Just two years ago, when the concept was still in its infancy, people who lived near the former Paradise Inn ay 8540 Harding Ave. packed themselves into a community meeting at the North Shore Youth Center to voice concern over the supportive housing facility that was setting up shop in their neighborhood.

The building had been purchased by Carrfour Corporation, a nonprofit company that operates Carrfour Supportive Housing, which seeks to shelter individuals who are making a transition out of homelessness. The building, which would be renamed Harding Village, would offer some 90 apartments at a fraction of what rent would normally cost them. But many North Beach residents feared that the community, located across the street from St. Joseph’s Elementary, would consist of former drug addicts and alcoholics.

However, with the promise of full-time security by guards and staff (as well as no legal right by the city of Miami Beach to stop the project), the plans went on, and so did monitoring of Harding Village by the city. The most recent observations: a scheduled progress report before the Miami Beach Planning Board, Tuesday. Suddenly lacking: complaints from citizens.

“We’re almost at full occupancy, the move-in has been very successful, and very quiet,” said Stephanie Berman, president of Carrfour Supportive Housing. “We haven’t heard any complaints from anyone in the neighborhood; we have staff on-site 24 hours a day.”

“I’ve visited the facility at night and I’ve visited during the day,” said board member Marlo Courtney. “I looked around, and walked around. I wanted to make sure there was the proper security in place, and I see the facility is clean and well-run.” Courtney did suggest a “right turn only” sign at the exit of the parking lot to alert drivers that the exit turns onto a one-way street.

Staffer Richard Lorber added that he too goes “quite often” to observe the progress of the facility and monitor safety concerns previously held by neighboring residents.

Staff, and the board, satisfied with the status of the facility, determined there was no need for an additional progress report from the organization.

Board members did express some concern about a sign outside of Harding Village listing officials from the Miami City Commission, the entity that is to funnel federal money for the project. Berman explained that the poster was originally intended to remain up until all of that board’s promised funding was secured.

“It shouldn’t be more than another 30 days,” Berman said.

No one at the meeting spoke out against Harding Village. Instead, a North Beach resident had nice things to offer.

“I’m really impressed with the Carrfour’s progress,” said neighbor Daniel Veitia. “It is a great model for Miami Beach,” he said, adding that he’d like to see more projects like Harding Village throughout the city, “just not in North Beach.”

Carrfour Supportive Housing was founded in 1993 by the Homeless Committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Harding Village is one of many housing developments Carrfour has opened throughout Miami-Dade County. According to Carrfour’s Web site, operating and under way projects “will provide 800 units of affordable housing for approximately 1,000 people,” adding that current and future projects will meet about half of the county’s need for supportive housing.

The organization’s report and the option of waiving the requirement that Harding Village come back before the Planning Board for future progress reports passed unanimously.

“You’ve made the Planning Board proud,” Courtney said.

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Peace at Last?

New Rules for Pine Tree Park Please Neighbors and Canine Activists at Neighborhood Meeting

By Ben Torter

A deal has been brokered that may end a conflict between dog owners and non-dog owners using Pine Tree Park.

The consensus reached between representatives of both sides at Wednesday’s Neighborhoods/Community Affairs Committee meeting at Miami Beach City Hall is as follows: There won’t be any lights in the park; dogs will be kept on leashes; police will clean up their K-9 training area; the city will check with the Orchard Park Homeowners Association as to the type of flora the city plants in the park; parking rules will be enforced; and leash laws and pooper scooper laws will be enforced.

The fight over Pine Tree Park goes back months and involves allegations of bad dogs, syringes, arrests and general bad blood among neighbors living in the Middle Beach neighborhood surrounding the public green space.

