Allen Morris Company Spearheads Private / Public Partnership with City of Coral Gables To Upgrade Ponce Circle Park

Allen Morris Co., a diversified Southeast real estate development firm developing Ponce Park Coral Gables and Ziggurat Coconut Grove, has revealed a public-private partnership with the City of Coral Gables and Agave Holdings, owner of The Plaza Coral Gables, for the redesign and cultural reactivation of Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park.

The $10+ million project is funded through a three-way public/private partnership among the Allen Morris Company, the City of Coral Gables and Agave Holdings. Allen Morris Company is also guaranteeing any cost overruns beyond the committed amounts, underscoring its commitment to delivering the project as designed.

“World-class cities are defined by their parks and public spaces,” said Mayor Vince Lago. “The transformation of Ponce Circle Park is another step in our commitment to creating exceptional open spaces that strengthen our downtown and enhance the quality of life for generations to come.”

"Every great city is remembered by its public spaces. They become the places where people gather, celebrate, reflect, and create memories across generations. Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park sits at the heart of Coral Gables, surrounded by many of the city's most important destinations, and we have a rare opportunity to help create a park that truly belongs to the community. Working alongside the City of Coral Gables and Agave Holdings, our goal is to create a place of lasting beauty—one that enriches daily life, reflects the character of Coral Gables, and serves as a source of pride for generations to come," said W.A. Spencer Morris, President of Allen Morris Co.

The initiative reflects Coral Gables’ long-standing tradition of public-private collaboration, where civic ambition and private investment combine to shape enduring public spaces.

"I am incredibly proud that Allen Morris Co. and the City of Coral Gables shared the transformative vision to reimagine Ponce Circle as a functional, timeless, and elegant public park. Chic, sophisticated, inviting, and European in spirit, the park reflects the magic that happens when great minds, thoughtful planning, and exceptional design come together to create a lasting legacy for residents, visitors, and everyone who lives, works, and gathers in our city," said Maricris Longo, Coral Gables resident, real estate investor, and community advocate.

Public art centerpiece

A defining feature of the renewed park will be Puffed and Inverted Star II, a monumental polished aluminum sculpture by Frank Stella, installed in a reflecting pool at the north end of the park. The sculpture was acquired by the City of Coral Gables following the recommendation of the Cultural Development Board. Stella passed away in May 2024 at the age of 87, making this a posthumous public installation of one of his final large-scale works. The sculpture will become an instant landmark, a defining visual element of downtown Coral Gables, and a destination.

A historic civic space reimagined

Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park, located at 2810 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, has been a civic gathering place since the early development of Coral Gables in the 1920s under founder George Merrick. Originally designed by landscape architect William Lyman Phillips, the park has long served as a central point within the city’s historic urban fabric. This project marks the most comprehensive reimagining of the park in its history, positioning it for its next century as a civic and cultural anchor for the community.

Design team and ecological approach

The architectural and landscape vision for the park is led by Maria de la Guardia of de la Guardia Victoria Architects & Urbanists, a Coral Gables-based firm known for its context-sensitive approach rooted in classical architecture and urbanism, in collaboration with Andres Arcila of Naturalficial. Planting design is developed in coordination with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, ensuring a resilient, biodiverse, and regionally appropriate landscape strategy.

Integrated public realm improvements

In addition to the park redesign, the project includes a coordinated set of streetscape and infrastructure upgrades along Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Almeria Avenue to University Drive. Improvements include enhanced pedestrian crossings, raised crosswalks, speed tables, and a new stormwater drainage system, all designed to improve safety, connectivity, and walkability. Together, the park and streetscape interventions will create a more unified and accessible civic corridor.

The Odeon: a new cultural venue

At the center of the redesigned park will be the Odeon, an open-air performance structure designed to host year-round programming including concerts, theatrical performances, civic events, fitness classes, and cultural gatherings. When not programmed, the Odeon will function as flexible public seating, ensuring continuous activation of the space throughout the day and evening.

