There's no community anymore
I was having lunch and at the next table sat a friend of mine. I asked about him recently closing his business down. I asked what that was all about, he pointed to the next table over and it was a group of Center Grove land-grabbers who are buying everything up and chasing people out.
A lady stopped by who is willing to pay the new exorbitant rents and she told my friend what her plans were for her new space, my friend's old space. She said the Grove is going to be turned into the West Village with all new plans. Guess that's better than Mary Brickell Village, which has also been the rumor going around.
It's sad because this lady and her dreams will probably be in and out in a few months and her dreams of being part of the new West Village will not materialize. And then the new tenant will come in and so on and so on, sort of like it's been going these past 10 years or so. In the past, people stayed, they had good businesses that kept on going and they knew their neighbors. Now, not so much anymore. If it's not that green card/visa scam, where they are in and out for a green card, no regard for the community, it's the overpriced rent scam.
Speaking of green card scam, just read in the Miami Herald that the City of Miami is offering visas to developers who will come to the city and build, build, build. More over-priced condos for foreign investors. Guess that's the way it goes now. No sense of community or quality of life, it's all about the dollar and over-development.
A lady stopped by who is willing to pay the new exorbitant rents and she told my friend what her plans were for her new space, my friend's old space. She said the Grove is going to be turned into the West Village with all new plans. Guess that's better than Mary Brickell Village, which has also been the rumor going around.
It's sad because this lady and her dreams will probably be in and out in a few months and her dreams of being part of the new West Village will not materialize. And then the new tenant will come in and so on and so on, sort of like it's been going these past 10 years or so. In the past, people stayed, they had good businesses that kept on going and they knew their neighbors. Now, not so much anymore. If it's not that green card/visa scam, where they are in and out for a green card, no regard for the community, it's the overpriced rent scam.
Speaking of green card scam, just read in the Miami Herald that the City of Miami is offering visas to developers who will come to the city and build, build, build. More over-priced condos for foreign investors. Guess that's the way it goes now. No sense of community or quality of life, it's all about the dollar and over-development.
posted by Tom Falco at 10:00 AM
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25 Comments:
Welcome to the last five years of reality throughout the city of Miami, and glad you could join us Tom. #moving
The juxtaposition of this article next to the Mayfair is quite ironic. The Mayfair was built as a response to the South American economic boom and the developers wanted to compete with Bal Harbor. Their economy collapsed and shortly after Mayfair's stores starting closing. Now developers are looking to South America to justify condo and stores and whatever else they have planned. Let's just hope the economy is South America starts to collapse again before they get to do too much damage to the Grove.
once more....let's disassociate from the city of Miami. Lets get tough like Coral Gables. We don't need a boob like Sarnoff and the rest of the banana republic gang ruining our neighborhoods.
Yes, the Center Village tenants come and go at a rapid pace, which does not allow the residents and businesses to get to know each other. ... I am thinking that Bird Ave will eventually become a nice little sub-village in the Grove, centered around the Gallery and Flannigan's.
EVERYone scratches their heads when they see the tumbler cup store in that prime real estate at CocoWalk. I tell all my friends visiting the Grove it's just a sad representation of the most expensive greencard anyone can buy. 33133 is no longer a village community, it's a sad transient bus stop now.
Half full, half empty? If owning a business and/or making a buck is the gauge, for me the Grove is alive & well. If a person has a product or service that other folks need then they will most definitely survive & profit. Give the public what they want and people will flood the Grove. Here on Gifford Lane we have people from the USA, Central & South America, Cuba, Haiti, Europe and probably else well and we get along just fine & consider ourselves a tight community who go outside [daily] to mix, talk and relax with friends & neighbors. If someone comes in with $500,000.00, to 1-mil to spread around, but then has to leave how much of that money gets circulated about the Grove to those who get work & a paycheck? For me that's recycling the $'s. Being a Groveite, in my opinion is a mindset; either you are or you are not. People like Trina Collins and Tom Falco demonstrate this concept. Jobie Steppe
One day there will be a text book written on the subject of destroying a community with a major chapter based on Coconut Grove.
