What's the deal on SW 27th Avenue?
As a resident of Coconut Grove for 34 years and currently residing on SW 27th Ave, the reality of the SW 27th Ave “Road Improvement” project hit home last week. This project has raised some interesting questions.
The first question concerns how FPL has handled the night time construction. Since FPL has been given the unannounced right by the City or County to close SW 27th Ave from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am every night we assume that this is the reason they move a fleet of vehicles every night on to SW 27th Ave. The average fleet consist of three power company bucket trucks, two dump trucks, a small earth mover, a utility truck pulling a generator with flood lights, a truck with barricades, one police car, one HUGE truck crane and from four to five 40ft flat bed tractor trailer trucks. This has been rolling on to SW 27th Ave every night. But the main question is why FPL has been able to do the work as they have. They do not start on one end and continue up or down SW 27th Ave which would only disturb the residents in one area for one night. No, FPL has chosen to do one pole in one area, one pole in another area and the third pole in another area of SW 27th Ave each night. This guarantees that all the residents of SW 27th Ave can be disturbed every night as FPL continues to put in more concrete poles especially since the entire fleet of vehicles only seem to be able move in reverse with the warning sound of BEEP. BEEP, BEEP going constantly.
Another question is why the Arborists from FPL have been allowed for the last two years to brutally “Trim” the tress on SW 27th Ave. For many years prior, FPL would trim the trees regularly to keep their power lines clear but in the last two years FPL has used the brutal “V” cut on the trees. It seems that this brutal cut could allow the County to override any appeal by Grove TreeWatch to have these trees saved since the argument will be that they now have the Coconut Grove BID created theory of the “Grove Plague” You do not see this brutal cut on SW 17th Ave, SW 22nd Ave, Tigertail, South Bayshore or on Main Highway. Why on SW 27th Ave?
The most important reason for the “Road Improvement” project was to put in sidewalks which have been desperately needed on SW 27th Ave forever. So the question is why is it that the only section of SW 27th Ave. between Tigertail and South Bayshore that did NOT have a sidewalk before the “Road Improvement” project started still does NOT have a sidewalk. The County had this section of road torn up and closed for months upon months and did not put in a sidewalk on the only part of this road that was without a sidewalk before the “Road Improvement” started. Where else on SW 27th Ave is the County planning on NOT installing sidewalks?
The “Road Improvement” project also calls for curbs on SW 27th Ave and Bike lanes which raise 2 more interesting questions.
The curbs being put in would required new drain pipes but there currently is no drainage problem on SW 27th Ave. SW 27th Ave was built correctly with a slight rise in the center allowing for the rain to naturally roll off in to the areas surrounding the road. There was no major flooding on this road after Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Wilma. If the County wants curbs on this road they can be put in as they are doing on SW 32nd Ave north of US 1 without tearing up the whole road. There are no curbs on SW 17th Ave, SW 22nd Ave, Tigertail, South Bayshore or on Main Highway. Why on SW 27th Ave?
Why is it necessary to put Bike Lanes in on SW 27th Ave? The City of Miami has already created a wonderful Bike Route on Mary St which is just 1 block west of SW 27th Ave. Mary St is signed allowing Bikes to use the full lane. This Bike Route can be started at Coconut Ave on SW 27th Ave with a Pedestrian Crosswalk light similar to the one at Fresh Market installed where Mary crosses Bird Road. The Bike Route could also be extended to the East Grove also at Coconut Ave. Is it smart for anyone to ride a Bike in a 3ft wide lane on SW 27th Ave that will be crossed by buses and cars constantly? There were no Bike lanes put in when the section of SW 27th Ave on the north side of US 1 was improved. No Bike lanes were put in on Grand Ave when this section was (supposedly) improved so why on this section of SW 27th Ave?
There are an incredible amount of Old Growth trees that sustain a canopy that are also going to be removed in this project. Should we listen to the Arborists or anyone else who uses the line “We can not be greedy? In 40 years due to the replanting we will have a better canopy than we do today’. Remember that no one, let me repeat, no one, can guarantee that in 5 years the County or someone else could not come back and than say that more improvements need to be made and since the new trees are only 5 years old they do not need to be preserve and in 40 years from that date we will have a canopy. Stop the destruction of the canopy and STOP IT TODAY.
The final question is why have we accepted this Road Plan? Please remember that the county has owned the vast majority of the right of way on SW 27th Ave FOREVER and has done nothing to improve this road. When pushed on the issue of improving SW 27th Ave, mostly by the Coconut Grove Village Council, the County pulled off their shelf
“Kendall Road Plan 101”. A road that could say Welcome to The Shoppes of Kendall or Welcome to Kendall Townhouses Phase III. This road says nothing about coming in to a historic, vibrant, unique community. The County is taking the easy way out. Not the best way and certainly not the least expensive way, just the easiest way which is to rip everything out and start over again. This is not the solution. We need to plant not cut, we need to improve not destroy, we need to landscape the road not tear up the road and believe it or not we need the County to save money not waste money.
