GOB funds will help in the transformation of this local icon, built in 1926, into a 21st century theatrical venue. The plan to return great regional theater to Coconut Grove must address the structural deterioration of the building, and provide a venue capable of serving as the home for GableStage, the planned successor theater company for the Playhouse.
Project Update (May 13, 2026)
City of Miami Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board Update
On May 6, 2026, Miami-Dade County appeared before the City of Miami’s Planning, Zoning, and Appeals Board (PZAB) seeking approval of five Exceptions and four subordinate Waivers for the Coconut Grove Playhouse project. The application received the support of, and a favorable recommendation by, the City of Miami’s professional planning and zoning staff. At the conclusion of the public hearing and after board discussion, the PZAB voted 5-to-4 in favor of the County’s application, but the motion failed to achieve a supermajority, as required by the Miami 21 code, and was therefore deemed denied. Thus, while the application was not ultimately approved by the PZAB, it did receive the support of the City’s professional staff, as well as a majority of the PZAB members present at the hearing.
As Phase 1 of the project proceeds, including the rehabilitation of the Historic Gateway Building, the County intends to explore the appeal process relating to its zoning application, and will continue to actively engage with the community at large throughout the process. The County remains steadfast in its commitment to bring great theater back to Coconut Grove at this important historic site.
You can watch a recording of the City of Miami’s PZAB meeting here: Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board - May 6th, 2026
View a comprehensive list of all the previous project updates at https://miamidadearts.org/coconut-grove-playhouse-updates.