Bryan 12:14 - Yada, Yada, Yada. The store you called "The Tumbler Store", is a corporation with 37 stores throughout the U.S., owned by an American. All of their products are made in the good old U.S. of A. It's 2:26, & their store had 6 customers, all who purchased tumblers. The saleslady spoke English, who informed me the store was profitable and had no plans on moving after about 3 years of strong profits. I observed no one scratching their heads inside or outside this store. Do you feel you help the Grove with such yada, yada, yada, to your friends? Plus, during bar craws in the Grove their profits increase about 35%! Jobie Steppe
"boob like Sarnoff" I thought you were going to curb anonymous negative posts?
@12:14
I don't consider where I live and shop and dine out with friends a "transient bus stop." I certainly don't hope you live in the Grove, and if you do, I hope you sell quickly as values in this "bus stop" have gone up considerably.
I'm sure there will be some "transients" who will appreciate all the Grove has to offer.
Have fun in the suburbs. There's a Party City out in Kendall with your name on it!
Is it too late to secede?
Tom, let me be of service. "Boob like Sarnoff," My name is attached.
al crespo
The subject matter of Tom's blog is "There's no community anymore".
Sorry Tom, but your Blog heading is wrong and the comments clearly are proof of "community". The definition of community does not infer folks have to agree, or be in harmony. I would wager those people who make comments about Sarnoff have never had contact with him and "Jump on the Bandwagon" to be part of something, as in tumult, or talk about someone behind their back, as opposed to "look me in the eye and say that"! Heck, some of these comments are from people who don't live in the Grove community who only live to make anon comments against public servants who [MUST] ignore them as simple ignorant nothingness such as "Boob like Sarnoff".
Jobie Steppe
Actually, the correct definition of "boob" should be applied to those people who call Mr. Sarnoff a "boob", but don't take my word for it, look the definition up and determine who's the "boob"?
The great thing is that Mr. Sarnoff never, never, never retorts, why? Have you ever tried having an intelligent discussion with a real, live honest to gosh "boob"? It's like talking to a drunk or crack addict hitting U up for funding. Jobie Steppe
Why would anyone want to lose their livelihood by standing up to center Grove Mafia?
The true meaning of community does not depend on the economics of the businesses in the center Grove. You guys are mixing apples with oranges. True Grovites barely even know whats going on down there unless its has something to do with music or art or the "This and That" shoppe. You think living in the Grove has something to do with the center Grove? I don't even recognized that place. Not anymore. That's over. Meet your neighbors. That's where the Grove really is. Still loving the life in South Coconut Grove, even with the trash piles!
Anon 6:59: Thanks. I never thought of it like you stated.
I live in the Grove, I LOVE my community, yet the downtown economics, sincerely, never, ever represent my connection to my community because U are very correct to note there's a difference to where I live and the economics [DOWN TOWN]. Yet, I do wish them the best. JOBIE STEPPE.
No community anymore?
Would you like to know why? Because the grove is full of little cliques that shun outsiders who haven't lived there for X number of years. I moved there in 2007 and left at the start of this summer. Friends and my former neighbors who have lived there for over 20 years still consider themselves outsiders.
I tried, lord knows I tried to ingratiate myself, my business, my extensive experience and expertise into Grove politics and community. I even offered pro bono services to community groups, activists and a certain person who was ran for commissioner and failed miserably
(she knows who she is). I was greeted with suspicion and phone calls & emails were politely ignored. Even when I joined a parish church, I put my name down for youth outreach, west grove outreach, I was told, it's all taken care of, thanks but no thanks.