Though Wednesday’s meeting moved along surprisingly smoothly and without a raised voice, the April 25 Neighborhoods/Community Affairs Committee meeting, where the idea of putting lights in the park was first discussed, was very contentious. Roby Greer of the Responsible Dog Owners and supporters were pitted against Henry Lowenstein and other homeowners affiliated with the Orchard Park Homeowners Association over the lights. Greer wanted them, Lowenstein didn’t. At that April meeting the committee decided to not make a decision on the lights until the two sides could come to an agreement.

“We changed our position on lights based on the conversation with the city and neighborhood association,” Greer said at the meeting this Wednesday.

In an effort to make the park look as natural as possible, shrubs and other flora will be planted around the chain-link fences. Though two unspecified types of plant have already been ordered, Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Smith was directed by Libbin to check with Lowenstein to make sure the plants meet neighborhood approval before they are planted.

The police use the park to train their K-9 officers, and have an area with tires and boxes in which mock suspects hide so the dogs can find them. Neighbors complained that the tires and deteriorating boxes collect water and are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Acting Chief Carlos Noriega promised to take care of the problem.

A key argument to making sure dogs stay on leashes was that some residents have said they are afraid to bring their children to the park because of all the dogs running around.

The fine for not having a dog leashed is $50. The possibility of increasing the fines for second and subsequent violations was discussed, but city officials decided to hold off unless it’s later determined necessary. Police will begin educating the public about dog leash laws and will begin enforcement Sept. 1. Parking fines will also be enforced.

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They’re Back

North Beach Patrol Officers to Share Substation Space With Internal Affairs

By Ben Torter

Police officers patrolling the north end of Miami Beach will once again be housed at the North District Police Substation, concerned residents were told at Wednesday’s Neighborhoods/Community Affairs Committee meeting at City Hall.

Last fall, patrolling officers were thrown out of the Miami Beach Police Department Substation at 6840 Indian Creek Drive to make room for the police Internal Affairs Division, which was displaced from its offices at Old City Hall on Washington Avenue and 11th Street while repairs to that building were being made.

Now patrol officers will share the substation with internal affairs officers until Old City Hall’s renovations are complete.

North Beach residents felt that kicking the police who patrol their neighborhoods out of the substation was a detriment to their safety. Different groups like the Coalition for a Safer North Beach met with the Police Department in recent months to come up with a solution.

At Commissioner Jerry Libbin’s request, the City Commission discussed the issue at its June 6 meeting and referred it to the Neighborhoods/Community Affairs Committee to keep the ball rolling.

“This has been a sore subject with North Beach residents for a long time,” Libbin said.

About a dozen people showed up to the Wednesday afternoon meeting. Included were a few familiar faces on the activist scene like Normandy Shores Homeowners Association President Daniel Vieta, Stillwater Drive Homeowners Association contact Mark Weithorn, and his wife — commission Seat 6 hopeful Deede Weithorn.

“We’re ready to open the doors,” Acting Police Chief Carlos Noriega said.

Police officers will be able to use the substation for charging radios, filing reports and other such duties, but it was stressed that they will spend most of their time out patrolling the streets.

“That building there is a resource, not an office,” City Manager Jorge Gonzalez said.

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From Florida, With Warning

Following State Decision, Beach Commission Opts to Stop Investing Pension Money in Companies Doing Business With Iran and Sudan

By Ben Torter

Theorizing that it’s harder to commit terror and genocide with less money, Miami Beach became the first city in Florida to decide to stop investing its employees’ pension dollars in companies that do business with Iran and Sudan.

The idea was proposed and drafted by Mayor David Dermer.

“You know the old saying — of course — think globally, act locally,” said Dermer, before his initiative was unanimously approved at the July 11 commission meeting. “Well, this is the perfect opportunity through our savings, the savings of employees, to be able to help construct and have effective foreign policy without having a military solution for it.”

The new city law piggybacks on a state law signed onto the books by Gov. Charlie Crist on June 8. That act, sponsored by Democratic State Sen. Ted Deutch of Boca Raton, called for the removal of all state-invested money from companies that do business with Iran’s energy sector and with Sudan. Florida is the first state to adopt such legislation.

