George Washington Carver Elementary School defends its Golden Pumpkin title as 12 Miami-Dade schools come together to turn post-Halloween waste into an environmental learning experience.

What happens to thousands of pumpkins after Halloween? In Miami-Dade County, students are discovering that the answer doesn’t have to be the landfill.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), in partnership with Fertile Earth, is bringing back its Second Annual Pumpkin Smash!, transforming leftover Halloween pumpkins into an opportunity for environmental education, community involvement, and a little friendly competition.

After collecting an impressive 6,850 pounds of pumpkins during last year’s inaugural event, participating schools have set an ambitious goal for 2026: double that amount while inspiring more students to understand the importance of composting, food recovery, and protecting the environment.

This year, 12 schools across Miami-Dade County joined the initiative, collecting pumpkins from November 2 through November 5. The program culminates in a special collection event at George Washington Carver Elementary School on November 6, where students and educators celebrate their efforts alongside representatives from Fertile Earth and the school district.

For Carver Elementary, the excitement carries an additional challenge. As the reigning winner of the prestigious Golden Pumpkin Award, the school is determined to defend its championship title.

“As we prepare to defend our first place Golden Pumpkin Award this year, Carver is bringing back that team spirit and is determined to turn even more waste into wins for our school and our planet!” said Principal Patricia Fairclough.

But beyond the competition, Pumpkin Smash is teaching students something that extends far beyond the classroom: even something as simple as a discarded pumpkin can have a second life.

Through Fertile Earth’s collection process, pumpkins are weighed using specially equipped trucks before being directed toward their highest and best use. Suitable pumpkins may be donated to local farms for animal consumption, while the remaining eligible organic material is composted, eventually returning valuable nutrients to the soil.

“We are embarking on a new era, in which elementary school students are learning about composting and sharing that information with their parents,” said Dr. Lanette Sobel, Founder and CEO of Fertile Earth.

That exchange of knowledge between children and parents is perhaps one of the initiative’s most meaningful outcomes. Students are not simply learning about sustainability; they are becoming environmental ambassadors within their own households.

“The Pumpkin Smash proves that sustainability can be a blast. It’s an easy, engaging way to get students excited about diverting waste and taking pride in their school community,” said Karly Pulido, Resource Efficiency Officer for Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

This year’s competition also introduces the 100% Clean Collection Certificate, recognizing schools that properly prepare their pumpkins by removing candles, glitter, paint, plastic decorations, and other contaminants. The recognition reinforces an important environmental lesson: responsible waste management is not only about how much material is collected, but also about ensuring it can be successfully recovered and reused.

The initiative is part of a broader partnership between M-DCPS and Fertile Earth, which includes an 18-month school composting pilot program focused on recovering food scraps and exploring sustainable waste management practices within the school system.

Among the participating schools are Coconut Grove Elementary, David Fairchild Elementary, Sunset Elementary, South Miami K-8 Center, Pinecrest Elementary, and George Washington Carver Elementary, connecting students from communities across Miami-Dade through a shared environmental mission.

With the official 2026 Golden Pumpkin Award winners scheduled to be announced on November 12, the competition is far from over.

Yet regardless of which school takes home the trophy, the larger victory is already taking shape: a generation of young students discovering that protecting the environment begins with everyday choices.

And sometimes, making a difference starts with a pumpkin.

The post Pumpkin Smash 2026 appeared first on Coconut Grove Magazine.

Coconut Grove is about to get a little sweeter. Levain Bakery, the beloved New York institution famous for its oversized six-ounce cookies, is preparing to open in one of Miami’s most charming and walkable neighborhoods in early 2027.

For cookie enthusiasts, the arrival is something worth celebrating. Known for its thick, golden-brown cookies with irresistibly gooey centers, Levain has built a devoted following that stretches far beyond New York City. What began as a modest neighborhood bakery on Manhattan’s Upper West Side has become a destination for visitors from around the world, with its signature chocolate chip walnut cookie achieving something close to legendary status.

But behind those famous cookies is a story of friendship, ambition, and one very happy accident.

In 1995, friends Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald opened a small bread shop on West 74th Street in Manhattan. Both accomplished bakers who had supplied bread to some of New York City’s favorite restaurants, they shared a passion for traditional baking and quality ingredients. They named their new venture Levain Bakery, borrowing the French word associated with naturally leavened bread.

