Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Coral Gables Times
Thursday, February 15, 1962, page 1 (of 20)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
THE Coral Gables TIMES
Vol. 37, No. 2 20 Pages Thursday, Feb. 15, 1962 Phone HI 3-1661 Price 10c
All Off-Street Parking Lots Must Be Improved, City Says
By MAURICE LABELLE Times Reporter The City Commission Tuesday in a 3-2 vote moved to curb off-street parking on unimproved commercial and industrial lots. Affected are owners of C, CA, CB and CC commercial and M industrial property. The Commission majority, in passing the ordinance on first reading, cited that these lots are being used for off-street parking without proper paving and other treatment causing "dust, confusion and unsightliness." This is detrimental to the city in general and to neighboring properties, they said. They failed to mention that the lots are also in competition with City-owned and metered lots which are a source of revenue to the City. If adopted after a second reading, the ordinance would become effective in six months. Mayor Robert L. Searle voted with Commissioners Joe Murphy and George Wilson for the ordinance. Commissioners Franklin Evans and C. L. Dressel Jr. opposed the measure. Unimproved lots not used for parking will not be affected by the ordinance. To avoid being tagged a parking lot, owners would have to erect signs designating "no parking." To gain the status of an improved parking lot, an owner would have to pave, drain and landscape the lot with the approval of the city manager. Specifications call for a one-inch asphaltic concrete surface with a six-inch compacted lime rock base or a six-inch reinforced concrete surface with a six by six inch wire mesh. Drainage will require one cubic foot of storm trench for each 24 four square feet of paved or rough area, unless at least 10 per cent of the lot is a non-parking grassed area. Landscaping plans will have to be approved by the city manager.
Hurrah!
Work is scheduled to begin Monday which when completed should ease the flow of downtown Gables traffic. Dade County will start installing underground conduit for the traffic light control system, a system presently out of whack and causing unsynchronized traffic lights. Work will be done from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. in order to cause minimum interruption on downtown streets. Conduit also will be placed underground where future lights are anticipated to avoid later digging in the city's streets.
7-Story Building Would Be Built In Downtown Area
A new seven-story building is in the works for downtown Coral Gables if the City Commission will approve. Developer Ed Rogers said this week that he will present plans for a so-called high rise building to the City Commission in the near future. Though the parties would not confirm it, it has been learned reliably that Rogers would probably ask for a seven-story building at Merrick Way, Giralda Avenue, Galiano Avenue and Alhambra Plaza. "If I don't go up in the air, I'm going to spread out," Rogers said. He would lease six stories for offices, rent the seventh floor for apartments and have underground parking. Gulf Oil Corp., which now leases office space from Rogers in the old Post Office Building on Giralda, is reported ready to move its Fort Lauderdale operation down here and can consolidate all its activities under one roof — the multi-story building planned by Rogers. The former city commissioner has erected a five-story building on Alhambra Circle and Salzedo Street, a two-story office building at 245 Alhambra Cir., the Old Post Office Building and another at Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Alcazar Ave.
City Fathers Like Prune-Metro Idea
Gables Commissioners Tuesday indicated they will back the Crandon Committee in its independent effort to change the Metro Charter. Basically, former county commissioner Charles Crandon and a group of citizens including Metro Commissioner Robert Haverfield of the Gables, seek to limit the powers of the county manager and cut down the size of the commission. The Metropolitan Charter Review Board, appointed by the Metro Commission, recently held a series of public hearings throughout Dade County including Coral Gables. At that meeting, Gables Commissioners recommended a "bill of rights" for cities and suggestions that would have defined and cut Metro's power as well as the size of the Metro Commission. The City Commission is to discuss its next move at the Tuesday conference meeting.
Strike-Created Profits Continue
The area bus strike — if continued for 12 months — would put the Coral Gables municipal bus system in the black for the first time in years, City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr. indicated this week. Average daily income has increased $260 over normal revenue, Robinson said. Losses have run between $60,000 and $100,000 a year. If the strike were to continue and Metro, which recently acquired the lines from William Pawley, failed to operate them, Coral Gables would pick up an estimated $90,000 or more in additional revenue. Robinson reported that there have been no incidents involving Coral Gables drivers and personnel and striking drivers. Gables buses have been picking up passengers in Miami, South Miami and outlying areas formerly covered by Pawley lines. "We don't plan any other routes," Robinson said. The Gables has ordered 10 new buses, including 7 air conditioned vehicles, and is expecting delivery May 1.
SYLVESTER DETRIO SWEEPS UP ASHES This Fallout Isn't From Russia; What'll He Do?
SYLVESTER DETRIO SWEEPS UP ASHES Sylvester Detrio has a problem. It's ashes. Detrio said everytime the Coconut Grove incinerator burns garbage, ashes drift over his home at 4200 Riviera Dr. No sooner does he scrub his roof-less patio than ashes fall from the sky, he said. Let him wash his laundry and hang it up to dry. Again, ashes come over, he said, and he has to wash the clothes over. Detrio said he's even afraid to barbecue in his back yard from fear of falling ashes. What further aggravates him, Detrio said, is this: He'll call Coral Gables City Hall and complain. They'll tell him to be patient. He'll call the Board of Health and Miami's Mayor Robert King High. But they're either out of town or just not in, Detrio said he is told. Detrio, who built this house in 1950, shook his head. "One of the engineers came over here and you know what he said? "'That I should stand out in my backyard and when I see the ashes falling from the sky, to call them then." Detrio threw up his hands. "How can I do that? You never see them! It's not like snow." The Gableite said the ashes are not his only problem. The stench of burning garbage is terrible, he said. "One night we had that experience, sleeping with the windows open and smelling that burning garbage. "Oooh! It's awful."
'Never In My Life!'
"The response was tremendous," says Mrs. Ralph C. Ellis of the Busy Bee Laundry, 7295 Bird Rd. "Never in my life have I seen such results!" Alert woman to Work afternoons only—5 days. 7295 Bird Rd. Busy Bee Laundry The same results are yours when you use The Times classified section. Only $1 will buy you four lines. If you have a phone your credit's good. With 40,095 circulation, you can't miss. Call HI 3-1661 for classified service.
Goodbye To Apricale
Apricale Avenue will soon vanish from Coral Gables maps. The City Commission Tuesday approved vacating the street upon request from the University of Miami. Apricale is a one-block avenue from San Amaro Drive, ending in a cul de sac at Red Road. The University will use the area to expand its maintenance facilities.
BOOK DONORS
During the past week the Coral Gables Public Library received gifts of books from: Mrs. Robert Deemer, 753 Navarre Ave.; Miss Nita Gale, 549 San Esteban Ave.; and Mrs. Joseph Vasta, 1026 Catalonia Ave.
Let's Be Men
-Editorial on Page 4