Spotlight 126-250801

Good morning. What we’re covering in today’s Spotlight:

Local Restaurants Face Summer Squeeze
Condo Buyout Feud
City Laws Include Undisclosed Changes
Girl Injured in E-Bike Crash

And Big News from the Spotlight team! Barely a year into operation we’ve been honored with a prestigious award. Click here for details.

A Tough Season for Grove Restaurants

Rising costs and slower traffic have put the squeeze on local dining spots. Restaurant owners are responding with different strategies to survive leaner times.

By Carlos Frias

Grab your phone and search the Resy or OpenTable apps for prime dinner reservations on Saturday night in Coconut Grove and you’ll find seats at any of your favorite restaurants.

This may look like great news for diners. But it’s a clear sign that Miami restaurants are in serious trouble.

Restaurants across South Florida are closing in droves, including the Michelin starred Itamae Ao—whose chef, Nando Chang, was just named best in the South by the James Beard Foundation—which follows the earlier closure of Maty’s, his sister Val’s Beard Award–winning restaurant.

In Coconut Grove alone, the list of closures over the last year includes everything from well-funded, out-of-town restaurants like New York’s Red Farm and Portugal’s Sereia to local spots like Harry’s Pizzeria, Key Club, Like Mike, El Taquito, Minty Z and Eva and its Oyster Bar in CocoWalk.

Condo Buyout Triggers Resident Backlash

Developers are seeking to take control of older condominium buildings in Coconut Grove, forcing unit owners to consider a move some are reluctant to make.

By Izzy Kapnick

Coconut Grove resident Oscar Larrieu has called Bayshore Park condominium his home for more than two decades.

He remembers when Hurricane Katrina knocked out power to the building, he and his neighbors collected food from their refrigerators and then gathered around a few tailgating grills, hosting a cookout in the waterlogged community.

That was August 2005, when Larrieu says residents had a sense of community that made the place feel like a small-town apartment building in a bustling city.

In the years since, most of the units at 2545 South Bayshore Drive across from Monty’s Raw Bar have been bought by developers eyeing a potential redevelopment of the property.

It’s part of a wave of Miami condo acquisitions in which well-capitalized development companies are looking to reshape the skyline by razing aging buildings and replacing them with high-priced luxury complexes.

City Measures Often Approved with Undisclosed Changes

In what could be a violation of state law, Miami city commissioners often vote on legislation that deviates – sometimes greatly — from versions shared with the public

By David Villano

Zoning changes and other laws sent to the Miami City Commission for approval are routinely altered – sometimes with far-reaching impact — from the versions made available for public review.

At last week’s city commission meeting alone, the Spotlight has learned, four zoning code changes contained language not previously disclosed prior to the second — and final — vote to win their approval.

While all four measures passed, the city has yet to publicly release their final versions.

The city’s use of so-called “substitution ordinances” – 11^th-hour changes of pending municipal legislation – came to light earlier this week with reports of undisclosed alterations to a controversial new law that would supersize development in areas around Metrorail stations and other fixed-rail lines.

12-Year-Old Seriously Injured in E-bike Crash on South Bayshore Drive

A 12-year-old girl is in serious but stable condition after crashing an electric bike into the back of a car on South Bayshore Drive on Tuesday. She is being treated at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

The crash occurred at approximately 6:00 p.m. near the intersection of South Bayshore Drive and Aviation Avenue, closing down traffic in both directions during busy rush hour as emergency crews responded.

Miami Police Commander Freddie Cruz, who oversees Coconut Grove, said neither the girl nor the vehicle’s driver has been charged.

Cruz explained the incident reflects the dangers of cars, bicycles, scooters and other vehicles competing for space on high volume roadways.

“I think that anytime we share the road, whether it’s a bike, a car, walking, running, I think that’s dangerous,” Cruz said. “I just think we’ve got to be responsible. I don’t think a 12 year old should be operating those things on the street.”

Where We’ll Be

Virginia Key Celebration. Get ready for a weekend full of community, culture and environmental preservation as Historic Virginia Key Beach Park – the first and only beach designated for Miami’s Black community – celebrates its 80^th anniversary with three days of events. The celebration begins on Friday 8/1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a museum project commencement ceremony and birthday party, followed by a Community Fun Day on Saturday 8/2 from 12 to 4 p.m., and a Poetry Potluck on Sunday 8/3 from 3 to 7 p.m. Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, 4020 Virginia Beach Drive. Event details / tickets for free entry on August 1.

Summer Dance Party. Shake your Groove Thing to music from 1970s, 1980s and beyond with DJ Nicholas Martin at the Midsummer Night Dance Party hosted by the Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove, 2985 South Bayshore Drive, on Saturday 8/2 from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person with a cash bar. Proceeds benefit the club’s sound equipment fund.

Bug Out at Fairchild. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has transformed itself this summer into a life-sized insect wonderland with its daily Bugging Out exhibit and some select nighttime activities, including a family movie night and twilight bug safari on two upcoming Saturdays (August 9 and August 30) from 6:30 to 10 p.m., and an adults-only Bug-N-Grub Night Crawl on August 26 and September 27 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road. Tickets available here.

Yoga By The Book. Break up your week with a yoga session led by an advanced Yoga Alliance-certified instructor. This class is good for beginners and seasoned yogis alike, with a focus on mindfulness, flexibility, and relaxation. Presented by Athena Lab for Social Change at the Coconut Grove Library, 2875 McFarlane Road, on Wednesday 8/06 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Registration at https://mdpls.org/branch-coconut-grove