The Coral Gables Times

2 CORAL GABLES TIMES Thursday, May 17, 1962

Multi-Story Garage For Downtown Parking Is Being Prepared

Coral Gables' first multi-story parking garage took a step toward reality Monday when the City Commission asked City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr. to recommend an engineer to do the job. Their action came on the heels of an agreement by Sam Miller, owner of the Miracle Building in the south 200 block of Miracle Mile to pay the City $8 a parking space and a minimum of 100 spaces in the proposed garage. A three-year contract with $4,800, six-months rent in advance, is also being considered by the City. The exact number of spaces which would be provided by the garage has not been determined, but Robinson said a 25 per cent loss of ground floor parking would be incurred. Parking lot number one behind the Miracle Building has now 114 spaces.

Mayor Revises Composition Of Industry Hunting Unit

(Editorial on page 4) A nine-man Economic Development Committee has been created by the City Commission to promote commercial activity in Coral Gables. The Committee in turn will appoint a 30-man Economic Development Council of experts to help it do its work. The Committee is supposed to combine the forces of the City and the Chamber of Commerce. It is the idea of Mayor Robert L. Searle. What the Chamber's reaction will be isn't known. A few months ago there was a dispute between the Mayor and Chamber over separate groups appointed by the respective bodies, the City and the Chamber. Both groups had the same job: get white-collar industry for the City. Searle has come up with a compromise by having the City appoint four men, the Chamber four men and the eight choosing the ninth. His plan also envisions a changing role for the City's $10,000 a year advertising consultant, Bert Burris. Burris would become the commercial development staff man, a part-time job added to his advertising work. To relieve him of publicity writing chores and related matters, it is being proposed in his budget request to the City that a publicity writer be added to his office. Currently, only Burris and a secretary comprise the advertising department. The 9-man Committee will have three major aims: Develop a favorable community climate for the location and growth of commercial activities compatible with the character of the City. Encourage the expansion of existing business and commercial activities. Attract new commercial firms and activities of appropriate types. Function of the Committee will an advisory one.

CANAL ORDINANCE

Sanford Freed, president of the Westchester Civic Association, was scheduled to appear before the Metro Commission Tuesday to present the association's recommendations for a canal control ordinance. The organization has been battling with Westchester developer Sheldon Kay over protective fences for canals in that subdivision.

'Streetcar' For 1 Week At Ring

Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" will open Sunday for a one-week run at the University of Miami Ring Theater. It will be the last Ring Theater presentation of the season. The production is staged so that the audience surrounds the stage on three sides. Director of the play is Hank Diers, assistant professor of drama. Tickets are on sale at the Ring Theater at $1.50 and $2. Curtain Time Sunday, Friday and Saturday is 8:30 p.m.; Monday through Thursday it's 8 p.m.

Your Pool Needed

The 'Y'-sponsored swim lessons, now entering their eleventh year in Coral Gables and Southwest Miami start early in June. To carry on this much needed service the Southwest 'Y' has asked interested pool owners to donate the use for two hours in the mornings for a two week series, or more if possible. Call the 'Y' at MO 5-3513 if you have a pool to offer. There is free instruction for the first enrolled child of each pool owner.

Tax Liens Go on Sale Next Week

The annual tax lien sale on Coral Gables real, personal and special assessment taxes will be held May 25, Finance Director Kenneth Allyn said Tuesday. As for percentages, 12 per cent of our populace is delinquent on its personal property taxes and a minute .007 per cent on real property taxes. Delinquent can save themselves a 5 per cent plus interest penalty on the principal of each tax certificate by paying their bills before the May 25 deadline. Penalties can jump to as high as 12 per cent for the first year of non-payment. Allyn said that unpaid bills on real estate taxes are running lower last year $12,646 to $11,571, but that personal property tax payments lag, with an unpaid balance of $40,048 compared to only $29,231 last year. The finance director said he was at a loss to explain the situation. Tax Collector E. H. Cleary is scheduled to bang the gavel at noon next Friday to start the spirited bidding that usually attends these sales. Professional tax certificate buyers from all over the country usually attend the auction-like sales.