Project leadership and timeline

Allen Morris Company is serving as Development Manager for the project, overseeing design, permitting, and construction through completion. The Coral Gables City Commission has unanimously approved the project, and a Development Management Agreement has been executed between all parties. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2027, with completion anticipated in the first quarter of 2028.

Past PROFILEmiami articles about Ponce Park Coral Gables:

For more information about Ponce Park Coral Gables fill out the form below:

City of Miami Beach, Terra and GFO Investments Hold Groundbreaking For Daniel Buren-Designed Pedestrian Bridge

The City of Miami Beach, in partnership with developers Terra, led by David Martin, and GFO Investments, led by Russell Galbut, have broken ground on the colorful pedestrian bridge that will soon welcome millions of visitors who enter Miami Beach along 5 Street. Construction for the new Daniel Buren-designed landmark began in January and is expected to be completed by the summer or fall of 2026. The striking piece is being developed as part of a public-private partnership between the city and the Five Park development team. In 2022, Martin and Galbut delivered the Canopy Park to the community under a similar arrangement that paved the way for the adjacent 48-story Arquitectonica-designed condo tower that opened late last year.

“Our new pedestrian bridge isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about safety, accessibility, and walkability," said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner. "By providing a secure and enjoyable way to cross one of our busiest roadways, we're making Miami Beach safer and more connected.

“This project represents a transformative milestone for Miami Beach, blending world-class public art and practical connectivity to enhance the urban experience,” said Martin, CEO of Terra. “Daniel Buren’s visionary design elevates a simple pedestrian bridge into a work of art, while providing much-needed accessibility and connectivity between some of our city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. We are proud to partner with the City of Miami Beach and GFO Investments to deliver this landmark as part of the Five Park development.”

More than a bridge, the Fifth Street Pedestrian Bridge is the crowning gem that will complete the area's circulation network, linking the South of Fifth and West Avenue neighborhoods. This elevated crossing will connect the city’s popular Beachwalk amenity in South Pointe Park to the coming Baywalk amenity. Once completed, the bridge will enhance bicycle and pedestrian travel for residents and visitors alike.

Buren, an internationally acclaimed French conceptual artist, is celebrated for his work at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain as well as his work at the acclaimed international cultural exhibition in Italy, the Venice Biennale. The Miami Beach project is expected to redefine the city’s urban landscape, becoming a signature architectural and artistic achievement.

Known for creating some of the world’s most iconic public art installations — such as the black-and-white marble columns at the Palais Royal in Paris and the vibrant sails of colored glass at the Louis Vuitton Foundation — Buren’s 158-foot enclosed pedestrian bridge will feature a mosaic of vibrant, translucent panels, which transform sunlight into a kaleidoscope of colors, casting dynamic patterns across the walkway and street below.

Designed with accessibility in mind, the bridge will feature elevators and stairs that are thoughtfully integrated into the surrounding landscaping and greenery, ensuring ease of use for all residents and visitors.

Upon completion, the bridge will offer effortless access to Miami Beach’s premier attractions, including world-class dining, luxury retail, wellness centers, arts venues and elevated nightlife experiences, further enhancing the city’s vibrant appeal.

The project was partially funded by a General Obligation Bond approved by City of Miami Beach voters in 2018.

Images via City of Miami Beach, Terra and GFO Investments

ArquitectonicaGEO-Designed Canopy Park Opens To Public On Alton Road In Miami Beach

Canopy Park, Miami Beach’s new three-acre community park situated between the 600 and 700 blocks of Alton Road, is now open to the public. Park-goers can enjoy open greenspaces shaded by native tree species, pedestrian trails and bike paths, an outdoor gym and dog run, a MONSTRUM-designed children’s playground, and public art displays. Designed with sustainability in mind, Canopy Park reflects how landscape architecture can serve as a green resiliency solution for coastal communities with a host of environmentally conscious features including a Maritime Hammock, bioswales, and a 25,000-gallon cistern to conserve and manage rainwater.

