This podcast episode explores the story of Coral Gables' theme villages, conceived at the height of the 1920s building boom. In the spring of 1925, George Merrick hired the American Building Corporation to construct 1,000 residences over ten years. The plan called for as many as 16 theme villages, each reflecting different cultural and architectural traditions. Led by Myers Cooper of the American Building Corporation, the project got off to a strong start. Construction moved ahead of schedule, and several villages were already underway within the first year. But the South Florida land boom collapsed in the fall of 1926, bringing the rapid pace of development to a halt. By the time the boom ended, homes had been completed in 7 of the 16 planned villages, leaving Coral Gables with a distinctive and varied architectural heritage. Resources: Video: "Coral Gables Unique Villages", Hank Tester, CBS Miami. Miami History Podcast Episode: "George Merrick & Coral Gables".