In those early days, the small team baked every loaf, baguette, and roll by hand. Cookies weren’t part of the original plan.

Outside the bakery, Pam and Connie were dedicated triathletes, spending long hours training and looking for ways to fuel their workouts. Their solution? An enormous chocolate chip walnut cookie packed with enough substance to satisfy even the most demanding appetite.

They decided to offer a batch at the bakery, and the response was immediate. Customers couldn’t get enough. What began as a homemade training snack quickly became the bakery’s defining creation, turning the little Upper West Side shop into a New York culinary landmark.

Three decades later, Levain has expanded beyond Manhattan, introducing its signature cookies to neighborhoods across the country while maintaining the baking traditions that made it famous.

The upcoming Grove location will offer Levain’s full lineup of signature six-ounce cookies, including the original Chocolate Chip Walnut, Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip, and Oatmeal Raisin, alongside rotating seasonal creations and limited-edition flavors.

And while the cookies may be the main attraction, there’s much more coming out of the oven.

Freshly baked breads, brioche, muffins, and scones will be prepared on-site daily, continuing the bakery’s original bread-making heritage. The Coconut Grove location will also offer sandwiches made in-house each day and a full coffee menu, making it as much a neighborhood breakfast and lunch destination as an afternoon stop for something sweet.

The arrival feels particularly fitting for Coconut Grove, where sidewalk cafés, independent shops, and neighborhood gathering places have long been part of the community’s identity. As the Grove continues to attract nationally recognized culinary brands, the challenge remains preserving the intimate, walkable character that makes the neighborhood distinctive.

Levain’s origins as a small neighborhood bakery offer an interesting connection to that spirit. Despite its national expansion, the brand’s story remains rooted in two friends, a shared passion for baking, and the simple pleasure of creating something people love.

For longtime New Yorkers now calling Miami home, the opening promises a familiar taste of the city they left behind. For Grovites discovering Levain for the first time, it introduces a bakery whose reputation has been built one enormous cookie at a time.

Expected to open in early 2027 at 2979 McFarlane Rd, Miami, FL 33133, Levain Bakery’s Coconut Grove location will bring a little Upper West Side tradition to Miami’s tropical village, across from Mr. C, walking distance from the Mayfair, Arbor Residences and the WELL currently in development.

And if history is any indication, those warm chocolate chip walnut cookies may soon have a devoted following of their own in the Grove.

The post New York’s Famous Levain Bakery Expected to open in early 2027 appeared first on Coconut Grove Magazine.

Coconut Grove has always had a certain kind of luxury that money alone cannot create. Its winding streets, lush tropical canopy, historic waterfront estates, and understated elegance have long attracted those seeking something different from Miami’s high-rise lifestyle.

Now, one of the world’s most celebrated hospitality brands has taken notice.

Raffles Hotels & Resorts, the legendary name behind nearly 140 years of luxury hospitality, has selected Coconut Grove for its first-ever standalone branded residential development.

The announcement marks a historic milestone for Raffles and another defining moment in Coconut Grove’s evolution into one of South Florida’s most desirable luxury residential destinations.

Developed by Mast Capital and BH Group, Raffles Residences Coconut Grove will introduce an exceptionally limited collection of just 35 private waterfront residences at 2545 South Bayshore Drive, with prices beginning at $4.5 million.

But this is not simply another luxury condominium development arriving in the neighborhood. It represents a significant shift in how one of the world’s most established hospitality brands envisions the future of residential living.

For decades, Coconut Grove has quietly distinguished itself from the rest of Miami. While other neighborhoods have built their identities around soaring skyscrapers, nightlife, and international spectacle, the Grove has remained rooted in something increasingly rare: authenticity.

Its tropical landscape, historic architecture, waterfront lifestyle, and strong sense of community have created an atmosphere that cannot easily be replicated. And that distinction is precisely what attracted Raffles.

“As a neighborhood with a rich cultural heritage, a strong sense of community, and an effortless sophistication, Coconut Grove is a natural first for our first standalone, branded residences,” said Omer Acar, CEO of Raffles.