Additionally, Canopy Park will connect to Miami Beach’s popular South of Fifth neighborhood and complete the Miami Beach Baywalk via a new signature pedestrian bridge designed by Daniel Buren spanning the MacArthur Causeway/5th Street, creating a safe and seamless connection running from South Pointe Park north to the Lincoln Road District and east to the beachfront.

“Instead of a massive wall of rental units, we now have this exquisite greenspace in a neighborhood where no one has a backyard,” said City of Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber. “This park will quickly become a welcomed amenity for nearby residents and a favorite gathering spot for our entire community.”

Canopy Park was developed by TCH 500 Alton, LLC, a partnership between two of Miami Beach’s deepest-rooted real estate developers: David Martin and Russell Galbut. The development team, which is also behind the neighboring Five Park residential tower, constructed and donated the park to the City of Miami Beach’s Parks & Recreation Department as a gift to the community’s residents and visitors.

“Canopy Park will be a gateway for the City of Miami Beach, a destination for visitors, and an everyday amenity for residents, so we’ve taken the time to assemble a team of visionaries who have led some of the most transformational projects in the world,” said developer Russell Galbut of TCH 500 Alton, LLC. “We’ve created a vibrant community asset that brings people together while providing a design experience that rivals public spaces in the world’s greatest cities.”

A major design component of Canopy Park, which was imagined by landscape architect Laurinda Spear’s ArquitectonicaGEO, is a “natural play” playground by Danish design firm MONSTRUM, which is famous for creating artistic and architectural playscapes around the world. A standout element of the playground is an eye-catching slide paying homage to pioneer developer Carl G. Fisher’s cultural mascot Rosie the Elephant, an instrumental historical figure known for putting Miami Beach on the map as a luxury destination and “America’s winter playground” in the early 1920s. Infused with art and design, a distinctive sculpture by Miami-based artist Mark Handforth also enriches the outdoor space.

“Canopy Park was designed with beautiful aesthetics in mind but also serves a broader environmental purpose,” said developer David Martin of TCH 500 Alton, LLC. “The park’s innovative sustainability and resiliency attributes will benefit not only the future residents of the adjacent Five Park tower, but also the entire surrounding neighborhood.”

Canopy Park’s sustainability and resiliency features include:

• Vegetation, Biodiversity and Native Plant Communities: Canopy Park boasts lush, sustainable landscaping comprising nearly 40 different plant and tree species. There have been 221 trees and 121 palms newly planted in the park, of which 80 percent are native, and 100 percent are low maintenance and tolerant of drought. The incredibly varied plant biodiversity not only beautifies the area, but also performs incredibly important roles that will help balance ecosystems, mitigate soil erosion, decrease urban heating effects, provide habitats for threatened animals, and protect watersheds from destructive floods.

• Maritime Hammock and Habitat Restoration: In addition to the extensive tree canopy throughout the park, a Maritime Hammock, consisting of 2.6 times the required ground cover by code, anchors the north end of the park. The hammock offers crucial shade from the year-round sun, captures carbon and toxins from the air, and diminishes the urban heat island effect, cooling the surrounding area. It also restores natural habitats, regenerates roosting areas, and provides feeding opportunities for birds, bats, native bees, and other pollinators. Canopy Park aims to replicate the original tropical forests once found in Miami Beach to reinforce an original and stable ecosystem in the area.

• Irrigation, Water Conservation, and Rainwater Management: A weather-based irrigation controller and rain sensors limit watering during the rainy season. A 25,000-gallon cistern captures excess runoff during major storm events and irrigates plantings throughout the year, with a capacity to irrigate the park completely on collected rainwater for one week before needing replenishment. Green infrastructure solutions like bioswales and rain gardens allow for proper site filtration and management for all of the rainwater that enters the site. The resulting effect is that 90% of the stormwater is captured and diverted before it ever reaches Biscayne Bay, protecting wild grasses and native species from harmful debris and pollutants.

