The Coral Gables Historic Preservation Board on Thursday denied a citizen appeal seeking local historic designation for Eaton Residential College, a 1954 dormitory on the University of Miami campus.

The board voted 5–3 to uphold staff’s earlier finding that the building does not meet the city’s designation criteria. The appellant, Bonnie Bolton, had asked the board to overturn a staff determination of "no significance" and to protect the mid‑century building designed by Robert Murray Little.

Bolton told the board she sought local designation because Eaton is an early example of subtropical modernism on the campus and "one of the most iconic and significant modern campus buildings," arguing its design shaped later dormitory development. Supporters including members of DOCOMOMO US–Florida emphasized the building’s role in postwar campus planning and its climate‑adapted façade treatment.

The University of Miami, represented by attorney Jeffrey Bass, strongly opposed designation. Bass said the university "most politely ask[ed] that you deny the appeal and correspondingly affirm the decision rendered by your independent and professional staff" and warned that designation pursued over the owner’s objection would materially affect the university’s property rights and plans to add student housing. University experts questioned the appellant’s stylistic characterization and urged the board to apply the code criteria strictly.

Board members debated architectural, associative and district‑level criteria and whether earlier alterations reduced integrity. Several members said they were persuaded by staff and the university’s experts that Eaton does not demonstrate the level of exceptionality or causal association with major community events required by local code. Mister Garcia Pons moved to deny the application; the motion passed 5–3.

The ruling leaves open other regulatory steps the university may pursue for its campus plans. The appeal record includes expert reports, archival images and letters of support from preservation organizations; the board’s action affirms staff’s independence in applying local designation standards.