Partial collapse during demolition at Coconut Grove Playhouse threatens historic building
Interior demolition work on the iconic, long-closed Coconut Grove Playhouse has been stopped after a contractor’s error caused a partial collapse and “severely compromised” the historic structure’s roof, city of Miami officials said Friday.
The streets in front of the 1927 theater’s wing-shaped front have been closed while the building is stabilized, including busy Main Highway through the Grove village center from Franklin Avenue to McFarlane Road, the city said.
On Thursday, a day after what the city called “a construction accident” by the contractor, John Bell Construction, two engineering assessments determined the theater’s front wall facing Main Highway was rendered unstable and posed “a serious risk of collapse,” a statement from the city says.
According to the city, workers accidentally removed a load-bearing wall on the second floor, causing a partial collapse of the third floor. No one was seriously injured.
Emergency stabilization work will take eight days, but it’s unclear at this point how severe the damage is and whether it can be repaired. The building has been vacant for 19 years since the nonprofit company running the theater, a protected city historic landmark, closed abruptly amid financial difficulties.
The playhouse has been undergoing interior demolition since April in preparation for an extensive, long-delayed renovation by Miami-Dade County.
The controversial project calls for demolition of the theater’s auditorium at the rear, to be replaced with a smaller, stand-alone modern theater. The three-story portion of the theater complex where the partial collapse of the third floor occurred on Wednesday was to be fully restored to its original Mediterranean design.
The county obtained a city demolition permit for the project earlier this year after years of litigation. Some preservationists strongly objected to the county’s partial demolition plan, calling instead for restoration of the full playhouse.
The county’s cultural affairs department, which is overseeing the restoration project under an agreement with the state, said no historic architectural elements were affected by the collapse. The state owns the property.
In a statement late Friday, the county said engineers are undertaking a structural assessment in collaboration with the city’s chief building official. Temporary exterior bracing is being installed to protect the structure.
“At this time the main focus is on safety measures and the incident will be addressed with the General Contractor, who continues to be responsive and is working on protective measures,” the county statement says. “In partnership with the City of Miami, a detailed plan is being developed to safely resume construction. The primary focus remains on protecting the public, safeguarding workers, and preserving the integrity of the historic site.”
This story has been updated to include comment from Miami-Dade County.
This story was originally published May 23, 2025 at 2:04 PM.