• The Million Orchid Project: In addition to the stunning greenery, Canopy Park is home to hundreds of vibrant, native orchids as part of The Million Orchid Project. Once an abundant, natural flower proliferating across Miami Beach, orchid numbers have dwindled as the City of Miami Beach has developed and expanded. To address this problem, The Million Orchid Project, the National Orchid Garden, and the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden – alongside local volunteers and the park’s development team – joined forces to propagate and plant over 600 wild orchids throughout the park grounds to reinstate the majestic flower in Miami Beach.

• Next door, development is currently underway at Five Park, an iconic 48-story luxury residential tower that will offer unparalleled five-star amenities, including Miami Beach’s premier resident-only members club, The Canopy Club. The project is estimated to be completed in 2024.

• Approved plans for the site also include The Miami Beach Canopy Bridge, a signature pedestrian bridge spanning 5th Street designed by international artist Daniel Buren. The Miami Beach Canopy Bridge – subtitled Walking Under, Along, and On the Colors: work in-situ by Daniel Buren – will complete the Miami Beach Baywalk, creating a safe and seamless connection running from Southpointe Park North to the Lincoln Road District and East to the beachfront. The Miami Beach Canopy will become an instant landmark for Miami Beach and a beloved work of public art that guides pedestrians along a rainbow of colorful shadows. Construction of the pedestrian bridge is expected to get underway in 2023.

Images via World Red Eye

Miami City Commission Approves Savino Miller-Designed Baywalk And Riverwalk Design Guidelines For Downtown Miami and Brickell

The Miami City Commission has approved the Savino Miller Design Studio-designed design guidelines for the Miami Baywalk, a priority of the DDA (Downtown Development Authority) and achievement that has been over 40 years in the making. The effort dates back to the 1979 Dan Paul ordinance requiring 50-foot setbacks along the waterfront and requiring developers to build and maintain a 25-foot wide public promenade.

The Miami-based Savino Miller Design Studio was selected by the Downtown Development Authority to design the baywalk in 2017. The approved design will make the Baywalk one uniform pathway that is well lit and aesthetically attractive. The design provides resiliency and is both functional and sustainable to protect the shoreline. The pedestrian pathway will also be well lit for safety as well as feature public art and lush landscaping.

The vote amends the City's Miami 21 code to include required design guidelines, carrying big implications for developers planning future projects along the water. From this point forward, any permits pulled for new development or significant renovations to existing properties will have to abide by the ‘Waterfront Walkway Design Guidelines’ that provide a clear and cohesive vision for the design and construction for both the Baywalk and Riverwalk. The 4.5 mile baywalk and riverwalk will feature a uniform plan for seating, paving, lighting, landscaping, etc. Areas zoned for singe-family homes and duplexes will be exempt from the guidelines.

Renderings via Savino Miller Design Studio

Supertall Entertainment Complex SkyRise Cancelled At Downtown Miami's Bayside Marketplace

The planned supertall entertainment complex SkyRise, which was slated to rise in Downtown Miami’s Bayside Marketplace, has been cancelled after the developer was unable to secure financing. The entertainment and observation tower was being developed by Berkowitz Development Group. The tower was set to rise over 1,000’ was designed by Arquitectonica. The site is set to be restored and Bayside Marketplace can work with the City of Miami to bring in another developer for the parcel.

SkyRise was first proposed in 2013 before being derailed by lawsuits and contested use of public subsidies. In 2015 the Florida Supreme Court put a stop to challenges by community activists who aimed to stop development of the project. In late 2018 it was announced that SkyRise would begin construction in Q2 2019 with Plaza Construction having been retained the contractor, but the developer was ultimately unable to secure financing.

SkyRise Miami would have featured an indoor controlled free-fall system, a “drop tower-style” ride set to hit speeds of 95 mph and a selection of observation decks overlooking Biscayne Bay, PortMiami, Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, the Atlantic Ocean and the Miami Skyline. In 2016 it was announced that Berkowitz Development Group had inked a deal with Legends Hospitality Group for day-to-day management, guest interactions, sales and marketing, as well as food and beverage operations.

