A construction accident on Wednesday at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami has led to a partial collapse of the historic building, significantly impacting traffic and raising concerns over the structure's integrity. An error during the demolition process, specifically the removal of a load-bearing wall, caused part of the third floor to give way, leaving the roof and exterior walls unstable. The City of Miami disclosed in a statement that "the affected exterior walls pose a serious risk of collapse," necessitating the immediate closure of Main Highway from Franklin Avenue to McFarlane Road, as reported by NBC Miami.
Officials are trying to swiftly secure the building, with stabilization efforts expected to be completed within eight days. According to Coconut Grove Spotlight, the Miami Building Department, Miami-Dade's Department of Public Works, and Miami Fire Rescue are part of the emergency response. The mistake happened during an effort to partially demolish the three-story structure, originally earmarked for restoration. The playhouse, built in 1924 and closed since 2006, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Two workers sustained minor injuries when they were hit by falling debris during the collapse, but they managed to evacuate without needing hospital care. "They were hit by a little bit of debris as they were exiting," City of Miami spokeswoman Kenia Fallat told Coconut Grove Spotlight. The area has been cordoned off, and a stop-work order was issued following the incident.
Liliana Hernandez-Constenia, a spokeswoman for the county's Department of Cultural Affairs, assured "no historic architectural elements were affected," and said that engineers are to diligently develop a safety plan. "In coordination with City of Miami building officials, they are developing a plan to safely move forward with the project while ensuring the well-being of workers, the public, and the integrity of the site," Hernandez-Constenia explained to Coconut Grove Spotlight. The duration of the stop-work order remains uncertain at this time.
The county's plan includes the demolition of the playhouse's rear auditorium to construct a smaller 300-seat theater, while restoring the front facade that faces Main Highway. Despite legal challenges from those opposed to the plan, demolition began in April after receiving the go-ahead from the City of Miami.
