Preserve Coconut Grove! Make It a Local Historic District

Historic Home in Coconut Grove

If you’re fortunate enough to live or work in the vibrant, charming Village of Coconut Grove, you know it’s special. With verdant paths, lovely architecture, and majestic trees, we want the neighborhood to be around for generations to come. One way to ensure its preservation is to encourage the city of Miami to designate it as a local historic district. This week, there are two opportunities to learn how such a designation will benefit residents and businesses, as well as the gorgeous natural environment we love.

Preservation 101: A Workshop for Residents
Learn What It Means to Be a Locally Designated District
Thursday, December 7, 2017 | 6:30 pm
Saturday, December 9, 2017 | 10:00 am
Ambrister Park, Multi-Purpose Room, 400 Grand Ave.

      Benefits You Should Know

• Property Values — are higher in historic districts than in other neighborhoods. Historic district designation encourages people to buy and rehabilitate properties because they know their investment is protected over time. Properties within local historic districts appreciate at rates greater than the local market overall as well as faster than similar, non-designated neighborhoods. Historic districts are also less vulnerable to market volatility from interest rate fluctuations and economic downturns.

• Environmentally Friendly — Older buildings, like those found in Coconut Grove, were constructed before air conditioning was available. They were built to take advantage of natural light, cross-ventilation, and climate-appropriate materials. Even with updates to modern living standards, these thoughtfully designed structures are easier on the environment. Historic districts also encourage communities to retain and use their existing resources, reducing the need for cars, cutting back on pollution and congestion, and eliminating landfill waste.

• Economic Boost — Historic districts encourage tourism. According to a 2009 report, 78% of all U.S. leisure travelers are cultural and/or heritage travelers who spent, on average, $994 on their most recent trips―compared to $611 spent by non-cultural and heritage travelers. Energetic commercial areas also attract tourists and new businesses, along with local residents who often have more spending power than the average home owner.

• Community Pride —By participating in the designation process, citizens take ownership of their communities and become further dedicated to preserving them.

We’ll go over all these benefits and more in the workshop, so you can support this effort to designate Coconut Grove a local historic district as an informed citizen. This workshop series is supported by Grove 2030, a citizen-led initiative to shape the future of Coconut Grove. The group includes residents, retailers, property owners, developers, and government officials with a goal toward envisioning the Village of Coconut Grove in the year 2030. For more information, contact Wendy Sczechowicz: wsczechowicz@miamigov.com