HELP SAVE MATHESON HAMMOCK PARK FROM DEVELOPMENT!

[Maria de los Angeles]

The county plans on building a massive, 5-story, 62,000 sq ft boat warehouse at Matheson Hammock Park! What a friggin' boneheaded thing to do! I rarely get pissed off, but this makes my blood boil. 

PLEASE sign this petition.

If you have ever been to this park, you know any such development would interfere with the balance of nature here, not to mention the tranquility of this last urban sanctuary in Coral Gables. It is also an insult to the original architect's vision.

http://www.saveourmathesonhammock.com/index.php

[Maria de los Angeles]

[Doug]

I posted my name, address, and a comment and submitted them. The next page thanked me for my support but said there was an error:

"Error: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 've spent many hours enjoying the natural beauty of this park and writing about i' at line 1"

My SQL syntax appears to be off! Whatever that is.

[Matt Meltzer]

Who is behind this brilliant idea?

[Maria de los Angeles]

I wish they had contact info on that site.

Someone is referring my email address to one of the main organizers.

I called City of Coral Gables and they told me this is an independently organized movement.

There is also this article on the history of the project from the Coral Gables Gazette: http://www.cggazette.com/index.cfm?d....view&nid=3312

[rk]

Doug, you have two options:

(1) Debug and fix their SQL server code

or

(2) Repost your comments without the apostrophe, i.e. use "I have" instead if "I've"

I suppose if time is short use option (2).

[Maria de los Angeles]

Who is behind this brilliant idea?

Miami-Dade county wants to lease the building to a private enterprise.

[GandJ]

It looks like the structure would be for a boat storage facility. Those are all over south Florida., but I'm not sure why they'd pick Matheson Hammock. Other areas would be more suitable.



Glenn

[Mario]

It's ridiculous that they want to build something there. There are so many other places to build a storage. Spread the word.

[Maria de los Angeles]

Who is behind this brilliant idea?

The Buoniconti family. Yes, Nick and Marc Buoniconti. Other key players: Architect Richard Heisenbottle, lobbyist Dusty Melton and attorney Laura Russo.


PS I am going to do a story on this for 411. Carlos and I already talked about it. I'll be going to the commissioner's meeting when it's on the agenda.

[Maria de los Angeles]

Here is a copy of my letter to Coral Gables commissioners

Dear Mr. Mayor and Commissioners,

I am a freelance writer and am respectfully requesting that the dry dock storage facility not be developed at Matheson Hammock Park.

Here are ten great reasons why: http://sexandthebeach.blogspot.com/2...n-hammock.html

Building such a facility will not only ruin quality of life for residents such as myself, but also ruin the park experience for visitors locally and beyond, not to mention the environmental damage it will cause. It currently takes me 15 minutes to drive 4 miles to Matheson. I shudder to think of the congestion there will be if this facility is constructed. I spend a lot of time at Matheson because it is one of very few pristine areas in the county outside of the Everglades to enjoy a peaceful walk. We do not need to turn this into another Coconut Grove or Rickenbacker marina.

This development is also an insult to the original architect of Matheson, who also designed adjacent Fairchild with a singular vision to allow Dade residents an opportunity for respite from urban congestion. It also insults the memory of Mr. Matheson himself, who donated a section of the park.

I don't mean to make fun of this, but honestly, if this development goes through, you are going to approve Matheson becoming a Hialeah parking lot.

I am a former Coral Gables resident and currently live 1 block from Coral Gables in the South Miami/High Pines area. This area is precious to me and it's also historical. It's very important to preserve all of this.

I have launched a massive social media campaign to get the word out. See you at the commissioners meeting when this agenda comes up. I look forward to meeting you as I will be interviewing the parties involved for a more in-depth journalistic story.

Best,

Maria de los Angeles

Cross posted here: http://tropicalaudubon.org/tasboard/messages/65095.html

[Maria de los Angeles]

If you are on Twitter, please use tag #savematheson to address this

And feel free to share this post, where I feature TEN REASONS to save Matheson Hammock in a pictorial essay http://sexandthebeach.blogspot.com/2...n-hammock.html

[Matt Meltzer]

Youd think someone so locally entwined would appreciate a place like that. Maybe that NFL pension isn't as much as Nick thought.