For a brand whose story began with the opening of Raffles Singapore in 1887, the choice carries particular significance. Raffles has built its reputation in destinations where history, architecture, culture, and hospitality come together. From Singapore and Paris to London and Boston, its properties have become landmarks in their own right.

Coconut Grove now joins that distinguished international narrative.

What makes this project particularly interesting is what it will not include. Unlike traditional branded residences connected to luxury hotels, Raffles Residences Coconut Grove is being conceived entirely around private homeownership, without a hotel component.

Instead, the development will translate the Raffles hospitality experience into a more intimate residential environment, where personalized service, privacy, and discretion become part of everyday life.

With only 35 residences, the concept moves away from the scale of Miami’s larger luxury developments and toward something far more exclusive. Homeowners will experience the brand’s renowned approach to hospitality, where individual preferences are remembered and services are tailored to personal lifestyles.

The project will also offer access to the Accor Ownership Benefits Program, including global VIP recognition, elite loyalty membership, and preferred rates across Accor’s international hospitality portfolio.

Architecture will play an equally important role in bringing the Raffles vision to Coconut Grove.

The development is being designed by Brandon Haw Architecture, the firm founded by architect Brandon Haw following his 26-year tenure with Foster + Partners, where he directed the firm’s U.S. operations.

Positioned along Biscayne Bay, the building is envisioned as a sculptural waterfront landmark, with sweeping views of the bay, Coconut Grove’s lush residential landscape, and the Miami skyline.

The collection will include residences ranging from two to four-and-a-half bedrooms, along with a limited selection of penthouses. The architectural ambition is to create a building that feels distinctly Raffles while remaining connected to its Coconut Grove surroundings.

“Coconut Grove has always held a distinct place within Miami, evolving over generations while preserving the character and authenticity that make it unlike anywhere else,” said Camilo Miguel Jr., Founder and CEO of Mast Capital.

For the development team, that connection between the neighborhood’s past and its future is central to the project’s identity.

The arrival of Raffles is also part of a much larger story unfolding across Coconut Grove.

Over the past several years, the neighborhood has attracted increasing attention from luxury developers, international investors, and buyers seeking waterfront properties with greater privacy and a genuine neighborhood atmosphere.

Yet Coconut Grove’s appeal has never depended entirely on new development. Its value lies just as much in what has been preserved.

The tree-lined streets. The historic homes. The local businesses. The waterfront parks. The unmistakable sense of place that generations of Grovites have worked to protect.

As luxury investment continues to reshape the neighborhood, the challenge will be balancing that growth with the character that made Coconut Grove desirable in the first place.

For Raffles, that character is not incidental to the project. It is one of the reasons the brand chose to be here.

“Homeowners can be known, their preferences understood and the experience shaped around the way they live,” explained Isaac Toledano, Founder of BH Group, emphasizing the importance of personalized service and privacy.

That philosophy reflects a growing interest in residential environments that offer both the comforts of a private home and the service standards of an internationally recognized hospitality brand.

Rather than emphasizing size alone, the development is positioning itself around intimacy, continuity, and a residential experience intended to endure across generations.

Douglas Elliman Development Marketing will oversee exclusive sales and marketing, led by Sales Director Matthew Chook alongside agents Lourdes Alatriste, Jennifer Goldstein, and Jorge Sanchez. Sales are anticipated to launch in fall 2026.

For a neighborhood that has spent generations defining its own identity, the arrival of Raffles is a notable recognition of Coconut Grove’s place on the international luxury map.

But perhaps the most interesting aspect of this announcement is the relationship between the brand and its chosen destination.

Raffles brings nearly 140 years of hospitality history. Coconut Grove brings an even older story of waterfront living, culture, architecture, and community. Both have built their identities around a sense of place that cannot be manufactured overnight.

As Coconut Grove continues to evolve, developments like Raffles Residences raise an important question: Can a neighborhood welcome a new era of global luxury while preserving the qualities that made it extraordinary?

Raffles could have chosen many destinations for its first standalone residential development. It chose Coconut Grove.

And that decision says something about where the Grove stands today—and where it may be heading next.

The post RAFFLES DEBUTS FIRST STANDALONE BRANDED RESIDENCES IN COCONUT GROVE appeared first on Coconut Grove Magazine.

