City OKs expansion funds for Coral Gables Art Cinema

Coral Gables officials on Tuesday approved allocating additional funds toward expansion of the Coral Gables Art Cinema.

The Coral Gables Art Cinema is set to receive $100,000 to cover the funding cap it has experienced since its 2019 expansion, and $350,000 funding approval by the city.

“I led that effort via sponsoring, and I’m very proud of sponsoring that legislation because I really believe that the cinema does an amazing job, not only in regard to driving people to downtown, which the numbers don’t lie,” said Mayor Vince Lago during the commission meeting. “You can see it in the parking funds in regard to the investment, but just the number of people that come to eat, dine, shop, who are also coming to enjoy the cinema.”

The Coral Gables Art Cinema at 260 Aragon Ave. is a cultural driver, he continued.

“It really is elevating the city and is the most respected cinema, not only in South Florida, in my opinion, probably in the state, if not in the entire country. Since we got that approval, the cinema has been working really hard and has raised over $1 million in commitments,” Mayor Lago added. “Since then, we’ve only had one issue, which is the construction costs, but we have permanent plans. We have the money from the donors, and we’re ready to expand the cinema. I think this is a no-brainer for the city, and a beautiful opportunity.”

In regard to that, Coral Gables is a community that’s not only committed to culture, but it’s expanding culture, he said: “Not only is there economic impact, but this redefines our culture. Together with Books & Books and the Coral Gables Museum, it anchors Aragon Avenue as a concentrated cultural center, reinforcing the city’s identity as a destination for high-quality cultural experiences.”

Since coming on board in 2017 as the arts cinema’s executive and programming director, Brenda Moe said, the mayor has been very supportive and vocal about expansion plans and understanding this is not a hangout.

“We are serving 60,000 people every year, and we are the only cinema in South Florida that has 70-millimeter projectors. That’s a really big deal,” she told the commission.

The city is also planning to manage the construction project and act as the construction manager for the cinema.

The city would convert a storefront retail space at 240 Aragon Ave. into a modern 92-seat film theater with a large lobby, curated café, and administrative offices. A re-envisioned storefront will feature late nineteenth through twentieth-century cinema museum artifacts, which, city staff says, enhance the beautification of the city and cultural arts experience. More sensory-friendly screenings, curated conversations with leading cultural arts and film experts, and programming serving underserved children will be heavily on the agenda for the new auditorium.

“This is a city-owned building, so as we renovate this, it’s only going to increase the value of the property,” Mayor Lago said, “Multiple contractors gave pricing and had a vetting process, which staff reviewed. At the end of the day, the manager and his team will make sure that every single dollar goes through procurement, have a schedule of payments, and that everything is done accordingly, as per construction management guidelines.”