Village West neighbors unhappy with Pointe Group
Neighbors in Village West are concerned about the lack of movement by the Pointe Group on Grand Avenue, where they are planning their mixed use development. Zoning has been changed, and neighbors feel that enough time has gone by and the zoning should be changed back.
The zoning got rid of many residences and has changed residential areas to commercial. Pierre Sands of HOATA (the Village West Homeowners and Tenants Association) said that "Revitalization over redevelopment," is needed. He feels that more affordable housing is needed, too. Currently The Coconut Grove Collaborative has a plan to build 55 units of lower income housing and the Pinnacle Group has plans for about 45 units.
Pierre made a good point in saying that the zoning change would not have happened in other areas of the Grove. He feels that to change such a massive area of residential to commercial was not right. It displaced too many people and is killing the historic neighborhood.
Pierre came to the Village Council last week to ask for their support. He would like the property reverted back to residential since the Point Group had a reverter clause that said if they didn't start the project by now, it would revert back to previous zoning.
A supermarket is planned for the project, but there never seems to be a plan for that. If the zoning changes, the supermarket may not happen. "We have not felt represented [by elected officials]. We're asking for support," said Pierre.
He said that the Village Council and the District Commissioner were all over the Home Depot issue and the Mercy Hospital issues. He said that the Village West is very historic, just as much as Vizcaya and South Bayshore Drive are, yet they get all the support for protection and Village West does not.
Williams Armbrister, activist and lobbyist says that houses have always faced houses in the Grove, now in Village West the new plan is for houses to face parking lots and possibly large stores. "We need someone who cares. Right now they don't care," he said, talking about elected officials. He went on to say, "They are trying to take our homes and turn them into big boxes," meaning big box stores.
Patrick Sessions, Village Council member said that he has tried repeatedly to have representatives from Pointe Group visit the Village Council to explain their plans. They have repeatedly refused.
The zoning got rid of many residences and has changed residential areas to commercial. Pierre Sands of HOATA (the Village West Homeowners and Tenants Association) said that "Revitalization over redevelopment," is needed. He feels that more affordable housing is needed, too. Currently The Coconut Grove Collaborative has a plan to build 55 units of lower income housing and the Pinnacle Group has plans for about 45 units.
Pierre made a good point in saying that the zoning change would not have happened in other areas of the Grove. He feels that to change such a massive area of residential to commercial was not right. It displaced too many people and is killing the historic neighborhood.
Pierre came to the Village Council last week to ask for their support. He would like the property reverted back to residential since the Point Group had a reverter clause that said if they didn't start the project by now, it would revert back to previous zoning.
A supermarket is planned for the project, but there never seems to be a plan for that. If the zoning changes, the supermarket may not happen. "We have not felt represented [by elected officials]. We're asking for support," said Pierre.
He said that the Village Council and the District Commissioner were all over the Home Depot issue and the Mercy Hospital issues. He said that the Village West is very historic, just as much as Vizcaya and South Bayshore Drive are, yet they get all the support for protection and Village West does not.
Williams Armbrister, activist and lobbyist says that houses have always faced houses in the Grove, now in Village West the new plan is for houses to face parking lots and possibly large stores. "We need someone who cares. Right now they don't care," he said, talking about elected officials. He went on to say, "They are trying to take our homes and turn them into big boxes," meaning big box stores.
Patrick Sessions, Village Council member said that he has tried repeatedly to have representatives from Pointe Group visit the Village Council to explain their plans. They have repeatedly refused.
posted by Tom Falco at 9:00 AM
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