University of Miami Seeks to Raise Its Undergrad Cap 35% and Build a Hospital in Coral Gables

• The University of Miami has filed a 217-page proposal with the City of Coral Gables that could reshape its campus at 1300 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, FL, over the next 30 years.
• The plan, submitted by the University of Miami, would raise the school's undergraduate enrollment cap from 13,000 to 17,500 students — roughly a 35% increase.
• The proposed amendments would also let UM build a hospital along the Ponce de Leon corridor and add more square footage for future construction.

A 30-Year Vision for Campus Growth

On June 11, the University of Miami submitted a sweeping package to the City of Coral Gables seeking amendments to four separate documents: the Development Agreement, the campus master plan, the comprehensive plan and the zoning code. The centerpiece is a new 30-year Development Agreement between UM and the city, replacing the current arrangement. In a statement to The Miami Hurricane, the university described the agreement as forward-looking, saying it "establishes the parameters that will govern future growth and development of the University of Miami's Coral Gables Campus" at 1300 Memorial Drive over the next three decades. Both sides bring negotiating leverage to the table, and the proposal touches nearly every aspect of how the campus can grow.

More Undergraduates, More Square Footage

One of the most significant pieces of the filing is a proposed jump in enrollment capacity. Under the new terms, UM would be permitted to enroll up to 17,500 undergraduates, compared with the current cap of 13,000 — an increase of about 35%. That growth would come paired with additional square footage for construction across campus, giving the university more room to build the facilities needed to support a larger student body. If enrollment were ever to exceed the new 17,500 threshold, UM would be required to work with the city to address resulting concerns around traffic, housing and infrastructure.

A Hospital Along the Ponce de Leon Corridor

Perhaps the most notable request is for permission to build a hospital on campus — something not currently allowed under university zoning. According to page 11 of the filing, the University of Miami is eyeing a location along the "Ponce de Leon corridor with easy access to public transit," near the University Metrorail Station. While no specific site plan has been finalized, the area across from the Metrorail station is seen as a likely candidate. Adding hospital use to the campus would mark a substantial shift in how the university's Coral Gables property can be developed.

What Happens Next

The proposal was submitted to Coral Gables' Development Review Committee on June 26 and now moves to the Planning & Zoning Board for review. If it clears that stage, city commissioners will cast a final vote. Because the enrollment, hospital, zoning and square-footage provisions are bundled together, the university's plan is designed so that if one piece fails, the rest may not move forward as intended.