The Coral Gables Historic Preservation Board will meet Tuesday, May 14, at 4 p.m. at City Hall to review a series of proposals that reflect the city’s ongoing effort to balance architectural preservation with property modernization. The agenda includes two potential new historic landmark designations, renovation proposals for existing historic homes, and a new infill construction project in the MacFarlane Homestead Subdivision Historic District.
Among the most notable items is the nomination of two properties for local historic designation: 826 Medina Avenue and 2716 Cordova Street. The Cordova Street residence, designed in 1936 by architect William H. Shanklin, is also seeking a Special Certificate of Appropriateness for design changes and a variance related to rear setbacks.
If approved, these additions would expand the city’s already substantial inventory of protected properties, which includes hundreds of Mediterranean Revival, Mission-style, and mid-century homes.
The Board will also evaluate four applications for Special Certificates of Appropriateness, a requirement for significant changes to properties within designated districts or individually protected homes. At 3920 Durango Street and 516 Caligula Avenue, the owners are seeking permission for substantial alterations that include rear additions, sitework, and roof modifications.
Another case at 6710 Le Jeune Road involves an after-the-fact request for approval of windows and doors that were replaced without prior authorization—an issue that has become more frequent as homeowners navigate complex permitting requirements within preservation districts.
Perhaps the most anticipated application is a proposal to build a new single-family home on a vacant lot at 126 Oak Avenue in the MacFarlane Homestead Subdivision Historic District. The board will evaluate the design for compatibility with the district’s architectural character. The MacFarlane neighborhood, historically significant as one of Coral Gables’ first Black communities, is subject to especially careful design scrutiny.
City preservation staff are expected to provide detailed reports and recommendations for each item. Public participation is encouraged, although anyone wishing to provide sworn testimony must attend in person. Viewers may also watch the meeting live via Zoom.
The Historic Preservation Board is tasked with reviewing exterior alterations, demolitions, and landmark nominations for properties of architectural, cultural, or historical value. Coral Gables was one of the first Florida municipalities to adopt local preservation ordinances, and the city continues to promote historic designation as a tool for maintaining its distinctive aesthetic and neighborhood identity.
The full agenda and supporting documents are available at www.coralgables.com, under the “Agendas and Meetings” section.
