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Arts advocate says three Coral Gables churches were preserved and converted to performance spaces
Summary
An unnamed resident and arts advocate described preserving three historic Coral Gables churches, converting them into performance venues and staging more than 100 shows last year, and said one restored building served a historically Black neighborhood.
An unnamed resident and arts advocate told a meeting that they have preserved three historic churches in Coral Gables and converted them into performance spaces, staging more than 100 shows last year.
The speaker said the effort began after spotting an empty Church of Christ Scientist near City Hall in February 2018 and finding other nearby, long-unused houses of worship that they said were designed by Coral Gables’ original architect, Phineas Paist. “We put on over a 100 shows last year. That means every third day we put on something,” the speaker said.
The speaker said they tore out seats to build a larger stage, bought sound and lighting equipment, and worked with people from the local arts center and the ballet to develop programming. They said another building they found in the Homestead Estates neighborhood — identified during remarks as Saint Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church, which the speaker described as the first African American church in Coral Gables — had a collapsed roof. The speaker said they rebuilt the roof and the interior and now present local artists and children’s programming there.
The remarks referenced Coral Gables developer George Merrick and credited Paist with designing City Hall, the Douglas Entrance and the Venetian Pool. The speaker said the projects aim to preserve historic buildings while providing arts education and performance opportunities for local residents.
No formal actions, motions or votes were recorded in the transcript excerpt provided. The speaker framed the work as a community and cultural effort and said the goal was to leave a legacy of preserved buildings and ongoing arts programming. “I want that to be our legacy is that we help develop this, we help save these buildings, and we help present something like this that can educate, present, entertain, and the finest art forms,” the speaker said.
