Miami may lease historic high school for commercial uses

Tucked amidst Brickell’s towering skyline, Miami’s first high school – a bungalow-style structure built in 1905 – may soon be reactivated as a public center with commercial, retail, restaurant and café spaces.

On Dec. 12, the Miami City Commission is to vote on a resolution to authorize a lease agreement with 191 SW 12 Owner LLC, the developer of One Southside Park, for the historically designated schoolhouse that abuts the soaring 64-story project. If approved, the old school building at 142 SW 11th St. will be restored and repurposed for public use with plans to house a mix of businesses and amenities while preserving its historic charm.

After the City of Miami was officially incorporated in 1896, the schoolhouse opened in September 1905 to serve a rapidly growing population and address overcrowding at the grammar school on Northeast First Avenue. Initially accommodating just 49 students – 29 girls and 20 boys – it was the city’s first dedicated high school and one of its earliest civic structures.

However, the two-frame bungalow quickly outgrew its purpose and by 1911, a new school had replaced both the grammar and high school buildings.

The bungalow was moved down Biscayne Bay to serve as Southside Elementary School.

After another relocation in 1914, it became a private residence. Later facing demolition, the city, Miami High School alumni and the Dade Heritage Trust led a preservation campaign in 2003 to move the schoolhouse to Southside Park, where it now awaits rehabilitation.

The renovation is part of a broader 2020 agreement that allowed 191 SW 12 Owner LLC, an affiliate of JDS Development Group, to develop One Southside Park, a 64-story mixed-use tower in Brickell. As part of the $23 million purchase of city-owned property along Southwest Second Avenue, JDS committed to funding $8 million for a new, state-of-the-art Fire Station No. 4, $2.2 million for new fire trucks, enhancements to Southside Park and additional public benefits.

The schoolhouse, one of the city-owned parcels in the deal, is slated for a transformation as a result. Under the agreement before the city commission, the developer will reactive the site for public use and enjoyment, specifically including for commercial, retail and restaurant/café purposes as well as interior and exterior renovations to preserve and enhance the historic structure.

If commissioners approve today, the city manager will sign the lease, allowing renovations to move forward.