HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-John Nordt-Letter from Florida Dept. of State to Historic Preservation Officerppx
FLORIDA DEPARTIKELM�0:f -ST-AT--E--'
RON DESANTIS
Governor
Mr. Warren Adams
Historic Preservation Officer
-444 SW 2d Ave, 31 Floor
Miami, FL 33130
RE: DHR Project File No.: 2019-968, Received by DHR: February 5, 2019,
Coconut Grove Playhouse, Miami, Florida
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Submitted into the public
record for item(s) MV.1
on 05/23/2019 -0 City Clerk
LAUREL M. LEE
Secretary of State
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under Criterion A in the area of Entertainment and Recreation and Criterion C for its Mediterranean
Revival architecture. The period of significance for the property includes 1927, the original construction
date, and 1956 to 1970, the Coconut Grove Playhouse's "golden age."
questions based on the historic and architectural characteristics of the property described in the National
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1. Is demolition of the Playhouse structure (except solely its Southerly and Easterlyfacades which the
County plans to preserve in its new proposedprogram) consistent with the Secretary ofthe Interior's
Standards?
The demolition of the Playhouse structure as outlined in the provided plans is not consistent with the
Standards (Standards 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10). (See November 7, 2017 email, from Dr. Timothy
Parsons to Mr. Michael Spring) cf�
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Mr. Adams
DHR Project File No.: 2019-968
March 1, 2019
Page 2
Submitted into the public
record for item(s) My.1
on 05/23/2019 City Clerk
2. Would demolition of the Playhouse structure (except its Southerly and Easterly facades) amount to,
or reasonably be considered as, having an adverse effect on a historic property?
Yes, our office would consider demolition of the Playhouse as outlined in the provided plans to be an
adverse effect to this historic property based on the resulting loss of the property's historic character
and integrity.
3. Are the plans for the two exterior facades which are to be saved consistent with the original plans
and consistent with the requirements of the National Register designation of the Playhouse?
The proposed fagade restoration appears to be consistent with the Playhouse's original 1927 design.
However, National Register guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards recognize that
changes over time to a property acquire historic significance in their own right. Therefore, the
alterations made in the 1956 to 1970 period of significance are also considered historic. We
recommend that the building be restored to a certain time period — in this case either 1927 or 1956 to
1970 — and not receive treatments consistent with multiple time periods. In the context of the
proposed project, our office does not consider restoring the fagade to the 1927 design to be
inappropriate, as long as the remainder of the building is consistent with that period.
4. Please address whether the open-air ` paseo space " which is proposed for the interior sides of the Lo-
be -saved Southerly and Easterly facades is true to the original design for a theater lobby and the
National Register designation.
The original 1927 design for the Playhouse did not include an open air lobby. The open-air design is
not consistent with the National Register designation.
5. Were the Playhouse demolished (with the exception of its Southerly and Easterly facades), would this
likely impact the recent National Register designation? Ifso, would you please elaborate what that
impact would be?
Yes, demolition may affect the Playhouse's National Register designation. If the proposed plans are
implemented the property will no longer possess the historic character and integrity that allowed the
property to be listed in the National Register. Therefore, the Playhouse could be removed from the
National Register.
6. Any other matters which the DHR considers relevant to this matter.
Our office recommends restoring the Playhouse in a manner consistent with the Standards. This will
allow the property to retain the historic character and integrity that are the basis for the Playhouse's
National Register designation. The Standards are flexible and allow for a property to be modernized
and improved to meet current needs while still maintaining the historic nature of the property.
Since the Playhouse is a state-owned property the provisions of Section 267.061(2)(b), Florida
Statutes related to the resolution of adverse effects apply to the proposed project. Section
267.061(2)(b) directs state agencies "to determine that no feasible and prudent alternative to the
proposed demolition or alteration exists, and, where no such alternative is determined to exist, to
assure that timely steps are taken either to avoid or mitigate the adverse effect." Our office
Mr. Adams
DHR Project File No.: 2019-968
March 1, 2019
Page 3
Submitted into the public
record for item(s) MV.1
on 05/23/2019 , City Clerk
recommends that Miami -Dade County (lessee) and the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection, Division of State Lands (DEP) (lessor) consult to evaluate potential alternatives to the
Playhouse's proposed demolition. If the demolition cannot be avoided, we recommend that Miami -
Dade County and DEP consult with our office and the City of Miami to develop an appropriate
mitigation strategy for the Playhouse's demolition.
We note that several aspects of the proposed project address a potential mitigation strategy for the
project. Including, retaining and restoring the primary fagade to the 1927 design, retaining and
reusing some interior historic elements, and displaying and interpreting the Playhouse's history
within the new building. However, we recommend a final mitigation strategy include additional
measures based on further consultation between Miami -Dade County, the City of Miami, DEP, and
our office.
If you have any questions, please contact me by email at Jason.Aldridge@dos.myflorida.com, or by
telephone at 850-245-6344.
Sincerely, j
L
Jason Aldridge
Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
for Compliance and Review