Home Depot will destroy traffic patterns

If, and or when, the Home Depot opens at Grove Gate, traffic will never be the same.

The intersection of Bird and McDonald will be a nightmare most of the day and into the night. The turn from US1 onto McDonald will be another backed up situation 10 times worse than the turn from US1 onto SW 27th Ave. into the Grove.

And along with those little flower stands across from the area on Bird Road will be open-backed trucks selling fruit, frozen drinks, ice cream and whatnot. The Grove will lose most of its charm and that one small area that was basically more of a neighborhood area than the central business district, will have maybe finalized the old Grove's demise.

That one corridor down Bird, past Grove Gate and Gardner's Market, past Virginia and Mary Streets, down to 27th Ave. and E-Z Kwik, has always been the Grove to me. To get to the Home Depot, people will be turning in on 27th Ave. as short cut and that whole stretch of Bird from 27th to 32nd will be non-stop traffic.

When I travel, I don't see small, intimate neighborhoods overtaken by box stores. It doesn't happen in Greenwich Village in New York, nor the French Quarter in New Orleans, nor Boston's Back Bay. It just doesn't happen.

Home Depot has started renovation

According to today's Herald, the Home Depot is starting renovation at the Grove Gate site. Story here.

Citing Home Depot

From a reader:

"First, Home Depot erects signs at their proposed site and promptly gets cited for illegal signage. Then they put a trailer marked 'rent me buy me' in the parking lot on the Bird Road side which is clearly not allowed in C1 [zoning]. One of the few things they agreed to was, were they allowed to come into that site, no outdoor storage of material, including without limitation, rental equipment, supplies, or materials. They probably haven't even hammered the first nail, and they boldly throw a rental pod-type trailer in our faces."

The Home Depot has now been cited for the trailer.

I find it funny how they cordon off the parking area with yellow tape and orange plastic gates, it makes it look like they are claiming their property.

Whomever is planning Home Despot's Depot's PR campaign and community relations seems to be a total idiot. Antagonizing the neighbors is not the way to go.

Delivery trucks are being discussed

About the delivery trucks: It should be on the agenda for the next Business Improvement Committee (BIC) meeting. They may discuss delivery times in the village center for all the ubiquitous trucks that not only block traffic, but make the Grove look terrible at prime lunch and tourist hours.

What must these tourists think when all they see are delivery trucks all over the place? It's amazing how everyone complains about business being dead but they can't see that simple things like massive trucks at all hours in the middle of village streets leave bad impressions.

In fact, pertaining to the parking post, these trucks actually block two to three parking spots at a time. They either block the cars that are already there or take empty spots away from people that want to park. People actually do leave the village center when parking is a problem and they take their money elsewhere. I have many, many times.

I have driven all the way to Coral Gables for Starbucks and then spent money on Miracle Mile that would have been spent in the downtown Grove area. Sounds crazy, but when you drive around in circles for an hour, looking for parking spots, and you have a frapaccino on your mind, you'll drive all these miles to the next Starbucks to quench that desire.

The Fit is playing Tuscany Cafe Friday

Local band, THE FIT, is playing at Tuscany Cafe this Friday, Sept. 29, from about 9 p.m.

Pictured in the photo above from left to right are Andy Waks (vocals, keyboard, guitar), Mary Coreaux (vocals), Brant Hadaway (vocals, bass), and Dr. Joel Plattor (lead guitar).

Tuscany Cafe is located at 3484 Main Highway - Phone: 305 445 0022

Traffic alert

Work is being done on South Bayshore Drive, right outside the Mercy Hospital entrance, at the light. I'm not sure if it is sewer or what, most likely it's Bellsouth doing something underground.

Traffic is a nightmare. Avoid that area at all costs if you can. Traffic today, at 10 am was backed up from the Mercy entrance all the way to the Fresh Market. Incoming traffic from 17th Avenue and other streets doesn't help the situation.

Is this a sign of things to come if hundreds of condo units are added to the area?

Beer trucks block traffic

Someone commented about this problem in a previous post.

Beer trucks block Grand Ave. on a daily basis at the main intersection of Main Hwy. and McFarlane. As you are coming from the west, going toward the intersection, all cars have to leave the right turning lane and go into the left forward lane and traffic is backed up about a quarter of a mile, past the school sometimes.

Why? It looks dead in this picture, but that's only because I stopped my car to take the photo, but there were dozens fo cars behind me, while this jerk blocked a main traffic lane.

Grove parking is scaring me away

Why are there red parking zones in the actual places that people need to park to frequent the businesses in the Grove?

