The Coral Gables Times

THE Coral Gables TIMES

Vol. 37, No. 12 28 Pages Phone HI 3-1661 Price 10c 2 COPIES CHECKING COPY O J FORMAN & CO NEWS FILE DEPT MONMOUTH ILL april 26

9-Story Limit Being Proposed

(Editorial on page 4) By MAURICE LABELLE Times Reporter Nine-story buildings for downtown Coral Gables and six and four stories on the fringes of the core area are the major recommendations of Rader and Associates in its report made to the City Commission Monday. The report is being printed for presentation in the next couple of weeks. It has been in the works for eight months. It was to have been ready in 90 to 120 days, but was delayed by changes made after a series of conferences with the Commission. Rader's recommendations made at Monday's conference came as a shock to some commissioners who had heard Rader previously recommend a maximum of six stories on Alhambra Plaza only and three everywhere else. Arnold W. Eckhoff, a partner in Rader, said the change resulted from evolution of a new parking and land area formula, with the City responsible for the area between Giralda and Andalusia Avenue and property owners in other areas. The City would be required to provide one space for each 550 square feet in each block between Giralda and Andalusia Avenues. Private owners would be required to provide one space for each 600 feet of rentable space between Giralda and Minorca Avenues and one for each 500 feet between Andalusia and Almeria Avenues. The City has considered parking ordinances in the past requiring private owners to provide space, but none has materialized after opposition arised. Under the Rader recommendations, the nine-story buildings would be permitted two blocks north and one south of Alhambra Plaza. Six-story apartments would be permitted three blocks south and one north of Miracle Mile, one block west of Le Jeune Road between University Drive and Mendoza Avenue and between Zamora and Minorca in the central business district. Four-story apartments would be permitted in a one-half block area west of the six-story apartment area and north of Zamora Avenue. Eckhoff said the economic well being of the downtown business area faced with increasing competition from outside shopping centers, is dependent on this type of development. Rader's bill for the report will be $12,000.

City Hall Civic Center

Blocking off Biltmore Way at Le Jeune Road and creation of a civic and cultural center around the City Hall core is a basic recommendation of the Rader report. Merrick Park — the triangular tract just south of City Hall across Biltmore Way — would be linked to form a unified tract that would include the proposed library just west of City Hall. This but one of the many recommendations of the report, to be presented in its final printed form to the City in a couple of weeks. Other recommendations made by Rader: —Limit development in Sunrise Harbour to three-story (See Limit, Page 2)

Rath to Norton Dixieland, Yes; Eggs, No, Says New Principal

By RAYMOND LANG Times Reporter "He's great in the kitchen and he's great with gadgets like a hamburger press or bottle opener." A happy housewife beamed at her husband, who sat across from her, one leg crossed over the other. Mrs. J. J. Norton went on: "And frequently, he does the dishes for me if I'm tired, and he does much of the shopping. "He's a much better shopper than I." The man who is going to be principal next September at Coral Gables High smiled. He let his wife go on. "He's not wasteful. If we want bananas and they don't look good, he won't buy them. And he'll get the larger size because it's more economical than the smaller." Much of the time the 46-year-old educator is tied up at Ponce de Leon Junior High, where he's been principal since 1957. Next school year, he'll fill the chair of retiring principal Harry Rath at Gables High. But if the one-time pro basketball player (See NORTON KNEW, page 2) -Times photo by Raymond Lang PRINCIPAL NORTON AT CROQUET . . . . new Gables High boss

On $60,000 Mortgage Temple Is Facing Foreclosure

A dissension-torn temple faces closing by a financial institution unless enough money can be raised in the next 10 days to block foreclosure. Temple Zamora, 44 Zamora Avenue, and its recent leaders have been taken to Circuit Court by Coral Gables Federal Savings and Loan Association on a $60,823 claim. "Lord, we have given them every opportunity," said Inman Padgett, legal counsel for Coral Gables Federal. "This is one suit we don't want to foreclose on," Padgett went on. But foreclosure they will within 10 days if payments are not brought up to date. Padgett said the temple was four months in arrears on the original $65,000 loan made back in April, 1959. The congregation has been in arrears many times before. Approximately 12 to 15 letters have been sent to temple officers, but recent communications have not been answered, he said. Mayor Robert L. Searle said he stepped in to help several months ago, a committee was appointed, but nothing materialized after it seemed initially that the financial problem would be whipped. Out of the chaos has step- (See ZAMORA, page 2)

WHAT YOU see, a girl running in a boy's track meet, is aimed at increasing student interest in these events at Gables High. To draw a larger crowd at last Thursday's meet with Southwest High, girls from cheerleaders, modern dance, cavallettes and Girl's Athletic Association competed in the 440-yard relay. Winning for GAA was Donna Walker, 5931 SW 58th Ter. Oh, yes, the boys won their meet, 85-38. (Staff photo by Raymond Lang).

15% Business License Hike Is Urged for Nearly All

A general 15 per cent increase in occupational license fees to raise an estimated $30,000 in revenue has been recommended by the Budget Advisory Committee and the Finance Department. The increase represents about half the 29% "inflationary factor" since the last general increase in 1946, Finance Director Kenneth Allyn said this week. For instance: Architects will pay $35 instead of $30; auto painters $50 rather than $30; electric light and power company from $300 to $400; milk distributor from $25 to $30. One group, contractors, will be generally unchanged, with slight increases for some. A few businessmen — like the canned music (Muzak) vendors — will get reductions because their rate had been high, said Allyn. A total of 231 old and new categories of classifications were established by the department and Budget Ad- (See Cost of, Page 2)

Stay Same

There'll be no change in the cost of fortune telling in Coral Gables — it's still $1,000. Others: Distributing liquor still $1,250. Hawking in an auction, $1,000 a day. Operating coin machine company, $1,000.

Bargain Days

Twice a year Coral Gables holds big sales events known as Bargain Days. This weekend is one of the two times. On Friday and Saturday you'll find city - wide bargains. And there's free parking at every Gables parking meter on those two days. Inside you'll find merchants' news about their bargains in the form of advertisements.