Art4All Launches In Miami To Fill Art Basel Void

Art4All launched on December 3rd in Miami to fill the Art Basel void this year and be the World’s largest public art fair. Art Basel Miami is very different this year and mostly a virtual experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Art4All  is headquartered in Miami Worldcenter, Downtown Miami, where it will display large art murals for a year until Art Basel 2021. It will also feature top artists’s works on over 50 billboards throughout the city of Miami and offer digital kiosks. 

Miami Worldcenter is a $4 billion, 27-acre mixed-use development underway in Downtown Miami. The murals on display will span two full city blocks of Miami Worldcenter’s pedestrian promenade debuting in 2021. The promenade is a COVID friendly open-air walkway with retail shops. A few emerging artists in Miami Worldcenter’s Art4All exhibit include: Yigal Ozeri, Shepard Fairey, David Drebin and Guy Stanley Philoche.

“We are building a 27-acre city-within-a-city at Miami Worldcenter, and public art is a key element bringing every facet of our development together to create a memorable experience for our residents and visitors. Art4All is a perfect partner because we share a passion for bringing the beauty of art to everyone,” said Nitin Motwani, managing partner of Miami Worldcenter Associates. “We’ve dedicated an extraordinary amount of outdoor space for art installations and beautiful landscaping to create an inspiring environment for people to enjoy.”

Art4All was created by Gregoire Vogelsang, the founder of Cube Art Fair, to offset the disappointment of canceled art shows around the world. Art4All is an international non-profit exhibit that was first launched in Brussels when Vogelsang brought 100 pieces of American artworks to more than one million citizens in the middle of the pandemic. The art on public display was loved by the people of Brussels, not only the art lovers. This inspired the hashtag, #staycreative, and the press started covering the public billboards reaching an audience much larger than just Brussels. "We wanted to find creative ways to continue sharing art with the world and to inspire people to remain positive and to stay creative," said Gregoire Vogelsang.

“It is inspiring to have my artwork visible to many of whom wouldn’t normally come across my paintings in a gallery or art fair, but will now see it from their cars or walking down the streets,” said New York based artist Gregg Emery. 

Art4All’s mission is to connect artists and people through art exhibits by displaying artworks from established and emerging artists in public spaces. These exhibits also generate online content reaching an even greater audience throughout the World.

ReefLine, Miami’s First Underwater Sculpture Park, On Track To Open Phase One In December 2021

Miami’s first underwater environmental public art project, to be known as ReefLine, is on track to open Phase 1 in December 2021. The project will be built in several phases with Phase 1 spanning one-mile long. The project is designed by OMA / shohei shigematsu in collaboration with a team of marine biologists, researches and coastal engineers whose goal is to protect and preserve the city’s marine life. The installation will feature environmentally-functioning artworks by major international artists and designers. ReefLine will begin in South Beach and run north, providing a critical habitat for endangered reef organisms, promoting biodiversity and enhancing coastal resilience.

The project will span 7 miles underwater and attract both art lovers and eco-friendly tourists to view the underwater sculpture park via a snorkel trail. ReefLine is being developed by BlueLab Preservation Society, led by Ximena Caminos, in partnership with the City of Miami Beach and Coral Morphologic.

City Of Miami Approves Wynwood Streetscape Mater Plan Designed by ArquitectonicaGEO

City of Miami Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the ArquitectonicaGEO-designed Wynwood Streetscape Master Plan. The approval follows over two years of public hearings and community workshops. The construction will begin immediately and is funded by the Wynwood Business Improvement District (BID) as well as local property owners. The streetscape will feature the conversion of three streets to Woonerfs, which open up space for pedestrians while also allowing car access. It will also feature a green half-mile pedestrian and bike trail; landscaping designed to help combat climate change by capturing stormwater runoff, as well as reintroduce native plant species and provide shade via tree canopies; additionally, the installment of safety and mobility improvements such as new crosswalks, widened sidewalks, updated signage and protected bicycle lanes.

