People seem to love Florentine Plaza
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| Bikers in front of Florentine Plaza |
Rumor is that Florentine Plaza is going to be flipped and that it will become a small hotel. That of course is just a rumor and probably there is no truth to that but I really don't mind that idea. If it has to change, a small boutique hotel right there on that location might be interesting. I'm trying to be open-minded. Whenever I complain about redevelopment, I remember what someone said to me once: "Did your condo float down like a feather in the middle of the night?" No. No, it didn't.
I do like the structure itself, from the Fuller Street side, it sort of looks Southwestern and I always position myself in front of it during the King Mango Strut, as it makes such a great backdrop for photos.
Here are some comments I've taken from social media about the Florentine Plaza issue:
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| Fuller Street |
Here come the hipsters two by two...whole place is going to turn into Coconut Wynwood
The condos will be the scourge to the wonderful Grove vibe that presently exists.
This depresses me. There are so very few reminders of the Grove that I lived in back in the day but the place still holds a place in my aging heart. Why do developers see something that has made people happy for generations and suits the populace and community just fine the way it is and feel they must tear it down and replace it with some soul less upscale crap. This is not progress: this is money talking. Hopefully my visit in March will find this little corner still intact. For you and your Blu Moon Gallery Sheri I can only hope that, despite the loss of your location, things will, eventually, be better.
Coconut Grove, Soho and Earl's Court in London are just a few of so many areas that are are falling to the curse of greed. It's ironic that the people spearheading the demise of these places are called developers.
Another great place pushed away by a rich developer. That building with it's shops - is an absolute gem in a city full of soulless-ness and shite art! Well, at least we went out with a bang. Here's to the future, whatever it may hold.
posted by Tom Falco at 10:00 AM
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8 Comments:
A "small hotel"? Great, like we don't already have about 7 hotels per block in the Grove, almost as many as hair&nail joints for the hyspsters and lady gagas.
Another classic Grove corner for the developer$$$$$$ to ruin.
Small hotel sounds terrific, depending on how much of the original structure they will keep. Carmel's done a sensitive job of integrating accomodation into the village fabric.
They will build whatever they want because the official in charge of Coconut Grove will jump through any hoop anytime at the command of a number of developers.
Possibly, the new owner will not demolish Florentine Plaza. That would be the best case scenario. Let them use it for whatever they want. It's the building itself that is so identifiable.
The issue is the purchase price that was paid by the buyer. If he needs a new building to generate the maximum income, then we are in trouble.
However, if the parking lot in back was included in the sale, then the new owner could develop that area and keep the building intact.
But, I still say that since growing up here and seeing the changes, the Grove's charm and character has not worn off and I don't think it will.
Tony, I'm glad for your honest opinion but I think you should think what happens when you increase the intensity of structures in a particular area. What usually is created are buildings without the character, feel or charm that was once there. Once you build something that disrupts the environment you almost never get it back. And you don't have to build something new to make areas unattractive: just keep places vacant long enough and people will stay away permanently.
Why would we need another hotel? If these people close any more businesses, tourists will have no reason to visit the Grove
Liz
The flip side is the back of that property is a surface parking lot that creates a huge dead space on Grand Avenue that is unsafe, creepy, and detracts from our walking village center having continuity. Hopefully, the buyer will develop the whole block with something that gives us street life and puts its infrastructure, like parking, under or in the middle of the property. I have always seen that piece of Grand Avenue as one of the spots in the commercial district most in need of improvement and with the best potential for it. The courtyard on Main Highway is great but the backside is, well, rather naked and not in a good way.Let's hope the developer does something that capitalizes on the charm and the success of the courtyard, well improving the very negative downside of the current use of the property.
@11:00
"the official in charge of coconut grove"???
What does that even mean? Private property changes hands in a market economy like the U.S. No one is "in charge" of anything.
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