COCONUT GROVE, Fla. – Some streets in bustling Coconut Grove are closed after a partial demolition of the historic Coconut Grove Playhouse recently took a dangerous turn.
On Wednesday, part of the building’s third floor collapsed during scheduled demolition, sending debris crashing down on workers below.
The city of Miami’s Building Department quickly issued a “stop work order,” halting construction until further notice.
As a precaution, Main Highway remains blocked off Friday with police tape and patrol vehicles between Franklin Avenue and McFarland Road.
“Sad to see because it’s part of the historic fabric of Coconut Grove,” said Eric Salzinger, a longtime Coconut Grove resident.
Miami-Dade County officials said the back portion of the 1926 playhouse is being torn down to make room for a smaller, modern theater with fewer seats.
They said they plan to preserve and restore the building’s iconic façade, but the project has long faced legal challenges from preservationists who oppose the changes.
“This was completely expected because it was in disrepair for so long,” Salzinger told Local 10’s Liane Morejon.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Playhouse has sat empty and deteriorating since it closed in 2006.