The Times

What's Amenity? You Can Be Sure Gables Has It

Whatever else may be lacking in Coral Gables — it is not amenity. What's amenity? "Amenity," according to the Metropolitan Dade County Advisory Board, "is the quality of being pleasant, attractive or agreeable to the senses. In the physical environment, it is the quality that a building, street, community or metropolitan area attains in its functional and visual character." The board submitted a report recently dealing with amenity which was generally complimentary to Coral Gables. Several photographs showing good examples of beautification and landscaping were taken in "The City Beautiful." Not Complimentary The report, financed partly through a federal grant from the Housing and Home Finance Agency, is not so complimentary of the Greater Miami area in general, however. Automobiles crammed in front of apartment houses, derelicts and junkyards along the Miami River, overcrowding in the Negro districts, parkways barren of trees, shrubs or even grass, a conglomeration of unsightly signs and billboards—all these contribute to the lack of beauty in the metropolitan area. - There is a hint in the report that if Dade County doesn't do something to create more pleasant surroundings than are being developed now, tourism, the life blood of the area, will suffer and living will be made less pleasant for those who reside here. The Conclusion The report concludes that . . . "we have to realize that a rich and productive future will depend on an investment in the present and a reinvestment in the past. Our stock of 'amenity capital' if continually exploited will be drastically reduced. Conversely, if we build upon this 'amenity capital' it will be our strongest asset in effectively competing for the future." The report recommends a list of 14 things that can be done to restore beauty to the area. These include use of landscaping to screen off unsightly areas, higher density developments along the river, bay, canals and lakes to take advantage of visual contrasts, encourage scenic drives along the edges of the bay, river, etc., urban revitalization and wider use of vegetation. Property Owners But part of the amenity program would lie on the shoulders of individual home and other property owners. Recalcitrant owners could be coaxed along by authority, the report suggests. This is already being done in Coral Gables, where a program of rehabilitation is underway in the more flagrantly sub-standard areas. Said the Board: "If the Metropolitan environment is a pleasant place to work and to live it will also be a pleasant place to visit. "The pleasantness and agreeableness in the environment will be Metropolitan Dade County's most valuable asset in competing for a successful and prosperous future — in attracting new tourists, new industries, new residents and in preserving the environment desirability that attracted one million residents in six decades."

TAX SERVICE

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Gerstein To Help Honor Levenson

One of Coral Gables' leading citizens, State Attorney Richard Gerstein, is heading a committee of over 100 friends and associates of Samuel C. Levenson, who will receive a bronze plaque award from Yeshiva University at the Fointainebleau Hotel dinner in his honor on Tuesday, March 28th. Levenson, who started the West Flagler Kennel Club in 1930 with his brother-in-law Jacob Sher, and successfully operated it until it was sold in 1954, will be feted as one of the first national Founders of the University's Albert Einstein College of Medicine and as a leading Miami-area philanthropist. Only four other Floridians have been recipients of this coveted award. Among other Gables residents serving on the Sponsoring Committee with Gerstein are Israel Atlas, Morris Fox, Max Goldstein, and Joseph Neyel.

Winter production of green peppers, sweet corn, snap beans, cucumbers, eggplant, broccoli, and tomatoes in Florida this year is reported considerably heavier than in 1960.

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RE-FINANCING YOUR PRESENT PROPERTY MAY ANSWER YOUR PROBLEM

SEE US TODAY FOR LOW COST MORTGAGE FINANCING University Federal SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OF CORAL GABLES MIRACLE MILE AT PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD OPEN FRI. EVES. TIL 8 P.M.

OPEN LETTER TO THE PUBLIC WHAT YOUR VOTE MEANS FOR CORAL GABLES

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Citizen: Your vote for BERNARD B. WEKSLER, an independent candidate, for the City Commission on April 11, 1961, means that you approve my stand on these issues: BERNARD B. WEKSLER is opposed to high rise buildings in Coral Gables. BERNARD B. WEKSLER is in favor of strict zoning enforcement in Coral Gables. BERNARD B. WEKSLER is in favor of a master development plan for all of Coral Gables, under the guidance of a professional planner working together with a group of civic minded public leaders. BERNARD B. WEKSLER is opposed to special interests, machine politics and favoritism in municipal government. BERNARD B. WEKSLER is in favor of a strong "conflicts of interest" provision in the City Charter, prohibiting members of the City Commission and public officials from financially and personally benefiting, directly or indirectly, from transactions involving the City of Coral Gables. BERNARD B. WEKSLER is in favor of a recreational development plan that will bring parks, playgrounds, picnic areas, public beaches, and fishing piers to Coral Gables. BERNARD B. WEKSLER is opposed to public land "give-aways" to private groups. BERNARD B. WEKSLER is opposed to unwarranted tax "free-loading" and will make private groups and institutions bear their fair share of taxes. BERNARD B. WEKSLER is in favor of decent wages for City employees. BERNARD B. WEKSLER is opposed to waste and extravagance in government and particularly the granting of contracts and variances to friends of City Commissioners. BERNARD B. WEKSLER is in favor of road improvements and street lighting improvements. The sewage system of Coral Gables requires improvement and sound financial planning. BERNARD B. WEKSLER is opposed to the blatant disregard of the rights of the residents and citizens of Coral Gables by a small group of politicians. BERNARD B. WEKSLER is in favor of the construction and erection of a new library building, new community center building, and garden center building for the use of all the inhabitants and residents of Coral Gables. BERNARD B. WEKSLER is in favor of the return of the principle of good, strong, honest, independent municipal government to Coral Gables. My record of achievements in the best interest of this Community speaks for itself: spearheaded public opposition to Granada Golf Course 'giveaway"; exposed "Tax Free-Loading" of hospitals and other properties; sponsored the creation of Recreational Advisory Board; obtained uniform, equal and non-discriminatory fees for golfers; and lead citizens' fight for reinstatement of Tax Assessor Thomas C. Blount. For a return to good, clean, honest, decent City government, remember to vote for BERNARD B. WEKSLER as your City Commissioner. Cordially, Bernard B. Weksler BERNARD B. WEKSLER Paid Pol. Adv.