Historic Preservation Board approves two Alhambra Circle COAs for home additions and alterations

The City of Coral Gables Historic Preservation Board on March 12 approved two separate certificates of appropriateness for projects on Alhambra Circle.

At 2615 Alhambra Circle, staff described a proposal for a rear 390‑square‑foot addition, replacement of windows with casement framing and limited site work to a 1951 contributing structure in the Alhambra Circle Historic District. Architect James Smith presented elevations and said exterior changes were limited to rear areas; staff noted the Board of Architects approved the project with conditions. After a brief question on window muntin patterns, the board approved the application with the 11 conditions in the staff report.

At 2017 Alhambra Circle, owner Ronald Potter presented changes including a small northwest porch (relabeled from a carport to a porch in plans), a two‑story poolhouse addition to the rear and site work including pool resurfacing and a new CMU wall. Board members questioned whether the front opening would encourage parking and whether the design read as a porch rather than a truncated carport; staff said the proposed feature does not meet carport dimensions and will be labeled a porch. The board approved the design with five staff conditions; voting included some dissenting or reluctant votes but the motion carried.

Both approvals included standard permitting steps and staff oversight to ensure the work meets the conditions set out in the staff reports.