Coral Gables officials leave City Hall ahead of renovations. Where to find them
Need to speak with the mayor of Coral Gables? Perhaps the vice mayor or one of the city’s other commissioners?
You won’t find them at City Hall anymore.
Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson and Commissioners Melissa Castro, Ariel Fernandez and Richard Lara have moved their offices elsewhere as the city prepares for the long-awaited restoration of its historic City Hall.
You’ll now find them on the ground floor of the Minorca Parking Garage at 234 Minorca Ave., near the office of Miami-Dade Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez and the city’s police and fire rescue headquarters. City Commission meetings will now be held inside the public safety building, 2151 Salzedo St., in the community meeting room.
City Manager Peter Iglesias, City Clerk Billy Urquia, City Attorney Cristina Suarez and their staffs, along with the city’s finance department, are also expected to move out of City Hall later this year, likely by the end of April, into the nearby 14-story 2020 Ponce building.
The city has signed two multi-year leases for 6,870 square feet on the 12th floor and 3,597 square feet on the ground floor of the building, located at 2020 Ponce de Leon Blvd., according to city spokeswoman Martha Pantin. In total, the city will be paying $46,229 a month in rent once staff moves into the building.
Nearby parking options include street parking and the Minorca parking garage. You can also take one of the free city trolleys or call a free ride through Freebee, if you’re within its Gables service area, to be dropped off nearby.
The move comes as the city prepares to renovate and restore its historic City Hall, which was designed in 1927 with what is now known as the Gables’ signature Mediterranean Revival style by local architect Phineas Paist and Coral Gables Art Director Denman Fink. The landmark, which was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1974, for decades has served as the city’s meeting space for leaders and residents.
Commissioners last year gave the city manager the green light to proceed with the restoration of the building, which is expected to take about two to three years to complete.
Coral Gables commissioner office hours
Want to visit Mayor Lago, Vice Mayor Anderson or the other commissioners? Here are their office hours:
- Mayor Vince Lago: Office hours every Friday, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson: Office hours every Friday, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Commissioner Melissa Castro: Office hours every Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. By appointment only. Call 305-569-1824 to schedule an appointment.
- Commissioner Ariel Fernandez: By appointment only. Call 305-569-1824.
- Commissioner Richard Lara: Office hours every Monday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. By appointment only. Call 305-569-1824.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated with the correct name of the new meeting room for city commission meetings.
This story was originally published March 3, 2026 at 2:22 PM.
