More retail on the waterfront? Is "Bayside" coming?
At last month's Coconut Grove Implementation Committee meeting, regarding the restaurants and leased land on the Grove waterfront, which are part of the Waterfront Master Plan, it was interesting to see that the only restaurant represented was The Chart House, who was represented there by VP Jeff Cantwell.
Scotty's Landing and Grove Key Marina were suspiciously not present. It is not known if they were invited or not. They do owe back taxes, is there a takeover in the works?
The interesting issue here is that Mr. Cantwell brought up "restaurant and retail projects" and the lack of parking more than once. He is under the impression that more than just a new Chart House is going on the existing property. He was told more than once that the current plan does not include retail on the waterfront with the exception of marine-related retail wrapped around the proposed parking garage, which is already in the plans. But he chose to ignore that, choosing to speak about something else. Does he know something everyone else doesn't?
The public, who was part of the process the whole time, expressed their desire to NOT have retail or any sort of commercial operations on the waterfront, keeping it a park and not wanting to compete with the Center Grove retail establishments. The big battle went on about keeping the Expo Center or not because it blocked the waterfront. Is there talk now about major retail establishments?
Strangely enough, a discussion was held at the last meeting of issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the entire area, making it one large parcel.
Is the Chart House trying to control the whole area and then trying to include a Bayside-type project on the waterfront? Leases are coming up in the next few years. Are Scotty's and the Marina being pushed out?
Notes of the meeting are attached here in PDF format.
Tomorrow: "Chart House-Bayside sounds just like the ticket"
Scotty's Landing and Grove Key Marina were suspiciously not present. It is not known if they were invited or not. They do owe back taxes, is there a takeover in the works?
The interesting issue here is that Mr. Cantwell brought up "restaurant and retail projects" and the lack of parking more than once. He is under the impression that more than just a new Chart House is going on the existing property. He was told more than once that the current plan does not include retail on the waterfront with the exception of marine-related retail wrapped around the proposed parking garage, which is already in the plans. But he chose to ignore that, choosing to speak about something else. Does he know something everyone else doesn't?
The public, who was part of the process the whole time, expressed their desire to NOT have retail or any sort of commercial operations on the waterfront, keeping it a park and not wanting to compete with the Center Grove retail establishments. The big battle went on about keeping the Expo Center or not because it blocked the waterfront. Is there talk now about major retail establishments?
Strangely enough, a discussion was held at the last meeting of issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the entire area, making it one large parcel.
Is the Chart House trying to control the whole area and then trying to include a Bayside-type project on the waterfront? Leases are coming up in the next few years. Are Scotty's and the Marina being pushed out?
Notes of the meeting are attached here in PDF format.
Tomorrow: "Chart House-Bayside sounds just like the ticket"
posted by Tom Falco at 2:00 PM
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2 Comments:
Grape, it was my understanding from the meeting that Grove Key/Scottys' lease does not require them to pay property taxes, so taxes are not owed by them. They will be expected to pay property taxes as part of any future lease.
I believe in my commissioner on this one- there's no way he will allow a retail project on the water.
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