"What a novel idea -- the ability to see the waterfront!"
For those of you who didn't catch the Commission hearing on the Grove Harbor project, it was heard Thursday when the request for a deferment was denied.
The proposed plan calls for a three-story office building literally on the waterfront, with no solid parking plan, (are they going to use The Fresh Market's parking?), there was no compliance with the Charter Amendment -- 50-foot setback rule (voted on by the public), and it was never included in the Waterfront Masterplan, which bothers many.
While the zoning board previously approved this project, it is clear to everyone that the zoning board is living in another world and has no clue what is going on with the Waterfront Masterplan or Coconut Grove. Another reason we need to reclaim the Grove and "take back the Grove."
Why did we spend $1.5 million on the Masterplan, which took years in the making, if they are going to ignore it? If this is allowed to pass, what next? Can anyone just come in and make changes to the plan as they see fit? Stuart Sorg, head of the Waterfront Advisory Board, stood up before the Commission and said, "yes." Guess he feels all the years of meetings, charrettes, public input and such were just suggestions and not to be taken seriously.
Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones called the Masterplan an "Inspirational Plan" and says Masterplans change. Commissioner Joe Sanchez feels the water view is blocked already by the hangers and that he respects the Waterfront Advisory Board on these type of decisions (I think they are biased). Commissioner Tomás Reglado wants to hear more from the public but feels that the offices should be scrapped and only the dockmaster facilities should stay (showers, bathroom and dockmaster office).
The Sailing Club and U.S. Sailing Facility went through arduous negotiations to have their ideas heard as part of the Masterplan. Grove Harbour should have done the same at the time and not come up with their own selfish plan after the fact. They want to lease offices to yacht brokers at a new building on the public's right of way -- on the waterfront, in a public park.
After a two and a half hour hearing, the matter was continued until a Commission hearing on October 23. As you know, the Village Council was almost unanimous in their incredulence over the project and they weren't too crazy about the lack of respect they received from the project-pusher Santiago Echemendia. He is not a friend to the Grove. He was just as rude to the City Commission and has this attitude that he is right and everyone else is a fool. He has this way of double talking, too.
Enrique Núñez, City project manager of the Waterfront Masterplan, was grilled by Mr. Echemendia. While Mr. Núñez feels that the new project fits the footprint allowed for the area, he would like to leave the decision to the City Commission. But he says the Masterplan never involved more than a dockmaster facility with bathrooms and showers. It didn't include an office building.
Commissioner Marc Sarnoff was adamant about not allowing this project to be built. Mr. Echemendia tried to tie Marc and his chief of staff Ron Nelson as being biased against the project. Which they are. So what? Marc feels that the Masterplan is now a joke and a waste of taxpayers' money. What was the point of it?
Marc brought up an excellent point about the building -- he said that FEMA would not allow the building to be built at ground level, that is why Grove Harbour is being so "generous" to the public about having a "plaza" below the building. They have to do that. They are not giving out of generosity. They are snowing the public. Marc called it a "hair brained scheme." It is.
Speaking of the reason behind the Waterfront Masterplan Marc said, "What a novel idea in the City of Miami -- the ability to see the waterfront."
Mark your calendar for October 23, and let's all come out for this one and protect our waterfront. Do you want waterfront access or do you want private businesses to control it for their own benefit? How often do you plan on visiting that building to purchase a yacht?
The proposed plan calls for a three-story office building literally on the waterfront, with no solid parking plan, (are they going to use The Fresh Market's parking?), there was no compliance with the Charter Amendment -- 50-foot setback rule (voted on by the public), and it was never included in the Waterfront Masterplan, which bothers many.
While the zoning board previously approved this project, it is clear to everyone that the zoning board is living in another world and has no clue what is going on with the Waterfront Masterplan or Coconut Grove. Another reason we need to reclaim the Grove and "take back the Grove."
Why did we spend $1.5 million on the Masterplan, which took years in the making, if they are going to ignore it? If this is allowed to pass, what next? Can anyone just come in and make changes to the plan as they see fit? Stuart Sorg, head of the Waterfront Advisory Board, stood up before the Commission and said, "yes." Guess he feels all the years of meetings, charrettes, public input and such were just suggestions and not to be taken seriously.
Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones called the Masterplan an "Inspirational Plan" and says Masterplans change. Commissioner Joe Sanchez feels the water view is blocked already by the hangers and that he respects the Waterfront Advisory Board on these type of decisions (I think they are biased). Commissioner Tomás Reglado wants to hear more from the public but feels that the offices should be scrapped and only the dockmaster facilities should stay (showers, bathroom and dockmaster office).
The Sailing Club and U.S. Sailing Facility went through arduous negotiations to have their ideas heard as part of the Masterplan. Grove Harbour should have done the same at the time and not come up with their own selfish plan after the fact. They want to lease offices to yacht brokers at a new building on the public's right of way -- on the waterfront, in a public park.
After a two and a half hour hearing, the matter was continued until a Commission hearing on October 23. As you know, the Village Council was almost unanimous in their incredulence over the project and they weren't too crazy about the lack of respect they received from the project-pusher Santiago Echemendia. He is not a friend to the Grove. He was just as rude to the City Commission and has this attitude that he is right and everyone else is a fool. He has this way of double talking, too.
Enrique Núñez, City project manager of the Waterfront Masterplan, was grilled by Mr. Echemendia. While Mr. Núñez feels that the new project fits the footprint allowed for the area, he would like to leave the decision to the City Commission. But he says the Masterplan never involved more than a dockmaster facility with bathrooms and showers. It didn't include an office building.
