Today's election results
The Stop Grove Bay group lost their campaign to stop the Coconut Grove Waterfront Project, as voters were in favor of the project this election day.
The votes were in favor 60% vs 40%. The turnout was very low and I am guessing that the Grove precinct only had 2000 voters or less, which is a shame.
Mayor Tomas Regalado easily won another term.
And as for the Village Council, incumbent Kate Callahan came in first place, followed by Linda Williams and Ruth Ewing.
The rest of the nine new council members are: Tricia Sullivan, Emily Bittingham, Seth Sklarey, Thaddeus Scott, Javier Gonzalez and Raymond August Fort.
Here are the results by the numbers.
The votes were in favor 60% vs 40%. The turnout was very low and I am guessing that the Grove precinct only had 2000 voters or less, which is a shame.
Mayor Tomas Regalado easily won another term.
And as for the Village Council, incumbent Kate Callahan came in first place, followed by Linda Williams and Ruth Ewing.
The rest of the nine new council members are: Tricia Sullivan, Emily Bittingham, Seth Sklarey, Thaddeus Scott, Javier Gonzalez and Raymond August Fort.
Here are the results by the numbers.
posted by Tom Falco at 10:16 PM
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21 Comments:
I am proud to say that my precinct, 587, in the heart of Coconut Grove, voted against. Thanks, neighbors!
Disgusted by result. This isn't Miami Beach.
Perhaps the vote in favor of the waterfront redevelopment will inspire some true competition and innovation in the Grove. Shaw said that “Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” It's time to free the Grove from the shackles of its past, from the stale, moldy thinking of all the naysayers and hangers-on. Bring it on.
Sorry to hear this.
Prepare to spend another 2 hours a day commuting.
I can't wait for this to open. Bring on the new!
It's probably worth noting that the north, south, and center grove districts all voted against it--the people that actually live here don't want it. Probably should keep that in mind in the months ahead.
You can look at the raw data here.(blue is "no"):
http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/FL/Dade/49184/122513/en/md.html?cid=0125
As a summary, here's a table of those precints voting against it-it was very unpopular for those who actually live here--2013 votes agains, 1329 votes for in total:
Precinct YES NO Total % Against
582 317 414 731 57%
587 195 341 536 64%
586 139 288 427 67%
546 125 214 339 63%
583 114 167 281 59%
584 111 126 237 53%
504 96 110 206 53%
532 53 95 148 64%
998 50 85 135 63%
530 38 67 105 64%
585 53 63 116 54%
537 34 36 70 51%
568 4 7 11 64%
TOTAL 1329 2013 3342 60%
I voted for it, and I knew it would win. Unfortunately because some are just so opposed to any change they have been blinded to what the waterfront is now, an ugly run down area. Obviously the large majority of Miami voters saw that, and voted overwhelming for the project.
I really don't see how anyone can be inspired by yet another mall. The one and only thing special about this is the location. The businesses here will profit for awhile while it's shiny and new and then it will be another Mayfair.
Of all the incredible things that could have been done with this last bit of publicly owned, eecologicaly and topigraphicaly unique bayfront property and some actually think that using it for a garage, a chain restraurant, and a mall is somehow an innovative change in thinking that will benefit both the Grove's residents and shops as well as the general populace of Dade County.
Hopefully the residents in the Grove will be keeping an eagle eye on this project and influence it as it goes through the building process to make sure they are not left with a 6-story parking lot and a 4-story mall with a waterslide theme park / slot machine venues attached to them.
I'm not in favor of the project. But when this is done and the Mayfair is finished with its office space it will send Property Values rocketing upwards. So all not in favor can sell high and move. Just a thought!
The voting numbers are illustrative - there are about 27,000 people 18+ in the 33133 zip. That only 3,342, or just 12%, voted says that this issue was not as contentious as portrayed. At City Hall around 3pm I was only number 92 ...
The Improv is closing? Wow. Not surprised by its closing, just shocked that it took this long. I suppose the owners of the Mayfair can turn it into more office / store space which will sit vacant for years (like everything else in that little promenade).
On a side note, it should be interesting to see what happens when Sapient Nitro finally moves into their Mayfair office space (400+ employees). Will employees patronize Grove businesses or go elsewhere for entertainment and food? Not much entertainment in the area and this little sea-side land giveaway will take years to develop.
Just hope they keep the path open during construction. They should not be allowed to restrict our access at any time. They tried to do this while building "shake-a-leg", so, ironically, only the able-bodied were able to get past the fence to continue our walk.
Value going up in the grove? hahahahahahahhahaha. A ghost town with a higher % of available space than any entertainment district in Miami, increasing crime, high levels of toxicity... (yeah, if it's in the parks, do you not think it's in your yard? Don't be silly).