Hands-on demonstration: learning how professional tools and techniques work together.

JOIN THE FIRST CLASS
Saturday, November 7, 2026 • 2:00 PM
Büro Conference Center, Coconut Grove
Class fee: $97 • Advance registration required
Reserve your place: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1J1TVfv04ygrtX3J9_z0_F3dVTNejMcWPmh6Ayo04sl6QFw/viewform
A complimentary makeup demonstration will be announced soon, with additional classes and dates to follow.

I hope you’ll join me. When you look good and feel good about yourself, you exude confidence — and confidence is always beautiful!

With warm regards,
Terry Jacobs
Makeup and Beauty Editor, Coconut Grove Magazine
The Tropical Makeup Expert

The post LET’S GET PRETTY! A New Makeup & Beauty Series Comes to Coconut Grove appeared first on Coconut Grove Magazine.

Coconut Grove woke up to a different kind of energy Saturday morning as Faces of Fitness Miami 2026 officially took over Regatta Park, bringing together fitness enthusiasts, national wellness brands, celebrity talent, and local businesses for a weekend dedicated to movement, health, and community.

Making its highly anticipated South Florida debut, the two-day festival, presented by CELSIUS, transformed the waterfront park into a vibrant fitness destination filled with high-energy workouts, wellness experiences, interactive brand activations, giveaways, and an atmosphere that had participants moving from the moment they arrived.

And Coconut Grove showed up.

“We are so happy to be in Coconut Grove! The energy, the vibe, the people here really showed up,” said David Grass, Co-Founder and CEO of Faces of Fitness, expressing his excitement about the festival’s reception in the neighborhood.

With tickets selling out ahead of opening weekend, the festival arrived with tremendous momentum, drawing fitness enthusiasts from across South Florida and beyond.

The event brings together nationally recognized brands, including CELSIUS and lululemon, alongside some of Miami’s most recognizable fitness personalities and instructors.

Among the featured talent are Mimi Yoga; Jacqueline Kasen of Anatomy Limitless; Aryan Rashed of Tremble; Rachel Robinson and Derek DeGrazio of Barry’s; and Natali Melani and Lucia Di Tore of lululemon. NBA legend Dwyane Wade adds star power to the weekend as one of the festival’s headline attractions.

A Wellness Village With More Than 70 Experiences

Beyond the workout stages, one of the festival’s major attractions is The Wellness Village, powered by Sweatpals, featuring more than 70 experiences across five themed categories: Body as Hydration, Body as Fuel, Body as Oasis, Body as Machine, and Body as Fluid.

Visitors can explore everything from hydration and nutritional products to fitness technology, recovery innovations, health screenings, and interactive workout challenges.

Major participating brands include Gatorade, Propel, vitaminwater, LaCroix, Liquid Death, Muscle Milk, Peloton, TRX, SHOKZ, RITFIT, and Perform Better, offering product demonstrations, sampling, fitness experiences, and giveaways throughout the weekend.

The Body as Oasis section introduces participants to wellness and recovery innovations, including blood testing experiences by rythm, wellness offerings from PRIMABIOTIC, and interactive experiences from Baptist Health. Other brands, including KRAMPZ and Dude Wipes, bring their own approaches to personal care and wellness.

For those interested in nutrition, Body as Fuel features Carrot Express, Nowadays, MEZCLA, and The Better Bite, showcasing healthy food options, plant-based protein, and better-for-you snacks.

Coconut Grove Businesses Join the Experience

While national brands bring major visibility to the event, local businesses are also part of the celebration.

Chug’s Diner, a Coconut Grove neighborhood favorite, is among the featured businesses, introducing festival goers to its vibrant flavors and healthy snack offerings.

Miami-based Carrot Express, known for its health-conscious menu, adds a local connection to the festival’s nutrition-focused experiences, highlighting the role food plays in an active lifestyle.

The participation of local businesses alongside national fitness and wellness companies creates opportunities for neighborhood brands to connect with visitors who may be discovering Coconut Grove for the first time.

From complimentary beverages and protein samples to interactive demonstrations, wellness screenings, and fitness challenges, the Wellness Village offers something beyond the traditional fitness festival experience.

This is a movement for the Grove!

