Tucked behind the Miracle Mile in the 200 block of Andalusia Avenue, Parking Garage No. 1 occupies one of Coral Gables’ most strategic locations. Just steps from the Miracle Theatre and some of the city’s busiest shops and restaurants, the facility serves as a vital access point for visitors and residents alike.
But a quick glance at the structure reveals visible signs of decay—and growing concerns about its viability.
The garage’s façade is crumbling in multiple areas, exposing rusted steel reinforcement bars where stucco has fallen away. The elevator has been out of service for months, with a taped notice informing users to find alternative access. Inside, rust blooms across structural elements, and maintenance appears minimal despite steady use.
For now, the garage remains operational. But with no comprehensive restoration plan in place—and a long-stalled replacement project on hold—its future is uncertain.
Replacement paused
The site had been earmarked as the location for the city’s long-anticipated Mobility Hub, a 10-story transit and parking facility that was a signature priority of Mayor Vince Lago, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson and former City Manager Peter Iglesias. Initially promoted as a cutting-edge solution for downtown mobility, the project was paused last year following public outcry over design aesthetics, costs that had ballooned to more than $60 million and concerns about the scale of the structure in a low-rise neighborhood.
Without a clear timeline to revive or revise the Mobility Hub proposal, the city has opted for patchwork maintenance.
“The long-term intent is to replace the structure entirely, which is why a full-scale renovation has not been pursued,” said Martha Pantín, the city’s director of communications, responding to questions on behalf of Parking Director Monica Beltran. “In the meantime, safety remains a top priority, and the structure is regularly monitored and maintained.”
Pantín confirmed that the city is aware of “visible deterioration,” including damage to the façade and the inoperable elevator. However, an elevator repair is not planned.
“While ongoing repairs are being made to maintain safety, full repairs to the elevator are not planned at this time, as a complete replacement would be necessary,” she said. To help maintain accessibility, additional ADA-compliant parking spaces have been added on the garage’s ground floor.
Safety vs. investment
That approach is consistent with a 2023 memo from Vice Mayor Anderson, who argued against spending more than $1.5 million to bring the garage into ADA compliance.
“Investing more than $1.5 million to bring this garage into ADA compliance is not a good investment,” she wrote at the time, noting the aging facility’s limitations and the city’s broader need for increased parking capacity. Anderson has remained a supporter of replacing the garage altogether rather than continuing costly repairs.
Yet in the absence of a clear successor plan—and as deterioration becomes more visible—questions are mounting about how long the structure can remain in use.
Mayor Lago has not said whether he intends to revive the Mobility Hub project. Since his reelection in April, he has reintroduced several of his policy priorities at commission meetings, including reallocation of funds for City Hall improvements and potential adjustments to the millage rate. But he has not publicly addressed next steps for the garage. The mayor did not respond to a request for comment from the Gazette.
For now, Coral Gables’ most centrally located public parking facility remains in use—crumbling stucco, broken elevator and all.
This Post Has 7 Comments
Actually the elevator has been non operational for years!!! (Not months)
This is a pre-meditated effort to let the garage decay to force its demolition to either attempt to revive the former city manager’s atrocity, known as the Futility Hub or sell the site, at our expense, to some developer to build another downtown monster building. Let’s hold the “new” commission’s feet to the fire as it seems the more things change, the more they stsy the same. To thimk that Coral Gables has been in violation of Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA, since it passed as federal law on July 26th, 1990, close to 35 years ago, paying fines for non-compñiance, is a testament to how rotten and decaying its governance has become. Reporting the City to the federal government for its blatant and planned non-compliance is a nice first step. Time to stir the pot. No more staying on the sidelines. Hope a disaster does not occur or is made to possibly occur. Our city’s crumbling is not limited to buildings only. Time for action.
Without functional elevators to transport handicap patrons, the facility is currently in violation of federal law irrespective of how many extra spots are assigned on the first level. Apart from that, I’m surprised there hasn’t been a series of claims by patrons falling on the stairs that are always wet and slippery with pieces of concrete missing. If this was a private facility, the City would condemn the site so why does it continue to operate in its current condition?
Bravo to Enrique Lopez. He hit the nail on the head. Neither No. 1 nor No. 2 garage has a working elevator. FOR YEARS. why fix it when the object of the game is tear it down? And where is the guy in the wheelchair who used to travel around and report violations to the ADA?
The mobility hub is a bad joke. We need a parking garage not a playground. George Zain LEASED the land to the city to build the garages that would enhance accessibility to miracle mile. Now that it’s city property they want to parcel it out to developers OR bankrupt us with a $60 million structure that we don’t need. And why fix No.2? It’s going to be another park. Whatever happened to functionality and common sense?
Sally,
Common sense is the least common of all the senses. And it’s in extremely short supply here in Coral Gables.
As you stated, the mobility hub is a bad joke. An extremely expensive bad joke.
Finding parking in the city is an exercise in futility. It began when angled parking was replaced by parallel parking on Miracle Mile, and worsened by the massive amount of spaces lost to the valet parking company. Many residents have stated they no longer shop or patronize our restaurants because of the parking difficulties. And those who are mobility impaired don’t want to walk, or can’t walk, from the parking garages to Miracle Mile. Even those who do, can’t park in a garage without a working elevator.
Functionality and common sense are a thing of the past.
That garage is an embarrassment for the City of Coral Gables! Are they waiting for a catastrophe or just waiting for the style of third world city garages to come back in style! Unbelievable!! If this was someone’s home, code enforcement would be all over it!!
OUTRAGEOUS.
The city can spend on art on public places and other frivolous endeavors but will not spend on upkeep of parking garages. All of the garages are generally dirty and number one and two in particular are third world rate. I blame each and every commissioners and mayors that for years have ignored the safety and appearance of garages in the so called CITY BEAUTIFUL. Ignoring ADA may yet get the city in deep trouble. No elevators in city properties …..WTF.