Congresswoman asks for deferral on Playhouse issue
Ms. Wilson would like to be part of the conversation, she called it "a matter of extreme importance," and she would like the opportunity to be fully briefed on the subject as well as participate in an upcoming hearing.
On Thursday, April 25, the City Commission has the Coconut Grove Playhouse on the agenda. Commissioners are to decide whether to approve the County's plans.
At the last HEP Board meeting, the board voted against the County's current plans, by a vote of 6 to 4, that the Certificate of Appropriateness and demolition permit were denied, yet the county is going to keep coming back and pushing their chrome and glass Arquitectonica structure on the public.
Other plans, which are not being considered, include a larger theater by architect Richard Heisenbottle who is quite sure the grandeur can be returned to the playhouse without hurting the current structure. The seating capacity would be 700. Most of the interior would of course be redone including the stage area, but this is good in that it would allow larger productions and allow for larger sets. The basic plan calls for restoration and not demolition, which is the County's plan, to demolish most of the structure, only keeping the "wings" up front.
The Coconut Grove Theater Foundation, to which Heisenbottle is a part of the development team, has secured $11 million in private donations and pledges as of April 1. There is an additional $20.5 million that the state has for renovation of the playhouse plus City of Miami and county funding along with federal historic tax credits, bringing the total to almost $43 million. Mike Eidson is president of the foundation.
The Foundation prefers a 700 seat theater and a smaller 200 seat studio theater.
“I’m honored and proud to join the Foundation in its efforts to restore the Coconut Grove Playhouse to its past greatness,” Heisenbottle said. “For this cultural gem to have been shuttered since 2006 is a community disgrace and a civic embarrassment.”
There is a protest March on April 25 at City Hall, which will take place before the meeting. The time for the meeting and the protest has not been set yet. The idea is to send a message to the Commission about the over-bearing developers.
UPDATE: Commissioner Russell will be requesting a deferral of this item on the May 25 Commission meeting. "Congresswoman Frederica Wilson reached out to me requesting more time to study this issue. She is deeply committed to the history and culture of Coconut Grove as well as its Bahamian roots," says Ken.
"I would like to see a successful project built on this site to bring back a cultural gem and much needed parking to the Center Grove, but I also believe it is critically important that we get it right, including giving the historical aspects of the project their due," he continued.
posted by Tom Falco at 4:00 AM
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8 Comments:
Her usual costume screams LOOK AT ME. The playhouse debacle has been around for years, years. She now calls this Grove issue "a matter of extreme importance, so why now and not back then? LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME. Just another delay adding yet another player.
If they don't demolish the stage house, they aren't going to be able to fit "larger sets." the fly system is too low, the stage is too shallow, too narrow, and there's a column intruding into the playing area USR.
And that's without addressing the spalling that has destroyed most of the steel reinforcment, or the inadequate loading dock.
Heisentbottle may be a decent architect, but he hasn't produced any theater at all. Neither has anyone else in the Coconut Grove Theater Foundation. And it shows.
Where has she been for all these years? If she was truly interested, she would not need the "opportunity to be fully briefed".
Frederica Wilson is a joke, an embarrassment to our community, the most ineffective member of the Florida delegation, and one of the least-respected members of Congress. Don't take my word for it, check out her govtrack.us report card:https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/frederica_wilson/412412/report-card/2018
I guarantee this is a ploy for Wilson to shakedown or demand financial tribute for one of her pet projects. She has been known to exert her "influence" for such purposes in the past. Also, this project is not even in her Congressional district. Give me a break.
The fix is in! Ken Russel's newsletter circulated today indicated that he is going to request a deferral of the item to May 23. Lord have mercy.
Bottom line we voted to restore the Playhouse and we will do it with private money and not taxpayer money. If the government is involved I assure you the taxpayers will foot the bill. Isnt there anything. Better they can do with our taxpayer money ?
My favorite Miami political yard sign is of Teresa Sarnoff being endorsed by Frederica Wilson. Very eye catching.
Are those hats taxpayer funded?
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