New rule? No more ugly shutters?
Something interesting is going to be decided by the City Commissioners at Thursday's meeting. Shutters. Not hurricane shutters, but storefront shutters. The goal is to have businesses in downtown Miami and Coconut Grove, remove the "ugly" shutters that cover the storefronts at night and have impact-resistant glass installed instead.
Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, whose district covers these areas, feels it will make the shopping districts safer and more pedestrian friendly. Business owners aren't so sure. The Downtown Development Authority and the Coconut Grove BID will share the cost of replacing the current businesses with the new glass.
If the City Commission votes in favor of the change, business owners will have two years to replace the shutters.
It's true, the shutters are ugly and they do block light from coming out onto the streets that might come from the businesses. The shutters do protect what's inside from prying eyes at night. But these prying eyes can easily see what's inside during daytime hours anyway. But what next, forcing business owners to leave the lights on at night, so that the light does flood out onto the street?
I know one local business without shutters, but they clean out the merchandise from their windows at night, so as not to tempt fate.
I'm not sure if the government should get involved in private enterprise and why only two areas of the city in District 2 and not the whole city or county? But doesn't Coral Gables make you get approval for painting your house and things like that? So maybe it's just a matter of keeping up appearances, Hyacinth Bucket style.
Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, whose district covers these areas, feels it will make the shopping districts safer and more pedestrian friendly. Business owners aren't so sure. The Downtown Development Authority and the Coconut Grove BID will share the cost of replacing the current businesses with the new glass.
If the City Commission votes in favor of the change, business owners will have two years to replace the shutters.
It's true, the shutters are ugly and they do block light from coming out onto the streets that might come from the businesses. The shutters do protect what's inside from prying eyes at night. But these prying eyes can easily see what's inside during daytime hours anyway. But what next, forcing business owners to leave the lights on at night, so that the light does flood out onto the street?
I know one local business without shutters, but they clean out the merchandise from their windows at night, so as not to tempt fate.
I'm not sure if the government should get involved in private enterprise and why only two areas of the city in District 2 and not the whole city or county? But doesn't Coral Gables make you get approval for painting your house and things like that? So maybe it's just a matter of keeping up appearances, Hyacinth Bucket style.
posted by Tom Falco at 6:00 AM
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8 Comments:
As a business owner this is totally insane. This will also affect the owner of the building because it may fall under the owners responsibility to maintain the store front and not the business that is leasing the space from the owner. We should pass a law mandating changes to Mr.Marc Sarnoff home and even if it makes no sense he will have to do it. Question how ironic is it that there is a business located in the Mayfair on Grand avenue that has to do with green impact windows (i believe that what they do not sure)???? They must have perfect timing to open business.
The grove:
Dirty peacock park, Old convention center what to do (more park) Beautiful water views not exposed for all to enjoy. no 5 am liquor, now telling business how to protect themselves and have to pay. If this passes I think all owners should put on the windows with all different color so that later he can tell us to change the color to egg shell.
This is the straw that broke the camels back for me...im out of this place im tired of the crime from both crimanals and our local government R.I.P GROVE
Time to recall the SOB, as his term draws to an end he is going to get nastier, it is his nature.
I would recommend any business owner or landlord sue the city should this pass. It's the only thing Marc understands, and best of all, he's terrible at defending himself and his stupid arbitrary rules.
I think our city leaders have this backwards. Let's remove the crime first then the shutters will come down on their own. Maybe those matching grants could be used for police or security instead of impact glass.
First commenter is right in that the building owners would ultimately be responsible for keeping the lease spaces "up to code" and not the business that is leasing space. Marky Marc be careful... messing with mom and pop business owners is one thing but building owners are a whole different animal. The grove's commercial buildings seemed to be owned by some sort of cartel.
This cartel may approve your measure if you cut them in and then look for city money to get the job done.
Don't tell me you infiltrated the cartel and you guys bought a window panel outfit to front the operation to push city contracts your way? Are we in a real life Boardwalk Empire?
As a merchant in the Grove(long time) the removal of the shutters would probably force me to close down and move elsewhere...why wait for the innevitable? Ive seen, and keep seeing it allll happen. Crime is happening all day every day in the Grove. No one reports it though. Dont mention the gun shootouts... just blocks away, yet we are safe at night with the "ENERGY SAVING" IMPACT GLASS. It would only be a question of time before my buisiness would loose alot of inventory on just one break in! And to leave all my things just sitting there, waiting for the taking... please, get some common sense people. Is there a guarantee with this IMPACT GLASS? What if I pay for the switch and someone still breaks in, and lets just say, only a few things are stolen, will I be reimbursed for their FAIlED GLASS and payment for the stolen stuff? What about the deductable, and then the higher insurance rates I'll acquire from making a claim??) Didnt think so. Do I need to keep all my lights on also at night for the people to walk by and be able to see where they are walking, or will I be fined for some code violation?! How about the recycled shutters that the city will profit from(all that steel and metal they remove) why not throw that back at the merchants to cut the 50% of their cost down to that closer like the Downtown pay out of 75%. Why do they(downtown) get to pay only 25% of the cost and the Grove pays out 50%?? How about I get my own impact glass guy, and I give the BID committee the estimate and the City of Miami pays the 50% of what my estimate says?? Now that seems like a plan. no kick-backs given to any one... Oh wait, this is THE CITY OF MIAMI.
cont. from anonym...not to mention... why would a buisiness put $$ into a building they dont even own, and can be forced out at any given moment(1yr lease) by the landlord or whomever owns the property? That's just crazy. Ive seen break-ins using a fire-extinguisher to get in for cheapy jewelry, doors kicked in for faded jeans and ripped t-shirts, towing chains even tied to some gates and tried to be yanked off by a car- only pulled the bars out though/no entry, and the wine store on Commadore was hit with a brick used from the city side-walk for a $10 bottle(s) of wine that cost the owner hundreds to replace the broken glass door, WINE. A chair was thrown thru a shop window last year on Main hwy, cell phones stolen all the time right off of the tables people are eating at...(put that stuff in a safe place when out in the G.) and the vandalizing/etching of windows done by actually wiping the glass and scratching the glass leaving you with the stupid tag - mean while they just royally f#cked up your glass. Look around-you will see it! dont deny this people, your only bs ing yourself if you think it's all daisy's and green grass here... It's a beautifull, awesome place to be, but this is not the solution to bring pedestrians to the Grove. Free Parking during certain times of the week or on the weekends would be a great start, or, no nevermind, there is money to collect, and tickets to give out and car's to tow away...silly idea, sorry*
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