Beyond the workouts and celebrity appearances, the festival represents something bigger for Coconut Grove: the neighborhood’s growing appeal as a destination for major lifestyle and community events.

Known for its waterfront setting, outdoor culture, and strong neighborhood identity, Coconut Grove provides a natural backdrop for a festival built around active living and human connection.

The arrival of Faces of Fitness Miami also highlights the increasing intersection of fitness, hospitality, food, technology, and wellness, industries that continue to shape how people experience health and lifestyle.

For local businesses, the weekend brings an opportunity to introduce their brands to a wider audience. For residents, it brings another major experience directly into their neighborhood.

And for visitors, it offers a chance to discover the Grove beyond the festival grounds.

For its first South Florida appearance, Faces of Fitness Miami couldn’t have asked for a more energetic welcome. And Coconut Grove proved it knows how to show up.

The festival continues Sunday, October 25, at Regatta Park in Coconut Grove.

The post Faces of Fitness Festival Takes Over Regatta Park appeared first on Coconut Grove Magazine.

Presented by CELSIUS, the two-day fitness, health, and wellness festival is bringing its high-energy experience to Miami for the first time, following its origins in Chicago.

The sold-out event reflects Miami’s growing enthusiasm for fitness and wellness experiences that bring communities together through movement, motivation, and healthy living.

Headlining this year’s festival is NBA legend Dwyane Wade, alongside an impressive lineup of fitness professionals, wellness leaders, and nationally recognized brands, including lululemon.

Attendees can expect a weekend filled with group workouts, fitness challenges, wellness activations, brand experiences, and opportunities to connect with some of the industry’s leading trainers and personalities.

Local fitness talent will also take center stage, highlighting Miami’s thriving wellness community and its growing influence on the national fitness scene.

With tickets officially sold out, Faces of Fitness Miami is poised to transform Coconut Grove’s waterfront Regatta Park into a gathering place for thousands of fitness enthusiasts, athletes, and wellness advocates.

The festival’s arrival further positions Coconut Grove as a destination for major lifestyle events, bringing national attention to the neighborhood while celebrating the energy and community spirit that define Miami.

Faces of Fitness Miami takes place October 24–25 at Regatta Park, Coconut Grove. Tickets are officially sold out.

 

 

 

 

 

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The post Faces of Fitness Miami Sells Out Ahead of Its South Florida Debut at Regatta Park appeared first on Coconut Grove Magazine.

Disney Dreamers Academy’s next chapter reached South Florida, specifically landed in Coconut Grove last night, Thursday, Oct. 15, with an event at the Boys & Girls Club in Coconut Grove. As the program nears its 20th anniversary, Walt Disney World Resort is rethinking how it reaches young people. A new collaboration with Boys & Girls Clubs will bring mentorship, career exploration and hands-on experiences to students in their own communities, and to Walt Disney World itself.

From a Single Event to a Year-Round Experience

Since 2008, Disney Dreamers Academy has selected 100 high school students from across the country each year. More than 1,800 young people have taken part, and alumni have gone on to become entrepreneurs, educators, engineers, artists, health care professionals and community leaders. Many have returned as mentors to later classes.

The next phase turns that model into a year-round, multi-year program built to reach students earlier and keep them engaged over time. An initial pilot will serve middle school members of Boys & Girls Clubs in the Miami, Orlando, Atlanta and Houston metropolitan areas. Disney chose those four markets because of its existing relationships with local families and organizations.

200 Dreamers, Chosen by Their Local Clubs

The first class of this new chapter will include 200 students selected by participating Boys & Girls Clubs. Names will be announced this October, and programming begins in January 2027. The pilot relies on the trust Clubs have already built with young people and their families, bringing the program into familiar community spaces while continuing its commitment to serving diverse groups of students.
“This next chapter is about meeting students where they are and helping them discover what’s possible for their future at an earlier age,” said Tajiana Ancora-Brown, Director of External Affairs at Walt Disney World.

