Changes in store for the Glass House
An issue that came up at the Mayoral debate last week was the glass house in Peacock Park. A member of the audience wrote in a question asking both candidates, Tomás Regalado and Joe Sanchez, what they felt it's future should be.
A restaurant has been suggested for the space if and when the NET office and Chamber leave.
Both candidates felt that the NET office, first off, should not be touched by the cost cutting that the city is doing to balance the budget, even though that is part of the plan, but also, they both felt that if the building is vacated for any reason, that it should become a public facility like a community center and not a privately-owned restaurant.
The NET office's fate still has not been determined. Next Tuesday, September 29, will be the deciding day. That's the last day the City Commission has to work out the budget. Let's see how both candidates vote on the NET issue, since they both said in public that they do not want to harm the NET office.
Commissioner Marc Sarnoff says that the glass house will become a restaurant either way.
An RFP (request for proposals) will go out. He would like to see a full service restaurant on one side, maybe facing the park and on the other side, maybe a concession type thing that will sell coffee, burgers, shakes, things like that.
Comm. Sarnoff would like to build a playground in the area and promote more park usage.
He feels that a community center would just sit empty for most of the time. I agree. I think a restaurant is a good idea for the facility. And two types (full service and concession) would be a great idea and give us even more restaurant choices in the Grove. But maybe a compromise can be had -- half restaurant, half community center. Ping pong and coffee anyone?
posted by Tom Falco at 12:01 PM
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21 Comments:
What about a Cocoanut Grove Museum, focusing on the History of Peacocks, Tu-Tu Tango, The Theater and hippies?
NO to a restaurant a Community Center will be used. Put A Splash park area like at the old Parrot Jungle. Have activities etc... it will be used!!!!
Look at the dedication sign on the north side; it's a "community center". Sure, let someone sell decent food in part of it but let the rest of it be something we all can enjoy.
The Grove has restaurants up the wazoo.
Our residents will support something nice, something cultural, something fun like they have at the Coral Gables center.
Too many restaurants are already present (some struggling) within a 1/2 mile radius, and there are more convenient places to grab a coffee.
I say build the playground, then complement that with a learning center, aquatic zoo (fish tanks), or anything else that will make children want to spend time there. Bring revenue by offering summer camps and/or day care right in the park.
I don't think we need yet another failing restaurant in the Grove - unless it's a good Chinese food restaurant. We already have too many empty store fronts - use one of them - they're even set up for food service.
It would be nice to have something there for the community. Key Biscayne has a community center, why can't we? I know I would go to Yoga there if they had it.
Coconut Grove museum is a great idea (Coral Gables recently opened thier own museum).
As for Comm. Sarnoff wanting to open playground in the area- there is a playground right behind the glass house now but it's disgusting- run down, covered in garfitti- fix it up or tear it down.
The restaurant with two sides doesn't sound so bad if it has walls that hang local art. I envision something like the Geo. Pompidou Center. with a splash park. not something where imagination is lacking and work ethic being good enough for government work. This needs oversight.
What about one of those lovely fast-food circle conglomerates, like they have in Malls, you know, with the Burguer joints, Tacos, Chicken, Pizza, Greek grease and all? We could all take the bags and sodas out to the park and get fat.
Joking aside, how much would it cost to rent a small place like "grab'n'go, to turn it into a decent Chinese food joint w/delivery? I might consider a third mortgage for that. Whomever does it first and does it right will make zillions in no time.
"Commissioner Marc Sarnoff says that the glass house will become a restaurant either way." I voted for Marc to be our Commissioner, not our Dictator.
What about the kids' programs associated with the skate park? The Glass House is the only building in the park.
The time to watch our backs is when the City is short on funds. That is when it's easy to sell the idea of selling out public access and public facilities in the name of revenues, and somehow those things always seem to end up as long term leases that benefit well connected business people. In the end it's a lose lose for the public.
We should give a hot dog vendor a permit to put a stand by the tables in front of the glass house. Food concession accomplished.