Why can't I park near Starbucks or in front of the Mayfair? Why must I drive by empty spaces on a daily basis, with red signs that say "loading zone" or "no parking" or "get the freak away?" Why are there menacing meter readers on my ass scaring me away from the Grove?

I don't think I have ever seen any trucks loading or unloading in those prime spots. The spots just sit there empty on a daily basis. And as for tour buses, can't they go around the corner to another spot and let people off behind Mayfair or Cocowalk?

I want to park, spend money and enjoy the Grove. But it is not to be. The red zones are keeping me away. I am not paying $8.00 to park in Cocowalk when all I want is a quick coffee at Starbucks and to get take out at Chicken Grill. Not gonna do it. Wouldn't be prudent.

NIMBY's unite against Related Group

The Related Group needs to pack their bags and go. We are not downtown Miami or Brickell, we don't want their mega crap in our neithborhood. NIMBY's (Not In My Neighborhood) unite!

The up-zoning from GI (Government/Institutional) to R4 (mega crap being built) is wrong. The City Commission promised to protect our neighborhoods unanimously after the sell out to the Grovenor House.

They promised to change the GI zoning ordinance with a text amendment dated June 9, 2004 (GI Zoning Code Sec. 401) which states, "Any changes to GI use shall revert to the least intense abutting zoning use," which in the Mercy case is R1 - Single Family Residential.

There is no "hardship" involved here in the Related Group's request to change the zoning other than greed. Greed is driving this change. Mercy wants the money and Related wants the money. Everyone in else in the Grove can go screw themselves.

STOP THE RELATED GROUP NOW.

We will keep you updated on coming zoning and commission meetings.

Inept playhouse board has new plans and maybe a conscience

The Coconut Grove Playhouse's board of directors is finally getting off their collective asses and are going to do something to save the historic theater. Guess they realize that their low handed plan to sell out the property to developers is not going to happen.

They are not going to fight the historic designation either. Can you imagine that these hypocrites who supposedly "love" theater so much, wanted to scrap the whole place for big bucks? Any theater lover would fight to the finish, these goof balls saw dollar signs, not marquee signs.

They should be ashamed of themselves, the phoney bastards.

Board head, the incompetent Shelly Spivack said that the board is going to actually let the public in on its secret meetings. They are going ot repay the misused $125,000 state grant. And they are going to settle some law suits.

They are hoping for some sort of mini season. God speed.

Fight the greedy Related Group

The Related Group wants to completely disregard the zoning board and local neighbors who are totally against the rezoning of the Mercy Hospital property.

If this is allowed to happen, this will change the zoning of everything in the Grove. Ransom Everglades Middle School, LaSalle High School, Vizcaya and the Museum of Science are just some properties where the zoning would also change to high density and allow for 40 plus story towers.

The Related Group insists on fighting the neighbors for selfish, greedy reasons. Their 410 foot high tower would be higher than any structure currently in the Grove and will only open the door for the same.

FIGHT THE GREEDY BASTARDS. Please attend the Planning Board Meeting tomorrow, Sept. 20, 2006 at City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive. The Mercy issue may not be on the agenda, but people may be able to speak on the subject.

Home Depot cited for illegal signs

It appears that Home Depot has been cited by the City's Office of Code Enforcement , for the illegal signs they put up on the Grove Gate site -- the spite signs.

First they tried to knock down the trees, now this. Home Depot makes a terrible neighbor.

HOME DEPOT -- YOU ARE NOT WANTED.

33133 in the house

We seem to be selling a lot of 33133 t-shirts lately and other items from our 33133 Store. Thank you.

We really don't make much money, the mark-up only covers costs, our goal is to have everyone own a 33133 item or Coconut Grove Grapevine item. It's fun to see people wearing the items all over the Grove streets.

You can see the 33133 Store here. Or just click on the ad to the right.

Center Grove - No Home Depot meeting

The Village of Center Grove Neighborhood Association will have its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 20, 2006.

Strategies are being planned on the continuing fight to keep the Home Depot out of the Grove, according to association board member Sue McConnell. I personally would love to know who gave permission to put this sign up.

The meeting will focus on the Home Despot's Depot's appeal of the Historic and Environmental Preservation Board's decision revoking the store's permit to remove or relocate 105 trees at the Grove Gate center. They don't even have permission to put up a sign, yet they were already preparing to destroy a bunch of trees before any appeals.

The Village of Center Grove Neighborhood Association meets at 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club, 2990 S. Bayshore Dr.

For more information, visit www.vocg.org .

Mango Heads on the move

Key West or Bust!

