Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Coral Gables Times
Thursday, March 29, 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
THE CITY BEAUTIFUL Vol. 37, No. 8 20 Pages Thursday, March 29, 1962 Phone HI 3-1661 Price 10c 2 COPIES CHECKING COPY O J FORMAN & CO NEWS FILE DEPT MONMOUTH ILL
SEEN & HEARD
Policeman making dangerous U-turn on Ponce de Leon to go into restaurant for supper. * * * "In a gentlemen's agreement, if one of the parties stops being a gentleman, there is no agreement," attorney George Jahn told the City Commission Tuesday. * * * Firemen on South Dixie shooting arrows in Sunday morning target practice behind station.
Folks Here Love It; As for Gripes— Bumpy Streets, Poor Street Lighting
What We Want
Better streets, | 54.1%. Adequate residential street lighting, | 41.8%. Elimination of traffic problems, | 38.8%. An auditorium or meeting place, | 35.5%. Good sidewalks, | 31.2%. More public recreational facilities, | 28.3%. More teachers, better pay, | 22.1% to 23.5%. Slum clearance. | 15.2%. MORT GUILFORD LARRY ADAMS ... from the Jaycees, a long look
Big Survey Is Released By Jaycees
(Editorial on page 4) By MAURICE LABELLE Times Reporter Gableites are pretty well satisfied with their town just as it is. But they have a few complaints and the two chief ones are bumpy streets and inadequate residential street lighting. Close to street lighting is traffic problems. This is the concensus of a major survey made public last night (Wednesday). The survey, taking 10 months and covering 520 families in Coral Gables, was conducted by Coral Gables Jaycees. Its findings are expected to offer guidelines for years to come to governmental bodies from the City Commission on down as well as other groups concerned with the community's welfare. In effect, the Jaycees asked our citizens what they like about their town and what they'd prefer to see changed about it. The findings — indexed, printed and bound — were presented at a blue ribbon dinner Wednesday evening at the Coral Gables Country Club. About 40 local leaders were guests at a dinner sponsored by The Coral Gables Times. People said they like this city because it is "beautiful, (See SURVEY, page 2)
In Court of Appeals High-Rise Builder Loses Again
For the second time, the courts have upheld the right of the City of Coral Gables to change its mind about whether to okay a 12-story apartment building on Biltmore Way. Tuesday of this week, Third District Court of Appeal upheld the Circuit Court's opinion that builder A. H. Sakolsky has no case against the Gables. Sakolsky was given the okay in December, 1960, to build a high-rise apartment building and then the City Commission later changed its mind and denied his request. Sakolsky sued, saying the first okay was binding. The Circuit Court said last September that the City is within its rights. Sakolsky disagreed with that decision and appealed. Now the District Court also tells him he's wrong. He can appeal to the state Supreme Court if he wishes. Writing for the three-man district court, Judge Hal P. Dekle said in part: "The strenuous objection was present and made known. A suit was threatened (by residents) and the political issue made apparent. "These facts together with the past adverse reaction on 'high-rise buildings' were surely 'red flags flying' so that Sakolsky can hardly complain of lack of notice. "He knew he was, in effect, challenging precedent, and bucking a public tide of resentment toward such building in a city which is renowned as 'The City Beautiful.' "And which since its founding in 1925 by that prince of planners, the late George C. Merrick, and the extolling of its quiet virtues by that oracle of oratory, William Jennings Bryan, and paragon of promoters, Edward E. Dammers, has always strived to remain a preferred residential area ..."
Gulf Loses 11⁄2 Stories
(Editorial on page 4) The Coral Gables City Commission chopped off 11⁄2 stories from Gulf Building Tuesday in giving final approval to Ed Rogers to construct a six-story office building facing on Merrick Way and off Alhambra Plaza. Rogers had requested a seven-story building with parking. But the Commission balked at granting the additional space after indicating last week on a split 3-1-1 vote that they would go along. Tuesday the vote was 4-0-1, with Commissioner Joe Murphy again abstaining because his law partner, Thomas Mayes, represented Rogers. Work will begin shortly.
Here's What We Like
The typical Gableite is satisfied that his government is doing a good job for him. Almost 82% said so in the Jaycee survey. Only 3% did not agree and 14.4% confessed ignorance. More than 90% think their Police Department is good and 88.9% also like the way the Fire Department operates. More than 90% are satisfied with public sanitation and 86.4 with garbage collection. Public transportation is good to more than 70%. Only 10% do not like zoning practices, while 79.4 felt the handling was good. Building codes are also satisfactory to 84.7%. They find Gables' shops attractive (96.9%), service, stocks good (95%), management progressive (86%) and shopping facilities adequate (94.1%). Only 54 of 520 felt taxes are too high and 67.7% feel they are adequate. Most said schools here are above average, but about one-fourth said pupil-teacher ratios are poor, pay is deficient and special schools for handicapped children are needed. Almost everybody — 93.3% — said the Gables has sufficient churches. And, oh yes, the people here are real friendly. More than 80% think so.
Double Take
Gables Officer D. E. Hunt did a double take at one license tag he spotted at the university of Miami campus this week. Sure enough, when he looked at the Connecticut license plate a little closer, he found it read: "U of M." That state permits special plates for safe drivers.