Changes in store at NET offices?
If you read the Mayor's proposed budget here. You'll see that the NET offices are in line to be abolished. That will be part of the talk tonight at City Hall (3500 Pan American Drive), during the budget discussion, at 5:05 pm.
Many are upset over this as well as the proposed loss of 200 police positions.
There was talk of moving the NET office and possibly the Chamber, from the glass house in Peacock Park and putting a restaurant in. Maybe something that would sell burgers and shakes in the day and at night, perhaps higher end food, maybe something like the Red Fish Grill at Matheson Hammock.
How would this work? An RFP (request for proposal) would go out, but who would get the rent and what would the rent be? Would it be cheap or free like some waterfront restaurants enjoy now? Would the new glass house restaurant (I like that name "The Glass House") be part of the Waterfront Master Plan for the parks?
But most of all, is the NET office going to be around in another location? Or will it be abandoned all together?
posted by Tom Falco at 11:00 AM
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24 Comments:
The Mayor's position will be to abolish the NET. I doubt that will sit well with Regalado. He proposed to bring the Code Enforcement back to the NET offices. Which I agree with, this whole code not knowing what NET does and everyone giving everyone tickets is ridiculous.
The "Neighborhood Enhancement Team" does very little to enhance the neighborhood. When I think of enhancement, I think of tree planting, visual beautification, junk car removal, sign restrictions, and effective code enforcement. There are countless other enhancements, too.
The City of Miami will never have a well-coordinated system to enhance anything.
The reason that I say this is because if you drive around the Grove you'll see overgrown vacant lots, grafitti, illegal street vendors, plastic signs on the swale, and trash piles sitting for days.
Despite all this, the Grove is still the crown jewel of Miami.
As far as a restaurant goes, Peacock Park is not the place for it. We have plenty of those already. The Glass House was built as a community center with ping-pong tables and things like that. Along with the library across the street (synergy), we'd be better served with a facility for children and families.
What about the NET street cleaners?
The NET has lost what it was however it should not be abolished.
As far as graffiti the Mayor has an office called graffiti busters. Most of them are being laid off in the new budget....
yay Manny.
The street cleaners are on the staff of the Dept. of Solid Waste.
The Graffiti Busters are excellent and they respond quickly. I call on them from time to time. We desperately need them to continue their good work.
There was a lot of discussion during the waterfront master plan meetings about the Glass House. Some people wanted it to be a community center. Some people wanted a casual, inexpensive restaurant where you could grab a hot dog or a burger and sit outside to eat. Ultimately, the use for the Glass House was not defined in the waterfront master plan, but now is the time for us to voice our desires to Commissioner Sarnoff's office if we care what goes in there. Rumor has it steps have already been taken to survey the building, presumably in preparation for preparing an RFP. If the building is leased to a third party by the City, let's hope it's done honestly and fairly, and for a real market price, unlike some of the other properties in the Grove that the City has given long term leases for.
hmmm, I would like to hear more about making this into something else... it could definitely work.
If the city is leasing it, how would that work? I know more than a few people would be interested in it.
The "Glass House" sits on a magnificent piece of land which is under utilized. Not so many years ago there was a study done, what happened to that. I paid into something like save peacock park, spearheaded by Glen Terry. This piece of land could indeed become a jewel. Something to make us stand apart and be a destination. Look at visitflorida.com then search Coconut Grove? CocoWalk is the Destination!
We need creative people with BIG ideas. I am for a restaurant via rfp then let the citizens decide, via their voters registration so it is fair and square and Grove based. Then select Coconut Grove Artists to work out a folly, or a maze, or a sculpture garden, the possibilities are vast. How about a water based sculpture garden for young children and mothers. There is ample space.
Take a look at the playground behind the glass house, it's disgusting.
I like to take my toddler son to watch the skateboarders and everytime he makes his way to the playground I cringe. Fix it or get rid of it.
Tony, there are street cleaners on Virginia. They walk around with a broom and wear NET shirts. She cleans every morning starting around 7 am. I have seen her on Virginia, Mary, Oak etc.
Our street cleaner comes by every morning very early and cleans all of the crud from the night before. She always smiles and says good morning. I do not want her work to be discredited.
How about a real honest place where tourist; families, singles and pets can come to and get some really special treatment; say for all tourist who have lost suitcases, a cell phone, been robbed or just want to be treated special for no particular reason. They could easily chill out in the park, go across the street, read a book or go on the internet. Get a free hot dog and coke using their ticket or hotel key. Tourist from China meets new friend from England. If lionised property and world wide, Coconut Grove might become a mangnet. Free T-shirt from COCONUT GROVE, FLORIDA.
Glass House needs to be a Community Center and yes FIX UP THE PLAYGROUND BEHIND IT!!!!!
It's a great location for a community center as Peacock Park can be used as well as part of the Community Center. Do we (City of Miami) charge rent to St. Stephens to use Peacock Park all day for the PE field? If we (the city of Miami) do not we should! Why not make revenue from a school that charges $15000+ per year per student. Our City needs money start charging rent. Grape can you find out if the pay or use it for free?
The Glass House has always been there for the community to enjoy it's benefits. The last thing we need there is a restaurant which will be a benefit to somebody that the mayor/commissioners owes a "favor" to...
Why is it that no matter what the local constituents desire, the board of commissioners always goes against the public referendum?
