CORAL GABLES – Commissioner Kirk Menendez, known for his public criticism of overdevelopment and real estate interests in Coral Gables, is himself an active licensed real estate agent, according to records from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Menendez’s license is valid through March 31, 2026, and is held with Keyes Real Estate, where his agent profile includes a professionally staged photo taken at the historic Biltmore Hotel.
The revelation has sparked surprise—and concern—among some residents and observers, given Menendez’s alleged history of attacking developers and portraying himself as a watchdog for responsible development in the City Beautiful. While there is no publicly available record of real estate transactions conducted by Menendez within Coral Gables during his time as commissioner, his past involvement in real estate dealings has drawn renewed scrutiny.
Notably, Menendez played a central role in lobbying to upzone the Craft section of the city, a decision that increased the development potential of several parcels in the area. Following the zoning changes, Menendez sold two properties he owned in the neighborhood to developer Trammell Crow for $1.8 million each. Sources familiar with the transactions say Menendez also encouraged neighboring homeowners to sell their properties to the same developer, which is now constructing a multistory apartment complex on the site.
According to Coral Gables Magazine, Menendez may have also privately discussed additional upzoning proposals for the Craft section as a Commissioner with then–City Manager Peter Iglesias and other senior city staff. These proposals reportedly would have benefitted Menendez's remaining property in the area by increasing its development potential. The magazine reports that Menendez, whose son works for a development firm, allegedly requested that city staff introduce the upzoning plan as a staff recommendation—rather than bringing it forward himself. Staff members reportedly resisted that request.
The dispute over the upzoning proposal may have contributed to Menendez changing his position and casting the deciding vote to terminate City Manager Iglesias, according to multiple sources close to City Hall.
As questions mount over the commissioner’s dual roles and potential conflicts of interest, residents are demanding greater transparency. Whether the discovery of Menendez’s real estate license and past dealings will lead to any formal inquiry remains to be seen. For now, the findings cast a new light on the commissioner’s public stance on development in Coral Gables.
The Floridian reached out to Menendez but he has not yet responded.
