110 PHOENETIA AVENUE “THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD” is located at the corner of Phoenetia Avenue and East Ponce de Leon Boulevard in Coral Gables, FL. When the St. James Lutheran Church in Coral Gables established the adjacent “THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD” they developed a garden consistent with Florida’s historic landscape traditions as well as a larger movement in religious memorial gardens. “THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD” provides architectural elements distinctive of its location and era through its enclosure and application of what architect Robert Fitch Smith labeled in his 1951 drawings of the wall as Florida keystone. Robert Fitch Smith, FAIA (1894-1964) is one of the most notable of South Florida’s early architects. His drawings of the wall of “THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD” reflect his interest in craft through careful coordination of locally sourced “coral rock”, planar stucco surfaces with detailed classical mouldings as seen in the capitals supporting cast stone urns. The garden wall today clearly stands out as a significant design, and even a casual observer would likely be unsurprised to learn that this distinctive wall is the work of a prominent architect credited with decades of accomplishment.

There is less than a handful of public gardens in the City and “THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD” is one of them. East Ponce de Leon Boulevard follows a curvilinear path leading to the Douglas Entrance to the City. The Garden is located about halfway along this path, a prominent right-of-way in the early years of the City, seen in Merrick’s original master plans dating back to the 1920s. East Ponce de Leon Boulevard currently defines the west edge of a neighborhood largely populated by garden apartments. This street creates a “green corridor” for both pedestrian and vehicular circulation to connect the two commercial zones. Located right in the middle of this buffer between commercial and residential, “THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD” is an integral part of its urban context.

This historic memorial garden is eligible for designation as a Local Historic Landmark based on seven (7) significance criteria. Still, the city refuses to designate it as such and the property owner has developing plans to destroy it and create a massive concrete rental building in its place. The neighbors of the garden have appealed the city’s decision to continue to fight for the garden.

The neighbors and friends of “THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD” implore you to please sign this petition to show your support for the urgent preservation of the garden. 

Thank you!