Terra And Crescent Heights Break Ground On Canopy Park In South Beach

Terra and Crescent Heights, along with development partner New Valley, have broken ground on Canopy Park, located at the gateway to South Beach at after winning approval from the Miami Beach City Commission last year. The developers are building a three-acre public park, named Canopy Park, alongside a new residential tower at 500 Alton Road. Terra is led by David Martin and Crescent Heights is led by Russel Galbut, both longtime local Miami-based developers.

The three-acre park, located between the 600 and 700 blocks of Alton Road, will include open green-spaces shaded by native tree species, pedestrian and bike paths, an outdoor gym and dog run, a MONSTRUM-designed children’s playground, and public art displays. Canopy Park will be connected to the South of Fifth neighborhood and the Miami Beach baywalk via a new pedestrian bridge over I-395. The pedestrian bridge was designed by artist Daniel Buren and has been dubbed the Miami Beach Canopy. Construction of Miami Beach’s newest world-class city amenity is now underway, with completion estimated for Summer 2021. Canopy Park is located at the site of the former South Shore Hospital which the developers recently demolished.

“Canopy Park will be a gateway for the City of Miami Beach, a destination for visitors, and an everyday amenity for residents, so we’ve taken the time to assemble a team of design, art and planning visionaries who have led some of the most transformational projects in the world,” said David Martin, President of Terra. “The end result will be an active park and design experience that rivals public spaces in the world’s greatest cities.”

“World class cities and neighborhoods are defined by their public spaces, and Miami Beach is home to some of the most desirable parks and open spaces anywhere,” said City of Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber. “Our City’s newest public green space, Canopy Park, will quickly become a welcomed amenity for nearby residents and a favorite gathering spot for our entire community.”

The development team has enlisted an ensemble of artists, designers and architects who will bring the park to life, including architects Bernardo Fort-Brescia & Raymond Fort of Arquitectonica; landscape architect Laurinda Spear of ArquitectonicaGEO; design advisors Daniel Vasini of West 8, Anda Andrei of Anda Andrei Design, and Michael Gabellini and Kim Sheppard of Gabellini Sheppard Associates; and art advisor Lisa Austin. 

A major design component of Canopy Park will feature a “natural play” playground by Danish design firm MONSTRUM, which is famous for creating artistic and architectural playscapes around the world. Standout elements of the playground will include a giant butterfly, a mangrove forest and a caterpillar slide enabling children to jump, climb, balance, and express their inner imaginations.

The Miami Beach Canopy pedestrian bridge, subtitled Walking Under, Along, and On the Colors: work in-situ by Daniel Buren, will complete the Miami Beach Baywalk, creating a safe and seamless connection running from Southpointe Park north to the Lincoln Road District and east to the beachfront. The Canopy will become an instant icon for Miami Beach and a beloved work of public art that guides pedestrians along a rainbow of colorful shadows. Completion of the Miami Beach Canopy pedestrian bridge is anticipated for 2022.

Plans for Canopy Park also include an array of sustainability and resiliency features, including habitat restoration, vegetation, biodiversity, native plant communities, irrigation, water conservation and rainwater management. The park will also serve as an educational resource to inform and inspire the public about resilience and sustainability efforts being made by the city.

Crescent Heights Reveals New Renderings of Park Coming To 500 Alton In South Beach

Crescent Heights and Terra has revealed new renderings of the public park coming to 500 and 600 Alton Road, known as the Park on Fifth, as part of their deal to build a 44-story, 553’ tower at the gateway to South Beach. Russell Galbut and David Martin’s proposal was approved with an agreement to transform the former South Shore Hospital site with the tower, which is being designed by Arquitectonica, and the 3-acre park. The JV between Crescent Heights and Terra Group applied for a construction permit in late November 2019 and completion of the new park is expected for 2021. The park will also feature a bridge which will connect the South Pointe Park baywalk with the new Park on Fifth. When complete the tower will be among the tallest in Miami Beach and will feature 410 luxury units which the developer will be allowed to rent as short term rentals with a minimum term of 30 days per rental. Bridge construction will be funded by a $10 million General Obligation Bond which voters approved in November 2018.