Spotlight 83-250306

Good morning. In today’s Spotlight:

20-story highrise in the West Grove
Pardo proposal would curtail incumbents
Amateurs take to the stages

Highrise Housing Coming to West Grove

The 20-story mixed-income residential development was approved last month by the Miami-Dade County Commission under new county zoning rules.

By Jenny Jacoby and Don Finefrock

A high-rise housing project approved for the corner of Douglas Road and Day Avenue in the West Grove may be a harbinger of things to come under Miami-Dade County zoning rules that encourage developers to go big when building near Metrorail stations.

The Miami-Dade County Commission approved the 20-story project, known as Gallery in the Grove, without discussion on February 19. The $148 million project is more than twice as tall as the neighboring Platform 3750 apartment building and will dwarf its single-family neighbors to the north when completed.

The project was proposed and approved under new rapid transit zoning (RTZ) rules adopted by the county in September 2022. The rules, which apply countywide, effectively trump existing zoning rules inside municipalities, including the City of Miami.

In the case of Gallery in the Grove, the project will be built on land owned by the county, which will allow the developer – Related Urban Development Group – to pursue a “streamlined” zoning and approval process through the county, not the city.

The Gallery in the Grove project is controversial for several reasons. West Grove community leaders have expressed reservations about the size of the building. A bigger point of contention, however, concerns the fate of the building’s 345 apartments.

Some of those apartments – 173 in total – will be priced below market for low and moderate-income families. Because the project is subsidized with federal housing dollars, however, residents of the West Grove won’t be given preference. The apartments will be leased through a lottery system open to all county residents.

City Commission to Consider Lifetime Term Limits

In a move aimed at the political dynasties that have long dominated Miami City Hall, District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo wants voters to approve new rules preventing former officials from returning to office.

By David Villano

The Miami City Commission will vote next week on whether to let voters decide on a proposal to impose lifetime term limits on elected officials, barring them from returning to the same office after serving any part of two terms.

The proposed change would replace the current system, which allows officials to run again for the same office after sitting out one election cycle following two consecutive full terms.

Miami District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo, who campaigned for office in 2023 as a reform candidate vowing to tackle corruption and cronyism at City Hall, is sponsoring the resolution.

In an interview with the Spotlight, Pardo described lifetime term limits as a means of “bringing different people to the table, different voices, different ideas.”

New faces, he adds, will help rejuvenate “an environment that has less thinking, less openness, less diversity.”

The proposal, which requires commission approval before going to voters, would apply retroactively, potentially disqualifying candidates from future elections who had already served all or parts of two terms as commissioner or mayor.

Pardo is asking the commission to place the measure on the November 4 general election ballot.

The proposed change also would disqualify candidates elected on the same November ballot in races for city mayor and commission districts 3 and 5, which would essentially bar them from taking office even if they won the election.

Where We’ll Be

The Songs Must Go On

Yacht Rock Sing-Along with the Tall Boys packs it all in at the Barnacle’s March Moonlight Concert. Vote here for your favorite songs and then come out to sing the top ten vote-getters. The Barnacle State Park, 3485 Main Highway. Friday 3/7. Gate opens at 6:00 p.m. for the picnic crowd. Music starts at 7:00 p.m. Sing-Along follows. Oh What a Night! Advanced tickets.

For (probably) a higher caliber of singing, join the Grammy-nominated choral group Seraphic Fire singing works from the Age of Enlightenment. Church of the Little Flower, 2711 Indian Mound Trail, Coral Gables. Friday 3/7 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets.

The organ at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church goes totally retro – 100 years worth – as John Fenstermaker masters its keyboards. John uses the full range of the organ to accompany two foundational silent films of the 1920s. Buster Keaton’s Sherlock, Jr. was ground-breaking for its stunts and timeless comedy. Charlie Chaplin stars in The Masquerader, a rare early film showcasing the range of his acting talents. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 2750 McFarlane Road. Friday 3/7 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Free advanced tickets. Donations welcomed.

By appointment only – but well worth it – the Young Artists’ Gallery displays the talents of young Miami-Dade County public high-school artists at the Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove. The exhibit is open to the public by appointment only Friday 3/7, 3/8, and 3/9 from noon to 4:00 p.m. 2985 South Bayshore Drive. Free.

Geology and biology experts lead an Eco-bike Tour along the Commodore Trail. They’ll help you find the exceptional habitats and geology hidden right in our neighborhood and then reveal their past and predict their future. As the Spotlight went to press, a few seats remained in this Friends of the Commodore Trail event. You can find details and check for tickets here. Children under 16 are free, but advanced registration is required. Saturday ⅜ from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Wear your helmet, please. 🙂

If the sound of pickleballs plop-plop-plopping makes your heart race, you can measure just how much at the Grove’s first ever Pickleball Tournament and Wellness Fair. Baptist Health will join Miami Firefighters and the Grove Pickles for a tournament of the Sweet (dill) Sixteen. Health screenings and EKGs for attending youth are available while you cheer for your favorite team. The firefighters are all in, and you should be too. Just outside Fire Station #8 at 2975 Oak Avenue. Play starts Saturday 3/8 at 8:00 a.m. with the finals starting around noon. Free.

One hundred fifty thousand orchids can’t be wrong. In fact, 150,000 blooming orchids must be spectacular. The seemingly endless Orchids In Bloom Festival features all-things-orchid including flowers, experts, gardening tips, butterflies, and more. It’s family-friendly in every way. Fairchild Tropical Gardens, Saturday 3/8 and 3/9 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. General admission is included in the price of the tickets found here. Prices vary.

Lady Miasma – showcasing the young aspiring professional performers of Area Theater – has added more performances to its limited run. The production joins fairytale images with mature themes. Five performances from 3/9 to 4/6. Times vary. Area Stage’s Black Box Theatre inside The Shops at Sunset Place, 5701 Sunset Drive, Suite 286. Metrorail to University Station. Tickets.

Fatherhood has its ups and downs, much like the playground equipment featured in the poetry of Scott Raven. But the poems found in Stay at Poem Dad reveal far more than scraped knees. Books & Books in Coconut Grove hosts a poetry performance and book signing by Scott for his new book. 3409 Main Highway. Tuesday 3/11 at 6:30 p.m. Free. The spirit of Seville appears on the streets of Coral Gables, bringing traditional music, dance, authentic cuisine, and colorful Andalusian flair during Feria de Sevilla en Miami / Fair of Seville in Miami. On the stage, you’ll find flamenco music and dance performed by artists arriving directly from Spain. At the intersection of Alhambra Circle & Salzedo Street, Coral Gables. Saturday 3/8 from noon to 11:00 p.m. Advanced tickets here. Teenager discount.

Save Me a (Bicycle) Seat

Bike Walk Coral Gables returns with their annual Bike & BBQ. This long ride (11 miles) is rewarded with the BBQ picnic at the end in Matheson Hammock Park. Advanced tickets will sell out. Sunday 3/16 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Detailed instructions, locations and requirements are found here.

Alhambra Orchestra’s March concert presents works from around the world connected by folk and classical traditions. Coral Gables United Church of Christ, 3010 DeSoto Boulevard, Coral Gables. Sunday 3/16 at 7:30 p.m. Free. Prepare now for Electronics Recycling Day in Regatta Park. The Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove makes it possible and can help you sort through what obsolete items go in which bin. Regatta Park, 3500 Pan American Drive. Saturday 3/29 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.