Coconut Grove is losing an important part of its past
Dear Grape,
Why did you print a retraction to your Scotty's Landing story yesterday? Contrary to your statement, this is a big deal. It is not a "non-story," Coconut Grove is getting a shiny shopping mall where our beloved "fish shack" and boat storage facility now exists. Sarnoff & Co. are getting rid of Scotty's, a cherished Coconut Grove icon. The replacing it with a glitzy Shula's Steakhouse. Somewhere near the boat racks AWAY FROM THE WATER they are planning to build something with Scotty's name on it. The Grove voted against it (sadly we lost when the city-wide votes were counted). Coconut Grove is losing an important part of its past. A year from now you will no longer be able to nurse a beer in this simple outside sitting nestled next to Biscayne Bay.
Glenn Terry
Coconut Grove
Coconut Grove
posted by Tom Falco at 10:00 AM
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5 Comments:
Again, can someone clear up the issues about the unpaid rent/taxes on the Scotty's property? Crespo reported on them years back, but I can't find a resolution.
Basically, the laws changed requiring the City of Miami to pay property taxes on the Grove Key Marina / Scotty's Landing site. It was written into the lease that if this happened Scotty would have to pay them. The City started sending property tax bills to Scotty which he returned unpaid. This went on for years and no one at the City did anything about it. Eventually, the County figured out it was owed a huge some of property taxes and sued both the City and Scotty for the bill. The courts decided that since the City is the owner of the property they are ultimately responsible to pay the County. Now this City will have to pay the back taxes and sue Scotty to enforce the lease which they may or may not do.
Al Crespo did a followup report on the issue of unpaid taxes said that Scotty's is in the clear. (Let's see if I can figure out how to quote him here) Here's what he said earlier in this blog:
[quote=Al Crespo]
As the person who raised the most hell about the property taxes owed on the property, the case went to court, and then to the 3rd District Court of Appeal, where the judges upheld the original 11th Circuit decision that it was NOT Scotty's that owed the taxes, but the City of Miami. It's one of the few stories that I really got wrong, and one that I feel bad about because I spent far too much time, and obviously contributed to a community belief that Scott Wessel was a tax cheat.
The fact of the matter is that the City of Miami - and the City Attorney's office were the ones responsible - it is after all City Property and consequently, the City that be all of you Groveites, along with all of the other taxpayers in the City are the ones who will pay off the tax bill.
I would guess by now that the taxes have been paid, but you never can tell with those folks. In any event, owning property taxes is not something that should continue to haunt Scott Wessel.
August 20, 2015 7:59 AM[/quote]
And rent is current and up to date? It's an honest question and I'm not trying to besmirch Scotty's ownership. You just see too many deals like this in the City of Miami, and to me fighting to keep Scotty's open should be a moot point if they are behind on their rent. That should be public record correct?
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/coconut-grove/article31811733.html
Court deals blow to lawsuits challenging Grove Bay project
The Third District Court of Appeal issued two rulings Friday that dealt blows to lawsuits seeking to stop a planned redevelopment of Grove Key marina and Coconut Grove landmark Scotty’s Landing.
The court — ruling just days after Grove Bay Investment Group notified the city of Miami in writing that it plans to take control of the city’s eight-acre, waterfront property next to City Hall — denied motions to rehear two lawsuits by Grove businessman Stephen Kneapler, who sought to block the $18 million redevelopment project the city awarded to Grove Bay. The court also declined to clarify a previous ruling against a third suit filed by activist and city commission candidate Grace Solares.
The plaintiffs — who lost appellate decisions in May — are expected to appeal to the Florida Supreme Court. But Friday’s orders were an important victory for developers Eddy Garcia and Giraldo Leyva Jr., who in 2013 secured a city deal to build three new restaurants, renovate two historic Pan Am hangars and add in a public baywalk and pier.
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