The City of Miami's political process smells like a third world banana republic...
Let them give back to the people for a change, rather than their back pocket!
Hey, Glenn Terry here. Dave Villano and I put together The Friends of Peacock Park six years ago. Our group wants to make the park a vibrant, popular part of our community.
A member of our group, Grove architect Thorn Grafton, led a 2-day workshop, four years ago, in which we explored many,many ideas, of what our village's central park could be. We'd be happy to share those ideas again.
We also sponsor the annual Great Grove Picnic in the park. It is coming up again in November.
Glenn does St. Stephens pay to use the park for their students PE classes?
What is the story with the Shuffleboard courts next to the glass house? Kind of brings back the days of the Catskill Mountains!
If the NET has to go, the Glass House would present and ideal space for a Community & Tourist Center, which could be run by a non-for-profit such as the Chamber. And hey, what do yo know... the Chamber is already there!
It is also already a Tourist Center. In fact it is the only designated walk in tourist center in Miami.
As a Community Center, it could also serve as a place to have community group meetings, which, come to think of it, between the Chamber and the NET it already is serving that purpose-- Merchant Group meetings, Police Liaison Meetings, Village Council meetings, subcommittees of this that and the other thing meetings, UEL meetings, a Crime Watch or 2 and a couple homeowner associations have all met there, some on a regular basis.
For entertaining, it would be nice if there was a piano. And guess what? The Antique Marketplace guys just gave me a piano to give to the Chamber.
My friend Sylvia could give Yoga classes and I know a great Tai Chi teacher.
So at this point, anybody got a ping pong table they don't use?
Oh wait... here is another one: Movie Theater!! The Chamber could run it, and part of the admission charge could be used to continue to beef up the Chamber staff to run the "Community/Tourist Center"
The last thing we need is another restaurant. Burgers and shakes? You can get that across the street at Johnny Rockets. Thats just a bad idea. Community Center, garden, or something else that all residents can benefit from is the best use for the Glass House if it is to be left vacant by the NET.
It is my understanding that an RFP is being prepared to market the Glasshouse for a restaurant and outdoor dining. I hope that it will be called Peacock Cafe or Peacock Bistro and have a few peacocks strolling near by. A Community Center and Tourist Center are also good ideas. The fact that this prime locate has been used as an office for the NET and Chamber is a travesty, that should have been corrected long before now. The Chamber and NET do benefit the Grove and should be preserved and moved to another office space. Finally all the effort put forth by Glenn Terry and many concerned Grovites may just pay off to help make Peacock Park our very won Central Park with a little restaurant on The Green. Harry Emilio Gottlieb
WOuld anyone like to have a gaithering to discuss the future of The Glasshouse? We could have it in Peacock Park or at the bookstore. If your're interested, contact me at bettermiami@yahoo.com.
Glenn Terry
P.S. also, to "anonymous" several letters above: Its been five years since I checked into it but back then St. Stephens was paying a fee for park use. Wouldn't it be great if we had programs there for kids who don't go to private school as well?
The Firemen get paid too much. That means 500 other employees must get fired.
God forbid the firemen reduce their $200,000 salaries one red cent. All for them and nothing for the 500 who just got axed.
I hope Regalado does not believe their BS.
We have plenty of restaurants in the Grove already we do not need another restaurant. But a Community Center, activities as Glenn said above for kids, and many ideas Liliana outlined above would be a welcome addition and fill a long overdue need in Coconut Grove.
Say No to a Restaurant at the Glass House say yes to a Community Center.
After many years of meetings, plans and frustrations, it looks like an RFP for a restaurant to be located in Peacock Park at the Glasshouse is finally in the works. Thank you Glenn Terry and your Friends of Peacock Park for your many years of efforts and frustrations that you had to endure! I am not so sure if any thanks are deserved by the CGVC or the waterfront master plan meetings. It’s about time that this important location be better utilized to enhance the quality of life in the Grove. Let’s hope that the restaurant selected for this honor is affordable, fun, high quality, not a Starbucks, not a chain, does not have any Romero Britto art, serves good food, great coffee, quality beers, tasty wines, big salads, fresh fruit, ice cream, opens early, closes late, does not play Kenny G music, occasionally has live musical entertainment and provides top notch and friendly service. Local Grovite artists and Grovite musicians should be featured. The cuisine should include local tropical flavors like mango and Caribbean seasoning. If this restaurant is done right, then it will go a long way to help attract many residence and tourists back to the Grove. All Grovite input that will benefit the Grove is of value and most appreciated. Please share all of your good ideas for the resurrection of the Glasshouse with Commissioner Marc Sarnoff (msarnoff@miamigov.com) and his Chief of Staff Ron Nelson (rnelson@miamigov.com) and of course the Coconut Grove Grapevine.
As a reply to Harry Gottlieb's remark on the restaurant in the Glasshouse, the majority of the community who are residents or natives of the Grove(myself), we DO NOT WANT a restaurant there! We don't care what kind of food, drinks, art or music they have! There are PLENTY of restaurants right up the street for people to patronize. One of the reasons locals and tourists don't come to the Grove is the congestion and overcrowding, too many restaurants, stores, etc. Also, there is a lack of affordable parking areas. Having a restaurant at the Glasshouse will only exacerbate this present situation...
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