The Times

Coral Gables THE TIMES South Miami

THE TIMES the local community newspaper for all South Dade Coral Gables South Miami Vol. 35 No. 49 Second Class Postage Paid at Miami, Fla. Thursday, January 19, 1961 Published Weekly at 309 Aragon, Coral Gables, Fla. Price 10c

CAUGHT IN A MOMENT OF CONTEMPLATION as she paints at her window with an easel behind her is a young, blonde-haired artist, Gail Gutten, 10th grader at Coral Gables High School, won first place in a county-wide contest directed toward choosing an official seal for the Dade County Youth Fair, Jan. 26-29. The seal will be used on ribbons awarded at the fair, stationery and advertisements. Though interested in art since she was two, Gail, 3789 SW 29th St., wants to be a veterinarian.

High Rise Building Report Is Made

By MAURICE LABELLE A special committee studying the problem of high rise apartment buildings in Coral Gables is on the spot. The committee, composed of Phil J. Laurence and Donald F. Peck from the Zoning Board; Curtis E. Haley and LeRoy K. Albert from the Board of Architects; Gerard Pucci and Don Wessell, from the Planning Advisory Board; and John E. Vinsant, secretary of the Zoning Board, has been charged by the City Commission to come up with firm recommendations on the controversial issue. Further Study Meeting on Dec. 14 of last year after the Commission had approved a 12-story apartment at 720 Biltmore Way on a 3-2 vote, the Committee concluded that further study and investigation should be made before any recommendations could be made on where high rise apartment buildings should be constructed. The Commission rescinded the action Jan. 10. Four previous meetings of approximately 19 practicing city architects had produced their recommendations that high rise apartment buildings be permitted in any area now zoned for apartments. But the Committee as a whole was not for permitting high rise buildings in all apartment-zoned areas. The committee agreed unanimously that the maximum height of apartment buildings be limited to 13 stories, or twice the width of the fronting street, or 140 feet, with the least height governing. An additional height of 20 feet would be permitted for the construction of a machine room, elevator tower or related gear. The committee was also unanimous in its recommendation that present ground coverage requirements be maintained for high rise apartment buildings. This is 35 percent of the building site for the main building or 45 percent for the main building plus auxiliary use structures. No Change No change in the requirement that efficiencies have a minimum 400 square feet of floor area and 600 square feet for bedroom apartments, was recommended by the committee. No high rise apartment should be built on a piece of property of less than 10,000 square feet or less than 100 feet of street frontage, it also recommended. And the committee was content that the present requirement of one off-street parking space for each unit was a good one. Landscaping, the committee felt, should be made part of the plans for the building. This would be prepared by a landscape architect at a cost of not less than one percent of the estimated cost of the proposed apartment. Still to be decided is the question of high rise commercial buildings, since the committee concentrated on apartment buildings. When the group meets again, there may be members of another committee - the Committee for the Preservation of Present Zoning Ordinances - on hand to listen in. The CPPZO, which opposed the Biltmore "skyscraper," indicated at the Jan. 10 City Commission meeting that they would like to send representatives to attend the meetings in order to keep informed of developments. Request Granted The Commission sanctioned the CPPZO sitting in on the meetings. Apparently, feeling on high rise apartment buildings breaks down into three main groups: • Those who favor their construction in any area zoned for apartments. • Those who favor their construction only in certain limited areas to be established by study. • And those who oppose them on any ground. Which view will prevail? Time will tell.

You Can Take Back Gambling Loss, Judge Says

Is stealing funds lost in gambling legal? Municipal Court Judge Charles Spooner found Leroy Burgess, 23, of 3550 Douglas Rd., not guilty of petty larceny Jan. 10 after he learned that he had taken back money lost in gambling with Mary Lou Wilson. The victim said she won $12 but lost $30 when Burgess took her purse and left.

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For Hurricane Donna Coral Gables Refuses Aid From Washington

The Coral Gables City Commission Tuesday stood pat on an earlier decision, not to ask the federal government for aid in offsetting losses caused by hurricane Donna. Donna cost the city an estimated $80,000 to clean up. Commissioner Robert Searle pointed out Tuesday that $6000 of damage sustained to property at Coral Gables Stadium was not covered by insurance. Searle, who had opposed federal aid on the first go-round indicated that the aid might be used to repair the damage. No one made a motion to accept the aid, however, and the matter was quietly filed away. The question came up a second time when Mayor John M. Montgomery presented a letter from a visiting team of federal employes indicating that they had left with the impression that the city wanted to recover its losses. Commissioner Frank Kerdyk, a staunch opponent of federal aid, re-affirmed his opposition Tuesday. Kerdyk re-stated his opposition to using federal funds after he queried City Attorney Ted Semple on the City's Special Benefits Fund to determine if it would cover the Stadium losses and received an affirmative answer. "That's what it's for," Semple said. Coral Gables has turned down other available funds from the federal government such as those appropriated by Congress for urban renewal.