“Why do we talk about Sudan and Iran specifically?” Dermer asked, before pausing and then answering his own question. “Well, one is actively engaged in genocide, in the Darfur region, and the other is actively promoting genocide. Iran has made many statements to wipe the state of Israel off the map.”

According to Deutch, Florida has about $1 billion of state money invested in companies doing business with Iran’s energy sector and Sudan. That $1 billion represents state pension money as well as other invested dollars.

Under the new law, the state will identify and label “scrutinized companies,” which will then have 90 days to stop doing business with Iran and Sudan. If the culprits don’t comply, the state will have one year to divest its holdings in those companies. The city will work off the state’s lists of “scrutinized companies.” The proposed ordinance is likely to be largely symbolic, as it’s not believed that any city of Miami Beach money is currently invested with companies doing business with Sudan or Iran.

Deutch drove down to City Hall from Boca Raton to attend the Miami Beach City Commission meeting, and to praise and encourage the commissioners before they voted. He said pulling money from companies doing business with Iran and Sudan is an action “that really can affect the international scene.”

He called a yes vote “the opportunity to stand up now by taking economic action in order to possibly prevent the use of military action in the future.”

As expected, the commission voted unanimously in favor of the resolution.

“It’s the correct thing to do, our duty to do,” Commissioner Matti Bower, a mayoral candidate, said.

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It’s Not Easy Becoming Green

Special Committee Discusses Ways for Beach to Become More Environmentally Friendly

By Patrick Jordan

In Miami Beach, the newly formed Mayor’s Green Ad-Hoc Committee held its first meeting on July 17 at City Hall, where officials attempted to tackle issues such as recycling, water and air quality, along with other environmental concerns.

“The city is not the most environmental city. Many people seem to not know about recycling. What can we do to be a leader in our community?” asked Vice Mayor Michael Gongora, chair of the ad-hoc committee.

That question was followed by a quick response from committee member Debra Leibowitz.

“The county code is going to get a lot stricter. We don’t have recycle bins on our beaches. Why doesn’t the city have recycle bins? I’d like to see us on the forefront in taking some action,” Leibowitz said.

The committee discussed states such as California and Oregon that have gone the extra mile to increase recycling and reduce pollution.

“It’s up to the commission to tell us how aggressive we can be with this thing to make it real. We can take pieces from the best of all the cities. Who exemplifies the best? That’s where we want to go,” said committee member Patxi Pastor.

The committee decided to break up different topics, such as transportation and solar power, among its seven members.

The next meeting, which is scheduled for Aug. 21 at 6 p.m., will focus on speaking with representatives from Miami and Hollywood about their recycling programs.

“Conservation and using less saves everything,” said member John Corey, as the meeting ended.

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North Bay Village

Village Marketing

NBV Commission Considers Partnership to Boost Retail Presence

By Josh Malina

The city of North Bay Village is considering entering into a business agreement with Texas-based Buxton, a company that specializes in connecting cities to retailers. The proposed plan is an effort to reinvigorate North Bay Village, a city made up of three islands linked together by the 79th Street Causeway.

“A long time ago, if you wanted to eat well, North Bay Village was restaurant row,” said City Manager Jorge Forte. “Based on what Buxton could do, I feel it’s a great thing to explore.”

According to Buxton Assistant President Chip Rodgers, who presented his company’s services to the city at a July 10 commission meeting, Buxton represents both retailers and cities to find suitable sites for development, and he thinks North Bay Village may be a viable candidate.

“They’ve got some things going for them,” Rodgers said, “some motivated property owners and developers, some sites they’re trying to market, and the traffic coming through is exciting.”

Buxton has more than 1,500 retail clients and has done work in Florida in both Hialeah Gardens and New Port Richey. In those cities, as would be the case for North Bay Village, the company used a program called CommunityID to identify the “trade area” where businesses would be most likely to develop, conduct household profiles to mine consumer preferences and eventually match retailers and restaurants to shoppers’ needs.

