By Coral Gables Gazette staff

The City of Coral Gables and its consultants spent several days this week hearing from a variety of stakeholders in its central business district about the possibility of reinstituting a business improvement district (BID).

City officials, along with consultants from Progressive Urban Management Associates (PUMA), took turns querying property owners, retailers, restaurateurs, and residents in separate stakeholder roundtables to get a sense of what the city was doing well and what could be improved upon in its central business district.

The format of the meetings was loose, with consultants asking for feedback on a variety of topics. Attendance varied at the different sessions, with property owners and restaurateurs drawing around 20 attendees, retailers about half as many, and the resident roundtables drawing the least interest. One session drew only a single resident.

“We’re just trying to hear from folks that live and breathe in the downtown,” said consultant Amanda Kannard. “What’s working well and what’s not working well?”

According to Kannard, the district under consideration has not been finalized, but discussions so far suggest it could roughly span from Alhambra Circle on the north to Malaga Avenue on the south, and between LeJeune Road and Douglas Road. PUMA will now take the feedback gathered this week and compare it to the city’s previous BID—disbanded more than a decade ago—as well as other successful districts across the country.

“We’ll be back in the first quarter of 2026 with something for people to react to,” Kannard said. “A framework for what a BID could do and some modeled assessment scenarios. Then we’ll be looking for reactions from the community.”

Questions emerge about assessments, boundaries, and whether a BID makes sense

How much and who will be taxed if a new BID is instituted has not yet been determined, but Kannard said there were several ways to approach it, including an assessment on all property owners in the designated BID.

“We invited everyone to participate because, ultimately, if the community doesn’t want it, this type of district doesn’t work.”

Kannard emphasized that Coral Gables was starting from a position of strength, unlike many other areas and city’s that consider creating a BID.  “Coral Gables is in a unique place,” she said. “Largely, things are functioning very well. You’re starting from here instead of here. We want to make sure a BID really makes sense.”

Lone resident at Thursday roundtable holds court

If community buy-in is essential, one particular session highlighted the challenge. At a Thursday evening roundtable for residents, only one attendee appeared: Sergio Leymarie, a downtown Coral Gables resident who also owns several condos in the area. For more than an hour, he shared his candid views with consultants and the city’s Director of Economic Development, Belkys Perez.

Leymarie praised the city for creating what he called “the best kept secret in Miami.”

“The city has done a very good job,” he said. “It has that small-town American feel – almost like Greenwich, Connecticut – in Miami. And if you compare Coral Gables to Boca Raton, Beverly Hills, Greenwich, Monaco, Highland Park in Dallas… in each one of those cities, the west village area is vibrant. Coral Gables is on that path.”

But he also noted plenty of opportunities for improvement.

“Number one, I’d like to see those businesses revitalized – new energy, more prosperity,” he said. “I’m not happy with storefronts closed in clusters. Six in a row, and the block is dark. On the 300 block of Miracle Mile, south side, you might have one or two stores open. When we walk at night, it doesn’t convey an image of prosperity.”

Leymarie pointed to gaps in cultural programming and basic maintenance. Portions of several streets, he said, remain poorly lit.

He hopes a future BID could strengthen cultural offerings. “We should have more world-class exhibitions,” he said. “Art Basel brings fairs all over the county. If Doral can host something, why not Coral Gables? Why not Art Miami in Coral Gables?” Perez let him know that there were satellite events planned in the city during this year’s upcoming Art Basel.

He also wants better signage – both directional and promotional – to highlight activity for visitors and passersby. “Coral Gables should use that real estate,” he said. “When people drive from the airport, they should see what’s going on. This is one of the most exciting areas.”

Leymarie tied many of these improvements to long-term resident satisfaction and economic vitality. “As a property owner, my equity is tied to a good living experience,” he said. “More thriving businesses, fewer dead blocks. End the clusters of empty storefronts on Miracle Mile.”

Consultants will return in early 2026 with a draft BID framework

Despite the low attendance at his session, city officials say the feedback gathered over the week will help shape next year’s recommendations. Shortly after PUMA returns with its draft framework in 2026, the city will decide whether to move forward with forming the new BID.