Village Council discusses Brown House, Glass House, Playhouse

Determined to help beautify historic Charles Avenue, Renita Samuels-Dixon recently told the Coconut Grove Village Council that “the oldest street in Coconut Grove” needs and deserves some attention.

One of two members representing the West Grove on the Village Council, Samuels-Dixon said the street’s historic homes include E.W.F. Stirrup Residence, 3242 Charles Ave., and the Mariah Brown House, 3298 Charles Ave. The Stirrup home was built by one of Miami’s first black millionaires, the Rev. Ebenezer Stirrup, a Bahamian who made his fortune in real estate. The Brown House is a replica of the original house built in 1889 by Mariah Brown, one of the first black Bahamians to settle in Coconut Grove. Plans have been under way to do repairs and enhancements to the Brown House and later open it as a museum.  But the effort needs money, Samuels-Dixon said.

“I think it’s very important that someone step up to generate this fundraiser,” Dixon later said. “We need to do this.” And it’s important, she later said, “to beautify that avenue, and not just Mariah Brown House.” Samuels-Dixon said she is considering is planting flowers along the entire avenue, or having trees planted by The Grove Tree-Man Trust Inc, which can help homeowners and civic organizations purchase and distribute for free or at reduced cost.
Samuels-Dixon, who is asking for ideas and volunteers, said she can be reached by email at renita@bellsouth.net or by texting 305-790-5836.  Also at the council’s February meeting, council members expressed their concerns over the redevelopment of both the Glass House in Peacock Park and the Coconut Grove Playhouse.

Ron Nelson, chief of staff for Miami City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, gave an update on the Glass House, 2820 MacFarlane Rd., headquarters of the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce and a Miami Neighborhood Enhancement Team office. The building, which is referred to as the Glass House because of its expansive windows, needs repair and the NET office had planned to move. Nelson said the Capital Improvements Program, the Department of Public Facilities, and the Department of Parks and Recreation would be involved in determining the next phase of the Glass House. He also said they were still looking for ideas.

One of the ideas already presented has been to put a restaurant in the Glass House. Councilman David Collins was open to the idea.  “I think that historically, it would be an interesting thing to try,” he said. However, Councilwoman Heather Bettner voiced her doubts that a restaurant would be viable business venture during the tough economic times. Whatever the outcome, Council Chairman Patrick Sessions said he hoped to see priority given to people who already are in the Grove.

“Grove business people should have on edge on this,” Sessions said.

In the discussion of the fate of the Coconut Grove Playhouse, Sessions said that recent discussions that Joseph Adler, producing artistic director of GableStage, will begin staging shows at the Playhouse are not finalized. “If you listen to the talk around town, you would think this is a done deal,” Sessions said. “It is far from a done deal.” Sessions said Adler will talk about the Coconut Grove Playhouse at the village council’s March 25 meeting

In other business, the council discussed the possibility of sponsoring a 6-foot fiberglass peacock during a forthcoming public art project, similar to 2002’s “Flamingos in the Gables.”  Bettner presented the idea – The Coconut Grove Peacock Tour – which would be a six-month public art project featuring  “larger-than- life” decorative fiberglass peacocks throughout the Grove. She said it will encourage visitors and tourism to the area. “Without the playhouse, the Grove has lost its edge,” Bettner said.  The art project, which will run from April to August, gives individuals and organizations an opportunity to sponsor a Peacock. At the conclusion of the project, the peacocks will be auctioned, with the money going a nonprofit organization chosen by its sponsor.  Bettner, whose company, Prince Media Development, is heading the project, asked members if the council would like to sponsor a peacock. Most members liked the idea, but were concerned that they could not afford the $4,400 sponsorship, which represents a third of the council’s assets. After some debate, the members decided that Bettner should research options such as co-sponsoring a peacock or getting a corporate sponsor to donate the proceeds from the auction to the council. Collins reported on the progress of the new movie theaters at Cocowalk. He said Muvico, which took over the former AMC Theaters, said the theater should be reopening in mid-April.

The next Village Council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. March 25 in Swanson Hall at Ransom Everglades Middle School, 2045 S. Bayshore Dr.