I tried to volunteer at Mango Struts, festivals, drum circles.. All welcome they said, who are they trying to kid. It was just one big friendship clique. You would think they would realize that people are getting old and tired and won't volunteer as much in the future, that's why they need to welcome young blood. But young blood is bad they think, we've always done it like this. People don't like the new ways.
The Grove "Community" does not welcome outsiders and that is one reason why it is dying a slow, agonizing death.
My advice; get over yourselves. You're not that important.
I really love the Grapevine but, lordy, it does get tedious after hearing for the umpteenth time that we live in a bus stop surrounded by high-end thieves. I moved to the Grove a year ago. I imagine it was nice -- and certainly different -- 10 or 20 years ago, but I still find great pleasure strolling to some really great restaurants, or riding my bike through village streets, or chatting with neighbors who each have some remarkable and fascinating story. Maybe you just need some new friends. Perhaps my neighbors and I can treat you to a glass of wine sometime.
Jobie, a recon mission in the middle of a Monday to the tumbler store to quote corp profits from a sales person? Good job. I will wager you that those cups are definitely 100% NOT manufactured in the USA, and anyone with some good sense would know there is no chance a storefront that size in Cocowalk can be profitable by selling 1/2 dozen cups per day. But if a cup sales person says so, then it has got to be true. Right? I participate in the bar crawls with my pals, and NONE of us have ever once sought out a new tumbler cup for purchase!lololol
I live in Center Grove since 1999 and have seen the transformation that has occurred since then. We've made friends with many young & mature professionals and have seen them exit the Grove because of the b.s. Thankfully I've done fine on the recent sales of condos and homes I bought years ago in Center Grove; now we get to live as renters & enjoy watching the show unfold without the stress of seeing my property tax dollars go down the toilet.
Also, we live on Sarnoff's street, bump into him frequently on the street, the park, etc. He is a shrewd politician, and a world class boob.
All issues aside, our hearts in my home are still in the Grove and we would not live any other place in FL because we still enjoy all of the good things it offers. Tom knows me & knows of the events I've helped organize for the good of the Grove, which is what makes it even more difficult for me to watch as the wheels slowly come off the bus here. We hope the day will come soon when a local politician is elected who will properly stand up for the rights of the 33133 and no longer stand for the the city of miami's efforts to use/abuse us. Long live the 33133~!
Thanks for the invite ArthurG. Please provide your address and kind of wine you will be serving so we know what kind of cheese to bring along ;)
Bryan, where did I write I made a recon on Monday to get a quote from a sales person? And you wager the tumblers aren't mfg, in the US of A,, why say that? Did U make a recon? The subject matter of this blog is "There's no community anymore". You say your friends exit the Grove due to all the "b.s.". You call your neighbor a "boob", when you should shoulder up to him to help resolve those issues you complain about. You claim you took advantage of other peoples misfortune during the recession, enjoy not paying your fair share of taxes, which would help this community and you're looking for a free glass of wine after a night of bar craws. CARPETBAGGER comes to mind. Keep writing yada, yada, yada's. It took you 3 comments/attempts to try to clear your name & bobbie comments. Every time your name appears U espouse yada, yada, yadas on a blog titled "There's no community anymore". Community isn't created at bar craws, something else is, which is why we need police check points! JOBIE STEPPE
Needless to say, something bad is happening when we have such different and extreme points of view. This is the case when change comes around, especially the bad type. I guess the Grove goes the way the US is going. Completely divided in misery. I still believe residents have more of a say than anyone else. Problem is people like boobie Sarnoff don't give a rat's tail unless there is something in it for HIS personal benefit. Persona Non-Grata if you ask me, which no one has! :-)
The Grove is central to Miami. We have a storied past, a bright future, opportunity, shopping, restaurants, nightclubs, clean streets, security, parks, BISCAYNE BAY & a steady NE breeze, lobster, fish, and sunshine that creates natural vitamin D, which a few disgruntled malcontents simply cannot tolerate. From my perspective I sense community.
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