Local businesses are being harassed by code enforcement
The Grove is being attacked by code enforcement.
I have written about the parking problems, now today code enforcement visited Le P'tit Paris, Greenstreet, Jaguar, and basically all the rest of the outdoor cafes and told them that they could no longer have heaters on the sidewalks. Also, no more planters on the sidewalks and in the case of Jaguar no more benches, and other items. The list is endless.
One restaurant owner told me that the planters are not only there for beauty but they are a protective barrier between street traffic and diners.
I know that Focaccia Rustica had some problems with code enforcement and they removed their outdoor tables months ago rather than jump through hoops and constantly pay fines. They were fined for something having to do with the tables.
These items have been on the sidewalks for 10 to 20 years in some cases, the sidewalks are inspected yearly. All of a sudden things have to be moved or changed.
"Every city in the world authorizes heaters on the sidewalks during the winter but here in Coconut Grove they are making it extremely hard to operate," one restaurant owner told me.
All the restaurants were told that the chief of code enforcement would be back in the next 48 hours and a $500 dollar a day fine will start if things are not changed according to their liking. This comes in addition to the police visiting businesses in the middle of the night asking for licenses, and setting up DUI stations in the Center Grove. (More shocking details on that tomorrow).
Our neighbors in South Miami, Mary Brickell Village, South Beach, Coral Gables, etc. are doing everything possible to take away business from the Grove and the City of Miami is doing everything possible to accommodate these other cities.
I have written about the parking problems, now today code enforcement visited Le P'tit Paris, Greenstreet, Jaguar, and basically all the rest of the outdoor cafes and told them that they could no longer have heaters on the sidewalks. Also, no more planters on the sidewalks and in the case of Jaguar no more benches, and other items. The list is endless.
One restaurant owner told me that the planters are not only there for beauty but they are a protective barrier between street traffic and diners.
I know that Focaccia Rustica had some problems with code enforcement and they removed their outdoor tables months ago rather than jump through hoops and constantly pay fines. They were fined for something having to do with the tables.
These items have been on the sidewalks for 10 to 20 years in some cases, the sidewalks are inspected yearly. All of a sudden things have to be moved or changed.
"Every city in the world authorizes heaters on the sidewalks during the winter but here in Coconut Grove they are making it extremely hard to operate," one restaurant owner told me.
All the restaurants were told that the chief of code enforcement would be back in the next 48 hours and a $500 dollar a day fine will start if things are not changed according to their liking. This comes in addition to the police visiting businesses in the middle of the night asking for licenses, and setting up DUI stations in the Center Grove. (More shocking details on that tomorrow).
Our neighbors in South Miami, Mary Brickell Village, South Beach, Coral Gables, etc. are doing everything possible to take away business from the Grove and the City of Miami is doing everything possible to accommodate these other cities.
posted by Tom Falco at 4:55 PM
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27 Comments:
This is the City's answer to the lack of taxes coming in due to the poor econony. Raise it by fining everyone. It is shameless. Where is Comm. Sarnoff when this is happening? Where is the mayor?
I second ANON and it is disgusting. They are using economy as a reason to make our lives miserable. I think the laws prohibiting the lamps and the flowers should be overturned ASAP. Our community will look like crap if the sidewalks are bare.
Are you sure code enforcement isn't looking to have their palms greased? I think this is a case for higher authorities.
Our neighbors in South Miami, Mary Brickell Village, South Beach, Coral Gables, etc. are doing everything possible to take away business from the Grove and the City of Miami is doing everything possible to accommodate these other cities.
Yes, youre right. I heard people from South Miami, Mary Brickell Village, South Beach, and Coral Gables, all had a secret meeting and decided that the Grove was such a booming mecca that they needed to talk to the City about driving business away so they could steal it.
TOTAL CONSPIRACY!
LOL
I think Grape was being sarcastic Dear.
Just another example.. abominable mismanagement of Cocoanut Grove Village matters by the Greedy City of Miami. The list of issues keeps growing.
Until the Grove becomes it's own City this Big Mess will continue.
