Here's why I don't like the County's Playhouse plans
This is just the start. Look at this planned mess.
I spoke with one of the people who was surveyed about the Playhouse and he is in favor of the county's plan for the playhouse and he said his reasoning is, "The county's plan has been in production for a long time and has the best chance of giving it life again." I understand and respect his opinion. Here is mine . . .
I told him my reasoning for being against the county plans from the beginning, and it really is not much about history, although that is a very important part and always will be, but it's very much about over-development.
I belive once the county has their hands on the playhouse it will open the door to non-stop development in that area of the Grove. I could be 100% wrong, but that is my gut feeling.
I see the renovation turning into a high-rise condo above the playhouse - maybe not by the county, but eventually by someone in the future. Once that door is opened it won't stop.
The next step is renovating and building up Charles Avenue, our most historic street, and then up and down Main Highway. Look at the offices next door. One zoning change and those offices or new offices can be up to 20 stories and so on. Look at those monstrosities at the Bank Lot, that could be on that end of the Grove one day if it is not shut down now.
I don't trust the county and especially Arquitectonica. And also the Miami Parking Authority (MPA).
I was against the MPA, then I was friendly toward them, I didn't mind when they sold the Oak Street Garage because I was told by the developer to my face that it would remain a garage. That he only purchased it "for cash flow." That ended up being a lie and now it is an office building, with no more parking for the public. The bank lot used to be a great parking site, now it is over-sized development. The MPA then took over our street parking with this nonsense of valet parking every few feet.
Now they want to put a large garage next to the playhouse with condos. I'm not sure who would buy a condo as part of a garage, usually it's the other way around, you build a condo building and then add a garage, here it is a garage with condos hidden inside.
I truly believe once we open that area to the county and development, it will become a non-stop building zone for many years to come. Thanks to people like Arva Moore Parks, the Barnacle and that side of the street did not become high rise condos which was a thought in the 1970s. Can you imagine that side of Main Highway all high rise condos?
That is my problem with the county's plans and those involved with the county's plans. Other than that, I don't care if it is 300 seats or 700 seats or whatever works best.
posted by Tom Falco at 4:00 AM
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11 Comments:
The County's plan is full of holes and has very little chance of succeeding. Carnival touter Michael Spring is excellent when it comes to making presentations, but the idea of filling the space with retail shops, condos, and restaurants is not a sound plan. There are so many empty restaurant and retail spaces within blocks of the Playhouse site, that unless they charge next to nothing for rent, businesses have very little chance at being successful. And if they do lower the rent, then how many existing businesses will suffer by competing on an unlevel playing field?
Plus, why is the County playing developer? That is not their function and the Grove is already under siege. We don't need more.
The State should take back the property and make sure that any future plan ensures the property be used on to enhance the community.
"...the idea of filling the space with retail shops, condos, and restaurants is not a sound plan."
And yet, that's what that part of the space always was. Retail and restaurants.
If you don't remember them, that means that you only became aware of the Playhouse after those parts of the building were condemned, forcing the businesses out.
But it was originally ground floor retail, second floor offices, third floor apartments.
That said, the worry about high rises is a valid one, but that means we fight to keep limits on development, not that we do nothing.
And yes, the theatre will attract people to the Grove, so those stores and restaurants will eventually fill up. You only need look at Miracle Mile to see that it works.
I think I was one who was surveyed and thought it was a very confusing list of questions. While I definitely do not like the county's plan I'm not so sure that may answers might not have put me in the "supportive" column. I want more preservation and less development on that site but there didn't seem to be a clear way to say that.
it was stipulated public funds will only be used toward Playhouse. How is it OK for county to plan subsidize private luxury use on public's back?
There are no condos as part of the garage, they changed that part of the plan months ago, wish you would do some research before these articles. Furthermore, you are complaining that a garage in one part of town will no longer be of use, but complaining that a surface parking lot will be converted into a parking garage, I guess changing anything is a reason to complain and things should be fixed at some point in the past that you have decided. Also, for the comment above, please look into supply and demand. If more commercial/retail space opens up, rents will go down and more businesses are likely to be successful while giving residents more choice. The horror.
