Is this the beginning of the end of our waterfront?
As you may or may not know, the City has put out RFP's (Requests For Proposals) for the properties including The Chart House, Scotty's Landing and Grove Key Marina. In many eyes, this is the beginning of the malling (and mauling) of the Coconut Grove waterfront. The general area affected is circled in red above.
The RFP's are asking for indoor/outdoor restaurant use designs. The RFP's were issued in March and are due in by June 15, 2012.
All the RFP info can be seen at the City's website here. I'm wondering if the City wants people to even know about this, Alice Bravo, the City's Assistant City Manager - Chief of Infrastructure, was quite vague (and rude) when I asked for the RFP. One City employee says, and I quote, "We are under a code of silence," regarding this RFP, but he said, "Look at the scope of it."
There is still talk of an RFP eventually going out for the Glass House building at Peacock Park.
All of these RFP's will drastically change the Coconut Grove waterfront. What do you think? Is this a good thing? Is this a bad thing? Should Scotty's Landing remain as is, the rustic, quirky Groovy Grove place that it is? After all, it is on prime waterfront space owned by the City. I am never in favor of change, which of course could be seen as a problem. But then again, I am not a politician or developer and I don't stand to make any money on this, which is usually the reason for these drastic changes. But what do you honestly think? Maybe change is a good thing.
posted by Tom Falco at 8:30 AM
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15 Comments:
Yet another land grab by the mayor and his cronies. They're trying to steal Marine Stadium and that waterfront too, under the guise of protecting the place.
There is a reason that Scotty's is always packed, even though they serve terrible food. I think the Grove would benefit with more outdoor waterfront dinning.As long as it is kept with a Grove feel. No chain restaurants.
I don't see any good to the public by doing this. The Charthouse & Scotty's have a particular charm that belongs there! The city is already making money from the rent paid by all three prperties. Stop the political greed!
It's a good thing. Scotty's is a snake pit. Nice Walmart chairs. Nice touch, Scotty. Chart House is a location and it's just another chain restaurant that adds nothing to the Grove. The whole area needs serious work or the Grove will not be able to compete with other parts of Miami.
Tricky stuff. I think change can be good, but we don't want to lose the casual charm and beautiful open views of the Grove waterfront. Chart House is a somewhat dated chain, and as much as I like Scotty's, the menu and food leave a lot to be desired. In the late evening, the parking lot at Grove Marina smalls like diesel fuel and urine. Yum. We need to step it up all over the Grove without trying to become South Beach or even South Miami. We're the funky, artsy, beautiful, historical, tropical, boho sailing village on the Bay. Bump it up to being the best of that. We're not there, yet. No other area of Miami has what we have.
It is carnage. I love it the way it is. Keep Scotty's the way it is.
I respectfully disagree with those of you that think the Charthouse and Scotty's should remain the same. Scotty's seems to still gather good crowds due to it's location but it has a lot more potential. On the other hand the Charthouse is a dying dinosaur.
While I share the same concerns regarding the motives of some of the proponents of the changes being made around the Grove, I believe change is good even though it is sometimes hard to assimilate.
I think the Grove can have a makeover and still keep its identity. Otherwise, it will continue to deteriorate and shops will continue to close.
I guess, time will tell...
Nothing new.
It's all about money interests, has always been.
That's why we do not have any semblance of a "Bayside View"
NONE, except for a few yards at Seminole ramp.
Of course, the big boat Marinas make huge money, so they block the views all the way up.
It's a freaking shame.
Precisely 5 miles of "Bayfront" here in the Grove, and you can't see the freaking water.
Carlos Iglesia.
Last summer in a small article in the Herald was a comment by Regalado declaring the water front "a mess". He also talked about how contracts there were coming to an end and he wanted change. (Personally, I thought he should give up his office and Dinner Key so he wouldn't be subjected to that horrible view he had to look at every day.) I also suspected that he was making plans for his buddies to take over that waterfront. Please expect a more Hispanic flavor at our beloved Dinner Key. Better learn some Spanish!
location location my dears. appears they are taking your attention away from the convention center property. This will eliminate a lot of the traffic in downtown Coconut Grove. Who in this day and age wants to walk up hill and where will the tour buses park? Be warned. Is this really news or sleight of hand .
if the grove and waterfront want to keep up with what is now thriving in mid-town and south miami, everyone is going to need to have a little give and take. without change, the grove will continue to lose business and revenue, and people just won't come anymore. there has to be a reason why people come to the grove, and it needs to be fresh and exciting. neither (the current version of) scotty's nor chart house offers this
They should replace Scotty's with Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville.
Additionally, Chart House should become an Olive Garden.
Scotty's is a traditional institution in Coconut Grove, for centuries now.
Some of you guys obviously have no clue about what you write about.
CI
Anonymous 4:13 AM, mentions "Hispanic" and "Spanish" as a divisive tool in the middle of an intelligent conversation about the water front?!??
Scotty's at least has a heartbeat.
Live Music and real Grovites. City killed all traces of intelligent life to chase the almighty dollar.
So much for the quaint "little tree-lined sailing village by the sea in Miami, Florida,
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