We need to bring the fun back to the Grove
According to Village Council member Lottie Person, who represented Village West at the business-residents liaison meeting, we are getting an influx of the wrong type of visitors in the way of people coming into Village West to buy drugs. While it's bad enough that the drugs are being sold, it is worse that the police are not keeping people from outside the area from cruising around to buy the drugs.
Lottie felt that if the buyers were chased off by police, then there would not be much of a drug trade.
She did go on to talk about many positive things going on in Village West like youth programs and church groups. Many of us didn't know there was a nice swimming pool at Verrick Park, which goes along with their great basketball courts. Gordon Fales, also at the meeting, talked about that. A swim team is being formed and he talked about Black Top Basketball, there are also YMCA programs and there is a beautiful library -- he called all of this "unknown incredible resources." I plan to go and check some of this out and report back.
One thing everyone agreed on is that free parking is needed, whether it is weeknights or weekends or one day or whatever. But something needs to be done about that.
The major police presence was also touched on like at the Seminole Boat ramps and on 27th Avenue, where they have frequent check points which only serve to intimidate visitors to the Grove. The police cars that are randomly parked around the village with lit up signs on the back are a major buzz kill, too, according to most at the meeting. No one sees the point in them.
Sylvano Bignon from Greenstreets and John El-Masry from Mr. Moe's both agreed that the Grove is no longer fun. Many agreed. We need to bring the fun back.
Lottie felt that if the buyers were chased off by police, then there would not be much of a drug trade.
She did go on to talk about many positive things going on in Village West like youth programs and church groups. Many of us didn't know there was a nice swimming pool at Verrick Park, which goes along with their great basketball courts. Gordon Fales, also at the meeting, talked about that. A swim team is being formed and he talked about Black Top Basketball, there are also YMCA programs and there is a beautiful library -- he called all of this "unknown incredible resources." I plan to go and check some of this out and report back.
One thing everyone agreed on is that free parking is needed, whether it is weeknights or weekends or one day or whatever. But something needs to be done about that.
The major police presence was also touched on like at the Seminole Boat ramps and on 27th Avenue, where they have frequent check points which only serve to intimidate visitors to the Grove. The police cars that are randomly parked around the village with lit up signs on the back are a major buzz kill, too, according to most at the meeting. No one sees the point in them.
Sylvano Bignon from Greenstreets and John El-Masry from Mr. Moe's both agreed that the Grove is no longer fun. Many agreed. We need to bring the fun back.
posted by Tom Falco at 8:00 AM
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13 Comments:
I agree, by driving around Coconut Grove, I could see why other areas in miami such as the Sunset Place area or Mary Brickell Village are doing much better than our neighborhood. The problem is also cosmetic, lets forget that Village West is crawling with crackheads on bikes and that Grand avenue is one of our main entrances, Tourists have to see this before they enter our beautiful neighborhood. Maybe a series of fund raising events to help clean up the neighborhood would be essential. I would be more than willing to throw a fundraising concert with a series of local coconut grove artists form all different genre's of music. Perhaps we need more involvement in the community to help clean up our neighborhood.
Diego M.
Or people can just bend over and pick up trash when they see it as Harry, Dave and I do daily.
There are so many great people in the Village West. There are lots of struggling businesses too. The city of Miami has turned its back on this part of the Grove for years. I think that the Grapevine can make a difference by featuring businesses and their owners on this blog.
The cafe on Douglas & Grand has great deals, and a wonderful owner, and special events like open mike Fridays. There is a walk-up street side Jamacian Cafe & their food is a to-die-for rare find in this area. There is a neighboorhood salon that has the least expensive manacure/pedicure anywhere in the Grove. They serve free champaign while you get your nails done and they always remember your name. Not to mention two fish shops with great deals on fresh catches daily.
The police cars are simple, less manpower = dummy cars(oops decoy cars). The Streets are a pit lately. Anyone run or bike down bayshore drive lately, between the potholes and trash lining the street (some from the marathon back in Jan.) and dog poop everywhere (especially Poop Park aka Kennedy), and the parking issues,who would want to come to the Grove?
Most Grove Moms know there is a pool At Verrick Park and in the past they offer free swim lessons.
Ask any Mom not from West Grove if they would go there with their children? The answer would be NO and this is due to the issues Lottie brought up.
i think you should look to see what made the grove fun before, then see whats missing now. i agree the cosmetic issue is big. i've heard from many people that they feel the grove isn't as safe as it once was.
Cops need to get out of their cars and walk around. Not hassle people, but be out of their cars "walking the beat" as they used to say... before our cops got so lazy that they would not leave their air conditioned cruisers under any circumstances.
I know that many Miami city cops are hard working guys, who put their safety at risk for us and I dont' mean to disrespect the Miami PD as a whole, but many, and I mean many, have gotten away from any kind of reasonable work ethic. The funny thing is I was talking to a few officers (young and in shape) who were always stuck in the worst parts of the city, while the grove has the same old cops every weekend, not lifting a finger for their paycheck.
Finally, Dummy cars are just that dumb. If you think they work let me sell you my bear repellent rocks for $500 each. Guaranteed to keep bears away or your money back.
A huge Grove loss was NRO Officer Braga who is now no longer with the City of Miami PD (early retirement). He would go out of his way for everyone! I am happy for him but a loss to the Grove.
There is a couple of guys working for a supervisor named Sgt Ortis. This guy is everywhere and running around the village kicking the undesireables out. and, there is also a guy named herrera on a bike, young kid, very friendly. we need more young people like this sgt and these cops.
I love the Grove and would love to see it become fun again. But please give thought as to what kind of "fun" we need. The weekend bar scene is thriving, but it also is what so many outsiders feel has made the Grove dirty and unsafe. If we want to attract out-of-town visitors, and diners and shoppers from Miami, we have to pull the whole package together. The Grove is beautiful and in an ideal location; so much potential.
Absolutely wrong. The weekend bar seen is dead not thriving. IT is what the grove is missing. Look at what every other area we're competing has that we dont have........a decent nightclub and bar scene. A dead bar scene is what actually brings the undesirables that nobody will let in to a thriving business. I good bar scene brings good quality people who want to spend money.
I guess thriving isn't the right word. It's busy, but it unfortunately seems to be with people who can't afford to pay South Beach or downtown prices. What do you recommend to get the good quality dining and drinking patrons to the Grove?
The nightclubs and bars that were bringing the "wrong" kind of people have all closed, so let's bring back the 5am closings now that we have some decent places coming up. Between Crazy Pianos, Temple, The Improv, and Cabana One, there is no reason why adults cant come back to the Grove for its nightlife.
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