CORAL GABLES – Commissioner Kirk Menendez, known for his public criticism of overdevelopment and real estate interests in Coral Gables, is himself an active licensed real estate agent, according to records from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Menendez’s license is valid through March 31, 2026, and is held with Keyes Real Estate, where his agent profile includes a professionally staged photo taken at the historic Biltmore Hotel.
The revelation has sparked surprise—and concern—among some residents and observers, given Menendez’s alleged history of attacking developers and portraying himself as a watchdog for responsible development in the City Beautiful. While there is no publicly available record of real estate transactions conducted by Menendez within Coral Gables during his time as commissioner, his past involvement in real estate dealings has drawn renewed scrutiny.
Notably, Menendez played a central role in lobbying to upzone the Craft section of the city, a decision that increased the development potential of several parcels in the area. Following the zoning changes, Menendez sold two properties he owned in the neighborhood to developer Trammell Crow for $1.8 million each. Sources familiar with the transactions say Menendez also encouraged neighboring homeowners to sell their properties to the same developer, which is now constructing a multistory apartment complex on the site…