Murray Marcus and Yery Marrero sicken me
I was sick to my stomach today when I saw a full page ad in Neighbors paid for by the sell-outs Murray Marcus, President of Bay Heights Improvements Assoc. and Yery Marerro, President of Natoma Manors Homeowners Assoc.
Everyone knows they accepted payouts from the developer the Related Group. How these scumbags can actually plead that the "Grove Bay" project is a good thing for the neighborhood is sickening.
They plead for the City of Miami Mayor and Commissioners to vote in favor of the project. I wish I had Marcus' and Marrero's email address and phone numbers. I would post them here.
Talk about sell-out scumbags. These are your neighbors folks. These are the people who contribute to the quality of life decline in Coconut Grove. How any person living in the area, with a right mind, could be for this monstrosity is unheard of.
Everyone knows they accepted payouts from the developer the Related Group. How these scumbags can actually plead that the "Grove Bay" project is a good thing for the neighborhood is sickening.
They plead for the City of Miami Mayor and Commissioners to vote in favor of the project. I wish I had Marcus' and Marrero's email address and phone numbers. I would post them here.
Talk about sell-out scumbags. These are your neighbors folks. These are the people who contribute to the quality of life decline in Coconut Grove. How any person living in the area, with a right mind, could be for this monstrosity is unheard of.
posted by Tom Falco at 7:48 PM
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22 Comments:
From the Natoma Manors web site:yery@mbmiamiliaw.com
I am writing as a long-time resident of Coconut Grove and of Bay Heights. I am also pro-quality of life, value the trees and atmosphere (what is left of it) which make the Grove what it is. Of course, I do not like the out-of-control development that has taken place.
I go to Home Depot all the time, but I do not want one here. I also go to Jackson hospital. And I certainly do not want Mercy Hospital looking like a Jackson or a Baptist.
I realize that there are a lot of aging Boomers out there. We are seeing a big growth in health oriented services - Like hospitals. In fact, this entire situation began with Mercy's planned expansion. Bay Heights approached Grove One and asked for help and direction. Bay Heights hired a respected Grove attorney, Tucker Gibbs, to help us fight the planned expansion. Out of that fight as came an agreement supporting Grove Bay, limiting Mercy's expansion, and giving Bay Heights funds to address any resultant traffic issues.
I saw presentations from Mr. Gibbs and he stressed that the Grove Bay density is far less that the currently zoned government institutional. I was concerned that Bay Heights had sold-out. I asked our attorney several times point-blank - "If you take away the financial settlement; Is this a still a good settlement for Bay Heights and the North Grove?" His reply was absolutely yes, because of the lower density and because the wealthy residents will help keep Mercy in-line. I have to believe our attorney; that is his job. And I have seen presentations from Related and heard many discussions on the project. There is no question in my mind that something will be built on the property sooner than later. I would much rather it be 300 ultra-luxury condominiums than 1000 luxury assisted living quarters along with its nurses, doctors, and visitors. Worse yet would be a student faculty (think Jackson) along with its impatient students racing thru the neighborhood.
Use your imagination; they can build ANYTHING there as long as it is government institutional. There are NO governmental or institutional developments that I would prefer to Grove Bay next door - I do not think anyone would.
Grove Isle should carefully consider this; they will not have the traffic running though their island but would they prefer an architecturally appealing ultra luxury condominium next door or would they prefer the square brown dullness of a governmental institution?
I had intended to sign my name but I reluctantly keep myself anonymous because of the intensity of previous post’s threat towards the homeowner associations.
I see that someone published an email address here with bad intent - Your actions are turning you into something you do not want to be. Let us avoid those who practice hate rather than open discussion.
As a Grove resident who will have a 410 foot shadow cast on my house because of this travesty. I find that the plans should be turned down.
How sweet, the sell-outs are concerned about Grove Isle's view. Well, Grove Isle didn't care about the mainland's view when they raped the little island, so screw Grove Isle's View.
