The Coral Gables city commission voted to allow the city manager and city attorney to negotiate a contract price up to $21.6 million for construction of a streetscape project on Miracle Mile and Giralda Avenue.
Major construction work on the project is expected to start in summer.
The project will widen sidewalks along Miracle Mile, a four-block stretch of Coral Way in downtown Coral Gables between LeJeune Road and Douglas Road. New trees will be planted and new streetlights installed.
A conversion from angled parking to parallel parking on Miracle Mile will make room for wider sidewalks. Contractors also will upgrade the drainage system on Miracle Mile and replace beige-colored concrete with shell-colored concrete.
Also planned is the removal of curbs on Giralda Avenue, which intersects Miracle Mile. The streetscape project would turn curbless Giralda into a path primarily for pedestrians.
Commissioner Patricia Keon told the Miami Herald she is concerned about the plans for Giralda Avenue: “I have really grave concerns over what we’re doing to development there.” [The Miami Herald] — Mike Seemuth