Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Coral Gables Times
Thursday, March 8, 1962, page 1 (of 24)
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
CHECKING COPY O J FORMAN & CO NEWS FILE DEPT MONMOUTH ILL 2 COPIES Vol. 37, No. 5 24 Pages Thursday, March 8, 1962 Phone HI 3-1661 Price 10c
Priorities on Street Work Draw Virtually No Gripes
The first two street improvement districts were approved on first reading by the City Commission Tuesday to launch the City's $160,000 program of street resurfacing and rebuilding. Only two objections were noted and a rumored petition asking the City to foot the entire costs failed to materialize. "I was surprised," said City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr. "I'd heard someone was circulating a petition to have the City pay for everything." The first two improvement districts are on Galiano Street. One covers from Miracle Mile to the north line of Almeria Avenue. The second from Miracle Mile to the south line of Merrick Way. Coral Gables First National Bank objected to their improvement project as unnecessary and upsetting to drainage. Sweet & Co. objected to the project without stipulating why. Robinson said the City would be responsible for drainage. The City's share also includes the cost of improving intersections. Mayor Robert L. Searle pointed out that a side benefit of the paving program will be to raise the surface to keep car doors from jamming against sidewalks. The first South Galiano improvement district is estimated at $4,276, with property owners paying $3,591 and the City $685. The other half of Galiano would cost an estimated $3,747, with property owners paying approximately $2,443 and the City, $1,304. Ten more improvement districts are scheduled to be considered in the next few weeks, Robinson said. Total cost of this first phase of the City's street improvement is estimated at $160,000 with the cost to be shared $120,000 by the property owners and $40,000 by the City. This first phase is being financed by the $1 million capital improvement program authorized this year by the Commission. Of this amount, $200,000 has been set aside in a revolving fund for streets, $400,000 for a new library, $82,000 for a new club house at Granada Golf Course, $15,000 for a pro shop at Salvadore Park, $25,000 for a new bridge at Blue Road, and $446,000 for the SS-9 sanitary sewer district in the industrial and Negro area. Robinson said the anticipated projects totalled up to more than $1 million, but that the library funds, for instance would not be expended until after revenues began coming in from abutting property owners on street improvements. The Commission-approved plan differs greatly from the recommendations of the Public Works Department. The department turned in a study in late January entailing a $2,250,190 project to put all of the city's streets into good condition. But Robinson pointed out that the Commission's decisions were based on the idea that it is too late to save streets needing to be rebuilt. Therefore, he said, it made more sense and would be cheaper to resurface streets that have not deteriorated too far. Resurfacing will be one-inch thick asphaltic concrete, Robinson said. This is a much tougher surface than anything used in the past and is the same material used on Le Jeune Road and Coral Way.
Big Groceries Closed Sunday Selling Law Drawn
An ordinance drafted by city attorney Ted Semple would prohibit Sunday selling here, including large grocery stores. Small groceries - those "regularly employing no more than three persons" - would be permitted to stay open on Sunday. For instance, the ordinance would close Food Fair on Ponce de Leon Boulevard but leave open the 7-11 on South Dixie Highway. The ordinance is to be presented to the City Commission, probably next week. It was approved Tuesday by the Committee to Preserve Our Traditions. This group is representative citizens' unit which has spearheaded the program to restrict Sunday retailing. Recreational outlets such as movies and convenience establishments such as restaurants would not be affected. Drug stores would be substantially unaffected.
Here Are the Specifics Of Proposed Ordinance
Meat of the proposed law: "It shall be unlawful (on Sunday) to sell clothing and wearing apparel, clothing accessories, footwear, furniture, furs, housewares, household or business or office furniture and appliances and equipment; "Hardware, tools, paints, building materials and supplies, jewelry, cameras, silverware, watches, clocks, luggage, musical instruments, musical recordings, radio receivers; "TV receivers, phonographs and record and tape players, lawn mowers, boats, outboard motors, auto parts, auto accessories, toys. "Groceries except those establishments regularly employing three or less people, dairy products, meats and foods which are not prepared and served on the premises or served elsewhere by food caterers, farm implements and all machinery; "Real estate or the engaging in or taking part in constructions, building, or occupation commonly known as industrial, for hire or for compensation." The ordinance is built around the premise that a common day of rest is desirable for a community's self-preservation. The preamble to the ordinance carefully avoids any religious mention. The U.S. Supreme Court has consistently struck down anti-Sunday sales laws where they have religious backgrounds but recently has upheld those ordinances based on the general welfare approach such as Semple is using. Penalties - and each sale is a separate offense - would be a $250 fine and-or up to 90 days in jail. Sunday selling became a community issue in November when several stores, led by Jackson-Byron's, began opening Sunday. J-B led the way in withdrawal when considerable opposition arose.
Lack of $$ Slows Already Weak Law
$52 a Month THERE ARE a mother and eight children living in these four rented rooms at 4706 Booker Street. Monthly rental is $52. Lack of $$ Slows Already Weak Law By MAURICE LABELLE Times Reporter (Third in a series) "They don't look like much," said Building Inspector Joe Thomas of the shacks improved under the city's rehabilitation program, "but you should have seen them before." Thomas, who has had the responsibility of inspecting and re-inspecting the dwellings in the Negro section since the City Beautiful! City implemented its Minimum Housing Code in March 1960, probably knows more about the area than any other person. He can tell you - for instance - that the Negro is probably the greatest collector of goods to be found. The weekly trash disposed and undisposed by a Negro far outstrips his white counterparts, Thomas has observed. He has a few explanations for it. People give them things they are embarrassed to turn (See HOVELS, page 2)
$66 a Month
MODERATELY PRICED three-bedroom house built by Jim Kay Homes is in Richmond Heights. In the $10,000 price class, this home costs the owner approximately $66 a month. No downpayment for veterans and three per cent for FHA. (Staff photos by Maurice Labelle)
Le Jeune Fishing Hole Will Go First Class
The City Commission Tuesday approved the expenditure of $1,700 for providing a 12-car parking facility at Cartagena Plaza which will also serve fishing interests at Le Jeune Road Bridge and the Coral Gables Waterway. City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr. warned, however, that no fishing is permitted there now because of hazards. Anglers will not be permitted on the bridge when guard rails and platforms are constructed later for bank fishing. No money has been appropriated for this, although the Commission several weeks ago decided to relent on a no-fishing policy on public property.
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Big Burglary
A $25,000 jewelry burglary was reported to Coral Gables police March 2 by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Guthrie, of 665 Calatrava Ave. The victims reported that the old jewelry was taken in a break which occurred sometime between 7:15 and 11 p.m.