On Saturday, October 28th, King Mango and his Merry Marching Mango Heads will head down to Key West's Fantasy Fest, Florida's most insane celebration. The Fantasy Fest theme this year is Key Weird on the Dis-Oriented Express. Yes, and that they can do. They are weird and the Mango Heads are easily disoriented. Mango Heads are right at home at Fantasy Fest.

The Fantasy Fest Parade begins at 7pm. It last about 2 hours.

The Mango Magical Mystery Tour Bus's theme this year is The Rocky Horror Picture Show All Over Again. So dress as your favorite character, bring toast, and get ready to do the time-warp again.

Two busses will be leaving the Grove -- Passion and Desire. Antoinette Baldwin will crack the whip on the wild bus, oops, the Passion Bus, and Glenn Terry will be on the Desire Bus, a somewhat milder bus but just as disorienting. Each bus will leave Coconut Grove at different time so make sure which bus you want to go on. The itinerary for each bus is:

Desire
Bus leaves Peacock Park at 10:30 am
Bus arrives in Key West about 3pm
Bus leaves Key west at about 9:30pm
Bus arrives back at Peacock Park at about 2am

Passion (or better known as the Wild Bus)
Bus leaves Peacock Park at 12 pm (crack of Noon)
Bus arrives in Key West about 4-4:30pm
Bus leaves Key west at about 12 am (stroke of Midnight)
Bus arrives back at Peacock Park at about 4 am

Both buses are big 57-passenger bus with a bathroom. They are limiting the ride to 46 Mangoheads or wannabes so there is room to eat, drink and be merry. Each seat is $50 (still cheaper than filling up your car with gas). If you pay before October 1, it's $45 a seat (a 10% discount).

Like in life, nothing lasts and neither will the empty seats on the bus, so reserve your seat now (and which bus too) by sending a check made out to "Glenn Terry", to 3533 Palmetto Avenue, Miami, FL 33133. Please include your mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address.

If you have any questions call Antoinette at 305-401-1171 or Glenn at 305-448-3775. Please reply asap to Antoinette at: abaldwin@insomnic.net or Glenn at bettermiami@yahoo.com to make sure you get a seat.

Home Depot is spiteful

I was shocked today to see this sign outside the Grove Gate shopping center.

When did all the appeals run out and when did Home Depot start construction? Are they that spiteful that they are even asking for job applicants for something that may never happen?

If you click on the picture, you can see a larger version.

Dead on 27th Ave.

Strange things keep happening in the Grove. A weird story this week involved this guy who picked up this woman at a bar and the woman dies in her sleep in his condo on 27th Ave. in the Grove.

The guy doesn't know what to do so he just goes about his business -- he leaves the body there and goes to work and lives his life for about four days until his little secret is discovered.

I drove by that freakin' condo building 100 times this past week!

Story here.

Zoning Board turns down Mercy request for rezoning

Last night, the Miami Zoning Board voted 5 to 2 against allowing a zoning change for Mercy Hospital and the Related Group. They were requesting a high density R4 zone, for the monstrosity they want to build on the Mercy land. The tallest building was planned for 410 feet, blocking the sun and ruining the neighborhood. This structure would be twice the size of Grove Isle! And there would be three of them!

Chairperson Ileana Hernandez-Acosta and Juvenal Pina, a board member, were the only two who voted for the high density change. Luckily everyone else on the board has a conscience.

Mercy and the developer had nothing to offer the community and were literally scratching their heads on what they can offer for the land rape. They lied about putting in new sidewalks and sewers, when it turns out that the county is already taking care of that project.

The only reason Mercy and the Related Group could come up with for the project was money, even one very greedy nun stood there before the zoning board, rubbing her greedy hands, agreeing that the project was overbearing for the area, but the money was more important. That was very sickening.

The head of Mercy kept going on and on about needing money. Well, guess what: WE ALL NEED MONEY. BUT WE ALL DON'T SELL OUT OUR NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY TO GET IT. Mercy Hospital is a bully and so is the Related Group.

I want more money for my house, too, should I ask for a change in zoning to R4? Then I can make tons of money by selling it, just like Mercy.

I was proud to see many of my neighbors, people I actually know, standing up against the insane project. Thank you Constance, Mary, Pam, Jason and the rest of you who really made a difference by standing up in front of the zoning board.

Thank you to the zoning board for the recommendation on not changing the zoning and giving some respect to the neighbors and the Grove.

Tree huggers defeat Home Depot

Those pompous jerks at Home Depot were all prepared to take out a bunch of trees at the Grove Gate location, even though they still don't know the final outcome of the appeals being thrown at them. Talk about nerve.

But the permit to remove any trees has been revoked by Miami's Historic and Environmental Preservation board. The motion passed unanimously.

