HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Steven Dloogoff-Village Council ReportV1LLAG
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on 05/231'2019 , City Clerk
After extensive research, interviews with key doesion-makers, and a Council meeting
toeused on the future of the Coconut Grove Playhouse, the Councils Civic, Cultural Lite,
Parks, and Green Spaces Committee has developed a detailed report and recommendations
that will be the basis of an upcoming Council resolution about the Playhouse. Read the draft
resolution and report here.
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on 05/23/2019 City Clerk
A RESOWT 0 OF THE COCON
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Span
ut Grove VH
Miami, Flori
nciil
GROVE VILLAGE COUNCIL OIN
Culture, Retail and Parks Committee
E COCOI1
WHEREAS, the Coconut Grove Playhouse has been closed since 2016.
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GROVE PLAYHOUSE.
HEREAS, the Coconut Grove Village Council wishes to give its opinion and represent what it believes would
De in the best interest of the community regarding the Coconut Grove Playhouse..
NO
T EREF RE,
E OT R
VED
Y T
EC
OIN
I
GR VE VILEGE COUNCIL, THAT:
Section 1. That the foregoing "Whereas" clauses are hereby ratified and confirmed as being true and
correct and are hereby made a specific part of this Resolution upon adoption hereof
Section 2. That the Coconut Grove Village Council shall support a main theater size in the ran e of
approximately 31 -- 500 seats
Section 3. That the Coconut Grove Village Council shall support the construction of a parkmg garage, so
long as the Playhouse's height is roughly e uivalent to the height of the Playhouse's historic facade
buildin and the number of parking spaces is no more than three hundred and fifty (350L
on 4. That the Coconut Grove Village Council shall support a plan, as long as it is fully funded prior
to commencement of construction.
S on 5. That the Coconut Grove Village Council shalt support a plan, as long as a local education
aspect is included as part of the plan. "Local education aspect" means theatre -related education
programs design for and open to children from all schools in Coconut Grove (as defined in the CGVC
by-laws)
. That the Coconut Grove Village Council shall support a plan that has ancillary income streams
to support the theatre, whether they come from onsite businesses and/or a trust created for said
purpose..
on 7. That the Coconut Grove Village Council shall supiiiirt Miami -Dade County's current plan, so
long as they continue to adlhere to Section 2 through Section 6 of this Resolutioro. If the County's plans
deviate and no longer adhere to Section 2 through Section 6, then Section 7 of this Resolution will be
severed from this Resolution and Section 2 throu h Section 6 will remain passed and adopted by the
Coconut Grove Village Council
Section 8. That this Resolution shall be iro force and take effect immediately upon passage and adoptioro.
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ED* DA
Submitted into the public
record for item(s) V.1 .
on 05/23/2019 , City Clerk
PTED by the Coconut Grove Village Council, this 16" day of March, 2018,
Coconut Grcve Village Council
Marcelo Fernandes
Chairman, Coconut Grove Village Council
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nut ; r»ve /ml
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Culture, Retail ad Pa
Submitted into the public
record for item(s) V.1.
on 05/23/2019 City Clerk
onc ltl Every Third Friday
.3.5I can American #rove
Miami, FL. 33133
www. CocanutGroveV610ageCouncr7.com
Resolution; A RESOLUTION OF THE COCONUT GROVE VILLAGE COU CUL ON THE COCONUT GROVE
PLAYHOUSE.
Sponsor: Culture, Retail and Parks Board Committee
Subject: Analysis and Reasoning for Culture, Retail and Parks recommendation to support their
resolution regarding the Coconut Grove Playhouse
Date 02.26.18
1 Summary
!The Culture, Retail and Parks Board Committee (the "Board Committee") has submitted to the Coconut
Grove Village Council (the "Council") A RESOLUTION OF THE COCONUT GROVE VILLAGE COUNCIL ON
THE COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE (the "Resolution") outlining specific project objectives that must .c
Included in any proposed flan for the Coconut Grove Playhouse (the "Playhouse") tor the Council to
support said plan.
Analysis ad R.easo
g
This analysis was made under the a
writing of the Resolution:
lotion that there are effectively two options available as of the
Miami -Dade Cunty's Plan dated October 6, 2017 (the "County Plan")
Cf. The Eidson/Heisenbottle Plan updated February 12, 2018 (the "Eidson Plan")
All of the Council individually researched to their wn ability both the County Pan and the Eidson Plan
before being given the opportunity to question both prolect's representatives at a public meeting held
on January 19th, 2018. AB members either submitted questions to Chairman Fernandes to be asked or
personally asked questions during the public meeting to better understand the details of the plans.
Project representatives were given ample opportunity to answer the Council's questions to explain the
details of their respective plans.
After reviewing all of the documentation providers and questioning both teams, the Council requested
the Culture, Retail and Parks Board Committee draft a resolution regarding the Playhouse and submit it
to the Council for a vote.
