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In reference to Marian Moreno’s article, “MG Developer marks opening of Gables Village showroom” (Aug. 29-Sept 11, 2022), yes, one can agree that the Gables Village project is of high quality architecture and design.
The Gables Village project has been greenlighted and soon will begin demolition of an entire city block — 13 residences — all World War II-era garden apartment houses representing key styles of the Coral Gables Colonial Revival, Neoclassical, and/or Monterey designs. At least one apartment building is designed by notable architect William Tschumy. As a matter of fact, a renowned photographer and author of beautiful coffee table books, visited the neighborhood and documented its cultural landscape for posterity.
The area — legally described as Block 28 of the Biltmore Section —served its original purpose of offering affordable housing to area residents in quaint two-story buildings with green space between them. Founder George Merrick included affordable housing and garden apartments as part of the tenets of his city, based on the Garden City and City Beautiful movements.
Thirteen structures will be replaced with new construction. In climate speak, this means it will take hundreds of years to offset carbon debt. An excerpt from the National Trust for Historic Preservation strongly makes the case: “Arguments that promote a practice of disposable real estate are unsustainable at best and at worst environmentally catastrophic.”
It may be too late to restore and refurbish Block 28, “but wouldn’t it be pretty to think so?”
[Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises]. Adaptive reuse is not only environmentally friendly but also people friendly. It would have kept a neighborhood intact and paid “homage to George Merrick’s legacy and original vision…”By Karelia Martinez Carbonell,
Preservation Advocate
To see more #Miaminews from #Aventura to #Coralgables to #SouthMiami, #Pinecrest, #Palmetto Bay and #Cutler Bay and all throughout #Miamidadecounty go to:
www.communitynewspapers.com