We need a road that says Welcome to Coconut Grove. You can get that special, wonderful Grove feeling when you enter the Grove on SW 17th Ave, SW 22nd Ave, Tigertail, South Bayshore and on Main Highway.
So I guess the only real question to answer is why NOT SW 27th Ave?
Coconut Grove
posted by Tom Falco at 7:30 AM
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7 Comments:
I also live in the Grove and would like to take on the issue of bike lanes on SW 27th Ave. I commute to work on the UM campus every day and use the M-Path (the path running underneath the metro line) frequently to go downtown.
The bike lanes on 27th Ave are necessary as a linkage between the path on US 1 and Bayshore, with its parks and other amenities. While there are sharrows on Mary Street, this is not necessarily the route that anyone would take coming from US 1 as it would be difficult to find. Creating a network for cyclists and pedestrians is important. This is one more step towards that goal. Should bike facilities have been included in other projects? Absolutely and hopefully they will be in future projects. As for using the full lane, bikes are allowed to do that regardless. The sign does not allow using the full lane on the roads designated as such, but rather as a reminder that this is (almost) always the case.
Markus Wagner
Coconut Grove
I am a relatively recent resident on SW 27 next to the artist formerly known as Slice and Ice, and agree with both grove residents. I think this is being done half assed, without thinking it through properly I 100% agree that the trees shouldn't be ripped up. I also feel like if your undertaking such a big project, why not attempt to take out the phone lines altogether, as opposed to moving them. Finally, what will happen to all the overfill parking space on 27th for residents? It seems like the "fix" will be to add a few metered parking spots, displacing a high number of residents who not only use it to park their own cars, but also visitors. Does the county think this will just go away? I foresee a bigger issue when everyone is parking their cars in other peoples yards, fighting over the few parking spaces, or dealing with tow trucks everywhere. I'm hoping what it being done will ultimately be for the best (as I think the bike lane and sidewalks could be), but feel like I should more likely expect to be disappointed based on the way it's been handled to date.
Ian Coutts
Coconut Grove Reisdent
Thanks for the input. Marcus makes a very good point about needing a link between the M-Path on US1 and South Bayshore Dr. I would love to see more Bikes and less cars on the road. But I believe the problem mentioned about not being able to find this Bike Route could easily be solved with proper signs put up at SW 27th Ave and Coconut Ave by the City or County directing Bike traffic on to a future Bike Route. The Bike Route could provide an easier and a more pleasant route to the Grove. Bike lanes from US1 to Coconut Ave are a done deal. The County is removing 2 beautiful Mohagany trees to make sure the Bike lanes go in. The City would also have to extend the current Bike Route to make this all happen.
Ian's comments concerning the parking are correct. The last plan I saw had very limited parking spaces available for residents and their visitors on SW 27th Ave. The parking spaces on the swell on both sides of the road will disappear which could make for an interesting parking scenario for the Center Grove. I personally believe that the project shows very little consideration for the residents of SW 27th Ave. As for the power lines, FPL has refused all requests to put them in the ground and no one has the authority to force them to do so.
Douglas English
Coconut Grove Resident
27 Ave from US 1 to Bayshore Dr. was supposed to be completely finished in 2009.
Now, they are working on 2 parts: between Bayshore and Tigertail and between US 1 and 28 Terr.
In 2013, the part between 28 Terr. and Tigertail will be improved.
This information was provided to me by the director of the Public Works Dept. of Miami Dade County.
From what I can see, government in S. Florida is so rife with waste and corruption that I believe that nothing gets done with any type of logic or expediency.
I'm commenting on an old thread here, but it is still a relevant topic.
I agree that a bike lane on 27ave is extremely important. 27th is a major thoroughfare, linking the center Grove to the rest of the world really (by way of Metrorail and US1).
Regarding the parking situation, I used to own a unit next to the Slice and Ice (3038 SW 27th ave). It was very obvious to me that anything outside of the sidewalk belonged to the city - not my condo - and that it could/would be used differently in the near future. BTW this wasn't so much a problem when 27th ave was mostly 2 story bldngs. But as they've gone up to 5 stories yes parking is a premium. Buyer beware! I bet the developer/landlord/real estate agent didn't mention this...
Current works on the 27th ave are still not completed asat today. Do you have any more information on the parking situation and if the size of the road inthe near future?
When will they end the works?
What, corruption in Miami??
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