WHAT’S TO LOVE ABOUT THE MOORINGS | COCONUT GROVE

The community of The Moorings dates back to the early 1900s when the property consisted of just 2 large waterfront estates owned by Frank Church and Jessie Moore. These owners were very active in the Coconut Grove community and were well-known Groveites. They founded the Church of Christian Science which is located on the opposite side of the street. In the early 1920s, they sold their waterfront land to a developer who wanted to create an elite subdivision named The Moorings (an adaptation of Jessie Moore’s name).

At this time there was a movement to establish a sense of order and dignity in urban planning. This was known as the City Beautiful Movement which may sound familiar as the city of Coral Gables was developed entirely upon this philosophy. The 1920 Bright Plan was Coconut Grove’s attempt to implement these ideas. The plan called for wide boulevards, grand civic spaces, and fountains all done in Mediterranean-style architecture. The Moorings was the only subdivision in Coconut Grove that adopted the Bright Plan. This included a 100′ wide boulevard with a landscaped median, an elaborate entrance fountain, curving roads, and shared access to dock space for residents. Had “The Bright Plan” been fully adopted by the rest of Coconut Grove, our village would closely resemble the style of Coral Gables or Palm Beach.