The Times

THE TIMES the local community newspaper for all South Dade

Coral Gables | South Miami Vol. 35 No. 42 | Second Class Postage Paid at Miami, Fla. | Thursday, December 1, 1960 | Published Weekly at 308 Aragon, Coral Gables, Fla. | Price 10c

Sottile Property Comes Under Fire Question Of Real Ownership Is Probed

By MAURICE LABELLE The City of Coral Gables has been asked to cancel a $1765 annual tax write off agreement on the Sottile off street parking lot at the old Youth Center tract. Attorney Bernard B. Weksler, who has been waging a campaign on alleged tax freeloading by various organizations, has been placed on the Dec. 6 City Commission agenda to discuss his contention that the tax exemption on the property is unwarranted and has caused the owners to drag their feet on development of the property. Weksler appeared before the Metro Commission last week, touching off an investigation into alleged tax freeloading in Dade County. Meanwhile, Weksler also raised a question about the actual ownership of Block 8, Crafts Section — the former Youth Center site. Owner Of Property Although all negotiations for use of the area for off street parking were conducted between the City and James Sottile Jr., the owner of record, according to city files, is Florida National Realty Co., Inc., The firms' officers are listed by the state as Ed Ball, president; Roger L. Main, vice president and treasurer; Irene Walsh, secretary; and Ada M. Bremer, assistant secretary-treasurer, according to Weksler. Directors are Ball, Walsh and Main, Weksler said. Sottile could not be reached at his office Wednesday, but his secretary, Mary Leitner, was emphatic about the ownership. "Certainly he is the owner," she retorted. She said she would attempt to have Sottile call back or get a statement from him on the ownership question and call back. There had been no reply several hours later at press time. "I wouldn't think that Mr. Sottile would sign (the Nov. 1, 1958 paking lot agreement) unless it was his property," City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr. said Tuesday. But why is it not shown that he was the owner of record? "I can't answer that," said Robinson. Robinson launched a search of city records in an attempt to find the answer, but they all indicated Florida National Realty Co., Inc., a Jacksonville firm with roots in the DuPont financial empire, as the owner of record throughout. City records indicate also that former city manager Ira (Dutch) Willard on Nov. 14, 1957, was asked to look into the ownership, but no records were found to indicate any report. On April 18, 1957, the TIMES reported that the property was purchased by Sottile for $450,000 and on Oct. 1, 1957, reported Sottile as saying that the property had been sold to Fred B. Hartnett, former mayor and city commissioner. On Dec. 5, 1957, it was reported in THE TIMES that a Sottile proposal to construct a six-story "empire" building had fallen through. Another Proposal Another reported proposal to construct a Burdine's store also failed, THE TIMES reported. The 40 percent off street parking requirement is reported to have been the factor which blocked development each time. But all this time, City records show that the owner of record since Oct. 11, 1955 was Florida National Realty Co., Inc., which bought the land from the city, according to Tax Assessor T. C. Blount. His records indicate that the firm paid $351,000 for the property and a total of $2007 in taxes in 1956 and 1957 and $1765 in 1958 after the old Youth Center building was demolished. Regardless of ownership, Weksler said, the set up is a bad one for the ctiy and the public because of loss of tax revenue and slow up of development which would produce more tax money. The benefit derived in providing inexpensive temporary parking to employes does not offset the tax loss to the city and county, Weksler said. "It is quite obvious and clear that the owner of the property has at all times had the property for sale and that we in Coral Gables have been 'used' by the owner to grant the owner a tax exemption by the City of Coral Gables as well as Dade County, and I object most strenously to the continued tax exemption of this valuable parcel of land," Weksler said in requesting the appearance before the Commission. 30-Day Lease The 10-year lease is in reality only a 30-day lease, since either party can cancel out with that much notice, he said. Weksler and Robinson disagreed on the revenue figures and the number of cars using the lot. Robinson said that $3500 net revenue had been transferred to the general fund and another $1000 used to modify City Hall. Weksler said that the county alone lost $5000 in taxes. The "Sottile" property tax case is another of a series listed by Weksler as examples of tax freeloading throughout Dade County. His charges that Doctors' (See SOTTILE, Page 2)

WHO IS THE REAL OWNER—James Sottile Jr., or the Florida National Realty Co., Inc.? This is the block-long former Youth Center tract which was recently advertised for sale for $685,000 by the firm of Oscar E. Dooly Associates, Inc., and which was bought from the City of Coral Gables for $351,600 in Oct., 1955, when the Youth Center was moved to its present site. Site is now used for off street parking by agreement with Sottile on a city-county tax forgiveness arrangement.