What Dreamers Can Expect

Blending virtual and in-person experiences, the program will focus on four areas:

• Year-round programming: Workshops and hands-on activities led by Disney Cast Members and experts will introduce students to fields ranging from engineering to animal sciences.
• Mentorship: Students will join a community of Cast Members and fellow Dreamers, with a chance to meet professionals whose backgrounds may mirror their own.
• Confidence and leadership: Ongoing support is designed to strengthen self-assurance and leadership skills while deepening ties to mentors, peers and local communities.
• Disney experiences: Students will encounter Disney both at their local Clubs and on visits to Walt Disney World, bringing their journey full circle.

Voices Behind the Program

Sivonne Davis, Vice President of Marketing Strategy at Walt Disney World, pointed to the program’s track record. “I’ve seen firsthand the confidence, connections and opportunities Disney Dreamers Academy has provided students over the past 19 years,” she said.
Jamie Merrill, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, said the partnership will help young people look past their present circumstances. “Programs like this create the exposure and opportunities that help our young people dream beyond their circumstances and see new possibilities for their future,” he said.

Investment and What’s Next

Walt Disney World will invest across the participating Clubs over the program’s first two years, covering the current school year and the 2027-28 school year. The company has not disclosed the amount. Further details about the program’s next chapter are expected in the coming months.

About Disney Dreamers Academy: Launched in 2008, Disney Dreamers Academy is a signature Walt Disney World youth development program that connects students with Disney leaders, Cast Members and industry professionals through immersive experiences, mentorship and career exploration.

About Boys & Girls Clubs: For more than 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs has served millions of young people nationwide, offering a safe, supportive environment with programs focused on academic success, character and leadership development, and healthy lifestyles.

The post Disney Dreamers Academy builds on 20-year legacy to inspire more students to dream beyond imagination appeared first on Coconut Grove Magazine.

The Coconut Grove location would be the chain’s first Miami-area café. La La Land operates locations across California, Texas, Arizona, and Tennessee, including Santa Monica, Calabasas, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Nashville.

The café describes itself as a “dream world” centered on coffee, tea, matcha, and food, with a strong emphasis on community. Its spaces are designed to evoke optimism, warmth, and mental well-being, and the brand is known for baristas who greet guests warmly, sometimes with phrases like “I love you.” If the Coconut Grove location follows the brand’s signature look, visitors can expect a bright, airy space with clean white backdrops, creamy neutrals, and warm browns, accented by bold pops of yellow on cups, signage, and décor. Light-filled interiors, joyful music, and uplifting affirmations are common throughout its cafés, along with signature yellow cups and encouraging messages.

The menu features drinks such as the La La Latte, Banana Cloud Latte, and Lavender Bloom Latte, alongside a selection of toast, breakfast items, and pastries. The exact menu for the Coconut Grove location has not yet been confirmed.

Commodore Plaza is one of Coconut Grove’s most walkable village streets, anchored by locally loved shops, restaurants, and cafés. LoKal, at 3190 Commodore Plaza, was a neighborhood fixture for 15+ years, known for its burgers, local beer, and relaxed atmosphere. LoKal was one of the reasons people came to Coconut Grove in the first place, drawn by its delicious burgers, laid-back atmosphere, and authentic neighborhood charm. It was the kind of locally owned establishment that helped make the Grove the beloved destination it is today.

As Coconut Grove continues to attract national chains and out-of-state brands, a growing concern is the future of its independently owned businesses. Rising commercial rents and changing storefronts raise questions about how many neighborhood establishments can continue to thrive. As the neighborhood evolves, preserving space for the independent businesses that helped shape its identity may be just as important as welcoming new ones.

La La Land’s arrival also reflects a broader trend of national brands making their way to Coconut Grove. Whether these new concepts will blend into the Grove’s relaxed, bohemian character remains a topic of discussion among residents.

As commercial rents continue to rise and national brands establish a greater presence, one question remains: What will Coconut Grove look like in the next five to ten years? Will it continue to thrive as the charming, bohemian village that made it a destination in the first place, or will rising costs and corporate expansion gradually erase its unique identity? Will it face the empty storefronts, endless “For Lease” signs, and fading neighborhood character seen along Lincoln Road and Wynwood, or become another concrete jungle like Brickell, where towering high-rises, relentless development, and a transient population of people constantly moving in and out have replaced the sense of a close-knit community with a revolving door of residents, visitors, and businesses?

Growth may bring investment and new opportunities, but at what cost? If national brands ultimately displace the local businesses that gave Coconut Grove its character, will there be any soul left to preserve?

