Spotlight 132-250822

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

  • A Class Action Lawsuit over Grove Parking Rates
  • A Trio of Letters from Spotlight Readers
  • Upcoming Events in the Grove and Elsewhere      

A Pinecrest resident is suing the owner and operator of a Coconut Grove parking garage, alleging years of overcharges in violation of a city covenant requiring rates to match municipal meters.

By Francisco Alvarado


A Pinecrest resident has filed a class action lawsuit against the owner and operator of a Coconut Grove parking garage, alleging they illegally charge drivers more than city-approved rates.

The complaint, filed July 14 in Miami-Dade Circuit Court by Eric Zimelman, targets Grove Garage LLC, managed by Coconut Grove developer Peter Gardner, and Southpark Management, the company that operates the 180-space facility at 2889 McFarlane Road next to Hotel Arya.

The lawsuit follows a Spotlight report early this year detailing allegations of price gouging and the city’s failure to enforce mandated parking rates. 

Zimelman argues the garage has violated a 28-year-old agreement with the City of Miami requiring its rates match those charged at city-owned lots and metered spaces in Center Grove. Instead, drivers have been billed, at times, far above the $3-per-hour city rate, or $1.40 per hour for residents with registered vehicles.



At the Coconut Grove Spotlight, our nonprofit mission is to inform, connect, and empower our neighbors through reliable, independent journalism. 

We’re seeking volunteer support to help us grow and thrive. If you have skills in marketing, legal, tech support, social media, event planning, fundraising, or community engagement, we’d love to hear from you. Your expertise will help us reach more readers, build community connections, and ensure the sustainability of our work.

By volunteering, you’ll be part of a team committed to transparency, accountability, and a stronger, better-connected Coconut Grove.

Interested? Email us at [email protected] with “Volunteer” in the subject line and tell us a little about your background and interests.

Let’s keep the Grove in the know — together.


Taking a Turn

Hurricane Season Prep: Because the Next One Might Not Swerve. Major Hurricane Erin just took a courteous right turn into the Atlantic. But let’s be real — courtesy isn’t a storm’s strong suit. Many residents have never lived through a hurricane. If the prep’s been on the back burner, or if this is all new, consider this a neighborly nudge. Here are three solid resources to get started:

  • City of Miami Hurricane Handbook 2025 — Local evacuation routes, prep checklists, emergency contacts, and guidance for before, during, and after a storm. Read it here.
  • Miami-Dade Guide to Hurricane Readiness — Covers storm surge zones, pet-friendly shelters, and what not to pack (looking at you, candles). Link to guide.
  • Storm Surge Planning Zones FAQ — Unsure whether evacuation is on the table? Start here. It explains how surge zones work and how to find yours. Read the FAQ.

More prep tips will roll out through the season, but these three are the essentials. One thing to do this week: figure out your evacuation zone. And for the truly storm-curious, NOAA’s National Hurricane Center has an excellently geeky storm-tracking site: nhc.noaa.gov/cyclones.

Jazz on the Bay. Vizcaya Museum & Gardens hosts a sunset concert on the bay with award-winning bassist Mikailo Kasha and his powerhouse quartet. Expect layered textures, modern flair, and serious chemistry from a lineup that includes pianist Connor Rohrer, guitarist Diego Melgar, and drummer Jonathan Ziegler. Friday 8/22 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Vizcaya, 3251 South Miami Avenue. All tickets under $20.

Write Now. Got a novel in a drawer or a story that won’t sit still? Local writer Cortney Casey leads a two-hour generative workshop where writers sprint, share, and shake the rust off. No homework, no pressure — just words on the page. Part of the Miami Writers Institute’s fall series. Koubek Center, 2705 Southwest 3rd Street. Sunday 8/24 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Free. Reserve a spot.

New Chapter, New Club. Books & Books in Coconut Grove launches its new Fiction Book Club with bookseller Katherine Wakefield at the helm. First pick: The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden — a haunting debut set in postwar Netherlands. Tuesday 8/26 at 7:00 p.m. 3409 Main Highway. Free to join. More info.

