There's more of a community feel around here
It's interesting to note that Coconut Grove seems to be coming back to being a community again, where for awhile there, it was not. New businesses are coming in and they care about the neighborhood, they know the people, they know their fellow business owners and they are a part of the community and want to be a part of the community. Sometimes when I stop by to say hello and see how new businesses are progressing, I am amazed at how much the new owners and managers know about our community and the people.
There was a while there when some of the Grove landlords used the Startup Visa Act to make a lot of money on short-term rents which I think hurt the community. This is where someone from another country could come here, set up shop for a very short period of time and then end up with a two-year visa. The foreigner would have to come up with $250,000 in start-up money and create jobs.
I never was a fan of this because while it sounded great, it was a scam used by many to get visas which they essentially were buying, they would take up valuable space on Commodore Plaza or on McFarlane Road, stay for 45 days to the day, and then close up shop. This was brought up to me by neighboring businesses who were fed up with this, as it hurt the neighborhood and took away from stability and a neighborhood feel. I mean, did anyone really think these $1 earring stores were making enough money to pay the rent? That's a lot of earrings to sell each month.
Anyway, I don't know if the Startup Visa Act is done for, but it seems like we have "real" community minded businesses moving into the village.
There was a while there when some of the Grove landlords used the Startup Visa Act to make a lot of money on short-term rents which I think hurt the community. This is where someone from another country could come here, set up shop for a very short period of time and then end up with a two-year visa. The foreigner would have to come up with $250,000 in start-up money and create jobs.
I never was a fan of this because while it sounded great, it was a scam used by many to get visas which they essentially were buying, they would take up valuable space on Commodore Plaza or on McFarlane Road, stay for 45 days to the day, and then close up shop. This was brought up to me by neighboring businesses who were fed up with this, as it hurt the neighborhood and took away from stability and a neighborhood feel. I mean, did anyone really think these $1 earring stores were making enough money to pay the rent? That's a lot of earrings to sell each month.
Anyway, I don't know if the Startup Visa Act is done for, but it seems like we have "real" community minded businesses moving into the village.
posted by Tom Falco at 5:00 AM
YOU MAY NOT LIFT THE PHOTOS & TEXT. IT'S COPYRIGHTED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. YOU CAN HOWEVER SHARE A STORY ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY USING THE LINKS HERE.
For linking to this one story, just click on the time it was posted & just this story will open for sharing - only through social media. Not copying and pasting.
2 Comments:
I do not believe the Startup Visa Program was ever adopted by Congress. If people think they are being harmed by it, that is probably all in their imaginationa...
Correct, the Startup Visa Act was never enacted. Can't blame the Grove's previous problems on it.
Post a Comment
<< Home