Community Background Report

City of Coral Gables

County

Miami-Dade

Boundaries

See interactive map

Community Type

Municipality

History

Coral Gables is one of Florida’s first planned communities. The importance of its original designs is reflected in its strict zoning regulations defining permissible design and construction of structures and other regulations to preserve the residential character of the City. The City was developed by George Edgar Merrick during the Florida land boom of the 1920s. The city's architecture is almost entirely Mediterranean Revival Style. The City of Coral Gables’ population is approximately 49,104 persons with a population density of approximately 3,621.2 persons per mile of its 13 square miles of land area. There is a high percentage of open green space, e.g. parks, botanical gardens, and golf courses. Many of the city’s streets also boast large tree canopies. Other large open land is part of the University of Miami campus. As one of the earliest established municipalities in South Florida, Coral Gables has eleven resources which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places (National Register), among them are the Venetian Pool, Douglas Entrance, and the Miami Biltmore hotel. It is also one of the most affluent cities in South Florida, with median household income reaching over $68,000.

Community Dynamics

Coral Gables has a walkable downtown and its residential streets are all tree lined. The city is also planning to plant another 3,000 trees in the residential areas by summer of 2016. Unlike other cities in the county, Coral Gables does not have several neighborhoods within its boundaries. There is only the identity of the ‘City Beautiful’. The City strives to attract professionals as much as it lobbies to attract business headquarters. Coral Gables has dedicated significant portions of its capital improvements budget toward sanitary sewer, streetscape, sidewalk, and storm sewer improvements. The city’s capital improvements budget includes a category for historic facility restoration. This city is a lively place for cultural, historical, music and art activities. The City of Coral Gables Museum plays an active role in the cultural and historical life of its citizens and visitors and provides routine bicycle/cultural tours, showcasing its rich ecological landscape and cultural heritage. Art Studios, playhouses, performing arts centers and cinemas are located in pedestrian friendly locations.

Business Landscape

Coral Gables is perhaps the only city in the county that competes with downtown Miami to attract large business offices who wish to have a local presence. Miracle Mile, Alhambra Circle are the locales of many office buildings and attract businesses such retail, restaurants, cultural and historical institutions. The city’s major employers are a diverse collection of educational, hospitality, healthcare, and professional organizations. Since the city’s incorporation in 1925 the largest employer has been the University of Miami. Hospitality represents almost 3,000 employees and health care more than 2,000 employees. Coral Gables is also attracting banking and investment banking headquarters from international sectors. The city also has a well-funded Business Improvements District, which collects additional taxes and provides additional services to commercial establishments. This agency attracts evening and weekend traffic to area businesses. A sample of large employers are:

• The University of Miami has been the largest employer (14,604 employees and 16,774 students) in Coral Gables since the city's beginning.
• Baptist Hospital of Miami is the second largest employer in Coral Gables.
• Bacardi has its headquarters with 300 employees at 2701 Le Jeune Road.
• Capital Bank Financial has its headquarters in Coral Gables.
• Intelsat has its Latin American headquarters in Suite 1100 at One Alhambra Plaza.
• Fresh Del Monte Produce has its headquarters in Coral Gables.
• Exxon Mobil has marine fuels operations in Suite 900 at One Alhambra Plaza in Coral Gables.
• MasTec is located at 800 South Douglas Road.
• Odebrecht Construction, Inc. has over 300 employees at its location at 201 Alhambra Circle.
• American Airlines maintains the Ponce de Leon Travel Center at 901 Ponce De Leon Boulevard.
• MoneyGram has its Miami Office in Coral Gables.
• Dolphin Entertainment is an independent film studio that is located in Coral Gables

Transportation Characteristics

Coral Gables is known for its pedestrian and bicycle friendly environment. The city used to have an electric trolley system, which was replaced by the popularity of modern automobiles, but now a new free circulator trolley system, initiated in November 2003, runs down Ponce de León Boulevard. The city is considering expansion plans to serve additional areas of the city, including service to/from Flagler Street, a major County arterial and transit corridor.

The city deliberately steers major traffic generators and attractors toward the City's downtown area. Through 2014 several major transportation improvements are planned in the city. The Florida Department of Transportation is planning resurfacing, drainage improvements, and safety improvements to SW 8 Street, SW 57 Avenue, SW 40 Street, and Le Jeune Road. The county’s Public Works Department will resurface Bird Road, improve intersections on Granada Boulevard and Ponce de Leon, design and construct traffic circles in several locations around the city, and build a pedestrian overpass at the University Metrorail Station.