And on top of that you would think the sell-outs would take their hush money and keep quiet rather than add insult to injury by publishing a full page add imploring the powers that be to allow this massive development.
THE GROVE SAYS NO TO MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT. Go away Related Group, you are not wanted. Selfish bastards.
It is my understanding that all residents ajoining the road into the planned development are for it - Apparently the shadow does not reach the individual concerned.
But to the point- The site is zoned for massive development now. Mercy is no small place and its growing. The plan puts limits on Mercy's development for 10years and removes 1million cubic feet from Mercy's future development potential.
It is develpment in the short run, but it is better than the alternative in the long run...
I live on E. Glencoe, mere feet from the development. Please don't tell me about the shadows that will block the sun over my house.
If you live on E. Glencoe and you clearly oppose the project, I hope you will speak at the Commission meeting...
I would also urge you to share your opposition and concerns with the Related Group, if you have not already.
First off, Grove Isle was here long before me and your cute little island was long gone. Don't blame me - Get a life! Secondly, Mercy is a HOSPITAL - Not a luxury highrise. It was here long before us and it needs to develop into a first rate HOSPITAL. Luxury Assisted Living Facilities sound good to me! Increasing traffic is an unavoidable problem that comes with progress - So get used to it Bay Heights Tree-Loving Jerk!
Please do not be deceived. There are several crucial issues here. One is greed. Related wants to get approval to go a $1.2 Bil sell-out project. (Related does not give a crap about the Grove). And several groups are greedy enough to accept bribe money in order to endorse the scam.
Two is "quality of life". 300 homes with 3 to 6 bedrooms each is 1,000+ bedrooms. $3 Mil to $10 Mil homes need a lot of renovation...floors, electric, painting, furniture...etc. Imagine armies of trucks, workers, panel vans, movers...more panel vans... The renovation work and increased traffic will be permanent. Imagine all this new traffic on S. Bayshore? Anyone want to comment on how long it takes to get from south Brickell to Monty's between 5:05 pm and 6:20 pm? 45 minutes last time I checked... Imagine what the gridlock will like if Related cons 3 Commissioners to vote for this turkey?
To the person who supports neighborhood sellouts, nice try with the explanation. The City Planning Board and the Zoning Board do NOT approve of this project. Neither do 99.5% of Grove residents. Your group has been paid-off by the developer.
Are you trying to tell us we have it wrong?! Considering that your neighborhood was paid-off you have no moral ground to stand on and no creditability.
The point to focus on is that a private developer cannot take government institutional zoned property and rezone it into non-government property while disregarding existing City ordinances, no matter who they pay off. I'm speaking of the GI Ordinance that is in place to stop this exact abuse.
Here is what the ordinance states. If the property is rezoned, the GI zoning must revert to the existing surrounding zoning. In this neighborhood it is a height limit of 8 stories.
This GI Ordinance was crafted by Grove neighbors and the City to limit this exact abuse that the Related Group is trying to perpetrate.
This will be the first test of the GI Ordinance. If the City lets the GI Ordinance fall then this can happen all over the City and no neighborhood is safe.
We all complain about how the City creates an "exception" out-side of existing code and we wonder how it happens. Well, now we know. It's because those getting paid can't see past their own property lines. "Tragedy of the Commons". It happens all the time in the 3rd world.
This project is just the first step. The rumor is that they will be going for a mega yacht marina if this plan is approved. I hope I am wrong on this.
The neighbors and their associations that sold-out are "supposed" to be smart people but apparently the money has skewed their vision. They sold out to the developer for large sums of money while not thinking about the precedent that they set and the harm that they expose the rest of the neighborhoods to. They remind me of the those people in history who sold their own people down the river.
