Coral Gables commission has workshop on development along U.S. 1 corridor

“The workshop will explore, in partnership with residents and stakeholders, existing and potential future redevelopment scenarios along the City’s portion of the Corridor that include pedestrian accessibility, traffic issues and more,” says a note in an email newsletter from Vice Mayor Vince Lago.

Is this a case of too little, too late? Or is it, rather, a sign of more development coming?

Residents in the Riviera neighborhood have long complained about the rate of development along the highway, which cuts the City Beautiful practically in half. A corridor study that was supposed to be done several years ago was a developer-friendly joke and was scrapped by then city manager Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark — without telling the commission — after spending $50,000 of a $150K budget.

And already there are three looming buildings within a mile of each other there.

Read related: Coral Gables explores more development along U.S. 1

The Paseo de la Riviera is perhaps the most obnoxious of these. Abutting in the back to million dollar homes, the front is practically spilled onto the street. It may not be ADA compliant. Residents spent close to $75,000 trying to stop it, knowing it would be the “beginning of the end.” Even people from outside Coral Gables who drive the corridor to Miami’s downtown can’t believe that exists in Coral Gables. It’s suddenly, like, right on top of you.

Ladra’s heard that even some commissioners have said they would not have voted to approve it in 2015 if they had known it would be such a monstrosity.

After that, there was Gables Station. And then The Collection’s building where the car lot used to be, coming practically up to the street on the north, and southbound, side.

But there are also still a number of properties that might still look attractive to developers who will also, for sure, want to maximize profits by going higher and denser. Especially if they can use an overlay “transit oriented development” zoning — because it’s along the MetroRail — that would allow developers to build higher and cut parking requirements.

“We definitely think there’s time for something to be done,” said an active member of the Riviera Homeowners Association. “But we don’t know if there’s political will to go against the developers.”

Lago for one — and maybe because he is already running for mayor — has said that he wants the study.

“I sponsored the U.S. 1 workshop almost three years ago with the sole purpose to garner input from the community in an effort to formulate a master plan,” Lago told Ladra on Sunday. “Since our previous city manager unilaterally cancelled the study without the permission of the commission, I have made it very clear that this study is a priority.

“I look forward to the city initating a transparent process which prioritizes the input of the residents and business community.”

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The last workshops were a joke. The city’s consultant had three meetings with residents who couldn’t ask questions or make suggestions as to what they would want to see in their neighborhood. The city had also appointed a blue panel committee made up mostly of developers and their land use attorneys and Meg Daly, the Underline lady, who can only gain from more development along U.S. 1 because it means more tax dollars for her otherwise very worthy project.

Residents balked and demanded to be part of the panel. That’s when Swanson-Rivenbark pulled the plug.

Some residents fear this workshop could be more of the same. Several months ago, they were told that commissioners would have a workshop to talk among themselves and hear from staff on the issue. But they want to participate and give their ideas.

But that’s if Mayor Raul Valdes-Fauli, who loves to shut people down, lets anyone talk. It’s not a public hearing, but it is a workshop. Residents and business owners should be part of the conversation about what happens there and on U.S. 1.

The workshop starts at 7 p.m. at the city’s Adult Activity Center, 2 Andalusia Ave. And Ladra can’t help but wonder how many developers and land use attorneys will be there.