“They did a good job,” New Port Richey City Manager Scott Miller said. “Buxton put together a recruitment package for our main corridor on U.S. Highway 15. Although we weren’t able to get their businesses, we were able to use their methodological approach to get other retailers and restaurants.”

In a city as small as North Bay Village, with no chamber of commerce or men or women’s clubs, the services Buxton can provide may be helpful. Yet with trimmer budgets as a result of state property tax cuts ahead, finances are a big concern, leaving potentially expensive Buxton contracts at risk if the price isn’t right, said Vice Mayor George Kane.

The city awaits a full proposal from Buxton before it can be brought before the commission for approval, which manager Forte hopes will happen in time for the July 27 commission meeting.

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Sunny Isles Beach

The 25-Year Sewage Payment Plan

Atlantic Isle Residents to Help Pay for Cost of New System

By Randy Abraham

City of Sunny Isles Beach staff will soon solicit bids for a $2 million project to install a sanitary sewer system in the Atlantic Isle community. Work is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2008.

The project’s scope was the subject of talks with affected residents over the past two years, and in a special meeting held July 24 city commissioners gave final approval to a payment plan that will allow residents 25 years to pay off their portion of the assessment.

The assessment would cost a homeowner about $120 per month for the first two years, according to the 25-year schedule, with payments decreasing each year after as the principal is paid down. In the last few years the assessments would cost about $60 per month.

Homeowners wishing to pay off their assessment early would not be subject to a prepayment penalty.

No residents from Atlantic Isle attended to provide comments, which members of the Sunny Isles Beach City Commission took to be a sign of tacit approval, voting 3-0 to approve the meeting. Mayor Norman Edelcup and Commissioner Dan Iglesias, both Atlantic Isle residents, recused themselves from the hearing because the project would materially benefit their property values. Vice Mayor Lewis Thaler chaired the meeting.

Originally platted in 1928, Atlantic Isle is a neighborhood of waterfront homes and among the city’s most upscale areas, yet is the last of the city’s neighborhoods to still be serviced by septic tanks. Thaler said residents were notified well in advance of plans for the project.

Total cost of the sewering is estimated at $2.18 million, and the city agreed to pay $1.09 million, or half. The cost to each residence is estimated at $16,274, but homeowners will be permitted to pay the assessment off over 25 years, and through the city’s borrowing power, a low interest rate will bring the total payout to $22,140 over that period.

Residents will be required to pay, in addition to the special assessment, other costs such as connection or impact fees, on-site improvements required to connect to the sewer lateral pipe, and deactivation of their septic tanks.

The project is part of a $4 million overall utilities upgrade initiative that will include undergrounding electrical utility lines and improvements to the water main, as well as roadway and drainage improvements. “It’s really the upgrading of all the utilities in Atlantic Isle,” Edelcup said after the meeting. “It’s going to bring the rest of the city into the 21st century.”

City officials hope that by doing all the improvements at the same time they can avoid repeatedly tearing up the roadway and private property.

George “Bud” Scholl, a former president of the Atlantic Isle Civic Association, said that area residents provided input in a series of meetings with city officials. He suggested that city officials scrap an initial plan to force residents to pay off the balance of their assessment when they sell their homes. “It should run with the property and not the owner,” Scholl said recently. City officials agreed; instead of forcing homeowners to pay off the assessment with the proceeds of their home sale, a lien would be placed on the home to ensure payment, which would be assumed by a buyer if ownership changes hands.

The Atlantic Isle initiative is part of $30.3 million worth of projects scheduled for the 2007-08 fiscal year and is part of a five-year capital improvement program that city officials discussed in a July 17 workshop meeting.

