Setting the record straight . . . again
During the past several days, people have been speculating about the Block Parties, the costs, the logistics, etc. There were eight Block Parties held this fall on Commodore Plaza. That's Ryan Stone and his band at one of the earlier block parties in August.
The total cost of these closures was $26,625. Of this amount, the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District (BID) paid $16,650. This amount was matched by support, agreed upon in advance by the restaurants of Commodore, of $9,975. This amounts to about $3,330 per night.
I claimed that $92,000 to $95,000 was to be spent on all six months' worth of parties, this was the figure decided upon at an earlier BID meeting (the minutes will prove that), but even if the cost was cut down, $3,330 per night, for six months worth of Saturdays (24 Saturdays), is $79,920.
To give a context, the one day Bed Races cost significantly more than $30,000, the King Mango Strut runs $30,000-$40,000, and the Mad Hatter (two days) something more than $18,000. By contrast, the Block Parties were designed to be much smaller.
It is entirely possible that the Block Party will be revisited in the future in a different format.
It should also be pointed out that during the course of the Block Parties, the Miami Parking Authority never charged the Grove a penny to close the street and bag the meters.
We hope that all comments that now come in about this, have some facts behind them, rather than people throwing random thoughts out there anonymously. The Block Parties were fun and their intent was to bring business to the Grove. I attended Block Party meetings and everyone was in favor on Commodore Plaza and hoped that it would work. And hopefully it will be back soon in another format.
posted by Tom Falco at 11:00 AM
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8 Comments:
Thanks for the clarification Grape.
I still think that the best solution is close Commodore off as a pedestrian street.
Was only $26,625 total ever spent on these? Does that mean that there were only about 8 saturdays? (that's what my math shows)
If that's the case, this project is far more feasible than previously believed. However, 2 things would have to happen in order for it to be a success - make it once a month only (every weekend made it common and unworthy of attention) and bring in a range of quality acts, which play and until at least 12:30am.
It simply will not draw enough people to fill the street as a 6-9pm function.
It is obvious that everyone, including Mr. David Collins of BID and the Grape and many others made a grand effort to make these block parties work. A million dollars could be spent, but on what? "IF" it is true, what a lot of you state in the Grape that there is a conspiracy to create a boring venue using police and code enforcement to do the taming of the schrew then you are correct if you say "THEY" have succeeded. But, some things you just can't put a cork on. Obviously, there's a more powerful force than the few people that think alcohol being served till 5:00 P.M. is somehow going to save the Grove financially.
All I know is...
THE GRAPE VINE site is fantastic in so many ways..
It gives us a place to keep informed, to vent, to fit in, plug in, get it straight, and have fun! Cheers to the GREAT GRAPE!!
Blah blah blah blah..Blah blah blah blah..Blah blah blah blah..
Sincerely
RyanStoneMusic
Jobie - well said.
What really would have helped is if the Grove came out to support the block parties. Instead of bitching and moaning, come out, grab a bite to eat, get some dancing goin on....and meet new friends.
"What really would have helped is if the Grove came out to support the block parties."
You really don't get it. People don't owe you or the grove or any business anything. If you sell a good product, people will buy it. If you sell a half-assed product, some people will buy it once, but never again.
Here, we had a half assed product, and just as bad, nobody was told we were selling it. The only "promotion" done for the block parties was here on the grapevine. No one emailed the new times to have it included in their events listings, no radio promotion- which is so cheap and easy to get... no nothing. And it was dinner time only and closed by 9.
I live in the Grove and I did not know about the block parties until I saw the banner when I drove past commodore. They were great though! I do feel that the one a month alternative would be a better option and maybe spend a little bit of money on advertising for them. We need to bring people back to the Grove because it is dying out fast!! Also I agree that a larger timeframe would be better as well. Maybe 6-10 or 6-11
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