Commissioner Marc Sarnoff was adamant about not allowing this project to be built. Mr. Echemendia tried to tie Marc and his chief of staff Ron Nelson as being biased against the project. Which they are. So what? Marc feels that the Masterplan is now a joke and a waste of taxpayers' money. What was the point of it?
Marc brought up an excellent point about the building -- he said that FEMA would not allow the building to be built at ground level, that is why Grove Harbour is being so "generous" to the public about having a "plaza" below the building. They have to do that. They are not giving out of generosity. They are snowing the public. Marc called it a "hair brained scheme." It is.
Speaking of the reason behind the Waterfront Masterplan Marc said, "What a novel idea in the City of Miami -- the ability to see the waterfront."
Mark your calendar for October 23, and let's all come out for this one and protect our waterfront. Do you want waterfront access or do you want private businesses to control it for their own benefit? How often do you plan on visiting that building to purchase a yacht?
posted by Tom Falco at 7:00 AM
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8 Comments:
Excellent title, Grapevine. Sums up the sheer aberrations of special monetary and political interests at play here. The People of the Grove, Tourists and all regular people visiting from Miami are getting, well...nailed again:
This Grove Harbor Marina, 22000 SQF OFFICE Concrete Building just 22ft from the water, is just another example of how poorly the Grove is currently represented at City Hall. If represented at all.
Sad, but true:
"Commissioner Joe Sanchez feels the water view is blocked already by the hangers and that he respects the Waterfront Advisory Board on these type of decisions (I think they are biased)."
Has Commissioner Sanchez ever attempted to just walk (let alone run or bike) from, say Peacock Park to Monty's? The Water View IS NOT totally blocked quite yet, although there are way too many obstacles of course.
Specifically where this massive concrete office building would be built: It's exactly between Grove Harbor Marina's loading dock (with its 2 huge cranes blocking the view and the way most times during the day), and the Charterhouse restaurant. A relatively small clear spot to walk by and see a little bit of water, from Scotty's until the blockage of Grove Harbor Marina, then you're free to walk or run or bike again by the water past the Fresh Market, Shake-a-Leg to Monty's.
There is NO 22,000 5 story high concrete structure between the Charthouse and Grove Harbor Marina, go visit the place Commissioner Sanchez!
There is just a little office house high on small columns that hardly blocks anything (although I'd love to see it disappear, and build a little park with CocoaNut trees and green grass instead, for people to sit around and enjoy that spot of water like a little Green Plaza. Put that little office somewhere else, like inside Grove Marina's huge steel Hangar next to it).
So is commissioner Sanchez lying us, has some political interest from the powerful lobbyists from this Money-Making Marina machine? Or he's just ignorant and hasn't even visited the place itself where they are trying to build this thing?, 22 ft from the water, violating every code and plan we had, as Grapevine points out.
Incredible they can sell this. Amazing how poorly regular folks who just would like to enjoy the Water Front are being represented.
"Commissioner Tomás Reglado wants to hear more from the public:"
I agree, we must be there at City Hall on October 23rd to stop this gross trespass on our rare and unique Water Views.
Do you think Coral Gables or Pinecrest would even entertain, let alone allow such an aberration?
That's IF they had the luxury of having a few awesome Bay Side Water Views left for the public to enjoy as the Grove still does.
Carlos Iglesia
The City Commission are so out of touch.
I will bet a pitcher of beer and 20 chicken wings at Flannigans that this building proposed by Grove Harbor, the 3rd floor specifically, is designed to be an "event venue", i.e., banquet hall, party facility, catering space---I am not a grovite nor am i particlarly intelligent (cannot do algebra, divide fractions or decimals). I was at the zoning board a few weeks ago when th eitem came up (i was ther for a proposed change dealing with a lot in the Roads section where I live). The only thing that came to my mind when I saw the developer/owner's plans for that gorgeous windowed 3rd floor space was that they want to do events there-- political fundraisers, law firm parties, conference breakouts, weddings and parties just like the tax money that was paid for parrot jungle on watson island was used to make them primarily a banquet hall. I also saw the replay on chanel 77 of the commission meeting on this item and to see our commissioners have no clue on preserving the waterfront for the future generations was enough to make you sick. Michelle Spence Jones and Joe Sanchez must be booted from that commission, they are completely worthless (Angel Gonzalez is worthless too, he was absent that day). Some of you grove activists would be well served to check out the banquet hall angle on this building, no other reason to have that huge 3rd floor space up there, it will bring a premium price.
Thanks for the info, anon. at 1:55pm.
I bet there's a lot of truth to that. "Events Venue" private wealthy boater banquets on the third floor, wonderful, overlooking our scarce Bay Water, 22 ft away. I bet all of those "commissioners" that are supposed to represent us are welcomed guests.
I wonder what they'll have on floors 2 and 5, the Lobbyists and obscure cash contributors private offices with the best view in town?
See, money talks. Regular Grovites, all of our patrons and Miami visitors, Tourists walk, just Elsewhere..
Carlos Iglesia
Organize, folks. Get people to go to the meeting. If necessary, hire a bus. Pack the commission meeting with residents opposed. If you are allowed a 2 minute comment, get everyone to sign up to make one. Sort of a filibuster. Call, write, email the members of the commission.
If you don't stay on top of it, they'll slip this through, you know they will. There's big money riding on this.
Great idea.
Write your commissioners, mayor and city manager
tregalado@miamigov.com; jsanchez@miamigov.com; mspence@miamigov.com;
msarnoff@miamigov.com;
pgh@miamigov.com;
agonzalez@miamigov.com
mannydiaz@miamigov.com
I dont know why everyone has to be so "Anonymous" here. It would be nice to know who is saying what.
right, edwards
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