The Times

THE TIMES

the local community newspaper for all South Dade | John T. Watters, President & Publisher | William von Maurer, Editor | Robert M Slane, Advertising Manager | Subscription: $3.00 year by mail anywhere

Crisis In Recreation

The departure of Leo Fullwood from the local athletic picture last week dramatized the problems which plague Coral Gables recreation. Fullwood quit his post as tennis professional at Salvadore Park after 15 years of service. He made a number of parting comments that will set a lot of people wondering about the status of local recreation, if they haven't already done so. The tennis pro's blast against the city can be summed up in one word — neglect. According to Fullwood, the sport which has brought national and international fame to Coral Gables has been allowed to deteriorate into insignificance out of indifference of city officials. Although there has not been enough time to investigate the justice of Mr. Fullwood's charges, his sudden resignation is one more development in the crisis which has been evolving around local recreation. The crux of the crisis is the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center, the city's all-eggs-in-one-basket approach to the recreation problem. The Youth Center, a handsome, expensive edifice, embodies two serious drawbacks which seriously limit its effectiveness.: 1. It is so constructed that numerous supervisors are required on the premises. Because it is partitioned off into rooms, large groups of youngsters can not be supervised by a small staff of adults. 2. It is such a grandiose building that all the city's recreation funds go into its upkeep to the neglect of developing other recreation programs in outlaying areas where they are more readily reached by children. The director of the Youth Center has exerted admirable ingenuity in attempting to overcome these handicaps, but it is a situation beyond the solution of any one person. The city's recreation program needs revisions with an eye to dispersing recreation facilities to benefit the entire community. Coral Gables might begin this reform by studying the possibility of securing what green areas remain for supervised recreation under the direction of the present Youth Center staff. The Youth Center, perhaps, could be used more for adult evening classes, senior citizens programs and adult recreation. A city growing as rapidly as Coral Gables must develop a recreation program that is accessible to children in all parts of the city. It does not have such a program at the present time.

ENJOY CORAL GABLES NEW YOUTH CENTER | ALL C. G. CHILDREN | INK | Must Be Nice To Live Close Enough To Do It.

Remember The Times

25 Years Ago Stafford Caldwell, a Coral Gables resident, tossed his hat into the political ring when he announced his candidacy for governorship of Florida... Bus routes in Coral Gables were rerouted to cover more territory with greater efficiency... In need of a bus terminal, the City of Coral Gables considered building a $68,000 building at Miracle Mile and Ponce de Leon Blvd... Tom Thorpe, noted sports authority, was made the first honorary member of the Coral Gables Junior Chamber of Commerce... The thud of leather resounded as the fight season opened at the Coral Gables Coliseum. 10 Years Ago Richard A. Mack of Coral Gables was named chairman of the Florida Railroad and Public Utilities Commission... Oliver Wendell Holmes once wrote a poem, "Old Ironsides," that was so moving, it saved the destruction of that aged ship by a wrecking crew. And using the same method, 8-year-old June Ritchie Manchester, 2215 SW 58th Ct., wrote a poem to The RIVIERA TIMES, hoping it would print the mess-age and change the decision of her father to get rid of her dog, Ned... Coral Gables police, after an exhaustive hunt, finally found Mrs. Isabelle Herman, owner of a mouldering "haunted" house on Malaga Ave. Washington, D.C., police notified the Gables force that Mrs. Herman lived in the nation's capital and intended to return shortly to Coral Gables... Eileen Murphy became one of Coral Gables' first woman attorneys when she hung up her shingle.

Letters To The Editor | It Is A 'White Elephant'

Editor, The Times, One of your reporters, Maurice Labelle, wrote an article with the caption "Coral Gables Youth Center—Is It City's White Elephant?" I believe the answer to that question could also be found in the title if "Is It" would be transposed to "It Is". When we moved here over three years ago I could hardly believe a city of such civic pride could be so utterly lacking in adequate recreational facilities. My children were "lost" so we did acquaint ourselves with the Youth Center and the Venetian Pool. Not Impressive The former is quite impressive looking, but the program they have offered has been less than impressive. I believe their operating loss on this whole setup speaks for itself. The latter is a very poor substitute for an olympic pool which every other community (less endowed, at that) seems to be able to offer its residents. Besides, there aren't many people I know who permit their children to swim at Venetian, for various reasons. Four Pools I believe Hialeah is scheduled to have four more new swimming pools for the public. The city fathers there apparently know something the Coral Gables ones don't — that is, that modern pools are very good money makers. We seem to have taken pretty good care of the golfers in our midst, now how about ing the younger crowd a coul break from the sweltering summers? Two pools strategically located could very possiblye wipe out that Youth Center deficit in a hurry. A taxpayer who doesn't want her dollars wasted on a deficit.

