The Guide

Group Will Fight Skyscraper Plan / Attorney Named To Handle Case In Court / Gables Has OK'd 22 Buildings Over 3 Stories

An organization has been formed and funds collected to fight the erection of a 12-story apartment building at the intersection of Biltmore Way and Cardena. Miss Lila Dickerson, 738 Biltmore Way, was elected president to lead the group's fight against A. H. Sakolsky's $3 million "skyscraper" approved by the City Commission last week. The group, which calls itself The Committee for Preservation of Present Zoning Ordinances, also selected attorney Franklin Parson to represent them in court. Led Opposition Parson, who lives at 839 Catalonia, led the opposition at the heated Dec. 6 meeting. Other officers elected by the committee were Mrs. James Nankivell, 800 Coral Way, secretary, and Harry Keck, 737 Valencia. Miss Dickerson and Keck are apartment owners. Mrs. Nankivell recently bought a new home in the area. Former mayor W. Keith Phillips, who addressed the group, told them that Coral Gables is known as the city of beautiful homes and that this distinction should be preserved. Not Opposed Miss Dickerson indicated Wednesday that the group is not opposed to high rise buildings anywhere, but feels that they should be limited to areas suitable for the purpose and where they would not depreciate property values. "A suit will be filed to invalidate the move of the City Commission," Parson said Wednesday. Parson indicated that a referendum may compliment or supplement the suit later. Meanwhile, no permit has been issued for the construction of the high rise building, although all the necessary variances have been granted. By MAURICE LABELLE Fewer issues have generated more heat in Coral Gables than the 12-story apartment building approved by the City Commission by a 3-2 vote last week. The $3 million "skyscraper" is to be built by A. H. Sakolsky at Biltmore Way and Cardena. Judging by the controversy, one would assume that the move was a precedent shattering one. Confusion results from an ordinance limiting construction to three stores without Commission approval. But the record indicates that at least 22 buildings of more than three stories have been approved by various Coral Gables City Commissions in the past 10 years. Six of the 22 were for more than five stories in height. Only one permit was rescinded—this was for a 10-story apartment—the Venetia Towers—which would have been constructed near Venetian Pool. Approval Rescinded Approval for this building, to have been built by Gilbert Sinnes, came on June 21, 1960, and was rescinded June 28 after the wrath of the neighborhood descended on the Commission. Conversely, a proposal by Emil J. Gould to build a 13-story luxury apartment building at Sunrise Harbour went through without a whisper. The six-month permit has run out, however, and Gould would have to re-apply for permission to build. There have been straws in the wind indicating that some opposition would be generated the second time around. Other high rise buildings which won approval without much fanfare was the five-story apartment being constructed at Coral Way and Cadima by the Madison Corp. This was to have been a 71⁄2-story building when it was originally proposed by Ed Marshall on Sept. 25, 1956, but financial arrangements never materialized. The Madison Corp. received approval on May 19, 1959, and again on April 5, 1960, after the first resolution ran out. A six-story apartment was approved on June 19, 1960, for Robert E. Couture on the south-east corner of East Ponce de Leon Blvd. and Antilla. It was not started. Former city commissioner Ed Rogers and the R & N Corp. built a five-story office building at the corner of Alhambra Cir. and Salzedo after getting approval on April 15, 1958. Rogers also got approval to build another four story building on the north side of Giralda in the 300 block Aug. 12, 1954, but the building was not constructed. Another five-story commercial building was approved twice at the southwest corner of Ponce de Leon Blvd. and Alhambra Cir. on April 22, 1958, and more recently on Oct. 25. The First Presbyterian Church received permission to build a tower 85-feet high — equivalent to more than five stories — on June 3, 1958. The four-story 401 Building was approved in March 1955. And the University of Miami has constructed several buildings of more than three stories in the past 10 years. These include a four-story dormitory building in 1953, a four-story administration building in 1955, the four-story Antonio Ferrer Building in 1958, five-story School of Engineering Building in 1958 and a seven-story dormitory building in 1957. A twin to that dormitory is planned. Another four-story building which fell through was for a hotel in the Douglas Section, Lots 4-12, Block 17. And a four-story apartment at Sunrise Harbour was approved in March of 1959 and 1960 but has not been built. Maurice Robbin built his four-story commercial building at Biltmore Way and Hernando this year after he missed on six stories when capital became scarce. Five times in the past three years, e Biltmore Corp. has received permission to build a four-story commercial building in the same general Biltmore section—Block 3, lots 19 22. Finally, in 1954, Negro apartments rising more than three stories were constructed on South Dixie Hwy. by Morris Lomaskin and Florence Markowitz.

