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CAN
THE CITY'S
DIVISIONS BE NARROWED?
Posted
on Sunday, July 31, 2005
CAN THE CITY'S DIVISIONS BE NARROWED?
When the whole issue of a Home Depot
in Coconut Grove came up, I found it odd
that with all the rampant development in
our beloved community and especially the
huge town house project across the
street from Milam's Grocery that food
distribution for a growing population in
this neighborhood would be replaced with
an unneeded hardware distribution
warehouse.
That is, unless, of course, you're a
developer and need a ready supply of
building materials and given the time
constraints on your low-paid crew, it
might save the poor suffering developer
a few minutes. So the need for a Home
Depot is more to serve the interests of
those that are destroying our community
-- for substantial profit, of course.
I recently returned from Chapel Hill,
N.C., and had breakfast at a converted
cotton mill in Carboro. It was a sort of
a combined Scotty's, Norman Brothers and
Green Streets (you get the idea).
Students, college professors,
neighbors and shoppers all gravitated to
this site and I thought what a perfect
use of space that brings the community
together. It reminded me of the days
when everyone in the Grove seemed to
know one another.
These days I feel the community is
the opposite and a great division exists
between long-time residents and the new
guys that want to call themselves
Groveites regardless of the cost. As
Grand Avenue becomes gentrified, the
need for more food distribution becomes
obvious despite all the dieting,
Pilates, jogging and aerobics that seems
to be going on.
I guess my point is this: Does anyone
but me believe that the Grove is full? A
sold-out show that is trying to sell
nonexistent seats?
A couple of parting thoughts: To
paraphrase Joni Mitchell, since we are
paving paradise and putting up parking
lots, why not store water underneath the
asphalt and at least have a ready supply
of cheap hot water? Could save some
fuel.
I fully expect the library and
Coconut Grove Elementary School to be
torn down and replaced with condos. This
will require, of course, the expansion
of Ransom Everglades to accommodate the
growing student body. Maybe the monster
on the Taurus site could be used for
more classrooms.
Maybe I shouldn't even be complaining
since I have seen the best of the Grove
in the last 45 years and can even
remember cottages renting for $75 a
month and a very good beef stew at the
Florida Pharmacy.
BOBBY
INGRAM
COCONUT
GROVE
Copyright 2005
Knight Ridder
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