Follow us on our Instagram channel for more. @coconutgrovemag

The post La La Land Cafe Taking Over the Old LoKal Space appeared first on Coconut Grove Magazine.

The project, known as the Williams Hibiscus Project, is a partnership between Greater St. Paul AME Church and Dragonfly Investments. It is part of a broader initiative to restore historic homes throughout the historically Bahamian West Grove, where decades of gentrification and rising property values have made it increasingly difficult for longtime residents to remain.

According to a notice filed with the City of Miami’s Department of Housing & Community Development, marketing and leasing for six income-restricted units at 3574 William Ave. will begin October 29, 2026. The city received notice of the leasing activity in September 2026.

Rental rates for the units are set to start as low as $1,500 per month, notably below market rate for the area, where typical rents on the same block have recently run several times higher, according to listings data.

City records show construction on Phase II of the project, which includes the William Avenue building, is currently underway.

The William Avenue leasing marks the latest step in a project that ultimately calls for restoring ten homes across two sites in Little Bahamas. Earlier phases focused on Hibiscus Street, where Greater St. Paul AME Church and Dragonfly Investments renovated a pair of 86-year-old cottages rather than demolishing them — an approach meant to preserve the architectural and cultural character of the neighborhood while still adding affordable units.

That smaller-scale, preservation-minded model has drawn attention from local officials as a potential template for other affordable housing efforts in the West Grove, where large-scale redevelopment has often been at odds with the neighborhood’s historic Bahamian heritage.
The project sits within City of Miami Commission District 2, represented by Commissioner Damian Pardo, whose office has pointed to the Hibiscus-area work as evidence that community-scale restoration projects can attract support, and potentially funding, for similar efforts elsewhere in the neighborhood.

Little Bahamas has long been one of Miami’s most historically significant Bahamian neighborhoods, but it has seen its affordable housing stock shrink considerably as Coconut Grove real estate values have climbed. City and county officials have launched several initiatives in recent years, including projects on Hibiscus Street, Mundy Street, and now William Avenue, aimed at slowing displacement and preserving long-term residents’ access to the neighborhood.

The William Avenue units are among six currently being brought online through the Williams Hibiscus Project, with applications accepted until a sufficient number are received.

Leasing information: 305-448-2742 or leasing@greaterstpaulame.com. Leasing activity will take place at Greater St. Paul AME Church, 3680 Thomas Ave., Miami, FL 33133.

The post Rents Starting at $1,500: Affordable Housing Leasing Begins at Greater St. Paul AME’s Williams Hibiscus Project in Little Bahamas appeared first on Coconut Grove Magazine.

I’m Terry Jacobs, the new Makeup and Beauty Editor for Coconut Grove Magazine, and I’m delighted to have this opportunity to share my passion and experience with our community.

Having called Coconut Grove home for over 45 years, many of you might already know me from my Grove Isle Studio and, later on, Fuller Street. For those new to the Grove, welcome!

My career in beauty began behind the Revlon counter in Connecticut. What started as a young woman’s passion for makeup grew into a career with Revlon, where I became one of the company’s top-producing salespeople and, eventually, sales manager for New York State and Western Massachusetts. My career later took me to Milan, where I worked as a makeup artist for several years, and onto movie sets with many well-known faces. I was also honored to be featured in Allure magazine as offering one of the Best Makeup Lessons in the USA.

Now that you’ve gotten to know a little about me, I’d like to make this column about you. Let me know how I can help you and what you’d like to learn.

From time to time, I’ll choose a local resident to be my Featured Model of the Month. I’ll create a makeup look especially for her and share what I used, what I did, and why—so everyone can pick up a few new ideas along the way.

Have a beauty question you’d like me to answer? Or would you like to be considered as one of my featured models? I’d love to hear from you.

Email me at terry@terryjacobs.com
Visit my website: https://www.terryjacobs.com 

Here’s to looking beautiful, feeling confident, and having a little fun along the way!

Terry Jacobs
Makeup and Beauty Editor, Coconut Grove Magazine
The Tropical Makeup Expert

The post Meet Terry Jacobs, Coconut Grove’s Makeup & Beauty Editor appeared first on Coconut Grove Magazine.