Sometimes when you stand back and see what is going on in Coconut Grove you wonder if the Grovites are fighting every project, just for the sake of fighting every project. Then again, many of us want the village to remain a village and are not in favor of over-development.
Now there is a group who are opposed to the proposed CVS Pharmacy that is planned for US1 and 27th Avenue - at the Shell Station location. What is the difference between a Shell Station and a CVS at that location? Both ugly and not great businesses for the main entrance to Coconut Grove.
But one important thing that CVS does not have on their side is a 23 year old covenant that states that anything over 3500 square feet on that property is restricted. The CVS is 13,000 square feet. The covenant also states that no drive-thru's are permitted.
Now CVS wants that over turned, and therein lies the rub. When is the City going to stop granting waivers for those who would break the law? If my house is on a small lot, why am I permitted to built five houses on that lot? This has to stop. The greed is destroying the neighborhood.
I have been told privately, that Commissioner Marc Sarnoff was quite forceful with developers and that Commissioner Ken Russell is not forceful enough with developers and Planning & Zoning. But under Sarnoff we got all these office building permits and all these new condos and the "mall on the water," so I wonder if both commissioners and the city are bullied and overtaken by developers; maybe not intentionally, but just take a look around the Grove and see what it has become. Recently Make-A-Wish wanted to install an office building in the park, on the waterfront! NO!
To reach out to Ken, you may email him at krussell@miamigov.com and you can reach out to his District Liaison, Cynthia Seymour at cseymour@miamigov.com
Tell them enough is enough. Let's take back our neighborhood and stop the up-zoning.
Why do you need a CVS at that corner you have 2 Walgreens and a CVS next to the post office.
ReplyDeleteThat is CVS problem. Did you ever heard about Market Capitalism that made this country great?
DeleteI am very much against the CVS project. One only has to look at the CVS at Red Rd and Bird. A huge box with oversized parking lot. The Shell Gas Station is fairly attractive as far as gas stations go. Tin roof, faux front porch, set back and easy access to the rest of the stores in the strip mall. They also provide other services as well. One only has to remember what was there before. A restaurant called Gene's Place (a former White Castle)and other dingy shops with absolutely no set back. We were against the Shell Station but, I think it has proved to be a fairly good neighbor.
ReplyDeleteThere's way too many of these big box pharmacies all around South Florida. If you travel throughout the county, you'll see that CVS is building even more locations! They're flooding the market with their stores.
ReplyDeleteIt would be replacing a gas station. It's not like we'd be paving paradise to put up a parking lot. Sometimes I just wonder if people just need less free time to complain.
ReplyDeleteApparently they have too much free time and they use it to oppose everything new.
DeleteThere's a cvs on Grand already, and another 24hour one a mile south on US1. Why the redunancy?
ReplyDeleteThere is obviously a demand. CVS is in the business to make money. That would be the furthest east pharmacy on US1 (possibly ever, because after crook and crook there isn't really anything available on the east side of the highway).
ReplyDeleteWe do not need another drug store in Coconut Grove! The community needs a gas station more than another CVS. We have one CVS & two Walgreens already.
ReplyDeleteThe local boaters use the Shell station to fill their tanks. Its a decent sized station that can accommodate boat trailers. The station on 32nd & US1 & the station on 27th & Bird are small and are not big enough for the traffic & boat trailers.
My guess is the underground fuel tanks have reached their life expectancy. Replacement costs and regulations are prohibitive..
ReplyDeleteJust speculation... Marc
This is also an issue regarding the enforcement of covenants. This will be carefully watched by those who are not in favor of a new covenant for the "Day Avenue 8". Their concern is that a covenant is worthless and will not be upheld or enforced. Here is an example of what they fear will happen. This topic was discussed at the City Commission Meeting on May 25. The city needs to stand firm and uphold the covenant to be credible.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the Day Avenue 8?
ReplyDeleteThis would line up with rumors of all high rises down 27th in the not-too-distant future. Most of those small apartments have already switched hands recently.
ReplyDeleteAnd this is a shot at the boaters, as that gas station is how they fuel up before boating.
But as we know, greed rules the grove.
The “Day Avenue 8” refers to the proposed up-zoning of properties at 3860, 3850, 3840, 3830, 3875, 3865, 3851, and 3841 Day Avenue. A covenant has been discussed but residents have cited previous covenants in the area that have not been upheld. Residents strongly oppose this zoning change and do not trust that a covenant will protect this property. This was on the agenda at the May 25 City Commission Meeting where many residents spoke in opposition. Commissioner Russell gave careful consideration to this input. The issue was continued to the June 22 City Commission Meeting.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
ReplyDeleteWhat is your opinion about Ranson Everglades. They acquire a single-family home and change zoning to operated as school , also to build 112,000 sqf building next to single family homes.No waivers, no covenants, no public hearing, no communication to Community.
Question! don't we need that gas station? it seems to be pretty busy and that is always my go to place to fill up.
ReplyDeleteI am also against an additional CVS.
The South Grove Neighborhood Association is not opposed to everything new, just things that are against the zoning code. The City has a plan, development and growth is to take place in the city core, along mixed use commercial corridors (27th Ave. Bird Road, and Grand Ave, some parts of Main etc.) and along transit corridors (U.S. 1 metro rail and metro mover). The plan is designed to reduce the carbon footprint and promote environmentally responsible development. Now we need to make sure that the plan is followed. We think zoning regulation is an important way to guide development along a path we can remain above water with.
ReplyDelete