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Friday, July 13, 2012

What's going on with the waterfront RFP's?

Yesterday at City Hall, the RFP decision regarding the Scotty's Landing, Chart House and Marina were deferred by the City Commission (they were to choose developers for the properties from the bids that came in). There is one more meeting on July 26 until the Commission takes a summer break and comes back again in September, but they deferred so many things yesterday, that who knows if the issue will come up on July 26 or be deferred again, many feel it will be put off until September.

I am being told that the current RFP for the Chart House property may be thrown out and a new one is being proposed so that there will be more than just one bidder on that property. 


It's also being said that Scotty's Landing may bet an extended one year lease, which may go to two years and the way things are going, maybe even longer. But then again, Scotty's owes so much in back taxes that the only way it seems to get it is for the County to sue the City (with the City's blessings).

Scotty himself, Scott Wessel, had a letter to the editor in yesterday's Miami Herald, you can read it here. Scotty is promising a better deal for the City, but if he hasn't paid almost $2.5 million in back taxes, how can they promise to pay the City? Scotty's and Grove Key Marina are one and the same

With all due respect, I don't care so much for Scotty's Landing. I used to eat there two or three days a week, but after the meat started tasting funky and the staff got unfriendly (maybe they are just overworked, probably are), I just stopped going. I don't think they put a new screw or nail in the place from day one and now they are promising to make it the showplace of the Grove? Maybe they will, we'll have to see what happens.

As for the precious view that everyone keeps complaining about losing, I have a little secret guys: the view is staying. It's Scotty's that would be going, but the view will be the same no matter what goes in.


As the Grove turns. More to come July 26 when the City Commission convenes. Speaking of which, there is an uproar of Sarnoff's Burn Notice decision and it is believed that a large protest will take place at the July 26 meeting to help save Burn Notice's home (the Expo Center) for another year.

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7 Comments:

Anonymous Juan R. Pollo said...

I was not aware of Scotty's back taxes problem. In the words of Emily Littella, that's different.

July 13, 2012 9:32 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The rumor I heard was that Wessel was taking his money and running, because he's made a killing by buying the cheapest product, underpaying his staff, and putting no money into scotty's since the day it opened... not a penny.

I can't wait to see something else there, and the most shocking part is that the commissioners still haven't figured out which of the bidders is going to give them the biggest kickback yet... #sadbuttrue

July 13, 2012 11:01 AM  
Blogger F. said...

I think it would be interesting to look at Scotty's contract with the City. Maybe he did what the Marlins did to the city with the parking garages....

July 13, 2012 11:08 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sarnoff is crap but he is the best crap we can come up with here.

July 13, 2012 7:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It will be interesting to hear the response of the "Scotty's is amazing" crowd now that all this back taxes stuff comes out. It's no better than stealing. Nobody likes to pay taxes, but if I have to pay them, you should too. On the Burn Notice front, Sarnoff amazes me. In this down economy you have a commissioner actively trying to push business from his district to another. The only complaint I have with the Burn Notice contract is I would love to see some sort of tag in the opening credits stating "Filmed on location in Coconut Grove, FL."

July 14, 2012 8:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"As the Grove turns. More to come July 26 when the City Commission convenes. Speaking of which, there is an uproar of Sarnoff's Burn Notice decision and it is believed that a large protest will take place at the July 26 meeting to help save Burn Notice's home (the Expo Center) for another year."

SAVE JOBS! SHOW UP!

July 14, 2012 6:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Scottys needs to go period.Wessel has abused the taxpayers and profited enormously.Any promisses he wants to make now should be preceded by him writing a check for all the back money...I think we all know that wont happen so its time for him and his ugly,dirty,show to move on.
taxpayer concerned resident

July 17, 2012 9:55 AM  

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