Lawsuit could set back Coconut Grove Playhouse reopening

A plan to revive the Coconut Grove Playhouse is back in court as a group complained to the 11th Judicial Circuit against Miami-Dade County.

The 14 plaintiffs, represented by attorney David Winker, argue the county is violating the Florida Constitution by using public funds at the closed playhouse contrary to what voters authorized.

The filing seeks a declaration that the county acted unconstitutionally and outside its statutory powers and an injunction prohibiting the county from using bond funds for its plan.

The county proposes a 300-seat theater. “The entire historic front building, the iconic view that has been the southern threshold to the Coconut Grove commercial area on Main Highway, will be restored, including the reconstruction of the 1927 Kiehnel and Elliott design of the parapet at the corner entry,” the county’s website says.

The design includes offices, retail and a Miami Parking Authority garage.

“The county recently announced a plan that demolishes approximately 80% of the playhouse and reduces the seating from 1,130 to 300 seats, and 2/3 of the playhouse being converted to leased commercial space,” says the complaint.

The group supports a plan by past chairman of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts Mike Eidson and architect Richard Heisenbottle to preserve the larger 700-seat theater with the black box 200-seat theater.

“[The county] is calling it Historic Preservation Project, when they’re demolishing [80%] of the theater and replacing it with a shopping center. How in the world are they calling that a historic preservation project?” said plaintiff Max Pearl.

“You can’t convince people to vote for a tax and then spend the money on something else,” Mr. Winker said.

The county just received a final Certificate of Appropriateness for the project after a three-year legal battle with the City of Miami stalled the effort.