Carl Levin has turned down paying clients rather than cut down a hundred-year-old oak tree. That philosophy has guided his two-decade architecture practice in Coconut Grove, where his firm designs around the neighborhood's canopy and he moonlights as president of its most irreverent tradition.

Levin, who moved to the Grove in 1993 after earning his architecture degree from the University of Miami, founded Carl Levin Architects + Design in 2005 with his wife, Jennifer Jarquin Levin. The two-person firm operates from 2980 McFarlane Road and grows entirely through word of mouth.

"We didn't want to hire a bunch of people and run the risk of losing touch with the community and the projects," Levin told the Coconut Grove BID in a profile published Aug. 5. "Instead, you pick up the phone, you get me."

About 90 percent of CLA+D's work sits within the City of Miami, and 60 percent of that is in the Grove itself. Before any project breaks ground, the firm orders a tree survey and root excavation so the design wraps around existing trees rather than displacing them. Levin said the firm has walked away from jobs rather than remove mature oaks.

The division of labor is straightforward: Carl handles the initial client meeting and construction drawings submitted to the city; Jennifer leads the design process and manages the build once permits come through. No signature style. If a client wants a Mediterranean home, that is what CLA+D draws.

Beyond blueprints, Levin serves as president of the King Mango Strut, the satirical parade that has spoofed current events in the Grove since 1982. The Jan. 4 edition drew more than 10,000 spectators under the theme "This is Fine." Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava walked the route, which loops from Commodore Plaza down Main Highway, onto Grand Avenue at CocoWalk and back.

Levin said he stumbled into the role after running into a longtime organizer near the Arts Festival office in Mayfair, where CLA+D once kept its office. He recently joined the Coconut Grove Arts Festival board as well.

Planning for the next Strut is already underway. Levin starts each June, and the hardest challenge is picking a theme that stays relevant six months out. The parade needs roughly 50 acts to fill a 90-minute route, and participation is free and open to anyone who wants to march.

The Coconut Grove BID has been a steady sponsor, fielding a float, hanging street banners and co-sponsoring the poster unveiling. In a December 2025 statement, BID Executive Director Mark Burns called the Strut a major draw that brings crowds to the Grove's retailers and restaurants.

Off the clock, Levin has 15-year-old twins. His son plays in the School of Rock house band, which toured Atlanta, Asheville, Cincinnati, Nashville and Memphis in the summer of 2025. Residents interested in joining the next King Mango Strut, expected in January 2027, can reach CLA+D at (305) 442-3118 or visit cla-d.com.