Let the upheaval continue

I drove south on Ponce de Leon through Coral Gables on my way home to Coconut Grove. As I crossed South Dixie Hwy I entered the Gables neighborhood of McFarlane Homestead. It reminded me of the laid back southern communities of Savannah and Charleston. As I crossed Douglas Road and entered the City of Miami’s West Grove (Village West) there was a noticeable difference.

A house in McFarlane Homestead neighborhood

In West Grove I saw empty lots on the threshold of development, that will undoubtedly alter the neighborhood forever. Many fenced in lots and even blocks are visible on just about each street. Plenty of signs with design concepts of 2-story contemporary big white box townhouses having walled or fence parameters. The once southern charm of this neighborhood is being replaced by what looks more like Kendall on steroids. This is a community in transition. Some regarding it as Gentrification, Over-Development, White Incursion or an Upheaval. 

So why are these two side-by-side neighborhoods so radically different? 

The predominately African/Bahamian-American Gables neighborhood respects its single-family zoning, supports historic preservation and there is stability in property ownership and longevity by renters.

The once predominately African/Bahamian-American Miami neighborhood decided years ago to up-zone by establishing multi-family zoning, splitting lots, allowing for townhouses and PUD’s to replace the single family houses. This effort was brought about to create more density, appease developers that funded election campaigns, raise additional property taxes and make room for younger and more affluent families.

The reason for the difference seems abundantly clear. Coral Gables actually respects its zoning, sense of community, residents stability and history. While Miami seems to mostly care about generating more property taxes, no matter what is sacrificed and lost in the process. 

Both neighborhoods even posses quite a few of those icon southern wood-frame domiciles know as Shotgun Houses. Those located in the Gables are considered sacred, protected and several are even spiffed up like the colorful “Painted Ladies” of San Francisco. The ones in the Grove are pawns in the game of historic preservation. Miami now realizes their value and wishes to preserve them with historic designation and possibly some CRA funds. But the property owners want no part of that. After all they are sitting on very valuable land, that is highly desirable to developers. And as you already know, the reason they are so valuable is that Miami decided to change the zoning to multi-family residential. Miami will be lucky if they can only save a few of them, by making the property owners an offer they can’t refuse.

Congratulations to Coral Gables for their willingness to preserve and protect their historic neighborhood and maintain it’s southern charm. 

As far as Miami is concerned, “Let The Upheaval Continue."

Harry Emilio Gottlieb
Coconut Grove