Pastor and architect are too willy-nilly with history
We would like to dedicate an outhouse in the name of Pastor Wilifred Allen (it's all about the money) Faiella at the location of the historic church that she had destroyed with architect Jenifer (no clue what going green is) Briley who needs to go back to architect school to learn a few things.
Pastor Willie and "Architect" Briley will go down in history as being greedy, spiteful, stupid, selfish people with no brains or hearts. Let's hope they are both soon out of jobs. Anyone who keeps them on the payroll is a party to the desecration of history and condones their actions. Just because you have a degree, does that make you an architect?
They have no respect for St. Stephen's or for the people who have come before them or after them, or for the Grove community, the donors, the congregation or for history. They need to both be history and fast, if St. Stephen's is to ever hold its head high again and be taken seriously.
Beth Dunlop has an excellent article on the subject in today's Herald here.
The New Times exposes Pastor Willie as being not what she seems here.
Our past coverage is here from newest to oldest.
Graphic by Harry Emilio Gottlieb for the Grapevine
posted by Tom Falco at 3:00 PM
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21 Comments:
Everyone knows about the pedophile, he lives in the North Grove on Swanson Ave. Anyone with children who doesn't know can easily find out. There is a link on the City of Miami website, Crimewatch etc... There are many many more convicted pedophiles living in Coconut Grove. He has signs hanging all over the front of his house such as "Peace on Earth" and there is a sign that say they have a Bible Study group there at the house as well. Maybe Pastor Willie led the bible study group. Does she like men or women?
Grape, great reporting - I think you really did break this story -and thanks for the Beth Dunlop link, I never read the Herald anymore for all the obvious reasons, but that was a great article and I would've missed it otherwise.
There seem to be lots of issues here.
Is the main issue the removal of a historic building?
Is it the issue of the church seeking to strengthen its financial condition through rental of retail space?
Is it the issue of unclear communication and process?
Could we just pick one issue to support?
Like many problems we face today this is a multi-faceted issue.
I'm glad not only exposed this but made enough noise that attracted the attention of a lot of people.
Otherwise this manipulation would have gone unnoticed.
Grape: This is your blog, your piece of Internet turf and your business; I respect that and appreciate your posting on other issues. I disagree with you on this saga, because as a St. Stephen’s parishioner and supporter I feel both sides of the story were not presented or even hinted at. Why not try and present both sides of the story?
Ultimately, Soper Hall was a building. No blood was spilled, no illegal activities were committed and pieces of history were saved. I guess I don’t get why there’s so much animosity towards a Rector who has done much to improve the lives of people in and out of the Grove.
To Allen - You are right - you just don't get it ! Your statement of "pieces of history" is like " a little bit pregnant". You either is or you ain't! You are either caring of your history or you ain't! I choose not to live inplaces like "beautiful" sunny isles (don't you just love those 60 story condos - do they have trees and a beach there?)just because I want to surround myself daily with visual beauty and history - not pieces of it.
@ Allan - I do feel "both sides" of the story are being represented. Some people thought it was just a building and misrepresented information to donors to get their approval and some people think that's disgusting.
That's the 2 sides. The church doesn't do enough good in the community to be exempt from the basic laws of humanity and civics.
All this does is expose your church for what many churches historically are: revenue streams for fat cats who assure other fat cats that they'll go to heaven in spite of their greed and lust.
And as far as "no illegal activities were committed" I believe that's in debate right now. I think fraud is illegal.
I agree with Allan.
Both sides are not being presented equally.
And some people don't want to live in old 'historical' places. Some people probably find beauty in those condos that jkh was disparraging.
Ultimately the choice was with the people who owned the building, not the public who lives in the area.
If there was deception, that would be something the parishioners would need to address but as for the 'public' debate on this; I don't think it's any of our business.
And that's what it is; a business. Privately owned.
Apparently, this church is run by a CEO whose methods are more business school than divinity school. A two-story commercial building to replace a 100-year-old church? A sound business decision. A school with 300 pupils at $12K/per annum? A principal at $130K? Where is the "outreach" promoted by the Episcopal Church? After reading all the pros and cons, supporters and opposition, I wonder why not tear the thing down and just build a commercial building with parking and forget all the churchy stuff?
A church is a civic institution, not a private business, not a private club. It belongs to the entire community, which is why it is not required to pay taxes.
The Pastor and the vestry are the stewards of the church. They are the caretakers entrusted with the community’s most precious, most sacred, civic institution.
The pastor, the head of school, the vestry, the schools board of directors, the architect, the projects manager (the Related Group) treated it like a private business or a private club. They desecrated a part of Miami's heritage that belonged to us all, for the personal gain of but a few.
