LETTER TO THE EDITOR
In response to the recent Letter to the Editor by Arquitectonica Principal, Laurinda Spear, that seeks to “clarify” the confusion surrounding the Coconut Grove Playhouse —
There is NO CONFUSION, despite the vast efforts of Arquitectonica, (alleged) preservation architect Jorge Hernandez, and Michael Spring to create as much confusion as possible, so they can demolish our Historic Playhouse in broad daylight.
There is NO CONFUSION about the 2004 voter mandate to use our tax dollars for complete restoration of our Playhouse.
There is NO CONFUSION about the intent of the 2005 Historic & Environmental Preservation Board’s 8-0 vote to include our ENTIRE Playhouse on the designation report.
There is NO CONFUSION about the unanimous vote by the State Historic Review Board to nominate our entire Playhouse, including the interior, for the National Register of Historic Places.
There is NO CONFUSION about the recent assertion by the State that, “the significant architectural elements within the historic theater are intact and in very good condition, underneath removable layers of plywood, drywall and plaster that were installed during multiple renovations over the years” — hence the unanimous vote.
There is NO CONFUSION about the precise guidelines for complete restoration that are specifically outlined by the National Park Service for the restoration of buildings that are on the National Register, such as our Coconut Grove Playhouse.
There is NO CONFUSION about our Playhouse being a single building and NOT two buildings, as misrepresented by Arquitectonica, (alleged) preservation architect Jorge Hernandez and Michael Spring.
There is NO CONFUSION about the HEP Board’s recent 6-4 vote against demolishing our historic Playhouse.
There is NO CONFUSION about the motivation for Arquitectonica’s minimized 300-seat theater “room” designed for the property of our demolished historic 1000+ seat theater —
• To meet the Playhouse deed requirement that a theater exist on the property
• To leave plenty of room on the site for a brand new, multiple phase, multistory, mixed-use mega office, retail, condo, parking garage and FIU satellite campus project, known as CocoWalk 2.0.
There is NO CONFUSION about the inappropriateness of FIU’s new bilingual MFA satellite campus on our demolished historic Playhouse site — the gateway to Miami’s first black community.
There is NO CONFUSION about the State being the responsible entity obligated to take over our Playhouse due to the County’s gross violations of their lease agreement with the State. The State will not auction off to a developer, our precious historic cultural resource that they themselves so arduously nominated for the National Register.
THERE IS NO CONFUSION.
There is only fraud, negligence, wanton disregard, collusion, unjust enrichment, disenfranchisement and a severe lack of professional ethics, integrity, dignity and respect.
Sincerely,
Melissa Meyer Assoc. AIA LEED AP BD+C
Adjunct Professor Miami Dade College
School of Architecture and Interior Design
In response to the recent Letter to the Editor by Arquitectonica Principal, Laurinda Spear, that seeks to “clarify” the confusion surrounding the Coconut Grove Playhouse —
There is NO CONFUSION, despite the vast efforts of Arquitectonica, (alleged) preservation architect Jorge Hernandez, and Michael Spring to create as much confusion as possible, so they can demolish our Historic Playhouse in broad daylight.
There is NO CONFUSION about the 2004 voter mandate to use our tax dollars for complete restoration of our Playhouse.
There is NO CONFUSION about the intent of the 2005 Historic & Environmental Preservation Board’s 8-0 vote to include our ENTIRE Playhouse on the designation report.
There is NO CONFUSION about the unanimous vote by the State Historic Review Board to nominate our entire Playhouse, including the interior, for the National Register of Historic Places.
There is NO CONFUSION about the recent assertion by the State that, “the significant architectural elements within the historic theater are intact and in very good condition, underneath removable layers of plywood, drywall and plaster that were installed during multiple renovations over the years” — hence the unanimous vote.
There is NO CONFUSION about the precise guidelines for complete restoration that are specifically outlined by the National Park Service for the restoration of buildings that are on the National Register, such as our Coconut Grove Playhouse.
There is NO CONFUSION about our Playhouse being a single building and NOT two buildings, as misrepresented by Arquitectonica, (alleged) preservation architect Jorge Hernandez and Michael Spring.
There is NO CONFUSION about the HEP Board’s recent 6-4 vote against demolishing our historic Playhouse.
There is NO CONFUSION about the motivation for Arquitectonica’s minimized 300-seat theater “room” designed for the property of our demolished historic 1000+ seat theater —
• To meet the Playhouse deed requirement that a theater exist on the property
• To leave plenty of room on the site for a brand new, multiple phase, multistory, mixed-use mega office, retail, condo, parking garage and FIU satellite campus project, known as CocoWalk 2.0.
There is NO CONFUSION about the inappropriateness of FIU’s new bilingual MFA satellite campus on our demolished historic Playhouse site — the gateway to Miami’s first black community.
There is NO CONFUSION about the State being the responsible entity obligated to take over our Playhouse due to the County’s gross violations of their lease agreement with the State. The State will not auction off to a developer, our precious historic cultural resource that they themselves so arduously nominated for the National Register.
THERE IS NO CONFUSION.
There is only fraud, negligence, wanton disregard, collusion, unjust enrichment, disenfranchisement and a severe lack of professional ethics, integrity, dignity and respect.
Sincerely,
Melissa Meyer Assoc. AIA LEED AP BD+C
Adjunct Professor Miami Dade College
School of Architecture and Interior Design