For all you Grovites that are stuck in the 1970's - MOVE ... times are a changing. You don't like it pick yourself up and move someplace else. Go up to Lake Worth - I hear thats a nice place to live. In all my years on this planet - I have never seen a group of disrespectful, UNGRATEFUL, complainers with nothing better to do with their time that talk @*%@ about other people's hard work. Get over yourselves.
The People unaffected have spoken...
The people affected did not.
All of us will live with the traffic noise, crime, dirt and pollution this development will generate for decades to come. Brace yourself for the New Coconut Grove.. It remains , and shall ever be,the wrong project in the wrong place. The fight is not over.
CRC
Why do people sign "Anonymous"?...
I have to assume that they are afraid to openly accept responsibility for their opinions.
In the alternative their opinions are the product of some type of self serving association.
To me it is cowardly not to stand behind your words. "Anonymous" comments are nothing more than meaningless words..
CRC
I am and will remain against this project. I don't hide behind "Anonymous". I can promise you one thing. I will never step foot in any restaurant/bar that this developement brings. I don't care if it's a 3star Michelin restaurant, or the latest and coolest lounge/bar. I will not spend my hard earned money at this development. Boycotting the project is a way to hit them and hit them hard. The young prefer downtown and brickell because it is one place after the other. The project is counting on the Grove residents to frequent the establishments and spend money. I can't see someone from Miami Shores or Little Havana coming to this project. Well, if you voted against and do spend your money there, then it's shame on you.
I don't know all the details, but a long time ago there was a little bay front land sweetheart deal between the City of Miami and a guy called Monty Trainer. Trainer convinced his drinking buddy cronies at the City to buy an unfinished (look up the story of Chuck Underwood - it's right out of Carl Hiassen novel) 20,000 square foot office/retail building and a 10,000 square foot restaurant and marina and for $1 million (can you imagine, $1 million!!) and lease it to him. Monty went on to become a multi-millionaire. Steve Kneapler also is no stranger sweetheart city leases on waterfront property. In 1986, three years before going to prison for tax evasion, Monty Trainer sold his restaurant lease to Manuel Medina for $6.1 million. Medina expanded the business and later sublet portions of the property to Steve Kneapler, fresh off of pleading guilty to federal conspiracy charges following an SEC investigation of his Miami-based Richmond Industries. There were more sweetheart deals. The new lease was signed by a company called Grove Marina Market, LTD. A search for this company on www.sunbiz.org shows that the general partner is a company called Grove Marina Market, Inc. which has Juan O'Naghten as the officer. That's what the lease says.
Now do a search for "Monty's" on Sunbiz.org which gives information on Florida Corporations and you find that is an active corp owned by another company called (yes really) Hocus-Pocus Inc.
When you go through the reports, some interesting names and information come up around Hocus-Pocus
In 1998, the registered agent for Hocus-Pocus is Manny Diaz and the officers are Diaz and Kneapler
In 1999, the registered agent for Hocus Pocus is Manny Diaz and the officers are Diaz and Kneapler
In 2000, the registered agent for Hocus-Pocus is Manny Diaz and the officer is Steve Kneapler
In 2001, Diaz remains registered agent but is removed as an officer leaving Steve Kneapler
In 2002, Juan O'Naghten is assigned as registered agent, and Steve Kneapler is the officer
The interesting thing is that NONE of this happened with a cohesive, waterfront plan, involving the community in endless charrettes and discussions for over 5 years, and an open vote.
Kneapler, Kneapler … that name is somehow familiar. Isn't he the guy who bankrolled the "Stop Grove Bay" effort and has filed two lawsuits against the development? I think so. So he got a sweetheart deal with one Mayor, but doesn't want anyone else to have one. His lawsuits are anti-competitive, and will be tossed out of court.
Kneapler reminds me of the White Which of Narnia who hoped to retain control by keeping it winter in the Grove.
Charles Corda:
Thanks you for spearheading this effort. Unfortunately the Grove did not get decide it's own fate. Payback We want a Walmart in Midtown! We want lots of malls and high rises in all parts of City of Miami. Our neighbors didn't bother to help us out , don't ask us to help you when you don't want a project in your backyard or front yard. we Groveites will make sure you get developed and big chain stores too!
Dear Anonymous;
I understand where you are coming from..I feel your pain..I truly do.
BUT The real problem is the political machine manipulating the process. It is they who need to bear the burden of their deeds.
We need to help our neighbors fight whenever we can. We need to stand up for them even though they did not stand up for us..
We are ONE City. and we need to take it back from the corrupt officials who now control it.
Regalado and Sarnoff must be held in check. We can only do that by joining each other whenever we can. There is strength in numbers.CRC.
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