parking garage on the site. With the zoning approval in hand, the county is now preparing Phase 2 building plans and a solicitation for a general contractor. Even so, the project still needs a City of Miami building permit before crews can break ground, and the construction schedule remains unsettled. The county has said it wants to reopen at least part of the Playhouse for its 2027 centennial, but opponents are still weighing another legal challenge. West Grove neighbors also want firmer commitments on traffic, commercial intrusion, local jobs, programming, and neighborhood identity. The county says it will schedule more community meetings with the district commissioner. Miami-Dade County's cultural affairs office confirmed on July 10 that the commission had approved the county's appeal, and it continues to maintain a project page with frequently asked questions and community-meeting updates. (Coconut Grove Spotlight)
Register by July 20 for the August primary
The voter-registration deadline for Miami-Dade County's August 18 primary election is Monday, July 20, and registrations must be submitted by that date to count for this contest. Early voting is scheduled to run August 3 through August 16, with hours that vary by date across county sites. County officials are urging residents to download a customized sample ballot from VoteMiamiDade.gov before they head to the polls, so they can review the races on their ballot ahead of time. (Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections)
Miami opens an eight-month review of tree rules
Miami's newly formed Tree Ordinance Advisory Committee has begun what is expected to be an eight-month review of the city's tree rules. The process is set to include public workshops, online feedback, and committee meetings before recommendations reach the City Commission by March 2027. The 11-member committee is weighing easier permitting for homeowners against stronger protections and enforcement, a debate playing out as tree-removal appeals across the city climb. No ordinance changes have been adopted yet; the review is only getting underway. (Coconut Grove Spotlight)
New Legacy Garden opens at The Barnyard
Environmental nonprofit ECO Planet Earth has opened a community garden at The Barnyard in West Grove, its second Coconut Grove site under the group's Legacy Gardens Initiative. The gardens rely on raised beds and water-recycling technology to support food access and environmental education in the neighborhood. The Barnyard, founded in 1983, runs after-school programs and a summer camp on its grounds. The first Legacy Garden opened last year at Greater St. Paul AME Church. High school interns helped plant the new garden beside a mural by Tierra Armstrong, with support from Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. At the unveiling, Barnyard leaders welcomed the resource for local children while noting that redevelopment has reduced neighborhood enrollment. ECO Planet Earth says it plans to add nine more gardens at Black churches around Coconut Grove. (Coconut Grove Spotlight)
Si Papa closes on Main Highway
Si Papa, the small lasagna-focused restaurant at 3190 Main Highway in Coconut Grove, closed on June 28 when its lease ended. The spot's shutdown was tied only to the lease expiring, with no other cause cited. (Miami Herald)
Fun with Perler Beads at the library
Coconut Grove Library hosts Fun with Perler Beads on Saturday, July 18, at 11 a.m. The session invites participants to make their own designs with Perler beads in a library creativity workshop. It is set as an in-person program at the branch that morning. (Coconut Grove community calendar)
Online: Unlock the Power of Your Library Card
An online session titled Unlock the Power of Your Library Card is set for Wednesday, July 22, at 6:30 p.m. The virtual event covers the resources available to holders of a Coconut Grove Library card. It runs remotely rather than at the branch. (Coconut Grove community calendar)
Campfire Tales & S'mores
Campfire Tales & S'mores comes to the Coconut Grove Branch Library on Thursday, July 30, at 4 p.m. The outdoor library program pairs storytelling with s'mores for attendees. It is set as an afternoon session on the branch grounds. (Coconut Grove community calendar)
Vizcaya Summer Fridays
Vizcaya Summer Fridays returns to Vizcaya Museum and Gardens on Friday, August 7. The after-hours event opens the waterfront gardens with rotating DJs and live art. It offers evening access to the museum's grounds. (Miami & Beaches Coconut Grove events)