Sold out to the highest bidder
I was incensed when I read what the article says about Jorge Perez of the Related Group: "He’s committed to maintaining its historic charm. His company, The Related Group, along with The Terra Group, are behind the new Park Grove project, a 297-unit luxury condo development on the Coconut Grove waterfront. The project features three wavy towers, a restaurant and 'lush landscaping that the Grove is known for,' Perez says, along with a park 'filled with sculptures that will be very much in the spirit of the Grove.' "
With all due respect, The Related Group and the Terra Group are the main destroyers of Coconut Grove. Their over-sized monstrosities are the nail in the coffin for the Grove, turning us into Brickell South. And I would add Arquitectonica into that group, too - all Crane Watch members.
Michael Gruber wrote this on our Facebook page regarding the Post article: "The Grove is a bohemian paradise in the same way that Greenwich Village, Provincetown, Soho, and Haight-Ashbury are. NOT. I lived in the Grove in the 60s, when it was, and saw it endure what happens to all bohemian paradises: rich people, hollow and full of shame, gravitate to such places to suck creative energy. The developers and landlords see this, jack up the rents, build condos, and the actual bohemians are driven out. All that remains is the pathetic fossilized cachet of the place, 'Oh, I live in the Grove,' may be enough to get a frisson from your pal who lives in a gated community."
Casey Cordes said this, "Actually, it’s the zoning laws and lack of action to protect historical homes and zones. You can’t move into the French Quarter and tear down your building simply because you paid a lot for it. 20 years from now, the Grove will be re-named 'Brickell South.' Pathetic lack of leadership and vision."
There are so many comments on out Facebook post about this subject, it's worth look at here. It's a hot button issue. Over 25 people have shared it and over 10,000 people have viewed this one post on Facebook.
People have a lot to say about this. There are lots more comments on this story, too, on our Facebook page here. It's worth reading both sets of comments by clicking the two links.
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posted by Tom Falco at 4:00 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.
10 Comments:
I thought it was an April Fool joke in January when I read the quotes of Mr. Perez. The real fools are ????
Is it true Jorge Perez was once a City of Miami Zoning employee? If so when?
The article makes it seem like cocowalk is a paradise that deserves preservation lol that monstrosity is what destroyed the grove in the first place. This is a poorly written and researched article
The article seemed more geared to visiting for the Arts Festival if you look at the end paragraph.
Basically a shill peace.
For the record, the tower in the photo is Grove At Grand Bay, not the 3 towers down the street called Park Grove.
The WaPo/AP article is an infomercial fluff piece geared to the simple minded to plug the new construction in cooperation with the Art Festival.
What about the younger generations that want to move to the Grove but can't because it's too expensive? There is a lack of supply in the grove. More development is needed to bring the prices down, to bring back the artists. And I am not talking baby boomers artists, I am talking younger generation artists who will be the future of the grove. These artists can't live in single family expensive homes. They need affordable apartments. The older generations, and their nimbyism, are preventing these artists from coming here, and are preventing the grove from becoming a bohemian paradise once again. Times have changed. It's no longer the 60s, unfortunately.
7:20 what have you been smoking? Bring back "The Grove" by adding more high rises? You sound a lot like Jorge Perez. Wait, is that you Jorge?
7:20 younger generations can't move into the Grove because it is crazy expensive. More development isn't helping that. On top of the notion that these new developments are by no means artist-friendly. They are disgusting clumps of metal and glass with no character meant only for the wealthy.
I agree that Perez is a major part of the problem, but he/his company is not the root of it.
The problem comes down to us Grovites not sticking up for our community. I say this as advice to myself as well. Go to City Hall and demand for preservation and Grove culture.
Lol greenwich village what a great example! It is fully preserved and its the most expensive place in ny now lol All the artists left, its no longer bohemian at all. Its too expensive just like the grove. How amazing preservation is!! Preserve and your property values will go up faster and you will become wealthier faster but you're kidding yourself if you say youre preserving to make it more affordable
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