Coral Gables board designates 2509 Indian Mound Trail historic and approves plan to join it with neighboring property

The City of Coral Gables Historic Preservation Board voted March 12 to designate 2509 Indian Mound Trail as a local historic landmark and to approve a plan that would unite 2509 with adjacent 2515 through a narrow rear gallery and limited additions.

Staff told the board the single‑story home at 2509, built in 1935 by William Merriam, exemplifies the Mediterranean transitional style and retains key character elements such as a semicircular solarium and prominent chimney. The designation report recommended approval under three code criteria for historical, architectural and contextual significance.

After the designation vote was completed unanimously, the board heard a separate, longer application from the owners to purchase and restore 2509 and to connect it to 2515 so both houses can be used as one single‑family residence while preserving the primary facades. Attorney Mario Garcia Serra and architect Nelson De Leon said the plan keeps changes mostly to rear areas, replaces failing building systems, adds ADA access paths and provides a low‑profile connector to avoid overwhelming the older house.

The owners requested three variances: increased ground‑area coverage (about 5,310 sq ft vs. a 35% limit of 4,981 sq ft), a side‑setback variance for a preexisting condition and a reduced rear setback for a small porch. Staff said a recent zoning text amendment that allows certain attached open‑air accessory structures to be counted differently could eliminate the lot‑coverage variance, and recommended the variances as consistent with preservation goals and the project’s intent to remain one story.

Board debate focused on several preservation details. Staff and the applicant discussed window muntins: historic photos and the designation report indicate the solarium windows originally lacked muntins, and staff recommended clear glass without reflective finishes for the primary elevations. The board required that the historically designated portion use true two‑piece barrel roof tile. On the front door, the applicants proposed a glass impact door with a metal design replicating the historic screen door; the board allowed replacement that ‘‘nods to’’ the original screen door and asked staff to finalize details.

As a separate condition the board asked the applicant and staff to study whether a short portion of the connector roof immediately behind the facade could be a flat roof or parapet (rather than a tiled pitched roof) so the two original houses read as distinct volumes from the street. With those conditions and the noted clarifications, the motion to approve the COA and the variances passed with a majority of the board.

The board’s action preserves 2509’s designation and clears the way for the applicants to pursue permits and construction under the conditions the board adopted. The applicants said they will provide sample glass, window details and roof tile samples to staff for administrative review and will return to the Board if changes to the agreed conditions are needed.