Another major project slated to be completed during the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 is Pelican Community Park at 182nd Drive and North Bay Road. The $8.4 million project will include a community center, Little League baseball park and gymnasium, among other improvements. The park will also serve as the student play area for a grade K-8 public elementary school scheduled to be completed by the Miami-Dade School District in fall 2008.

Also included in the capital improvement plan is an $8.1 million drainage improvement plan for the Central Island area. That project, which has been delayed because of permitting issues from the state Department of Environmental Protection and the county Department of Environmental Resources Management, is expected to go out to bid in November.

Other improvements planned include a drainage project at Gwen Margolis Park and renovations to the Government Center.

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Coral Gables

Aesthetic Experiment

City Commission OKs Metal Roofs in Certain Areas but Forbids Shutters for Homeowner

By Adrian Carrillo

With resounding public support, the Coral Gables City Commission unanimously approved an experiment allowing metal roofing construction for single-family residences in areas south of U.S. 1, during its July 17 meeting.

Even though Commissioner Maria Anderson’s proposed amendment to extend the experiment throughout the Gables was shot down by her colleagues, elected officials believe the southern area of the city will yield enough examples to judge whether to allow metal roofs citywide.

The main argument for metal roofs as opposed to tile roofs mandated by city code is their increased strength and durability in the face of hurricanes and other adverse weather. The main argument against is the clash with the city’s style and the historical preservation of the city’s look. In the end, the commissioners felt the former would trump the latter, but want to test for hard evidence.

Some restrictions were placed on the roofing, however. Commissioner Rafael Cabrera amended the ordinance from nine to six allowable colors for the metal roofs, to “limit the colors to the current” ones already used throughout the city, including white, certain grays and metallic copper.

Restriction of aesthetic design also influenced the commission’s earlier denial of an appeal by Monica Avellaneda to place accordion shutters on her property at 727 Almeria Ave. The Board of Architects rejected such use on June 14 using the argument of historical preservation.

Avellaneda argued that “safety is a priority” and that if she had impact windows placed there, in accordance with the city, it would cost her $33,000 more. However, the city voted 3-2 to uphold the Board of Architects’ decision, much to the chagrin of Avellaneda, who commented that “it amazes me that aesthetics trumps safety.” Commissioner Cabrera fired back, saying she was “out of order” and her argument “isn’t about safety, it’s about cost.”

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Bay Harbor Islands

Park This!

Parking Garages in Residential Areas Rejected by Town Council

By Evan Berkowitz

Parks and garages were subjects of the July 9 Bay Harbor Islands Town Council meeting, which saw elected officials rejecting a proposal that would have allowed parking facilities to be built on town-owned surface lots located in multifamily residential districts.

Councilman Robert Yaffe received applause from the audience when he opined that garages in residential areas were completely inappropriate and parking should be provided on-site by developers.

Town Planner Michael Miller argued that allowing the town “flexibility” on these matters could be to its benefit since lack of parking is considered a major problem, especially for the business district centered at Kane Concourse, also known as 96th Street.

Councilman Isaac Salver said that not having garages near residential buildings might make condo units there unmarketable. “We might be creating a deficit,” he said.

Salver noted that the controversial mixed-use Monarch condominium project, which was approved at the council’s June meeting, was fortunate to be near the business district and across the street from a new proposed parking structure near Ruth K. Broad Elementary School. He said if the Monarch had been on 102nd Street or 92nd Street, it would not have had a nearby garage for its residents to use. The seven-story, 38-unit monarch will pay $180,000 to the town’s parking trust for nine off-site spaces. Bay Harbor requires residential apartments to have two complimentary parking slots.

Bay Harbor Islands Citizens Coalition President Susan Luck said she opposed garages in residential districts because of the unpleasant lights and exhaust fumes they bring. Coalition Vice President Taryn Copeland added that if on-site parking requirements cannot be met, developers should build smaller buildings.

