The Coral Gables Times

THE Coral Gables TIMES THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

THE 2 COPIES CHECKING COPY O J FORMAN & CO NEWS FILE DEPT MONMOUTH ILL Coral Gables TIMES THE CITY BEAUTIFUL Vol. 37, No. 7 20 Pages Thursday, March 22, 1962 Phone HI 3-1661 Price 10c

Charlie's in Orbit

GABLES TAILOR Charles Cirino of Giralda Avenue has what may come to be a rarity, autographs of all of this country's astronauts. They were obtained by his son who is a musician at the motel where the astronauts stay near Cape Canaveral. "I'm interested in those boys," says the tailor who came to the U.S. from Italy 56 years ago. "I wish I could go up myself!" (Times photo by Raymond Lang)

Downtown 'Skyscraper' Approved for Gulf Oil

(Editorial on Page 4) By MAURICE LABELLE Times Reporter The tallest building ever to be built in downtown Coral Gables—71⁄2 stories—was approved Tuesday by the City Commission on a narrow 3-1-1 vote. Gulf Oil Corp. is the probable tenant for the building which is to be built by developer Ed Rogers starting May 15. Rogers, a former city commissioner, successfully: 1. Hurdled the three-story building limit. 2. Obtained permission to vacate an alley to create a unified tract at Alhambra Plaza, Galiano Street, Merrick Way and Giralda Avenue. 3. Got permission for one to two foot overhangs. A while later the Commission voted 3-2 against the five-story Giffen Building at Bird Road and Estancia Street. Commissioner Franklin Evans voted against both multi-story buildings on the grounds they were inconsistent with the nature of Coral Gables. Evans revealed publicly for the first time that the confidential Rader and Associates report has recommended three-story-only-buildings for all of Coral Gables except Alhambra Plaza. "I feel that this is going a bit beyond what I could approve..." Evans said in voting against the Gulf Building. Later, in voting against the Giffen Building, he said: "If we approve this, we may look to establishment of another business area." Commissioner Joe Murphy (See HIGH RISE, Page 2) MAKING A POINT is former mayor Thomas C. Mayes, who argued Tuesday for the 71⁄2-story downtown Gulf Building designed by architect Ed Rempe (right) for developer Ed Rogers. A picture of the building is on Page 15. (Times photo by Maurice Labelle)

Suggested by Rotary New Frat Plan

(Editorial on Page 4; Related Story Page 14) By ADELE SITKIN Correspondent The Coral Gables Rotary Club is coming up with "an entirely new standard" for high school service clubs, President Frank Kerdyk said this week. Under it, the Rotary-sponsored Wheel Club would be re-established at Coral Gables High School. The club was disbanded last fall following dissension over anti-fraternity regulations enforced in the Dade County schools. Two students have been suspended at Gables High recently in connection with wearing forbidden insignia. The plan as outlined by Kerdyk calls for service requirement hours for each member of a high school club. The plan will be introduced in the next legislative session, said Kerdyk. "Under the old plan, a few (See ROTARY, Page 2)

ADDED SERVICE

For faster & efficient service, we have now added 2 direct lines to the class. dept. HI 4-6844 and HI 3-3054 If those lines are busy—you can still reach us by dialing HI 3-1661

Views Vary Negro Housing Owners Relate Their Opinions

(Fifth in a series) By MAURICE LABELLE Times Reporter What do the owners of large numbers of shack-homes think of the city's rehabilitation program? Or urban renewal? Some of them don't like it one little big and they'll tell you so. Others will tell you that they would have made the necessary repairs as a matter of course. But let them speak for themselves. "All my houses are in good shape," said Charles Moon, owner of 50 units, including 25 duplexes. Moon, who said he gets between $12 and $15 rent each week from his tenants said he opposed the city's order to install hot water because his tenants either didn't need it, didn't want it, or couldn't afford it. "It costs too much money," (See THE HOVELS, Page 2)

SEEN & HEARD

Mayor Robert Searle seeking signers on his petition to get the Crandon Amendments on the Metro ballot. Squirrel carefully crossing Segovia Street without fear of being hit by an auto; he used a telephone cable. Man reading newspaper at bus station with live chicken, legs tied, lying peacefully beside him on the bench.

Realty Sales Up 61 Pct. Over Same Period in '61

Real estate sales for the first two months of 1962 are up 61% over the same period last year in Coral Gables. February's total on properties transferred here came to $1,095,600. Adding January's sales you get $3,373,650. For the first two months of 1961, it was $2,086,520. Real estate transactions are considered a good barometer of business conditions. Last year at this time, the whole Florida economy, along with that of the nation, was in a slowdown. Here's how February transfers break down, according to the Coral Gables Board of Realtors: —32 single family residences, $750,700. —2 multiple family residences, $69,500. —2 commercial buildings, $104,500. —23 lots, $170,900.

VIOLET CLUB

The South Florida African Violet Club will show slides and a movie at its monthly meeting tonight (Thursday) at 8 o'clock, Suniland Hall, Suniland Shopping Center. The National African Violet Judges will be on hand to meet violet growers.

THE TWIST AT 90 (See page 17)

Bill Uses One of Lives, Meows Story From a Cast

(PICTURE ON PAGE 6) Bill, who is only a year old, is "plastered" as he hobbles through the home of the Robert K. Andres at 611 Alhambra Cir. Bill is a black cat — with a broken leg set in a cast. When he wandered away from home about March 1, he couldn't find his way back. But he found a convenient place to stay, under the hood of a car belonging to the Ed Markos, 533 Coral Way. "They found the kitty. He had gotten into their fan belt and had caused over $100 damage they said," Mrs. Andre reported. The Markos', not knowing why their car wouldn't start, had it towed to a service station. Up went the hood and there was Bill. His leg was broken. A want ad in the paper found the missing cat's owner.