Evaluating the Coconut Grove BID
Grove2030 held a meeting last week regarding the Coconut Grove BID (the Business Improvement District), on the BID's 10 year anniversary.
They published a full report on their findings from that night, where 75 residents and business owners met at the Sailing Club met to discuss the BID - it's purpose, it's accomplishments, it's behavior over the years and more.
Just a few of the projects that the BID funds are:
➢ Freebee (free electric vehicle transport on demand)
➢ Special events and activities—yoga in Peacock Park, July 4th fireworks, Saturday bike
tours
➢ Maintenance of medians along South Bayshore Drive, McFarlane Road, and Grand
Avenue
➢ Street signage
➢ Subsidizing the parking valet service
➢ Major capital improvement projects (whole or partial funding): proposed Playhouse
garage, burial of FPL power lines, sidewalk repair and rebuilding through the BID district
➢ Contract for large-scale tree trimming
➢ Facade improvement grants
➢ Hospitality ambassadors and block by block safety ambassadors
➢ Together with Block by Block, operate clean teams to keep the district free of litter and
graffiti
➢ Hiring of off-duty city of Miami police officers to assist in safety and security
➢ Publicity and marketing related to all of the above
One major issue that came out of the meeting was for the residents desire to be part of the BID. That's a tricky question as the BID is a business organization, yet it is in a village where the majority of property owners are residents.
According to the report, there needs to be more interaction with the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce and Village Council. From past experience, the BID has been a closed "old boys" type of group. People who visited meetings were not made to feel welcome, that is stated clearly in the report as well. Directly from the report, they need to be "more open, too secretive." Also: "The BID should focus more on making the Grove more livable – a place where people want to live, not just a place to visit."
People felt that there should be more residential seats on Board – not just Center Grove, they would like to include North Grove, West Grove, South Grove, Bayshore Condo Corridor. Also change over board members more often and get rid of the same residents who have been on the board since day one. Give someone else a chance.
One person said, "The BID needs more transparency. I went to a board meeting once and was made to feel unwelcome."
And others said: "The BID is and has been secretive and very uninformative and very unfriendly." And, "The BID allowed MPA to sell the Oak Avenue parking garage. And they replaced it with valet stands! Where’s the accountability for all this!"
They published a full report on their findings from that night, where 75 residents and business owners met at the Sailing Club met to discuss the BID - it's purpose, it's accomplishments, it's behavior over the years and more.
Just a few of the projects that the BID funds are:
➢ Freebee (free electric vehicle transport on demand)
➢ Special events and activities—yoga in Peacock Park, July 4th fireworks, Saturday bike
tours
➢ Maintenance of medians along South Bayshore Drive, McFarlane Road, and Grand
Avenue
➢ Street signage
➢ Subsidizing the parking valet service
➢ Major capital improvement projects (whole or partial funding): proposed Playhouse
garage, burial of FPL power lines, sidewalk repair and rebuilding through the BID district
➢ Contract for large-scale tree trimming
➢ Facade improvement grants
➢ Hospitality ambassadors and block by block safety ambassadors
➢ Together with Block by Block, operate clean teams to keep the district free of litter and
graffiti
➢ Hiring of off-duty city of Miami police officers to assist in safety and security
➢ Publicity and marketing related to all of the above
According to the report, there needs to be more interaction with the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce and Village Council. From past experience, the BID has been a closed "old boys" type of group. People who visited meetings were not made to feel welcome, that is stated clearly in the report as well. Directly from the report, they need to be "more open, too secretive." Also: "The BID should focus more on making the Grove more livable – a place where people want to live, not just a place to visit."
People felt that there should be more residential seats on Board – not just Center Grove, they would like to include North Grove, West Grove, South Grove, Bayshore Condo Corridor. Also change over board members more often and get rid of the same residents who have been on the board since day one. Give someone else a chance.
One person said, "The BID needs more transparency. I went to a board meeting once and was made to feel unwelcome."
And others said: "The BID is and has been secretive and very uninformative and very unfriendly." And, "The BID allowed MPA to sell the Oak Avenue parking garage. And they replaced it with valet stands! Where’s the accountability for all this!"
posted by Tom Falco at 4:00 AM
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3 Comments:
As previously stated, I was at that meeting at the Sailing Club and while you - or actually Grove 2030 - states, "more residents desire to be part of the BID" it really seems like the only people that are making an issue of this are the Grove 2030 people (all 5 of them). These small "community" groups love to represent that they are the "voice of the Grove Residents" when in actuality they only speak for themselves. If you/they have an issue then stand up and speak for YOURSELF because your opinion - just because you state it behind a catchy group name - doesn't represent the that of the 20,000+ residents of the Grove.
The 1st thing that comes to mind is there are to many cooks in the kitchen. Google The Coconut Grove BID (Business Improvement District) to comprehend our the Grove BID's obligations. Then Google the overall general obligations of all BID's U.S.A...Then go to the Grape's archives, say 5 years and slowly scroll and you'll easily see with documented proof why resident's and the Grape are not welcomed @ BID meetings. Like a car our Grove is being rebuilt. And who pay's for the rebuilding? The owner. In the Grove the mechanics/developers are rebuilding the Grove . New water mains, streets, electrical service, utility poles, sidewalks, parking, signage, renovations, new construction, cleaning the streets and sidewalks. All paid for by impact fees and maybe some bonds. And the folks operating any and all business interest will pay dearly accompanied by drastically increased rental fees. If not already, wait until 33133 property taxes kick in!? The fact is if you work, live, rent, purchase, own a business or visit the Grove you better bring a pocket full of cash or a credit card. Jobie Steppe
Will the Grapevine post BID meting schedule?
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