Open Letter To Taxpayers

Editor, The Times, I would like very much to air my views in regard to the 12-story apartment building issue on Biltmore Way, being the first builder to propose a luxury high rise apartment structure at the same location which was turned down in 1957, i.e. AN OPEN LETTER TO THE CITIZENS AND TAX-PAYERS OF CORAL GABLES: Anent the controversy over the 12-story high rise apartment building—let's put the blame for all the feuding and misunderstanding where it REALLY belongs—on the members that comprise your Architectural Board, who, without a dissenting voice, approved the structure in the first Had they delved into it as thoroughly as the Board did in 1957, when the writer submitted plans for 6 and 1/2 story, 40 unit apartment building on 250 feet of the same location, they would and probably should have brought forth the same criticism and objections as the Board did in 1957, i.e. that there were too many families being housed on too small a land area. This, approval of the 12-story building, therefore calling for 150 apartment units on a land area of 430 foot frontage, which is only 180 feet more than the 250 feet the writer had in 1957, means they were approving the housing of four times as many more families, on only a little more than one-half more the land area. Had the Architectural Board vetoed the plans of Mr. Sakolsky, a 4 to 1 vote of approval would have been necessary to have the City Commission override the Architectural Board, and this would have been unlikely, for it was this identical vote that the writer needed (Commission voted for 3 against 2) that dashed my hopes for the first luxury type apartment building (rental) planned to provide living quarters for the upper bracket type tenant who preferred apartment living to that of an expensive home, something that is sorely needed in the Gables and which by no means conflicts with the low rental apartments that are available to people of middle income earnings. I heartily recommend that the city fathers approve a building of six and perhaps seven stories on the Biltmore site, to house the luxury type tenant, who more than anything else prefers living in the City Beautiful rather than Miami Beach, Miami, or any other Southeast Florida area, and who is kept away from Coral Gables at the pre: t time because there are no facilities offered that meets their needs. Such a structure would be much more preferable than the overgrown weeds and rear apartment look on the vacant site now facing the passer-by, I am sure. S. C. Schonfield 395 Alhambra Circle

Campaign Issue

Editor, The Times, You are to be complimented on your forthright editorial on the "Conflict of Interest" provision proposed by C missioner Murphy. There are many citizens who find it extremely difficult to understand the underlying reason for the defeat of this proposal. I, for one, trust that it is purely a matter of semantics and that it goes no deeper. You are being kind in citing only the "Blount Case." If in-eidents of this nature necessary to awaken the electorate then let them be fully advised. "Conflict of Interest Legislation" should be a campaign issue in our next election. It is time that a real issue was injected and that the voters concern themselves with matters other than a popular contest. Charles H. Finkelstein 815 Catalonia

Letters To The Editor | Commissioners Not Representing?

Editor, The Times, There is some question regarding the fairness, as well as the legality, of revoking a valid permit to build a 12-story high-rise apartment building in Coral Gables. But it seems to me the real problem is much more serious. It is the failure of the City Commission and the related board of architects and engineers to comprehend the wishes and standards of Gableites, most of whom, I believe, want to keep this community as it was intended to be. "Progress", in today's sense, is not welcome. Accordingly I believe officials who have evidenced a lack of understanding of this attitude should resign or steps should be taken to effect their replacement. The average citizen expects his city officials to protect his interests. He cannot keep tabs on every move made in City Hall. These officials are supposed to properly, sympathetically and understandingly represent "The City Beautiful." And, anent your recent editorial, I'd rather keep this city an "attractive museum" than make it into an enlarged shopping center. Show me a single building erected here in the last decade as handsome as City Hall! Or anywhere in the country, show me a group of homes handsomer than what we have here! Fins and angles do not necessarily spell beauty in my book. And congestion is always ugly. High standards are better than high buildings! Robert H. Throne 2525 LeJeune Rd.

Letters To The Editor | Why One Vote Margin?

Editor, The Times, On my return from an extended Christmas vacation, I learned that the City Commission had reversed itself and cancelled the permit for the high-rise apartment house which the builder claimed would regenerate Coral Gables and start us on the road to prosperity. I am happy with the result, but I am not satisfied for I note that again it was by a one vote margin. This I cannot understand. At the first protest meeting over 600 citizens were represented. This time there was a petition with 1800 signatures, yet it made no difference to the two pro-apartment Commissioners, so again I ask what it will take to have them recognize the wishes of their constituents. It was only the accident of a new Commissioner which changed the results. This much is certain. This was not the first nor will it be the last attempt to secure extra profits from ALL of the property owners by building high-rise buildings which will have the surrounding light, air, and view all their own for a quarter of a century before rising land values warrant the erection of competing buildings. A high-rise building anywhere in the Gables effects every owner. Another matter to give consideration is the fact that Metro has the authority to take over the building permits from Coral Gables and when you fight Metro you must use other weapons. Of course they will not do this for awhile but politics being what they are it will be coming some day. For the first 15 years the mention of a Recall before the Miami City Commission was good for a great, big belly-laugh. Then three Commissioners were recalled and even today Recall is not considered a decent joke at City Hall. I believe another matter is certain. A large, active, well directed and well financed Initiative, Referendum and RECALL Committee which casts politics aside and works to keep its members informed will always be a good remedy for just what we are gripping about now as elected officials fear it. It is something to THINK about. L. C. Mount 644 Navarre Ave.

Ponce PTA

Editor, The Times, The P.T.A. of Ponce de Leon Junior High School wishes to thank you for your recent recognition of our efforts. It's gratifying to know that the goals we're working for are of sufficient scope that you'd call the attention of the community to them in an editorial. Thank you so very much. Thelma Grentner, Corresponding Secretary