Regarding the blocked/dangerous sidewalks

Commissioner Ken Russell meeting with others to discuss the blocked sidewalk situation. Photo courtesy Ken Russell

I'm shocked that after all this time that no one has been hit by a car and hurt or killed due to the sidewalk being blocked by CocoWalk. I think if anyone wants to own CocoWalk, it would be an easy set-up on that side of the street. Rather than put up proper scaffolding, they somehow got away with closing two sidewalks - on Main Highway and on Grand Avenue. 

Now that the project is almost complete, I guess it makes no sense to complain now, but I only bring this up because there is new legislation drafted by Commissioner Ken Russell. "It is in regards to pedestrian access and construction worker parking around active job sites," said Ken.

The loss of street parking is another issue where these projects are blocking sidewalks and access and the Johnny Rockets building recently put up wood and scaffolding, which blocks most of that side of the street, they removed mature palm trees in the process.

Basically if you want to walk in that area of the Grove, you take your life in your hands. I saw one of the big shots from CocoWalk almost get hit by a car last week, he went to cross the street and his own construction mess on the blocked sidewalk blocked his view and the car's view and it could have been a bad scene. Luckily it was avoided and his wife didn't end up owning CocoWalk.

On Tuesday, Ken met with the construction company as well as the City of Miami Public Works Department and the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District to discuss safety improvements that can be made on site.

He told me, "The project next to Greenstreet and [the CocoWalk issue] prompted my legislation. Unfortunately, they are meeting the current code so it's technically legal. But it's insufficient so I'm working to change the code."

The resolutions basically ask for proper scaffolding for projects inside Coconut Grove, not the shoddy mess that CocoWalk feels is proper. And as for parking, the resolution asks for construction workers to park outside the BID's boundaries.

Recently we had a major issue in our neighborhood where the construction crews took up all the parking. The issue was resolved and the workers park off site. The trick that did it - they were all towed one day (including neighbors, which was a bit upsetting), but one time towing did the trick. They park offsite now!


Here are the two BID resolutions. 

CocoWalk has been such a mess for so long this is the image you see on Google Maps.

One funny thing - I see tourists walk up to this mess on  daily a basis and ask for the entrance to CocoWalk or The Cheesecake Factory. So I guess this mess doesn't faze many.