"Why would anyone remove 90 some-odd trees before they even know if they will be allowed to build what they want to remove the trees for?" asked resident Ron Nelson.

Because, Ron, Home Depot is a big obnoxious orange bully.

Thanks also go to the Tree-Man Trust and the Tree-Watch committee of the Village Council for filing an appeal against Home Depot and keeping on top of the issue.

A sandy beach in the Grove?

According to Glenn Terry, they are actually putting in a mini beach near Peacock Park. I don't know if this is good or bad, that is such a quiet area, I hate to see it spoiled by too many people taking over the area.

But it is on an island, away from the mainland, so it won't disturb the nice quiet area of Peacock Park next to the water.

You'll need a boat to get to the new beach, so that lets out a lot of people, guess it's still Crandon for the boatless.

Heart Walk this Sat. in the Grove

The 2006 Miami-Dade County Heart Walk is tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 9th. A popular fundraising event for the American Heart Association, the Heart Walk raises money to help prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases.

The walk will take place at Coconut Grove's Peacock Park, beginning at 8 a.m. Assorted fruits and yogurt will be among some of the healthy snacks offered at a breakfast before the walk. The 5K walk starts at 9 a.m., shortly after warmup exercises.

More than 4,000 people are expected to attend this year. So the Grove streets will be festive.
''We invite everyone to come out and show their support. This event just gets bigger and better every year,'' said Ralph Aleman, chair of the walk.

After raising $350,000 at last's year's event, Heart Walk of Miami's goal this year is $450,000.

Being Fresh for charity

The Fresh Market is holding their 13th annual ''Sidewalk Sales'' to benefit the South Florida Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation this weekend from Friday through Sunday. I said I wouldn't go back due to their shoddy service, but for a charity event, I am there.

Hot dogs, hamburgers, root beer floats and chocolate chip cookies are available for charity donations.

The Fresh Market Coconut Grove, located at 2640 S. Bayshore Dr.

Last year, all the Fresh Market stores combined raised $108,000 to help fund research on Type 1 or juvenile diabetes.

The Sidewalk Sale will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Free showing of 'Don't Box Me In'

This Saturday, Sept. 9, there is a special screening to celebrate the award for "Best Documentary" For "Don't Box Me In" the Grove residents vs. Home Depot film.

The show starts at 8 pm, at the Woman's Club of Coconut Grove (2985 S. Bayshore Drive), parking is available at meters on the street or the municipal area at the Sonesta on MacFarlane.

Admission is free and there are free refreshments. For more info: 305-442-9235; info@thegrovefirst.com or www.thegrovefirst.com

Why?

This is the sidewalk in front of the Shaq Gym, Guess and other stores in the area, next to Starbucks. These lazy ass business owners need to pick up a broom and get out there and do something.

Let there be light

There is a very good article in today's Herald about taking the Grove's streets back from criminals after the last two very publicized events -- the tourist killing and the attack of the old lady in her own home.

I know the niece of the old lady. I almost bought a very nice, big large house on Lincoln, but decided against it after seeing the creeps who run around the neighborhood.

Ironically, I thought I was safe in my condo -- in our fancy neighborhood on the water -- but during Tropical Storm Ernesto, my next door neighbors' condo was ransacked and another neighbor says a beebee or bullet went through her window.

Click here for the Herald story about taking the streets back.

One big step is simply lighting up the place. I recommend that everyone who reads this add a light or two to their condo, house, boat, whatever. . . . Flood lights -- facing the dwelling or street or wherever. Let there be light! As the article says, cockroaches don't like light. Neither do criminals.

I also ask that you not purchase the lights at Home Depot, but get them at Shell Lumber, Target, K-mart, etc. Anywhere other than Home Depot. No need to give the enemy business.

Cocowalk to be updated

A new developer is going to revamp Cocowalk to make it popular again.

How about dropping the $8.00 parking fee. I avoid it for that reason.

Also, realized that tourists aren't coming back and install a Publix, Barnes and Noble, Walgreens, you know, places the locals would use.

Story here.

Fabulous Friday

Tonight is "Fabulous Friday" at the Miami Museum of Science and Planetarium (3280 S. Miami Ave.)

Opening tonight is the new exhibit: "Sharks: Magnificent and Threatened".

There is a fee to check out the rest of the museum, but the Fabulous Friday sharks part is free from 4 to 8 pm.

• From 4:00 pm & 7:00pm - Lecture by Neil Hammerschlag, exhibit photographer and creator
• At 5:00 pm - Discussion of shark artifacts and wildlife conservation in the main lobby
  
  You can check out the museum's site at:

http://www.miamisci.org/, or call 305-646-4200 for more info.