I know the condos are out, that was phrased wrong in the article, what I meant to say is that the sky is the limit if they get their way, just the fact that a garage with condos was proposed is preposterous. I agree about needing the garage.
The point was that they will take advantage as much as they can if we let them. Condos in a garage? It was such a dumb idea that they did away with that. I always felt that parking is needed more than condos, give the condo space to more parking if need be rather than living space.
And please sign your name if you are going to call me out. If you are proud of what you have to say, why are you being anonymous?
You pump out stories day after day, year after year and lets see how well you do.
Retail and office space that works? Supply and demand? "That's the way it was before?" One only needs to look at the Marlin's Park retail and office space part of the project to see how the County will do. 90% of the Marlin's Park commercial space is still empty and has not been built out. But, what we need is more commercial space in the Grove when so much of it is already available. Just because they will build it does not mean the businesses will come. Mr. Moe's - Empty. El Cid - Empty. You get the idea, right?
The condos are out....for now. Then watch them come right back into the county plan if those skanks, heaven forbid, get a demolition permit. And Mr. Anonymous, why don't YOU do your research....into Michael Spring's habitual lies. It's pathological how that man is incapable of telling the truth. Research his failure in creating theaters. Mismanagement and scandals involving the South Dade Arts Center and the Lyric Theater. He was investigated by the county OIG who criticized him for mismanaging the South Dade Arts Center. Do you know a thing about how inept and what a compulsive liar this man is? He's the opposite of King Midas. Everything he touches turns to rust while he pockets the gold. Once you're done researching that, go google up historic preservation's impact on economies. Many studies about that. We are letting these whore politicians sell out to developers and kill the historic Grove. They're killing the very thing (history) that made people come in droves to the Grove in the first place. --Max Pearl
Here we go AGAIN...complaining about overdevelopment while you plaster advertisements for a new development all over your blog. Hypocrisy runs deep.
Your "gut" tells you about lies and corruption but you have no proof and little research to back up your claims but that doesn't stop your constant complaints....and the Save the Playhouse people would be a little more credible if they didn't constantly slander everyone that has a different opinion from theirs.
The Playhouse has been sitting there vacant for more years then we can remember but like always, people just can't seems to get out of their own way so that someone can come in and rebuild it for you. If you are so passionate about your ideas, then put your money where your mouth is and raise the capital to make the changes you propose. It's so east to sit back and complain about what people are doing when you don' have any stake in the project. Put your money behind renovating a 700+ seat theater with no retail and parking to help balance the costs and when it fails you take the hit, you go bankrupt, you lose your house and business. Everyone knows better when their livelihood isn't at risk.
Long time Grovite,
Hank B.
Hank, if that is your real name, you sound like a bitter old man.
I would like to meet you, please email me so we can meet in person.
Also, I never said that anyone was corrupt. I said that the door would be open for major development.
I find it hard to believe that you are a long-time Grovite or you would not always be on the side of destruction of the Grove.
As for the ads, small development replacing the same-size development is not over-development. And since you don't know me, you don't know that I have turned down many ads over the years for things I don't believe in. I do this blog as a community service, not for the ads.
You say I am against development, then I put ads there for development and you are upset.
So let's meet in person. Until then STFU.
"If you are so passionate about your ideas, then put your money where your mouth is and raise the capital to make the changes you propose." I totally agree. Where is the money that GableStage is putting into the project? Nothing - not a red cent. It's easy for Adler to complain and whine like a child when others threaten his free taxpayer paid for theatre. Eidson is putting in $1.7 million of his own money. But hey Hank, you already knew that and now you have egg on your face because you just got called out. Or maybe you didn't know about the $1.7 million and you now look like someone who talks a lot about something he knows very little about. You chose and let me know which one it is.
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