Greedy Sonesta
This from Glenn Terry's Neighbor's column:
Ten years ago the developers of the Grove's Sonesta Hotel made a deal with the city of Miami. They were allowed to build their high rise four stories taller than the zoning code allowed. In exchange, they promised to provide 200 much needed public parking spaces within their garage. The deal specified the parking fees would be the same as the street parking meters.
The Sonesta broke the deal from the start, charging a $5 flat fee when the meter rates were $1 per hour. When a bunch of us staged a sidewalk protest, the Sonesta relented. Two months later it bumped the price back up. Now a sign says it costs $6 to park when the meters are $1.25 per hour.
The city has asked Sonesta to stick to the original agreement, and it has refused. What the Grove hotel is doing is wrong; it is spitting in the public's face. We need reasonable short-term parking for shopping, Peacock Park and our library at the hotel site.
There will be a hearing on the matter in City Hall 9 a.m. Monday. I'm tired of fighting greedy developers. I say we let the Sonesta charge whatever it wants. In exchange, we get to demolish the top four stories of its too tall building.
The email addresses for the Grove Sonesta may be found here for those of you who would like to email the managers for answers. They readily publish them on their website, so I don't think there is a problem with me sharing that webpage with you.
Ten years ago the developers of the Grove's Sonesta Hotel made a deal with the city of Miami. They were allowed to build their high rise four stories taller than the zoning code allowed. In exchange, they promised to provide 200 much needed public parking spaces within their garage. The deal specified the parking fees would be the same as the street parking meters.
The Sonesta broke the deal from the start, charging a $5 flat fee when the meter rates were $1 per hour. When a bunch of us staged a sidewalk protest, the Sonesta relented. Two months later it bumped the price back up. Now a sign says it costs $6 to park when the meters are $1.25 per hour.
The city has asked Sonesta to stick to the original agreement, and it has refused. What the Grove hotel is doing is wrong; it is spitting in the public's face. We need reasonable short-term parking for shopping, Peacock Park and our library at the hotel site.
There will be a hearing on the matter in City Hall 9 a.m. Monday. I'm tired of fighting greedy developers. I say we let the Sonesta charge whatever it wants. In exchange, we get to demolish the top four stories of its too tall building.
The email addresses for the Grove Sonesta may be found here for those of you who would like to email the managers for answers. They readily publish them on their website, so I don't think there is a problem with me sharing that webpage with you.
We encourage people to come to City Hall (3500 Pan American Drive) at 9 am tomorrow, Oct. 22 on the parking rates for Sonesta Hotel. This garage should have metered rates at $1 per hour.
This will be before the Special Master in the Staff Room behind the Chambers.
Speaking of greedy developers. Please don't forget to download and mail in the petition here.
posted by Tom Falco at 8:43 AM
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6 Comments:
Some sharp lawyer should pick this up as a class action suit from us, taxpayers against the city (for not enforcing a contract) and the Sonesta (for not following it).
I wonder where the $$$ is going. That is one urine drenched, dark and scary lot. I've parked there 2x and would rather walk a mile then go there again.
They arent as bad as the crooks downtown who capitalized on a Breast Cancer Awareness Charity Run by charging $10-$20 for parking in their lots. I guarantee not a dollar went to the cause either. Luckily, I knew my old work parking lot would likely be $5 and it was. That was sensible. $10-$20 is absurd.
The Sonesta should be forced to turn over the difference between what they are supposed to collect and what they did collect, plus a fine for illegally collecting from city meters.
That will end their piracy awful quick.
What happened at the Hearing?
The Sonesta is Only a Management Company at the Mcfarlane Road Coconut Grove location. They donot own any of the Condos in the building. The try not to let anyone know until asked. There are 214 private owners some live full time in the building and others are doing rentals either in the hotel program or with real estate agents. Yes Nikki Beach people tried to buy the common space (lobby, 7 & 8th floor and garage space for owners and guests of hotel) & the downstairs restaurant but they could not come to terms yet. Should it happen the entire building will switch from a Sonesta to a Nikki beach Hotel which is on the same level as a W> So all you 214 owners will have a wonderful gift hope it happens for you all and for Coconut Grove. Hope this stops the confusion.
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