Quit Or Be Fired, Mayor Tells Fullwood

It was quit or be fired, Mayor John M. Montgomery indicated Tuesday in leveling a retaliatory blast at Leo Fullwood, tennis pro at Salvadore Park, who resigned in a huff last week. The mayor charged Fullwood with "inadequate management" and being critical of the City Commission when his job was in jeopardy. Commissioner Joe Murphy termed the mayor's comments "unkind." He said Fullwood had been a "good pro." Fullwood last week blasted the City Commisison's money and other policies which he charged had ruined tennis in Coral Gables. 'Lack of Interest' Mayor Montgomery said Tuesday that Fullwood had displayed a "lack of interest in furthering the city's interests." He blamed the tennis pro for figures submitted by City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr. which indicate that revenue for the last six months of 1960 was only one-third recorded for the same period in 1959. Robinson reported Tuesday that only $213 income was reported from July through December compared to $624 the year before. The City Commission last year adopted a new schedule of recreation fees to make up for the whopping costs of operating the War Memorial Youth Center - more than $100,000. Didn't Materialize Fullwood last week charged that long-standing promises to construct a field house and shower facilities at Salvadore Park never materialized. The 15-year veteran coach of many national championship tennis teams criticized the loss of $12,000 on the 1959 Biltmore Open tournament and a Commission which he said was golf-orientated when he departed to take his new job as professional at the new Royal Palm Tennis Club. Applications for a replacement for Fullwood are now being considered. City Manager Robinson was told to get together with the new pro and review the operation at Salvadore Park and resolve any difficulties.

A Luau, Yes A Laua, No

Aside from a blind bus driver, what's worse than a sign painter who can't spell? South Miami Council Tuesday night was presented with a petition for a new sign over a restaurant at 5950 South Dixie Highway. A sketch of the proposed sign was presented with the petition. In the sketch was Leilani's LAUA restaurant. Council knew what a LUAU restaurant was, but not a LAUA restaurant. The red-faced petitioner admitted the spelling on the sketch could be wrong. He got his sign - but the spelling was changed first.

Cash, Ring, Sweater Lost In Burglary

A burglar broke a lock to get into his apartment and steal $115 in cash, a blue sapphire ring and a sweater, Ervin Zuber, 700 South Dixie Hwy., Apt. 1, told Coral Gables Police Saturday. The theft occurred Jan. 11, he reported.

New Group Seeks To 'Preserve' City Will Meet Friday Night To State Aims

By MAURICE LABELLE Creation of a new City-wide civic organization aimed at preserving the residential character of Coral Gables will be proposed tomorrow (Friday). The proposal will be made by the Committee on the Preservation of Present Zoning Ordinances at a meeting scheduled for 8 p.m. at the Coral Gables Youth Center, Miss Lila Dickerson, president, announced Wednesday. Commissioner Joe Murphy has been invited to address the group at its first organizational meeting. He will be the first among other city commissioners, officials and candidates in the coming municipal election who will be invited to present their views. Others scheduled to speak at tomorrow night's meeting are attorneys John Wynn and Franklin Parson, who led the fight against a proposal to erect a 12-story apartment building at 720 Biltmore Way. To Elect Board "The first thing we hope to do is to elect a board of directors," said Miss Dickerson. Next, she indicated, the name of the organization will probably be changed to one which will be more suitable for a city-wide group. The group hopes to attract outstanding citizens from all parts of Coral Gables whose interests are safeguarding strict zoning. One of the matters which will be taken up, Miss Dickerson said, is the advisability of placing the question of high rise buildings to a referendum in the April election. Mandatory Notice Another matter to be tackled will be an ordinance making it mandatory for the city to notify residents within a specified number of feet of any area proposed for rezoning. The Committee has held a series of meetings at the Youth Center since its creation in December following the approval of the "skyscraper" apartment. They gathered approximately 1800 signatures within a few days and presented them to the City Commission along with a request to rescind an earlier resolution granting a permit to A. H. Sakolsky, the builder. The same group also filed suit through their attorney Parson; the same suit was dismissed after the Commission voted 3-2 on a motion by Murphy to rescind the permit.