Coming Up— Hot Agenda At City Hall

Indications are that next Tuesday's City Commission meeting will be long and heated. Several highly controversial subjects, topped by the proposal to construct a 12-story apartment building at Biltmore Way and Cardena, are scheduled for the Dec. 6 agenda. Other items calculated to generate a large turnout are the proposal to erect a gasoline station on LeJeune Rd. between Palermo and Sevilla. Turned Down The plan was turned down 3-2 for a second time by the Zoning Board Monday and comes up again on appeal to the City Commission. A equest by attorney Bernard B. Weksler that the Sottile off street parking lot be placed back on the tax rolls is expected to create a bit of heat also. (See other story this issue). The lot, which occupies an entire city block is bordered by LeJeune Rd., Andalusia, Salzedo and Valencia and serves employes working in the downtown area. At Odds Weksler and most of the Commissioners have been at odds over several issues, touched off by the proposed lease of the Granada Golf Course to the Coral Gables Country Club. The high rise building question is one that has grown steadily The Commission as more and more proposals are made to build multiple story buildings in Coral Gables. Present ordinances limit construction to three stories, but a few exceptions have been granted.

Buttons Out, Channeling In

Concrete buttons are out and permanent channeling in at seven key Coral Gables intersections. The City Commission last week appropriated $5356 for the work of replacing the buttons wit permanent curbing and landscaping the area. Scheduled to be modified and beautified are the Ponce de Leon-Tamiami Trail intersections; Southeast corner of Tamiami Trail and Country Club Prado; Alhambra Cir.-Granada Blvd.; Merrick Way and Douglas Rd.; Anastasia Blvd. and In[?] Mound Tr.; Red Rd. and Ponce de Leon Blvd.; and Segovia Blvd. and Riviera Dr.

Attend The 'Premiere' Want To Learn Where Your $65,000 Is Going?

Like to know where Coral Gables' $65,000 publicity and public relations appropriation is going? You can learn all about it tomorrow (Friday) by attending a special preview program scheduled for 8:15 a.m. at the Miracle Theater. The special meeting, which will be emceed by Robert Hildreth, chairman of the City's advertising committee, is open to the public, but it is aimed primarily at the many business and professional people who have indicated an interest in the program. Hildreth, a vice president of Coral Gables Federal Savings & Loan Association, will present, with the help of Bert Burris, city director of publicity and advertising, the details of the plan. They will utilize recordings, slides, and other visual aids specially prepared by Bishopric, Green, Fielden, the advertising agency. These commercials will be presented throughout the year over area radio and TV, extolling the virtues of Coral Gables. Additional advertising will be placed in newspapers in an effort to attract more people to "the City Beautiful." Burris will outline what he has done and will do in the field of publicity and public relations. His job is to keep Coral Gables in the news, following the directives set up by the advertising and publicity committee. An additional $25,000 appropriated by the City Commission in the 1960-61 budget for the Coral Gables Open, or Professional Golf Association Tournament, is being handled separately by the city.

We pack, Wrap, Ship, Anything — Everywhere. Rubber Stamps, 1 Day Service. Pens Repaired. Complete Hallmark Greeting Cards. (Santa Item) The Barefoot Mailman, 234 Valencia. Adv.

Woman Is Injured In Fall At Cafeteria

Virginia Hillis, 42, of 501 Valencia, suffered injuries of the right leg and back in a fall at Polly Davis Cafeteria Sunday shortly after 4:30 p.m. She was given emergency treatment by Firemen I. T. Williams and L. L. Lanway at the scene and taken to Mercy Hospital for further treatment.

Clubs Warned About Risking Tax Status

Engaging in political activities during the recent national election may have brought the federal government's wrath down on local organizations receiving tax exemptions. The U. S. Internal Revenue Department office in Miami said Tuesday that the recent warning issued to country clubs and other social and civic organizations is re-affirmation or re-statement of a long standing regulation that federal tax exempt organizations refrain from activity in political campaigns. Complaints of political activities by social clubs exempt from paying taxes also led to warnings that many of these clubs are also engaging in public business beyond acceptable limits and could also lose their exemptions, a department spokesman said. Coral Gables has two country clubs—the Riviera and Coral Gables—and several social clubs which could be affected by the ruling. The city itself, which might be indirectly affected by the federal enforcement policy, is in the process of looking into alleged tax freeloading by some individuals and groups.

Attend Coral Gables 'Premiere'