The Times

At Biltmore Tower, Country Club Water pressure too low to battle major fires

By ANA MARIA ALVAREZ Staff Writer There is not enough water pressure available to protect the Biltmore Tower, the Country Club building or the proposed tennis courts on the Biltmore complex, according to Coral Gables Fire Marshall Joseph Atwood. At the present time the entire complex has only one-third the amount of water pressure required by Dade County ordinance and less than one-fifth the amount needed according to a study conducted by the Coral Gables Fire Department. Atwood made the announcement at the Historical Preservation Board meeting this week. "We now have 1,300 gallons of water per minute, Dade County ordinance requires at least 3,000 gallons of water per minute and our own study shows that we need to produce 7,500 gallons per minute in order to fight a fire," said Atwood. Neither the water main nor the fire loop could produce enough water, said Atwood. And under the present conditions, the fire marshall said he would not be able to issue certificates of occupancy to the museum planned for the Country Club building, the Tower building or the tennis courts when they are constructed. "This is the first I've heard of it. If we have to meet these new standards, it would be a big setback to the museum people, as well as to the city." J. Martin Gainer Atwood said that he has been warning people about the need to bring the entire complex up to fire code standards for some time. "We don't want to appear like the bad guys wearing the black hats," said Atwood. "I thought everyone understood totally that all three structures have to be protected and meet fire code standards." "Evidently, there are so many people involved in the Biltmore that the information hasn't been relayed back to everyone." Coral Gables City Manager J. Martin Gainer said that this is the first time he has heard that the Country Club building would not meet the standards, as well as the proposed tennis courts. "I have asked the Fire Marshall to prepare a detailed report stating his position on the matter. I also asked him to document the times he has stated his position in the past," said Gainer. "This is the first I have heard of it," he said. "If we have to meet these new standards it would be a big setback to the museum people, as well as to the city," he added. Herbert Johnson, the architect for the museum and art center planned for the Country Club building, said he was aware of the Dade County ordinance. "We are going right ahead with our plans, and we are assuming that the See CITY, Page 4

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Times Guide

Serving The City Beautiful Since 1926 Florida's Best Suburban Newspaper 4627 Ponce de Leon Boulevard Coral Gables Florida 33146 Phone 665 7981 32 Pages Vol. 51 No. 4 Wednesday, January 12, 1977 ** 10 Cents

Alhambra residents now must fight neighbors over traffic

By ANA MARIA ALVAREZ Staff Writer Just when the residents of Alhambra Circle thought their traffic problems were over, residents from neighboring streets turned up en masse to protest a cul-de-sac proposed to rid Alhambra of congestion and speeding motorists. Sitting in the aisles, the floor and hanging out the doors of the Coral Gables City Commission Chambers, residents living on Granada, Obispo, Sorolla. South Greenway and Coral Way, voiced strong opposition to the proposed traffic blockade. Calling the proposal "too drastic" and a mere "Band-Aid" on the overall traffic problems in the Gables, the commission asked the county to report back in 90 days with a more thorough study of the overall area. "I don't want to put Alhambra's traffic on any other streets, but I ask the commission to allow the traffic study planned to be tried." Tom Schulte, Alhambra resident The commissioners asked Eugene Simm, director of the Dade County Traffic and Transportation Department, to study the traffic problems in the area from Le Jeune to Red roads and from Tamiami Trail to Anastasia. He will report back in 90 days with the results of the study and alternative recommendations. In addition, the commission instructed the city manager to beef up police radar patrol on Alhambra until a permanent solution to the traffic problems on that roadway can be found. Simm's two alternative proposals presented at the commission meeting would block Alhambra at Columbus Boulevard. "When we heard about the cul-de-sac being planned for Alhambra Circle, the general reaction was astonishment," said Charles Robertson, 1710 Granada Blvd. "The result of such construction is obvious. "When traffic is diverted from Alhambra, motorists are not going to use the already jammed arterial roads, they are going to use the residential streets nearby," he added. Robertson presented the commission with 739 signatures from neighbors opposed to the cul-de-sac. Their main concern is that their streets will be burdened with additional traffic. Tom Schulte, who lives at 1200 Alhambra Cir.. on the southwest corner where the cul-de-sac was proposed, along with other Alhambra Circle residents asked the commission to try the cul-desac temporarily. "I don't want to put Alhambra's traffic on any other streets but I ask the commission to allow the traffic study plan to be tried," he said. "It has never been our intention to give other people our traffic problems," said Melinda Joyner Croft, who has been See COMMISSION, Page 8