First phase approved on Grand Avenue project
The City Commission gave preliminary approval yesterday on the Grove Village Project on Grand Avenue.And I think hell just froze over. I am actually in agreement with Comm. Michelle Spence-Jones on the project. She would like the developer, Pointe Group Advisors, to put in writing that they will provide affordable housing. She was the one dissenting vote. The others voted 4-1 in favor of the first phase of the project.
She said, "I've become a little jaded when it comes to developers and what they plan to do for people who have lived in a community all their lives." Too bad she didn't feel that about everyone who lived near Mercy hospital when she voted for that 300 Grove Bay Residences monstrosity to be built. A bit two-faced. That I don't care for.
I disagree with Marc Sarnoff who does not want to push for affordable housing in the first phase. If that is not pushed for now, who is to say they will build a second phase? No guarantee.
The Investigation Miami blog has a very interesting take on the whole thing. You may read their views here.
The final vote on this project is next month.
posted by Tom Falco at 12:16 PM
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15 Comments:
The Investigative Blog you link gets its information from a candidate that ran against Sarnoff in the first election and hasn't yet gotten a life and moved on. They are obsessed with him in a very toxic way. I would put no credence in anything they blog.
Some of the statements on that Investigative Miami blog are true though. They've been documented elsewhere, from The Herald to the Grapevine. Did anyone reading actually go to the meeting last night? I would like to know how Sarnoff "performed" since it's becoming more apparent that he's some kind of elitist trick pony.
Imposing affordable housing mandates on developers ends up being a tax on middle to lower middle class income earners, and results in those people being squeezed out of the housing market. If you want to see the natural end result of affordable housing mandates, just look at San Francisco, which has become exclusive to the wealth and the very poor. The middle class is practically gone.
Define "affordable".
Also explain the idea that home OWNERS are somehow being "forced" to move. Aren't they voluntarily selling to developers at a huge profit?
West Grove is toast.
It is inevitable. They are in a prime location, near the wealth zips 33133, 33134 and 33146 not to mention a stone throw away from 33131
If I were them, I would stop moaning and start organizing not to fight the developers (probably a dead end job) but rather to leverage their power today to obtain the most advantageous conditions they can, including all the affordable housing promises in writing and signed before somethign happens.
There are some things that you can just see happen and, man, the West Grove is going to be one of them.
Pity.
Village West has to move ahead; they are stuck and there is so much infighting within the groups there that they never agree to anything and nothing ever gets done. This is one phase of a project - if it is not what the residents want they get a chance to fight against the next phase. It has to start somewhere. A grocery store -how could the residents not want one?
There is nothing to use for leverage in phase two of the project. The commission voted for the zoning changes for the whole project already. Ask Jim McMaster. He'll explain it to you.
It's a shame - they just wanted a little time....
WHY DOES THE DEVELOPER HAVE TO BUILT LOW INCOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING ? HE JUST WANTS TO BUILT WHAT HE WANTS .HE BOUGHT THE LAND AND PLENTY PEOPLE FROM THAT NEIGHBORHOOD SOLD AND GOT A PRETTY PENNY FOR THEIR PROPERTY? WHAT HE IS DOING IS INTERGRATING THE WHOLE GROVE .
Will never ever again trust Michelle Spence-Jones after her recent disgraceful saga and the $500 slap on her wrist. What is her real motive now?
To anonymous at 7:31 - and why couldn't Home Depot build what it wanted - it bought the property fair and square. Why couldn't the Related Group build their project at Mercy Hospital. They bought the land fair and square. Public input is needed because these structure will have a lasting impact on the neighborhood. Just like Home Depot. Just like the Mercy Hospital projct. People can be such hypocrites.
Len Scinto:
To anonymous 1:45. Related Group and Home Depot did not buy property "Fair and Square". In both cases, as in the Grand Avenue Development, they asked for zoning changes and/or variances. In the case of HD they wanted to build something inappropriate for the C1 zoning of the area...regardles of their lease arrangements with the property owner. They have a "fair and share" right to the property as long as it fits the zoning. If they don't like it they shouldn't assume zoning will be easily changed and not take the lease. Zoning changes require public hearing and that is where diligent communtiy activism comes in. Zoning laws are our rights and responsibilities.
To anonymous 5:41 - Pointe Groupe is asking for zoning changes too. From residential to commericial. Pointe Groupe bought the land knowing it was zoned as residential. Is it appropriate to build a grocery store in a residential neighborhood? Is it any more appropriate than Home Depot? Why would they not only get these zoning changes but more zoning changes that would stop public input? Would you put up with that in your neighborhood?
Actually I write my name at the top of my posts. Len Scinto. You are correct and verifying my point. Pointe group or anyone else has come to think that with a few well placed dollars they can expect zoning changes. So they buy property with the expectations of getting what they want. What I am saying is that they take a risk when they do that in that the zoning might not get changed. But without being challanged they can do this with impunity. That's why the people have to call them and their elected governments to task. We busted hump organizing to fight the zoning changes for HD. And no I wouldn't want that in my neighborhood...that's why I did a lot of work to keep it from happening. I wish I had more time and energy to get involved in this issue but I don't. This neighborhood needs to get organized and active if they want to get any concessions.
Les Scinto - we are in agreeement. Talk with Jim McMaster - you must know him from the HD days. He is helping HOTA on this topic. When the commission voted to give Pointe Group the zoning change last Thursday, they took away the negotiating power of the community. Then the Pointe Group lawyer said they want to be able to build the grocery store without a public hearing - just like Milams got in the recent zoning change for them so they could expand. The community is organized, but the commission is taking away all their leverage.
With all tof the new expansion and so caleed improvements to the grove, where does this put the little people of Coconut Grove that can't afford the new exclusive high living cost. Do the contractors and developers realize that this is a place where we have hurricans? When all of the highrise condos come tumbling down and killing the ones on the bottom then what. Stop trying to make Miami and the Grove look like New York. The spaces are to tight that one has no where to park and those with children, have no where for their children to play. Contractors and developers take your highprices & highrises back to New York. We like parking in our own yards and not on the street or around the corner. We don't want to have to be in a hurry to get a parking space. This is utterly rediculous.
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