There’s a striking irony unfolding in the heart of Coral Gables. Just steps from the city’s signature Miracle Mile, Parking Garage No. 1 stands as a cautionary symbol of municipal indecision. Once envisioned as the future site of the ambitious—and controversial—Mobility Hub, the garage is today a crumbling structure with exposed rebar, cracked concrete, and an elevator so far gone that only total replacement would bring it back into service.

The garage’s facade, once fitting for the Mediterranean elegance of the surrounding architecture, is shedding its stucco skin. Rust blooms across metal surfaces. And while shoppers, theatergoers, and downtown diners continue to park there, the experience hardly instills confidence. For years, city officials debated the Mobility Hub project, originally championed by Mayor Vince Lago, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson and former City Manager Peter Iglesias. The plan was to replace the outdated garage with a modern, multi-functional facility that incorporated not just parking, but bike lockers, charging stations, ride-share areas, and even office space. It was futuristic, expensive, and controversial.

The project drew sharp criticism over its ballooning costs—original estimates of $42 million grew to more than $60 million to years ago—and its ultra-modern, massive design, which clashed with the historic aesthetic many residents cherish. Last year, the commission pressed pause. Now, the garage remains, battered by time and the elements, and the city’s policy seems frozen in place alongside it.

We appreciate the city’s acknowledgment of the structure’s deterioration. Communications Director Martha Pantín confirmed that while maintenance is ongoing to preserve safety, full-scale renovation is off the table. “The long-term intent is to replace the structure entirely,” she wrote, “which is why a full-scale renovation has not been pursued.”

That might make sense in a vacuum. But Coral Gables does not exist in a vacuum. It is a vibrant city that touts its walkability, cultural attractions, and livability as central selling points. A garage in such disrepair undermines that image.

In a 2023 memo, Vice Mayor Anderson argued against spending more than $1.5 million to bring the garage into ADA compliance, saying the money would be better spent on a full replacement. And in theory, she’s right: investing millions into a stopgap measure could be wasteful. But that position was contingent on the Mobility Hub progressing. It was paused indefinitely, and the city has offered no alternate plan, timetable, or funding proposal to address the garage’s failings.

That leaves residents with the worst of both worlds: a garage too deteriorated to ignore yet suspended in limbo while city leadership debates its future.

The future of the garage—and possibly the long-paused Mobility Hub—may hinge on one vote: that of newly elected Commissioner Richard Lara. Mayor Lago and Vice Mayor Anderson remain committed to the project they once championed. But with opposition from other commissioners and skepticism from the public, Lara may be the swing vote that determines whether the Hub is resurrected, revised, or replaced with something entirely new. His decision will signal whether the city is ready to move forward—or content to remain stalled.

Commissioner Lara now faces a clear opportunity—and a responsibility—to guide Coral Gables out of this policy paralysis. If he supports revisiting the Mobility Hub, it must be with a mandate for greater community input, cost control, and architectural harmony. If he does not, the city must work with equal urgency to articulate a credible Plan B—whether that involves renovating the existing structure, implementing temporary safety fixes, or exploring phased redevelopment on another site.

What cannot continue is inertia. The public deserves a clear timeline, an honest accounting of options, and visible progress. The decaying state of Garage No. 1 is more than a cosmetic concern—it is a public signal. And the message it currently sends is one of disinterest and drift.

Mayor Lago, re-elected on promises of stewardship and smart growth, has quickly reasserted many of his priorities already this month. Now is the moment for clarity on this one. The Andalusia Avenue garage is a barometer of City Hall’s ability to plan, execute, and adapt.

Coral Gables can’t afford to let its infrastructure—and its policy—crack and crumble in plain sight.