By Coral Gables Gazette staff
Consultants hired by the City of Coral Gables to evaluate the prospect of a new taxing district along Miracle Mile and surrounding downtown streets hosted a series of virtual meetings on December 8, following in-person sessions held last month.
While the earlier meetings were divided by stakeholder groups, including property owners, retailers, restaurateurs and residents, the Zoom meetings combined all participants. Sessions were held at noon, 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., with attendance sparse. Only four attendees showed up in the first meeting, eight in the second and five in the final session.
City and consultants underscore need for stakeholder input
The city’s Director of Economic Development Department Belkys Perez joined each meeting alongside consultants from Denver-based Progressive Urban Management Associates (PUMA). The team reiterated the importance of hearing directly from downtown stakeholders to understand the area’s strengths, challenges and future needs before recommending whether and how to move ahead with a new taxing district.
PUMA consultant Amanda Kannard clarified that the new concept for a business improvement district referred to as the Downtown Coral Gables Partnership would function as a dependent district rather than an independent one. She and Perez explained that independent districts operate on their own with limited city oversight, while dependent districts fall under city authority, providing more accountability and transparency in how assessment funds are used.
“In this dependent district, we really want to have much more transparency about how funds are used, and for that reason, we want it to be dependent on the city,” Perez said.
Stakeholders raise ideas from pedestrianization to branding
Participants raised a range of ideas and concerns at the first Zoom call with author and downtown resident Stuart McGregor suggesting fully pedestrianizing Miracle Mile, while property owner Jackson ‘Rip’ Holmes repeated his long-standing call to attract a department store to the corridor, while generally opposing the idea for the new district or limiting its purview.
At the second meeting there seemed to be an emphasis on the Central Business District’s lack of marketing, inconsistent foot traffic and the need for programming that draws both locals and visitors. Several attendees pointed to Giralda Plaza as an area needing attention, citing cluttered streetscapes, insufficient activation and the need for a more cohesive design. Others stressed the importance of leveraging upcoming opportunities, in particular the 2026 World Cup and FIFA’s presence in Coral Gables to boost visibility and attract new visitors.
Ideas ranged from improved family-friendly spaces and stronger branding for Ponce de Leon to better connectivity with neighboring districts such as Coconut Grove.
Mobility concerns emerge in final session
At the last meeting, mobility concerns seemed to take center stage with resident Olga Carrasco citing safety concerns with traffic and on sidewalks with scooters and delivery robots increasingly crowding residents. Longtime resident Mary Anderson added that rideshare challenges add to safety and congestion problems.
Next steps ahead of February presentation
Kannard encouraged residents and business owners to complete the city’s online survey later this month. Consultants are expected to return in early February to outline potential services for the new district, present assessment scenarios and address remaining questions.
Ultimately, the City Commission will decide whether and how to move forward.