Would you please clairify your statement:
"Here is what the ordinance states. If the property is rezoned, the GI zoning must revert to the existing surrounding zoning. In this neighborhood it is a height limit of 8 stories." If the property is not rezoned and remains GI; what is the height limitation then? In other words, what the current height limitation is today? Thanks
Mercy borders single family neighborhoods. Single family zoning is R1. There are also some duplexes near by. Duplexes are R2. If G/I is reverted to its bordering zoning either R1 or R2 than Mercy (Related) could build to the maximum height allowed under R1 or R2, which means a maximum of 25' or 50' depending on intrepretation. Obviously, Related to attempting to bribe as many people as possible to speak in favor of this scam. Related is trying to buy its way out of the law.
Watch, if this rezoning and if these towers are approved than the Museum of Science could go next. Or maybe Related will go after Morningside Park? Maybe Bicentennial Park? Those are zoned G/I too.
Stop the scam, vote to deny.
How about the fact that Natoma and Bay Heights' Homeowner Boards WILL NOT even tell their own residents what they settled for! If you settle on my behalf, you'd better well tell me what the deal is.
The existing GI zoning allows Mercy to build any height, so long as it is medical or governmental in nature. It would seem unlikely that Mercy would build to the height of the Grove Bay project. You could expect Mercy to develop the land with or without GI zoning. GI development in all reasonable cases would have inherently greater traffic impact simply due to the commercial nature of GI. Residential development of this parcel requires height, while Medical requires density to be viable. It’s a choice between height or traffic…
Very good points from both sides on this issue, but I was not aware that so many angry people live in Coconut Grove.
If you meet them on the street, they are not so angry. Thank heaven.
Please bear in mind that Related is not building a simple "residential" project. 1.2 Mil sq ft of space in three tall towers is huge. That is like dropping a small city in the middle of S. Bayshore. And remember very rich people have lots of servants, maids, workers, floor people, painters, electicians etc etc... There will be never ending traffic day and night... 1,000 bedrooms or more... That is a lot of traffic.
Mercy has a right to build what the code allows and what they can afford. Mercy claims they are broke so I guess they cannot afford very much. I will take my chances with the current code. I definitely do not want to see a small city dropped onto S. Bayshore. Why doesn't Related go build downtown where they have the zoning for this type of project?
And maybe a nice ALF serving elderly Grove residents would be very welcome? But that would be 50,000 sq ft not 1.2 Mil.
A restatement of the second post:
"I asked our attorney several times point-blank - "If you take away the financial settlement; Is this a still a good settlement for Bay Heights and the North Grove?" His reply was absolutely yes, because of the lower density and because the wealthy residents will help keep Mercy in-line. I have to believe our attorney; that is his job."
Tucker Gibbs is a respected attorney with Grove issues, including the Home Depot problem. He is extremely knowledgable and the above is his statement to those who are paying his bill. I hope Marc will hear Tucker's reasoning for the above statement before casting his vote. The decision being made here will permanently affect the Grove.
I wonder what Tucker Gibbs really thinks? Take away his huge fee ($300,000) and the huge payoff to his "clients" ($2+ Mil) he probably truly believes the 1.2 Mil sq ft Related scam is obscene. What citizen with any intelligence would think otherwise?
Take away all the out of town Related and Cervera employees, all the lobbyists and all the bribed "residents" then who is left to endorse the scam? Right. No one.
Let's listen to the residents who actually live in Dist 2 and who have not sold their opinions.
Tucker might a whore, but, wow, what a sharp whore. I saw him in action in the Atlantis on Brickell v. the building next door and he was truly great.
If they go ahead with the 1.2 million sq ft I think that's about it for Bay Heights and other neighborhoods.
Gables resident
Gables Resident is right. If Related wins and they get to build 1.2 Mil sq ft that means there will be construction for 5 to 8 years. Then Related will take over Lasalle School. There will be permanent construction. The neighboring communities will be toast. Who would want to live in that hell. Prices will go down. Quality of life, already difficult, will flounder. Bay Heights and Natoma are committing suicide.
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