In Coral Gables, a city known for its lush tree canopy, a death knell is ringing for a garden and an ancient tree that will soon be razed to build a controversial mixed-use development.
The proposed complex has also rallied a group of supporters who see the project as a lifeline for Crystal Academy, a longtime Gables school for children with autism whose fate is tied to the property. Although the school would need to temporarily relocate so the nine-story apartment complex could be built on the site at 110 Phoenetia Ave., the developer has agreed to rebuild the school on part of the land and allow Crystal Academy to use the space without paying rent.
On Tuesday, Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson and Commissioner Richard Lara voted to uphold previously approved design plans by the city’s Board of Architects for the project, which has been part of a multi-year dispute between the developers and a group of residents who argue the project is not compatible with the neighborhood. Commissioners Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez voted against…