Water Rate Study Ready; We'll Know Next Week

Results of a study of Consumers Water Company's rates in Coral Gables are expected to be ready for the City Commission next week, Finance Director Kenneth Allyn said Tuesday. The study is being made by Paul Gleman, internal auditor for the city. Allyn and Gleman declined to reveal the findings of the three - month - old survey launched back in February. The study move followed by several months a victory in Circuit Court for South Miami which forced Consumers to reduce its minimum charge from $1.50 to $1.40. Coral Gables' minimum is $1.50. The implication was clear that the Circuit Court decision could open the way for the Gables. Consumers has the South Miami rate case on appeal in the District Court of Appeals.

We Will Annex Area Off Sunset

Coral Gables Tuesday moved to annex a 20-acre tract of land just north of Sunset Drive. The pattern may be set for annexation of a larger tract along Tamiami Trail. The City Commission passed a resolution asking Metro to set the machinery in motion to recoup the "Laesch Tract"— once a part of the Gables but removed from the City by Circuit Court action, John Ravlin brought suit. Ravlin had claimed, and the court allowed, that he was not getting adequate municipal services at the time. The unincorporated area to be annexed is bounded by the south side of Andora Avenue, Sunset Drive, Trianfo Street and a street once called Camilla's. City Attorney Ted Semple said Tuesday the area should never have been removed from the City limits and that the Circuit Court erred in accepting as fact the City was not furnishing adequate services. Annexation of the area would end a few problems, City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr. said. One of these would be the splitting up of taxes with the County on several parcels of land that lie partly in the City and partly in the County. A stretch of South Alhambra Circle lying in the County and maintained by the County would be back in the Gables. Servicing the area with police, fire protection and waste collection would be easier because of the elimination of irregular boundaries. The Commission Monday also discussed the annexation of another area more than one-half square mile in size bordered roughly by Tamiami Trail, Salzedo Street, Mendoza Avenue and Cortez Street. This area was also once part of the Gables and subsequently removed by legal action. Metro has a plan on the shelf backing straightening municipal boundaries. Which may make it receptive to the idea. Under the Metro Charter, annexation may be initiated by the municipality, the Metro Planning Advisory Board, Metro Commission or by a petition of any person or group involved. The change may come by passage of an ordinance by Metro following approval of the municipality and Planning Board and after a public hearing if less than 250 electors reside in the area. If more than 250 electors reside in the area, an election must be held and a majority approve.

SHAPING UP is the $3 million Dadeland Shopping Center on North Kendall Drive. South Dixie Highway is at upper right of photo, North Kendall Drive Just south of center and the Palmetto By-Pass at bottom of picture. (Guide Photo by Dillon Aerial Photography of Miami).

UM First With Drive

Two service organizations at the University of Miami are sponsoring a drive for the Goodwill Industry - first at the UM - by distributing 12,-000 large bags to students and faculty. The drive officially begins today (Thursday). The men's service club, Alpha Phi Omega, will work with the organizations on campus including fraternities and men's residence halls. President of the club is Bill Greene. Gamma Sigma Sigma, service club for women, will collect usable clothing, household goods, and other items from the women's dormitories. Barbara Drossner is president of Gamma Sigma Sigma. The drive will continue until the end of the semester. The usable goods collected in this project will be given to the Goodwill workshop to be fixed and conditioned.

Dadeland Sign Costs $40,000, Will Tower 11 Stories High

A huge sign — towering more than 11 stories and costing $40,000 — is under construction at Dadeland Shopping Center on Kendall Drive near the Palmetto Bypass. "I hope a hurricane doesn't hit us while we're building it," said Robert D. Poppino, project manager for Frank J. Rooney, general contractor. However, the sign itself, which will be visible for several miles, will be safe in hurricane winds, once erected, Poppino said. The concave, triangular cross section tower with a huge "D" atop, will rest on between 25 and 30 pilings. Dadeland is a $3 million shopping center being built by the Meyerhoff Corp. It will have more than 50 stores, including Burdine's, a second major department store; Food Fair, restaurants and a general variety of stores. Last July, $1.9 million in construction was begun on the 75-acre site. Completion on this phase is planned for September. A total of six buildings are included in this portion of the multi-million dollar shopping center, one of the largest in the state.