Don't we already have enough failed Grove restaurants? What is the fascination with taking away a dedicated community center? What would make a restaurant in the Glass House any more immune to the fickle patronage of the locals? If more people had actually gone to Tu-Tu Tango, they wouldn't have had to close. The same story is true for George's and Pisco's as well as other wonderful places that have come and gone. As previously mentioned, there are plenty of empty storefronts for Sarnoff's folly.
As a Mom and with plenty of North Grove neighbors with kids I think we as a community should get to decide and Vote what happens to this location. I take my son to the wonderful facilities in Coral Gables and Key Biscayne and so do many of our neighborhood friends. Time to step up and make this into a wonderful area for all Grovites to use and enjoy. With activities for kids of all ages and yes that includes adult activities.
Absolutely NO to a restaurant.
SSR
"The time to watch our backs is when the City is short on funds."
Wow! so we really have to watch our backs ALL of the time! Imagine when they have plenty of funds, (i.e. your generous Tax$, Grovites) to use them who knows where BUT in Cocoanut Grove, or making it easier for those abundant tax bucks to magically disappear during those endless bureaucratic processes.. either way, we're screwed by our so called "representatives" at City Hall.
how about a recreation center. The town I grew up in Colorado had a great one.
They had after school programs, and services like art classes, pottery, yoga etc. They even had a gym with an indoor track and a lap pool.
Check it out here:
http://www.ci.castlerock.co.us/Page.asp?NavID=228
If little old castle rock can do it, why cant we?
Absolutely NO to a restaurant.
Absolutely NO to Commissioner Marc Sarnoff.
A Community Center and Rolling Arts
exhibit would be nice.
How do we voice our concerns?
Peacock Park might be visited more often if there was an interesting cafe or restaurant in the Glass House. Muncipal offices offices do not belong in a park. Many better sites exist for offices.
I also, am for a community center. But I think the Coconut Grove Museum is a better suggestion even though it's largely tourist oriented. That would be excellent.
Coconut Grove has no public adult community or recreational centers, yet we pay higher taxes than the folks who live in the City of Coral Gables- which does. Time and time again, the public values we reflect are those of commercial interests. Issues such as the closing time of bars and the use of converting a public space into a private restaurant preoccupy us. Yet there is very little discourse on the number of fixed-income elderly in our community that sit at home watching tv all day because there is nothing for them to do, or the number of children who go home to an empty home every day after school because parents cannot afford private afterschool programs. This election year, when I look at the candidates for the Village Council I will remind myself of these and many other problems and I will not be voting for the same merchants, lawyers, & lobbyist who have simply overwhelmed our better senses with their singular concerns. I believe as a community we are capable of addressing both the concerns of our merchants, as well as our elderly and very young who need our voice & support. This year, I will vote wisely and ask myself if the Village Council Board exists to represent community values or just their self-interest. Coconut Grove desperetedly needs to regain its balance and its going to take some shaking up of the status quo to do so. This includes assessing the job that Commissioner Sarnoff has been doing, and demanding much more of our next Mayor.
Coconut Grove does need a Community Center. Coral Gables has a wonderful one. Even Shenandoah has a good one. Our Glass House was once used as the Groves Community Center, but the City of Miami took it away from us. Now it is time for the Glass House to finally be returned to us and used for a better purpose. It can attract many more residence and visitors to Peacock Park if it is used as a Community Center, Restaurant or a combination of the two. The next thing we want returned to the Grove is our historic Pan Am Airport building. The Old Pan Am Airport could be better used as the Grove Museum, Welcome Center, Community Center or even a Restaurant. Let’s move Miami City Hall downtown where they can better resolve our cities problems. No need for our Mayor and Commissioners to be located in waterfront offices at our expense.
I totally agree with Maria Freed
"I believe as a community we are capable of addressing both the concerns of our merchants, as well as our elderly and very young who need our voice & support. and I will not be voting for the same merchants, lawyers, & lobbyist who have simply overwhelmed our better senses with their singular concerns."
Here, here!
Shake up the status quo.
Maria Freed for Mayor, I am going to write her in. Anyone else?
Very well spoken words from Maria Freed and Harry Gottlieb. Two true Grovites.
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