The pastor stands to gain a nice fat raise by expanding the school, raising tuition, renting church property to a major retailer, etc. and will likely take an early retirement because her "crones’ disease" has suddenly returned.
The head of school stands to gain recognition and a nice fat raise as well, which will trickle down to her friends (Silvia is a firm believer in trickle down economics).
The architect - who apparently has never had a building built before -thought that this was her big break, finally a chance at fame and fortune, especially by having a huge, boxy contemporary retail building on Main Highway. A real attention grabber.
Whats the second story going to be used for? An office for her architectural firm? An office for the related group?
The church vestry and the school’s board of directors was either lied to from the beginning and was therefore being used, or they all knew what the real deal was all along and they agreed to go along with the plan because they too stand to gain something.
Who is on this vestry? Who is on the school’s board of directors? Business partners of Related Group? Potential business partners of related group? Everyone that went along with this ordeal had something to gain. Something so big that they thought it was okay to commit a few sins.
I think that the Grapevine has done an excellent job covering this story. But there is so much more to be revealed about who knew what and why they went along with it, who was lied to, and who is willing to speak up about it now.
Those not willing to talk are the ones that have the most to hide. Keep digging Grapevine.
ANON 3:21 Excellent comment right on! You go Grape! If you didn't dig you wouldn't find. When will the CITY issue a statement on this? The CITY messed up royally again! Commissioner Sarnoff say something? Is there an investigation? If not there should be.
3:21.
Churches don't 'belong' to the community. Many of them have memberships and dues, especially those with schools.
Being tax exempt has nothing to do with the fact that they're 'civic institutions'.
It has to do with government intrusion into religion. You know, that separation thing that's in the 1st Amendment. In addition, as most of churches 'incomes' are considered contributions, the taxes have alreasy been paid by the person making the contribution. Most 'non-profit' organizations work that way.
Anonymous 3:21 There has always been a "retail space" on the church's property on Main Highway. It was the Twice Around Shop and then the Heart of the Grove Gallery (a collaborative between the church and Grove House Artists, both of whom profited from it). The new retail space will be built in the empty lot between the old Heart of the Grove (which, BTW did not have running water or a bathroom and was not handicap accessible) and Ludo's restaurant.
To say that Jenifer Briley has (oh yeah "apparently") never had a building built before is now officially the most ludicrous thing posted so far on this blog site (and there have been a lot of ludicrous things posted). To drag the rector's chronic illness into this is the most venal. Have you no shame, madam? Have you no shame?
Anon 4:07 An investigation into what exactly? An open process, legal? Certified letters going out to neighbors, businesses, civic organizations and home owners' associations in the Grove seeking input on a class II permit last summer? Detailed plans with photographs of what was to be demolished going to the city's planning department last summer?A project Sarnoff himself praised? Investigation into what exactly?
What did I tell you? That should be enough to get you started Grape.
To Silver - following your logic home depot should have been allowed to build whatever they wanted - it's their property - "ultimately the choice was with the people who owned the building, not with the people who live in the area" as you stated.Thus you of course agree we should maximize the tax base in the grove by letting all business property owners do exactly what they want. ?.Hell,why stop there . I know a few homeowners who would like to tear down their houses and put in gas stations.Definitely a better return on investment for he property owners, the city and the state in tax revenue.
Michael:
Instead of you speaking for Commissioner Sarnoff why don't you let him speak for himself?
Mr. Sarnoff Please respond?
Thanks
As a member of the vestry two years ago, when we were first presented with the plans to demolish the old building, which was below street level & couldn't have bathrooms added to it, I wish I'd paid more attention to Arva Moore Parks' ‘Miami Then & Now’ than just putting it on the coffee table & giving a copy to my native Miamian parents. Had I seen how important the building, and the whole parish, were from the numerous references in the book, I and perhaps several of the other 12 people who were told at the first discussion that it was going to be destroyed, might have voted differently on the matter.
It's not your fault. You were presented with false information through that huge GREEN smoke screen. Most people in your church feel the same way and you are one of the few that has the guts to even talk about it. I'm sure god gives you brownie, I mean Verger points for that!
Anon 12:17
I see sarcasm, too, is lost on you. (Here's a hint: there is NO mention of St. Stephen's in Ms. Parks' book).
Greywoman
Russel the Verger...a "member of the vestry two years ago, when we were first presented with the plans to demolish the old building, which was below street level & couldn't have bathrooms added to it..."
Wow, you seriously believed that crock? A building below street level can certainly have bathrooms.
That is just one of the may lies you and the other vestry members were told so you woulld vote for the project. It must be hard to accept that your own church lied to you.
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