Good points. I am against useless intervention. But checking licenses and setting up DUI checks is good for the community.
When I walk into a business, I'm happy to know that it's legit (especially restaurants).
As a father, I am grateful for the cops who keep the drunks off the road.
Why don't the owners get together and sue the city seeking an injunction against that kind of harassment? That would put a stop to that in a second.
Do other Cities like our adjacent Key Biscayne and Coral Gables Cities enforce the same exact Code Enforcement rules? Just curious.
BUSINESS IS TOUGH IN THE GROVE RIGHT NOW FOR THE` MERCHANTS AND THE CITY JUST DOES NOTHING TO HELP ALL THEY DO IS HARASS THE MERCHANTS GIVE OUT PARKING TICKETS NOTHING TO HELP THEY WANT TO DESTROY ANY CHARM THE`GROVE`HAS WHATS WRONG WITH PLANTS ON THE STREET AROUND THE OUT DOOR CAFE'S?
Sound's like Extortion is legal when the Gov't is doing it to ya!
You take away our outdoor cafes, planters, heaters - my God what a blessing they are on cold day - will the fans be next? This has got to be coming from the top beause normally our code enforcement people don't like to work too hard, so they are getting directives from higher up. IF YOU WANT TO KILL THE GROVE KEEP IT UP.
The city should help businesses not attacked them, the Grove has lost the Playhouse, the Convention center, Borders,etc.... we do not want to loose the sidewalk cafes...
Concerned Neighbors: try sending an e-mail to Mr. Sarnoff, our so-called Miami City "representative" , District 3, "for" the Grove.
you can Google that, good luck. I'd try Manny Diaz first, or attending certain City Hall gatherings of useless, endless political crap.
No use in lamenting, or helplessly opining here about the obvious injustices. Either people get actively involved and duly organized or the City of Miami will keep abusing the Grove in such grosteque and obvious ways and, then some.
First they cut all those age old trees at the post office and now they want to destroy the ambiance further? How is writing violations like maniacs going to help the tax payers, they are shooting themselves in the foot while they will turn the Grove into a concrete graveyard.
Are the sidewalks privately owned? Are the sidewalks meant for the movement of pedestrian traffic throughout the city? What gives a private business the right to block a public sidewalk for the own profit while impeding traffic?
I applaud the work of the code enforcement officers! I wish they would do the same in South Miami where they have 10 foot wide sidewalks but then only effectively have a 2 foot wide sidewalk when you take into account the tables, chairs, trees, poles, lights, etc that litter the sidewalks.
What is the best way to fight this? Letters to Manny Diaz?
Here is the email address for the City of Miami Code Enforcement Office.
http://egov.ci.miami.fl.us/CodeEnforcement/Default.aspx
This is what the directory indicates:
Director of Code Enforcement: Mariano Loret de Mola (305)416-2039
Chief of Code Enforcement Sergio Guadix (305)416-2089
There email addresses are there as well. I say we flood their inboxes with complaints.
I haven't driven through the Grove in a day or two and have not personally witnessed the slaughter of the sidewalk ambiance but I can just imagine how terrible it looks.
Grape: do you have any before and after pics you can post?
Without the planter, diners will just feel more exposed to the elements. In your face car exhaust, cold winter nights, are they trying to eliminate all outdoor dining?
Also - Restaurants in South Miami has been hit with some major bills for outdoor tables and chairs as well. They are charging them a fee per table and chair. It is almost becoming cost prohibitive for some of the smaller establishments.
Why do we live in Miami if we can't enjoy a meal outside!!!
If you want to enjoy a meal outside, go sit in your backyard.
I agree with Eddie above. I can't stand trying to maneuver down the sidewalk dodging tables, chairs, flower pots, dogs who are chained to the tables where their owners are eating, etc...
And I hate eating at someplace where my chair keeps getting hit by the people walking by.
Silver you sound like a SCROOGE or the GRINCH, move somewhere else or STAY HOME, this is the culture of the Grove, and I and most people that live here LOVE it!!