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The members of the Culture, Retail and Parks oard Committee met on February 9th, 2018 and again or
February 21, 2018 to outline the priorities heard from the Community and the Council to be
incorporated into any Playhouse plan. TheBoard Committee outlined project objectives most important
to ensurin, Coconut Grove would have a functional, financially sustainable theater in the immediate
future, LLP Board Committee reviewed each plan with these objectives in mine,
The Board Committee outlined the follovving priorites.
a. Number of seats
b. Gara,e Design
c. Capital financing must be in place..
d. The theater must have ancillary revenue streams.
e, There must be a local youth educational component.
Once these priorities were established, the Board Committee discussed what numerical range(s) and
value(s) would be appropriate to each priority.
Number of Seats
The Board Committee, and other Council Members, have expressed concern regar ing the number of
seats for two main reasons: bility for the theater to operate and traffic eneraton in the immediate
area of the theater,
it was felt that a larger theater would be harder to fill on a regular basis. Local com etition, both from
other theaters (both live and movie), along with other competing forms of entertainment would make
competition ifficult. The AMS Study'sMarket Analysis identified seventeen (17) performing arts
venues within the Primary Market Area (30-minute drive), while leaving out all theaters (such as
Adrienne Arsht Center) with rnore than one thousand (10 ) seats. This seemed to confirm the Board
Committee's and Council's concern that a larger theater would create higher overheads, while not
necessarily being able to sell! out when faced by all available corn e ition.
The number of seats is directly related to the amount of traffic generated along Main Highway during
Pvents. Assuming the larger theater is successful attracting patrons, the business plan would require
over 260 days per year of performances. This would result in 115,014 (50% occupancy) to over 208,
i9 % occupancy) visitors to the Playhouse. On an average day of performances that would result
between 460 to 828 visitors. Assuming two patrons per car, the increased traffic would be
approximately 230 to 41.4 cars entering and leaving the Playhouse during 2 ays of the year. in
addition to overloading Main Highway, this could result in theater patrons using Ch rles Avenue, an
historically important street and other small-scale, neighborhood streets as a "cut through" when
primary roadways are congested. Traffic mitigation was a recurrin issue brought forward by oth
residents and Council Members. y reducing the number of seats in the theater, traffic would also be
reduced in tandem.
Market viability and traffic generation prompted the Board Comm i ee to support a theater considered
small to medium sized with 300-500 seats.
Coconut Grove 'Theater Center Planning Study, October 2014, AMS Planning & Research
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Garage Des
�thile the Garate develomernt is to be developed and funded by the City omi Parkin Authority, if
is directly related to the overall theater project's function, funding and aesthetic context. The height of
the garage is a subject with two intersecting factors the number of parking spaces available and the.
aesthetic nature of the building within the surrounding community.
The Council was initially concerned with the height of the garage as it would visually dominate the main
historic facade, The Board Committee supports a parking farage that is of equal or less height than the
historic facade of the current Playhouse. A height of equal or smaller than the facade will fit in with the
aesthetics of the community . nd any development that will happen on the Playhouse site.
The number of parkin spaces was lusted as a priority in reaction to other priorities, namely traffic
mitigation and height. I`,%ith the height being lowered and the Council prioritizing a smaller number of
seats, the requisite number of parking spaces provided should not exceed the required parking of a
viable, fully occupied theater project and it's supporting, comfihimentary uses. Furthermore, the smaller
number of parking spaces would mitigate the amount of traffic on Main 0-lithway aid the amount of
congestion when individuals are both arrivin and leaving from the garage.
Capital Fionanciag
The Council and the Board Committee agree that capital financing for all of the project must be secured
before an endorsement would come from the Council.
AncilUaryincome Streams
The Board Committee was adamant that the theater should have other sources of revenue to support
itself in addition to the normal revenues of runnin,i a theater, -/';; hile both plans include retail,
restaurants and office space, some members are pleased to see the potential of additional revenue
generated from rents and parking. Others would like to see the establishment of a trust fund for
additional financial security. This trust fund could be used instead of, or in conjunction with. rents and
parking revenue as another revenue stream for the theater. The Board Committee would like to see
both in place, if possible,
I..oca0 Education comjsonent
The Board Committee felt that because this theater has a unique community connection with Coconut
Grove, it would be appropriate for the theater to make a concerted effort to expose the youth of
Coconut Grove to theater both as an art form and as an occupation. The establishment of youth
educational opportunities for all children within Coconut Grove is a must. Final business plans must
nclude funding for this and give preference to the neighboring public schools.
Support of the Counts Current Plan
After reviewing the priorities, the presentation from the meeting on January 19th, 2tt 8, additional
meetings with directors of each team, and the documentation provided to the Council by both teams,
the Boar. Committee favors the County' s pan in its current form.
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^ ^ Submitted into the public
record h/rhem(d it"Vi V.I .
on 06/2312019 , City Clerk
The Board Committee's support ofthe [oonty's plan isnot absolute, nor will the 6ound[sbnifthe
Resolution is passed and adopted. if the County deviates from its current plans and therefore no longer
adheres to the priorities outlined in the Council's Resolution or fails to follow through, the Council will
withdraw its suppor.
3. Board Committee's Recommendation: Vote Yes.
Reviewed and agreed r*bythe Culture, Retail and Parks Board Committee:
Rache|[arde|lo, D^ecro,
StovenD|oogo#
Zachary Elliott
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