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An accident during the renovation works at the historic Coconut Grove Playhouse, located in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, jeopardized the iconic façade of the building, which was constructed in 1924 and is regarded as a local and national landmark.
Part of the third floor collapsed last Wednesday during partial demolition, leading to the immediate closure of nearby streets and the total suspension of work, according to a report by NBC Miami.
According to municipal authorities, the collapse occurred when workers accidentally removed a load-bearing wall, severely compromising the structure of the roof and the exterior walls, the latter being intended for preservation under the current renovation plan.
Two preliminary engineering assessments confirmed that there is a high risk of collapse in the side walls and in the facade facing the main highway.
The city authorities, along with fire departments, public works, and police, activated emergency measures, including the stabilization of the building, scheduled to be completed in just over a week. Meanwhile, the routes between Franklin Avenue and McFarlane Road remain blocked, causing serious disruptions to local traffic.
The demolition is part of a controversial project promoted by Miami-Dade County, which aims to replace part of the theater with a smaller, more modern version, while preserving its iconic facade.
However, the plan has been the subject of legal disputes from preservation groups that accuse a lack of transparency in the permitting process and a possible "demolition by neglect."
"This was completely expected because the building has been abandoned for years," noted Eric Salzinger to Local 10 News. For her part, Melissa Meyer, one of the plaintiffs in the ongoing case, stated that legal actions are being taken to demand a state review of the project, as stipulated by law.
The theater has been closed since 2006, despite voters approving funds for its restoration in 2004. Its future, following this new incident, remains uncertain.
The Coconut Grove Playhouse, located in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, was originally built as a movie theater called Player's State Theater and opened its doors on January 1, 1927, as part of the Paramount chain.
The cinema was designed by architect Richard Kiehnel of Kiehnel and Elliott. Its construction was overseen by local real estate agents Irving J. Thomas and Fin L. Pierce. According to a review on Wikipedia, the contractor was Albert Peacock.
The theater was recognized as the second air-conditioned cinema on Florida's east coast and featured the largest Wurlitzer organ in the United States. It was used for various performances until its closure in 2006. Since then, it has not been used again. It was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.
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