Changes are coming to Coral Gables

Next year several remodeling projects for the city will be carried out. Coral Gable's future comes with towers pushing up against the limits of the city's famously stringent zoning rules, new hotels, hundreds of condos, apartment units, an array of offices, restaurants, public art and pedestrian-friendly developments.

The discussion about the renovation of Miracle Mile lasted for about three decades. Recently, the approval of local residents made the difference to go through with the modernization project. Within this project is also the renovation of neighboring Giralda Avenue.

Miracle Mile and Giralda Avenue streetscape project aimed to give a new face to the streets. An expansion of the sidewalks width will be made, making the streets a lively pedestrian-friendly area capable of luring new and diverse businesses, provide more space for bicycles by slightly narrowing auto travel lanes, and replacing angled street parking with parallel parking. Retractable bollards will make it easy to close the street for special events such as the popular Giralda Under the Stars. The development of this project will be done quickly and without interfering with normal business life since it will not be done all at once but gradually after the holiday season.

Among other projects is the Mediterranean Village at Ponce Circle, a project of more than 6 acres. In one of its areas it will have a greater height than the Biltmore Hotel, which has been the limit for the last 90 years. It is expected to result in an urbanistically cohesive, well-designed set of buildings; including a five-star hotel, a class A office building, two condo towers, 15 townhomes, a rooftop restaurant, public plazas and streets that will bring fresh commercial and pedestrian life to what has been a dead zone for too long.

Under the Mediterranean Village development, the city is also installing new bike lane routes and expanding its popular trolley-bus system.

Also, among new developments redefining Coral Gables is this project that involves replacing the old Holiday Inn with two towers; a 13-story residential building and a 10-story hotel. The project would feature shops and restaurants on the ground floor and a pedestrian passage connecting to the adjoining neighborhood.  It will activate the corner of U.S. 1 and Caballero with transit-oriented development, which includes the green space that the 0.5-acre Paseo will provide.

This is not even the beginning; there are still many projects in the city develoment pipeline. However, not all the contemplated projects will actually get built or go as big as proposed, since they must meet the strict zoning rules of the city. 

What’s new in The Roads

The Roads is known for its old homes, historic public schools, and its tree-covered streets. It was designed, platted and developed by Mary Brickell in 1922 as a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, with wide streets, median parkways and roundabouts with native Miami plants. Today, many of the residents in the Roads are young families and urban professionals who work in neighboring Brickell and Downtown Miami.

A Limited Edition of 24 modern residences has been developed in this neighborhood.  Designed by award-winning architect Kobi Karp, Eleven in The Roads is quintessentially refined and uncommonly private, designed for the most discerning of purchasers.

According to its website, residences feature the ultimate in modern luxury living with breathtaking attention to detail and a carefully curated sense of style; these 24 bespoke condominium residences ranging from 1,386 square feet to 2,187 square feet embrace the quiet confidence and modern elegance that define Miami.

All residences offer generous layouts with up to 10.4′ ceilings, in-suite bathrooms, oversized windows and flowing entertainment spaces, custom cabinets by Snaidero, Compac Quartz counters, Bosch stainless steel appliances, and other unexpected surprises including private gardens, decks and roof-top terraces in select residences.  Three types of units are available: Garden Residences, Spa Residences, and Penthouse Residences.

Eleven in the Roads is as much about transcending trends, forsaking conventional ideas, and creating innovative living spaces. The landscape is an active interplay of nature and architecture featuring gardens and roof-top amenities imaginatively configured and set in an environment of tropical gardens, swimming pools, cabanas, lounges, summer kitchens and other recreational areas, making it one of Miami’s most relaxing urban oasis.