The Coral Gables Times

THE Coral Gables TIMES

THE CITY BEAUTIFUL Vol. 36, No. 13 24 Pages Thursday, May 11, 1961 Phone HI 3-1661 Price 10c

Artist's Concept of New Building Across From Bus Station

Three-Story Building Set For Midtown

A three-story office structure is to be built later this year on the site of the old Coral Gables Times building at Aragon and Salzedo. An option for a 99-year lease on the land, with rent of nearly $1 million over its life, has been negotiated by a group headed by Delio Cruz, Gables realtor, and Delta Designers Inc. They will be the lessees. Lessor will be Times Building Inc., of which Albert E. Harum, attorney and one-time Times publisher, is president. His wife, Mrs. Julian D. Harum, is secretary. It probably will be August or September before demolition of the two-story building takes place, according to Cruz. His own real estate offices are next door at 314 Aragon in a small building which once housed compressors when the adjoining structure was an ice house. Cruz' offices will be on the ground floor of the new structure. Occupancy is expected by January, 1962, according to Cruz. Harum says he believes the ground lease for $10,000 yearly, is for the largest rent since the Miracle Building was negotiated at Ponce de Leon and Miracle Mile. Reported price there is nearly $3 million for 99 years on the land. Delta, which will build the new building through a construction subsidiary, is a general contracting firm. Among its current projects are Lincoln Towers on Miami Beach. Harum's lot is 100 by 100 feet. The office building will have 24,000 square feet of rentable space. An L-shaped arcade will cut through on the first floor from Salzedo Street to Aragon Avenue. Backers of the project say they expect no difficulty in renting space which is across from the city bus terminal, one block from Ponce de Leon Boulevard and even less distance from Miracle Mile. The printing machinery, See Times' site, page 8

9-Story Building

Coral Gables will get its first "skyscraper" in the downtown section if Coral Gables Federal Savings and Loan's building application is approved. The association wants to add six stories to its present building at 2501 Ponce de Leon Blvd. This would make the institution's structure nine stories tall. A public hearing on the matter will be held May 23 before the Coral Gables City Commission. Details of the building were not available at press time Wednesday afternoon.

On Mile, Ponce Penny Buys Less Time In New Parking Setup

Shoppers in Coral Gables are going to get less time for their money in parking meters on Miracle Mile and for two blocks north and south of Miracle Mile on Ponce de Leon Boulevard. Coral Gables Commission Tuesday passed a resolution setting new times for meters in these locations. Enforcement of the new rule is subject to receiving new meter kits changing the meters over. The city won't receive the kits for six weeks. Under the new setup the shopper will get nine minutes instead of 12 for a penny, 45 minutes instead of one hour for a nickel and an hour and a half instead of two hours for a dime. According to Coral Gables City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr. the new meter times were the recommendation of the Chamber of Commerce Traffic and Parking Committee. The committee found that too many shoppers were using time left on meters by the previous parker instead of putting in fresh coins of their own.

Stop Watch Is Designed For Drivers

Ticket-writers Sherry Sherman and Gale Campbell must now wait two minutes before issuing a ticket on an expired meter. The reason is to allow a driver who went for change to put in the meter a chance to get back, said Finance Director Kenneth Allyn. But onlookers don't know why the ticket writer is waiting, Allyn said. Not seeing the violation flag, they think the ticket writer is waiting for the red flag to pop up. Not only don't onlookers appreciate the "two minute favor," but the city is losing time and money, said Meter Division Supervisor Ed Dowling. Dowling said each ticket writer issues an average of 60 tickets a day. Allowing two minutes for each ticket adds up to two hours spent waiting by a meter. Multiply this was two meter girls and you have four hours a day in non-productive time, he said.

Building Here Off 25 Pct. From Levels in 1960

Building activity in Coral Gables continues well under 1960 levels, the latest monthly total shows. For the year to date, the decline is about 25 per cent. Figures for April, based on building permits and not including land value, were $933,297. The same month in 1960 the total was $1,512,290. For the year to date, the total is $2,829,282. This compares with $3,951,731 for the first four months of 1960. Largest permit last month was to Ponce-Alhambra Corp. for $164,798. This is an office addition to the one-story building at Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Alhambra Circle. Here is a recapitulation of April permits: 15 residences, $468,550; 19 additions, $212,498; 1 duplex, $34,000; two offices, $25,500. One foundation, $12,000; 4 pools, $11,400; 7 alterations, $9,250; 1 seawall and dock, $7,200; 232 miscellaneous, $152,899.

PROPERTY MEETING

The Property Home Owners Association will meet tomorrow (Friday) at 8 p.m. at the Youth Center. John McLeod, active in a move to revise the Metro Commission, has been invited to speak.

With Walking Barbara Moore Our Firemen Share Asparagus

A "tropical heat wave" and "sore feet" forced the famed British walker, Barbara Moore, to take refuge at the elaborate new home of the Coral Gables fire department last week. While the second shift was getting ready to "chow down" last Thursday and fireman Jack Bishop was preparing the lunch, Miss Moore decided to come in off US 1 and take a breather. In the true sense of Southern hospitality the boys offered her a portion of the steak, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, green beans and asparagus that was being made ready. But being a vegetarian she declined the heavy "stuff" and settled for the green beans, asparagus and some canned peaches. Miss Moore spent a half-hour talking with and signing autographs for the second shift before she continued her walking trek - to Boston.

Professional packers and

wrappers for shipping or mailing, "The Barefoot Mailman", 2530 Valencia Ave., C. Gables-adv

Pool owners hdqtrs. Chemicals.

Patio items. Sun n' Fun Pool n' Patio. CE 5-7333. -Adv.

SECONDS TICK BY

as meter girl Sherry Sherman holds her stop watch. Gables meter personnel must now wait two minutes, after discovering a violation, before giving a ticket for overtime parking. The idea is to give motorists the benefit of a doubt. See editorial on Page 4.