Voices That Swim. Books & Books teams up with SWWIM (Supporting Women Writers in Miami) for an evening of contemporary poetry. SWWIM’s volunteer-run crew publishes daily and partners with O, Miami and Miami Book Fair. This reading brings the energy of South Beach’s Betsy Hotel to the Grove. Wednesday 8/27 at 6:30 p.m. Books & Books, 3409 Main Highway. Free.

Bingo, Bayshore Style. The Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove is reprising its legendary Bingo Night and the stakes are delicious. Expect complimentary snacks, a mid-game pizza break, and plenty of giggles in the club’s historic setting. Thursday, August 28. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., first game at 7:00 sharp. Woman’s Club, 2985 South Bayshore Drive.  Modestly priced entry. RSVP with name and number of guests to [email protected].

Island Vibes in the Grove. Wrap up the summer with a soulful set by Jimi Dred, whose roots-inspired rhythms bring mellow joy and good energy to the historic reading room at the Coconut Grove Branch Library. Family-friendly and free, this one’s for all ages. Saturday 8/30 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. 2875 McFarlane Road. Free.

Save Me a Seat

Spice, Sway, Repeat. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden brings the flavor with Taste of the Caribbean — a full-day cultural festival of food, music, and motion. Expect island cuisine, reggae and calypso rhythms, lawn games, and even soca dance lessons. Sunday 9/14 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 10901 Old Cutler Road. General admission includes access; tasting tokens sold separately. More info and tickets.

The Grove’s Other Symphony Habit. The Alhambra Orchestra’s 2025–2026 season opens on Sunday 9/28, and their calendar is full of free, community-based performances across Miami. This all-volunteer ensemble brings big heart and lush sound to every show. View full schedule.


Recent News

News, Village Life

American crocodiles are a common sight at Dinner Key Marina these days. People can chill, experts say. Pets, not so much.

News, Village Life

A man was killed after a collision with a 14-year-old riding an e-bike on Rickenbacker Causeway, one of Miami’s heaviest—and most dangerous – cycling routes.

News, Village Life

Local preservationists, who have been unable to stop the demolition through litigation, are mounting a letter-writing campaign to induce state officials to intervene.

News

The West Grove property owner says the City of Miami should be held accountable for years of neighborhood contamination spread by the city’s former Old Smokey trash incinerator and its…

News, Politics

The City of Miami’s practice of quietly modifying proposed legislation prior to a commission vote is permitted under law, officials insist, so long as the changes do not stray from…

News, Village Life

The popular footpath connecting two parts of Coconut Grove remained blocked this week, frustrating parents who rely on the shortcut to safely shuttle their kids to school.

News, Village Life, Village People

After a globe-trotting military career, Daniel Kelsey is settling into his dream job — managing, and preserving, Coconut Grove’s waterfront time capsule for future generations.

News, Politics

With his commission-approved plan ruled unconstitutional and a “blatant power grab,” Miami D2 Commissioner Damian Pardo will ask for a November vote to realign city races and extend terms by…

News

A $2 million shoreline project aims to protect Coconut Grove’s eponymous bayfront from rising seas—but with no construction funds, a $465,000 design tab, and plans to remove mature palms, critics…

News, Village Life, Village People

To Morales, yoga is so much more than a form of exercise – it’s a way to give back, both to community and self.

News

Gun violence struck Coconut Grove again Wednesday, killing one man and injuring another on Douglas Road, not far from the site of two earlier shootings in 2025.

Letters to the Editor

To the Editor: Regarding your August 18 article concerning the Coconut Grove Playhouse. Your link to the County’s web page and subsequent link to their current (so-called) ‘renovation’ plans show…

Letters to the Editor

To the Editor: Substitution ordinances – changing legislative language prior to a binding commission vote, as described in a recent Spotlight story – are a major problem because they undermine…

Letters to the Editor

To the Editor: I’ve been reading the Coconut Grove Spotlight faithfully for about a year and wanted to let you know how much I love your publication. I just went…


Copyright 2024 Miami News Trust, Inc. All rights reserved.

You are receiving this email because you signed up through our website or participated in a promotion.

The Spotlight welcomes your letters and commentary. Share them here.

Comments are closed.

Sponsors + Advertisement

Recent News