Jav's World

And the winner is?

Since I spend half my time “splaining” things…….I decided to do a little Real Estate project for shits and giggles (yes I have issues).

What was the project you ask?

Answer the age old question “AHHH the White boxes are taking over”…..which is really not an age old question, just one of the many issues we in Coconut Grove lose sleep over…..Really.

So, I inventoried all of the “White Boxes” and what started the whole NCD thing….the dreaded Mediterranean Mc Mansions.

Drum roll please…….

Results for ALL of South Grove: (excludes Moorings cause they don’t allow people like me in)

Boxes pre 2005                  30                               

Boxes post 2005                44 

Meds 90’ to current        137 (with some in specific closed hoods, Poinciana, De Garmo)

Now on to Village West (West Grove to some) and here we do T3-R & T3-O (Grand Ave is N/S Line) and if you don’t know what T3’s are, you don’t deserve to read this….

T3-R Boxes

South; 4

North; 14 (some in planning stage)

 T3-O Boxes

South; 0

North; 27

T3-R Meds

South; 0

North; 1

T3-0 Meds……….look out

South; 0

North; 61

AND

66 in 4 enclosed hoods for a grand total of 122

Disclaimer, I may have missed a few but not enough to make a difference in the fact we had a huge push in Meds over the past 20yrs and now we are seeing a “New” style pushing the zoning limits.

Stay tuned, we’ll have a lot more on this topic.

Boxes & Meds “GottaJavMiami”

Quick background on this post.

The City of Miami has held 6 workshops where focus groups discuss Visions and Strategies that could be implemented over a period of 3 yrs. They ranged from Traffic/Mobility, Public Safety, Clean Hoods, Land use, Parks and finally Economic Development.

I attended all 6 (pictures to prove it) and while all were informative & productive…. this one was the most passionate.

I caught an earful when I went “There” and so I just wanted to take a sec and apologize if my remarks about language were found offensive by the group but I truly believe that Business knows no particular language, it only knows the color “Green” and we must speak to it.

Miami has been promoted by Business & City leadership as The financial Hub for Latin America & Caribbean and as such our business “Language” has been driven in that direction; Look at City of Miami literature which is offered in Spanish & Creole.

I used Spanish as an example of how the business community has evolved in the past 50yrs, there was a time when we did not need a second language but times change and they are currently changing again. As Miami continues to evolve (and it’s what makes a great City) we will continue to become more diverse and communities will continue to become more secluded (and not just poor areas, rich ones will also).

I could use any current non English language in my financial example (I used Spanish because that is currently the largest % in our community) as I know that I am limited in my business (Real estate) because I do not speak French, Italian, Portuguese (as examples) and as such I miss out on a major share of Business in my field (which allows folks who DO speak those languages to prosper).

Tech is a language, Computer OS systems are a language, word/excel are languages, Facebook, Instagram…Tinder all are languages, Construction /Mechanic jargon is a language and we have to embrace this and teach to it (except Tinder) if we want our City to continue to prosper equally.

What was “There”?

I used an example that I have a Job that pays 50K BUT you must speak Spanish (or fill in a second language) and if you don’t speak it, chances are you are not participating in “Economic Development” in the City of Mee-am-Mi.

And to the group; sorry that I am vocal, it’s just I have been around the block a few times…

BTW; don’t get me started on Housing which was also a hot topic.

Focus groups “GottaJavMiami”

 

 

For those who know what these are…Stop reading.

For the rest, Intended Decisions are notices sent out when something of Chapter 17 / Tree Protection triggers a notice. In short, it’s to keep neighbors in the loop when a Tree (s) are going to have something done to them (removal, relocation, etc) and also one of the biggest complaint by neighbors when it comes to enforcement of the current ordinance.

So this one below caught my eye….

Dear All,

This is to advise you that the following Intended Decision(s) have been posted in your area:

Location: 

• 3174 MATHESON AV

Tree(s) to be removed: ONE (1) LIVE OAK [DEAD]. TWO (2) MONTGOMERY PALMS [DEAD]

Tree(s) to be relocated: None

Number of replacement trees: None

Tree permit request is due to TREE AND PALM REMOVAL

 

What I loved was: ONE (1) “LIVE” OAK…… “[DEAD]”.

So which is it?

Live OR Dead Oaks “GottaJavMiami”

 

One of the most frustrating things about public service is that you work on something for the good of the community for months and in one small swoop, all goes to hell….

Last night was one of these moments when for the first time in a LONG time a topic that is important to all would have begun the strenuous legislative process with a “discussion” (note discussion means that you will be splaining shit to folks) and because a small group (very small) wants something that is completely unobtainable the item was deferred for another 3 months.

This was accomplished on social media platforms and for those who criticize some for promoting “fake” news, yesterday was a great example of that style of disinformation.

I just don’t get this community sometimes and a few years ago someone said that we are our own worst enemy and I am starting to believe it.

Oh well, all we can do is keep plugging along and hopefully we will do good.

“GottaJavMiami” always will give a shit.

 

Wanted to expound on my “Get the [email protected]#$%^&* tour buses out of the hood” comment.

As part of a Garden District concept, I proposed eliminating tour buses from the Center Grove corridor and forcing them to let out Visitors at a “Welcome Center” somewhere by City Hall. This could be incorporated into the new Grove Harbour project and would showcase the waterfront which most Visitors miss. (or see below)

From there we would use our Trolley system (or God forbid they walk) to move folks thru the Neighborhood for shopping / dining and with the use of a “Historic” app, folks would know that if they get off on say “stop 2” they would know that at this stop “something historic happened”.

This idea may avoid the decapitation of a Cruise Ship Visitor by the Canopy of the “Garden District”….

BTW; Pan Am terminal building should be the Welcome Center for Coconut Grove and City Hall should be in the center of Miami for easy access to all residents…..

Tour Buses don’t want to “GottaJavMiami”

So yesterday morning I participated in a Visioning project sponsored by the Grove Business improvement District (BID) where about 60 residents & business owners got together and shared ideas about what the Grove should address. It was specific to BID area BUT we could address any concern that came to mind.

Some general comments:

Our table was chaotic and so far off topic that we barely got our ideas in. Once we got back on topic, things improved.

Most of the early comments were about the NCD’s and Historic concerns (these are the current topic dejour).

Folks ask me all the time what I think the Grove is and I always say its different things for everyone and my position as a Village Council member is to listen to ALL comments and then point folks to the elected officials who can assist with their ideas and concerns.

BUT since my term as a council member is about to expire and I am not planning on running again……Here goes!

I came to Coconut Grove in 1965 and what I have always loved is the natural beauty of my neighborhood, this includes the tree canopy, the waterfront and open spaces. I remember chasing snakes, finding turtles and even seeing a bobcat when I was a kid.

With all the talk about development encroaching and removing what makes our Village special (I was quoted in a Herald article), I proposed at the meeting what I feel is a simple solution.

Establish ALL of Coconut Grove as a Garden District.

This will protect the Natural beauty by having clear cut understanding that you are living in a Special District. With in the District, you specify Historic, Cultural and Artistic elements which are important for all of our Residents and you use the NCD as you governing document.

This will limit common development pressure that Residents are always concerned about without limiting proper and sound development that moves a community forward.

Oh and get the [email protected]#$%^&* tour buses out of the Neighborhood……

My 2 cents

“GottaJavMiami” is all about nature