Coral Gables advances cinema expansion with conditional award
Commissioners also voted to extend the cinema lease through September 2035, with the city’s construction contribution capped at $450,000.
Key Takeaways
- •West Construction must beat Hycon’s $1,239,900 price under the Oct. 27 motion; Hycon is the fallback.
- •A separate unanimous vote approved lease terms through Sept. 30, 2035, with 3% annual rent increases.
- •Staff estimated construction at $1,425,885, split between a $450,000 city cap and a $975,885 tenant contribution.
Coral Gables commissioners voted Oct. 27 to advance the Art Cinema expansion through a conditional construction award and a separate lease extension through September 2035.
The meeting transcript records five affirmative votes to accept the second-place bidder only if it beats the first-place price. Commissioners clarified that the first-place bidder could receive the award if that condition was not met.
City procurement officials recommended Hycon Investments LLC at an estimated $1,239,900. Miami Today identified West Construction Inc. as the second-place bidder commissioners wanted staff to pursue.
The city’s Legistar record marks Resolution 2026-297 adopted and retains the recommendation naming Hycon. That posted record and the conditional motion do not establish that West met the price condition or signed a construction contract.
In a separate unanimous vote, commissioners approved a fourth lease amendment for the cinema operator at the city-owned property at 240-260 Aragon Avenue. Staff described an additional five-year term from Oct. 1, 2030, through Sept. 30, 2035, annual rent increases of 3% and one further five-year renewal option.
The separate lease item is now recorded as adopted on Oct. 27 under Resolution 2026-298. Approval authorizes the amendment; it does not establish that the amendment has been signed.
Staff estimated total construction costs at $1,425,885, separate from the contractor’s bid price. The city’s contribution is capped at $450,000, with the tenant responsible for $975,885. The tenant must remit its share when the amendment is executed, before city funds are applied.
Annual base rent for the expansion space would be $29,870. Staff said rent starts when business begins in any portion of the expansion space or six months after the landlord’s work is substantially complete, whichever occurs first, with a provision for tenant-caused delays.