Town Manager Ronald Wasson told the SunPost that Bay Harbor was considering adding another multilevel parking facility on a surface lot on 95th Street near the Ocean Cadillac dealership. The Talbert company was planning to construct a six- or seven-story office building on the east side of 96th Street near Bal Harbour and, in conjunction with that, would build a multilevel garage at that spot to help fulfill their parking requirements.

However, the council rejected the necessary zoning change needed to make the 95th Street garage happen.

“I applaud your insight, Councilman Yaffe,” said Teri D’Amico sarcastically. She is a former member of the town’s Design Review Committee and an adjunct professor at Florida International University’s School of Architecture. She accused the Town Council of hypocritically saying one thing while preparing to do another. D’Amico cited an amendment to the town’s planning and zoning code that allows special provisions for public parking garages, which she said gives the council the ability to deviate from Bay Harbor’s code at will. “The Town Council is very good at telling residents one thing and voting another,” she wrote the SunPost in an e-mail.

Ironically, the proposed parking garage legislation was attached to an ordinance the council did approve, to allow parks in multifamily districts. Wasson said that the town would soon be closing on three lots at 1125 98th St. for this very purpose. Bay Harbor paid $3.7 million for the lots and hopes to be reimbursed by the state for approximately 70 percent of the cost. The town is also planning a park on 92nd Street and is currently considering a third spot for green space use. The modified ordinance passed 5-0, with council members Kenneth Weinstein and Alberto Ruder not present at the meeting.

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Surfside

Getting Lax

Officials Feel They’re Getting Too Relaxed on Code Issues

By Evan Berkowitz

In March of 2006 the current Surfside Town Commission came to power, replacing previous administrations that many saw as overly aggressive regarding code enforcement, legal actions and dealings with residents in general.

But at the July 10 Town Commission meeting, the question was raised whether Surfside was getting too lax on such matters.

“The pendulum has swung a little bit too far; now it’s time to bring it back to the middle and hopefully we can find that middle ground that works for everybody,” said Mayor Charles Burkett.

Jonathan Horn, a seven-year resident and homeowner, told the commission that various properties around Surfside were not being kept up very well. He specifically cited ugly yards or lawns. “It seems the same issues that have been around since I moved here, same lawns, same properties … have not changed much,” he said, urging the commission not to be too “lackadaisical” on enforcing its codes.

Surfside will soon bring in a new special master, or magistrate, to judge code enforcement issues. Burkett said the town currently had only one code enforcement officer on the job.

Town Manager W.D. Higginbotham noted that the purpose of the town’s code enforcement activities was compliance, not punishment. To that end, Surfside has issued many courtesy notices to offending residents. “There are some residents in the town that have ignored the courtesy notices,” he said, adding that they recently changed their ordinance on this matter to give it “more teeth.” Higginbotham said lack of personnel or officers was not a problem.

The town manager discussed one issue that code compliance contends with weekly: illegally placed real estate sale signs. He said just that day he visited two properties that had them. “We’d spoken to the Realtor, they promised to remove them, they ignored it,” he said, adding that he had the code officer remove the offending signs. In one instance they visited a site and found the Realtor present. The town manager said this person put the signs in the trunk of his car at 10 a.m., and by 11:30 that morning they were back in front of the house.

The mayor agreed that the town needs a “mechanism” to deal with situations like that. He recommended that they examine Coral Gables’ codes because, in his opinion, that city is kept up very well.

“You enact reasonable laws, and then you enforce them,” said Commissioner Marc Imberman. He said the town had forgiven fines for violators, given them several courtesy notices and multiple opportunities to comply. He asked Higginbotham to prepare a list of all the complaints he has received for which there were no actual legal violations, only perceived ones. He said the commission might then consider incorporating these ideas into the official code.

Higginbotham said he could not give Horn a specific timeline as to when all his concerns would get addressed. “I never want to go back to the way this town was before,” said Burkett, referring to the previous government. The mayor said if he had to err, he preferred it be toward the conservative side.

Comments? E-mail letters@miamisunpost.com.