Historic preservation group hosts Coral Gables Homes Tour

by Connie Crowther

The Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables is now selling a limited number of tickets for the Saturday, Nov. 14, Coral Gables Homes Tour of five historically and architecturally significant homes. This event is part of the American Institute of Architects Miami Chapter’s annual month-long series of activities, Celebrate Architecture + Design 2009.

Proceeds will benefit the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables, a non-profit Florida corporation dedicated to the preservation, restoration and use of Coral Gables historic properties.

The five homes on the association’s first annual homes tour are 200 Edgewater Drive, Java Head; 6612 LeJeune Road, Dutch South African Village; 4320 Santa Maria Street, Pioneer Village; 3613 Alhambra Court, Art Deco; and 501 Hardee Road, French Country Village.

Tickets for the homes tour are $30 for the tour only, noon to 4 p.m., and $50 for patrons, including the tour and a 10:45 a.m. lecture about the five homes on the tour by architect and University of Miami architecture professor Jorge Hernandez, trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Refreshments will be served at the patrons’ event at Java Head.

Patrons will begin the tour at Java Head following the lecture and reception. Ticket holders for the homes tour only will begin at the site shown on their ticket. A limited amount of parking is available at each home, so car pooling is strongly encouraged.

Tickets for the homes tour can be purchased through the American Institute of Architects Miami Chapter, 305-448-7488, or online by credit card at www.aiamiami.com.

A special membership package for $80 includes one patron ticket and a discounted year’s membership in the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables.

Sallye Jude, historic preservation leader and owner of Java Head, is the chair of the Coral Gables Homes Tour Committee. Vice chairs are Ann Goodman and Connie Crowther, and Emma Blanco is secretary-treasurer. Lisa Bennett is the 2009 president of the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables.

For more information call AIA Miami at 305-448-7488, or go to the Coral Gables office at 275 University Drive to purchase tickets in person.