Happy Holidays
You guys have no idea how bad the code enforcement has really been. Local bars that DO comply are still being constantly harrassed. They blame these restaurants and bars for the lower numbers of people and tourists. They try to say that these places are HURTING the grove and causing people not to come into the area. They are saying that the noise is keeping people away. Please tell me, what tourists are being turned off by music playing at 2:00 AM??? Bars and noise are not affecting anything between the hours of 11 AM and 10 PM which is when tourists and families are usually walking around. Places that have been in the grove for YEARS are being visited daily by code enforecement. What they don't realize is when these particular places ARE shut down there will no Grove left. The little that we have now.... Why not leave the busy places alone b/c they are actually keeping people within the grove in the evenings and at night.
It's all so ridiculous. When the economy is tough, people aren't traveling as much, all businesses are a little slower, why would you harp on them even more?
This is how it goes---a few years ago when everyone was packed, all businesses doing well, code enforecement didn't say anything...Now when everything goes downhill, they are on everyone's case. It should be the exact opposite.
While I agree it's nice to eat outside sometimes, my table shouldn't block pedestrian traffic.
It's more than just a little annoying to try to navigate the obstacle course of tables and chairs that Johhny Rockets puts out on a major corner sidewalk.
I'm sure the restaurant owners love the opportunity to get some extra tables seated, but it's called a sideWALK, not a sideDiningRoom.
It seems that instead of building a restaurant to incorporate open air dining, tables are just put out front, sidewalk or not.
Taken to the extreme, you get Ocean Drive between 5th & 10th, where pedestrian traffic backs up and ends up spilling into the street. Ugh.
You ought to be able to explore the Grove by foot.
Focaccia stopped putting tables and chairs out despite having paid for the permit for years, decided to avoid being harassed and forced to go through the expensive and stupid maze at the city. The city is definitely trying to drag the neighborhood down. For what reason, perhaps a developer thinks property in the Grove should be cheaper to buy. We will get to the bottom of this.
TO EDDIE SUAREZ......YOU,RE THE DUMBEST PERSON ON THE PLANET !
I think this is a conspiracy against businesses in the area. I live in the Gables and come to the Grove because of the sidewalk eateries and ambiance, if this is taken off, I won't come to the Grove to spend my money anymore, WHAT A SHAME!!!!
Some earlier posts drove me to research the municipal code for sidewalk seating...
Basically, if there's a sidewalk of 10 feet in width, then restaurants can pay for a permit to place tables outside on the public sidewalk.
The caveat is that a 6 foot wide path must be left unobstructed.
I don't know for sure but I doubt many of the tabled Grove sidewalks are even 10' wide. I doubt even less have a 6' pedestrian path.
I think the 6' required path might be a little too big for our scale of foot-traffic, but would like to see at least 4' so that I could walk past a stroller-pushing mom without a contortionist act.
Anything less is pedestrian un-friendly.
There can be a happy medium here. Silver, you do seem like a bit of a scrooge. Do you even like the Grove? You can walk through Cocowalk and eat at Chilis if you want cookie cutter. The best thing about these restaurants is enjoying the outdoor eating and people watching. Sure we can eat in our own backyard but there is a reason we all go to and love the Grove and it is for the flavor and community aspect. That being said, I would like to have adequate sidewalk space available so that my husband and I can walk hand in hand through the Grove. Bikers, runners, dog walkers all seem to have a difficult time maneuvering through the sidewalks but it seems that there is a better solution than bringing in the SWAT team or bully code enforcers. The lively outdoor dining is exactly what attracts tourists and residents alike. It makes the Grove look like a happening place, a place to be seen, to socialize and to enjoy the Miami weather. I don’t want the Grove to become a big box mall, where we all stay inside our air conditioned spaces and walk to our big parking garages. I fear that the original Grove that we love is really on life support and these code enforcers are slowly pulling on the plug. We need to fight the power because while they may have a few valid points, they will quickly walk all over us if we don’t make our opinions heard.
Let commonsense prevail...
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