What is going on with Coconut Grove?
So the malling and condo-ing of the Grove continues. And of course it's all about money. A troll here or there leaves a comment here on the Grapevine, but to be honest, there isn't one person I run into in person who is for the unreasonable transformation. I'm shocked sometimes by the people who I would think are in favor of the urbanization of our little village and they turn out to be the opposite - upset over the changes.
The new mall on the water, Grove Harbour, has not broken ground yet, and that's a good thing and of course Regatta Park is just still basically a hole in the ground. The Expo Center is down, I'm not sure if all those toxins were removed from the ground, but either way, it's a large, empty fenced in area - with a large over-sized dockmaster's building. I remember Mayor Tomas Regalado years ago, I think he was still a City Commissioner then, talking about the demolition of the Expo Center saying that it would just end up for years as a big dirty hole in the ground, like the Orange Bowl was at the time. He was very prophetic. And that mess on Grove Isle, who knows what that is going to end up being. Even with the work being done on all the major arteries in the village, traffic will be a nightmare. This little village wasn't created to be over-populated.
Then of course there is, and going to be a large street mess all over the village from the upcoming redo of South Bayshore Drive to Bird Avenue and Main Highway, and 27th Avenue is still not completed.
Awhile ago, a reporter called me to talk about the Grove for a magazine article. His assignment was to compare Williamsburg, Brooklyn to Coconut Grove. I told him that a better comparison would be Greenwich Village to the Grove and he changed the focus to that. The article has not been published yet. I'll share it with you when it's out.
It's still confusing as to what Coconut Grove is becoming.
The new mall on the water, Grove Harbour, has not broken ground yet, and that's a good thing and of course Regatta Park is just still basically a hole in the ground. The Expo Center is down, I'm not sure if all those toxins were removed from the ground, but either way, it's a large, empty fenced in area - with a large over-sized dockmaster's building. I remember Mayor Tomas Regalado years ago, I think he was still a City Commissioner then, talking about the demolition of the Expo Center saying that it would just end up for years as a big dirty hole in the ground, like the Orange Bowl was at the time. He was very prophetic. And that mess on Grove Isle, who knows what that is going to end up being. Even with the work being done on all the major arteries in the village, traffic will be a nightmare. This little village wasn't created to be over-populated.
Then of course there is, and going to be a large street mess all over the village from the upcoming redo of South Bayshore Drive to Bird Avenue and Main Highway, and 27th Avenue is still not completed.
Awhile ago, a reporter called me to talk about the Grove for a magazine article. His assignment was to compare Williamsburg, Brooklyn to Coconut Grove. I told him that a better comparison would be Greenwich Village to the Grove and he changed the focus to that. The article has not been published yet. I'll share it with you when it's out.
It's still confusing as to what Coconut Grove is becoming.
posted by Tom Falco at 5:00 AM
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11 Comments:
"It's still confusing as to what Coconut Grove is becoming. "
It'a "Boat!" A hole in the water where you pour money, except the hole is in the ground.
Look how they dug up the parking circle by the Sailing Club, dug up and no activity for weeks. At least I get to use the 4WD on my jeep!
Marc
Completely agree with the entire post.
People don't participate and politicians are what they are. Cash is their middle name.
When I moved to the Grove in 1965, it was laid back, music, art, drug & sex, a lot of drugs and a lot of easy sex. And from the sidelines it was interesting to observe; I knew one guy on some drug binge brag about hanging his gal from a 5th story balcony as some other junkie threw 20 dollar bills over the side. And talk about some of our old-timers and I was a fly on the wall, boy would you folks be surprised who they are!?
Decency has prevailed and we are moving forward into the 21st century and with the wealth moving in from around the world to enjoy, namely our Great Biscayne Bay resting between Miami, S. Beach, Key Biscayne the Florida Keys and the Bahamas we shall soon transform, our empty commercial entities will have plenty of customers, the MPA shall make a small fortune, the tax base will increase drastically, professionals and workers alike will prosper after we improve our infrastructure and roadways. If you want the old Grove, go to Micanopy, Florida.
It is about democracy and participation my friend, democracy is not what it used to be, because corporations are people too, you snooze you lose.
A corporation has never been "people". A corporation is a legal entity with the same right(s) as "people" in that the corporation can be sued. Many corporations, the vast number are owned and operated by one individual and is under funded, namely to try and shield the owner from liability. Democracy in reality isn't about participation, it's about power. And in democracy those who seek office say what they want, when they want and after being elected, some have no memory of their political rhetoric, so, look at what it takes to remove them from office and those are the facts of reality, "my friend" go back to sleep!
My friend democracy has existed for millennia and it has only changed in letters, here people's votes had respect until the Supreme Court OK'd Citizens United, now corporations have the right to impose their lackeys on all of us. Good night.
Hey what happen to my favorite clothing store on the corner of main street. there gone???
Robin
If we had the "democracy" for "millennia" which you claim, how did our Democratic Supreme Court, our Congress, our Senate and our President allow our corporations, as you claim, the right to impose their lackeys on all of us. While people like you espouse idealistic quixotic notions my forefathers picked up weapons, gun powder and ball & kicked ass. Now that was democracy at the end of a barrel.
You may be under these so called lackeys, but no one in my family or circle of friends or business associates are. Many of us create our own democracies and live our lives accordingly. Quit talking and learn to get out from under your lackeys. Now, go back to sleep and dream on!
Greed & Narcissist took over !!!! The young people who grew up here mostly left because of this. The majority of others gave in or simply do not care .That's the truth people want to feel included when they are not they go where they are .
I'm thinking we need to start a Foundation
"The densification of Coconut Grove"
A non profit....all proceeds can be sent to
"Slush fund @ Miamipolitics.org
On El Prado Boulevard around 3421 is a proposal to break up a large estate into four undersized lots for mcmansions! The greedy continue in their quest to make more money than they will ever need by increasing density in our nice neighborhoods. the owners hired a high powered law firm to jam this replatting and waiver through city hall. Neighbors are understandably upset and don't want it to be approved. We'll see where our commissioner is on this one and how it will affect his wife's campaign to succeed him, which is a very bad idea in my opinion.
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