Hot Shoppes Restaurant Will Open Doors Today

Hot Shoppes, Inc., third largest restaurant chain in the nation, will open its first unit in the Miami area Thursday, Dec. 22. The new facility will be a 130-seat Char-Broiler Restaurant located at the intersection of South Dixie Highway (US 1) and Bird Road in Coral Gables. The new restaurant was previewed by the public at an Open House on Wednesday, Dec. 21, between 4 and 8:30 p.m. The Hot Shoppes Char-Broiler will offer counter service for 23 persons and dining room seating at tables and booths for another 114. The restaurant will be open daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late supper. As its name indicates, the restaurant will feature char-broiled steaks and chops and broiled seafood specialties. It will also offer a complete line of platters, snacks and sandwiches. Hot Shoppes, Inc., whose slogan is "Food For The Whole Family," has built its nationwide reputation on a policy of wholesome food, attractively prepared and served, at moderate prices. In addition to its inside seating capacity, the new Hot Shoppes unit will provide the latest electronic curb facilities for 57 cars, plus parking for another 21 automobiles of patrons dining inside. The Hot Shoppes Char-Broiler Restaurant will employ about ninety persons initially. Manager of the unit will be John M. Cosgrove, a Miami resident thoroughly experienced in restaurant operations in the Miami area. Hired especially to manage the new Coral Gables unit, Cosgrove has spent the past six months becoming indoctrinated in Hot Shoppes special operating methods in the firm's units in the metropolitan Washington, D. C. area. John M. Cosgrove is 31 years of age, married, and the father of two children. He is a graduate of the University of Miami with a major in business administration.

JOES TRANSFER

at 2712 NW 56th St. NE 5-2464 extends Holiday Greetings to his many customers. Agents for Wheaton & Lyon Van Lines.

"C" JOE MURPHY

8560 SW 56 St. MO 7-6915 for Rental Equipment, Mixer, welders, accetylene outfite, [?] saws, sanders, etc. and his wishes for a HAPPY HOLIDAY.

HILLIARD RUG CLEANERS

3165 SW 16th Ter. wishes all their many customers a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a happy New Year! Member of National Inst., Rug Cleaning. HI 6-6361

Paramount Tailors & Cleaners

1753 Coral Way extends HOLIDAY GREETINGS to their many customers. Expert alterations & tailoring. HI 6-0367

SEASONS GREETINGS TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS AND FRIENDS FROM PAULS HARDWARE

2511 SW 67th AVE. This Greeting Brings Our Heartfelt Thanks for your Patronage the past year.

Walt's Complete Lawn Service

SEASONS GREETINGS from Walt's Complete Lawn Service 3330 SW 89th Ave. CA 1-0238

Liquid Chlorine Contract Let

Biscayne Chemical Co., of Miami, has been awarded the contract to furnish the City of Coral Gables liquid chlorine for one year. The estimated annual cost, based on last year's consumption, is more than $11,000. Liquid Chlorine is used to purify wastes at the city's sewage treatment plant on Ponce de Leon Blvd. and treat water at Venetian Pool. Cylinders are also placed at the various pumping stations. Biscayne was one of five firms which submitted identical bids of $6.50 per 100 pounds in one-ton cylinders and $12.75 per 100 pounds in 150-pound cylinders.

SOD

Bitter Blue .05 ft. Centipede .121⁄2 ft. Zoysia .171⁄2 ft. Expert Landscaping West Miami Feed Store 1625 SW 67 Av., MO 6-8901

CANDLE LIGHT SERVICES CHRISTMAS EVE

7:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Christmas Musicals presented by MR. ARTHUR MILLER will be held between services ST. JAMES Lutheran Church 110 Phonetia Avenue Pastor, Earl L. Hively

FRED MILLS

Reliable-Reasonable Carpentry, General Repairs, doors hung, etc. extends SEASONS GREETINGS to his many customers MO 7-3292

HOWARD CARMEN

wishes his customers a most HAPPY HOLIDAY— Interior Painting. Quality, custom work with free estimates. MO 7-0247—7 to 9 p.m.

Florida pulp and paper mills used nearly 4,000,000 cords of wood last year.

J. KANTERMAN

Expert specialists in WOOD FLOORS extends HOLIDAY GREETINGS to his many customers. HI 4-8595 — JE 1-7618

L. M. MATHIS

Extends SEASONS GREETINGS to his many customers. Driveways. No job too small. Also repairs & free estimtes. MO 1-2084

"The First Noel, The Angels Did Sing"

Again as the wondrous Christmas season opens our hearts, we sense something of the miracle and mystery of the first Christmas. May the blessed Yuletide spirit bring to you and yours all the peace and happiness that the first Christmas brought to the Wise Men. THE TIMES THE GUIDE