HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #38 - Discussion Itema
eCITY OF MIA%1l. FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
The Honorable Mayor and
Members of the City Commission
ROM
Cesar H. Odio
City Manager
� 33
DATE APR 2 U 11992 FILE
SUBJECT Discussion Item:
Boundaries of the Edison/
Little River Neighborhood
REFERENCES
Commission Agenda Item
ENCLOSURES May 14 , 1992
Transmitted with this memorandum is a letter received from Jennifer
Clark, Bayside Crime Committee, addressing the issue of the
Edison/Little River Neighborhood boundaries.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Miami Commission, at its meeting of April 30, 1987
adopted Resolution No. 87-385, hereby attached, extending the
Edison/Little River Neighborhood Community Development target area
boundaries to include the area from Interstate 95 to the easterly
right-of-way line of Biscayne Boulevard. (U.S. 1).
The revision of the boundaries was necessary in order to allow the
City to make CDBG funds available for revitalization efforts within
the deteriorated commercial district along Biscayne Boulevard.
UPDATE:
Presently, approximately $700,000 in CDBG funds have been allocated
for projects along the Biscayne Boulevard corridor.
These projects include, but are not limited to, building and land
acquisition for housing purposes, street improvements, commercial
facade renovations and administrative funding for the Greater
Biscayne Chamber of Commerce.
cc: Letter enclosure
D,sr%)ss:(D#4
92- 400.1
JENNIFER ASHLEY CLARK
713 Northeast 71st Street
Miami, Florida 33138
(305) 757-8515
March 30, 1992
Frank Castaneda, Director
City of Miami Department
of Community Development
Dupont Plaza Center, Suite 420
300 Biscayne Boulevard Way
Miami, Florida 33131-2207
Re: Objections to CHO funding for
Greater Biscayne Boulevard Chamber
of Commerce, target area, etc.
Dear Mr. Castaneda:
Thank you for meeting with me on March 23rd. I think the
tour of the Northeast area with Mr. McManus and Ms. Braun was
very educational for all concerned.
As -you know a number of questions have been raised about the
use of HUD funds in our area. From the perspective of most of
the people who live in our area, the best that can be said for
the use of the more than $250,000.00 of these funds in this area
is that the money has been utterly wasted. At worst, these funds
have subsidized a group that has historically been at odds with
the people of this area, that has publically opposed our efforts
against crime, and has, as was admitted publically at the City
Commission meeting of March 12th, given aid and comfort to the
notorious motels on Biscayne Boulevard that have plagued us for
years, harboring crack and prostitution.
The conduct of the Biscayne Boulevard Chamber of Commerce In
general over the years, and more recent activities that served to
undermine anti -crime efforts on Biscayne Boulevard, caused the
committee to begin a review of its operations and the legality of
its continued funding. This review led to the accumulation of
the documentation we have gathered, the report prepared by the
committee, our correspondence with Mr. Nichols, and the order by
the City Commission for a complete investigation.
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I am sure that upon a full inquiry you will agree that at a
minimum the funding of this group must be immediately suspended,
and ultimately terminated altogether. The group clearly does not
qualify for this money and engages in activities that on a number
of levels precludes receipt of CDBG aid. The Chamber of Commerce
consists of a number of successful businesses that certainly have
the ability to raise funds without taking away money that is
intended to help the poor. Quite frankly, from what I have
learned I must agree with Commissioner De Yurre that a review of.
all CBOs be conducted by the City.
After the immediate problem of the improper subsidy of this
group with poverty funds is solved, the question remains as to
the direction of future economic development in this area. I
hope that of ter our tour of the area you have come to agree with
me that, for the most part, the area alonqBiscayne.__Boulevard_..
simply_ does not meet the criteria for CDBG funds. The owners of
`the off rcL5-'-b-ui ldi'ngs; shops and businesses along the Boulevard.
are not poor people. They do not service low income people. You
yourself said the area is not "blighted" within the meaning of
HUD guidelines. Certainly the area surrounding the wealthy Bay
Point residential area does not need this type of assistance.
I urge you to use available poverty funds in areas where
poor people can be shown the way to lift themselves from their
/ lot in life, and respectfully suggest that your office begin to
require more specific, detailed plans for doing so. Many of the
problems we face in Miami, including crime, can be traced to the
poor economic conditions in some areas. People in these areas
must be given assistance, and a certain degree of hope from the
fact that. something is being done. This is as much your
responsibility as it is the responsibility of the police
�\ department when the time comes again to quell civil unrest caused
by hopelessness and despair in areas that need these funds.
1 As for our area, after consultations with a number of people
a consensus has developed that not only have these scarce poverty
resources been wasted in our area, the fact that we have been
placed into the "target area" for Edision/Little River has
actually proven to be counterproductive to economic development.
As you may recall, this target area was expanded arbitarily, and
in my opinion improperly, without review, debate or notice to the
people, in order to accomodate the Chamber of Commerce.
To legally qualify for this aid, businesses must be the type
to attract low to moderate income people. This type of business,
however, does not suit this area or the vast majority of the
people who live here, who are at or above the middle income, and
in some cases ,even the upper 'income levels. We would prefer the
type of development suited to these income levels, and feel that
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in the long term the city would benefit more from the increase in
the tax base from more "upscale" development than from the use of
poverty funds to drag us further into the "blighted" category.
In other words, putting this area into a "target area" has a
sort of "red lining" effect that we do not want.
We are already the dumping ground for every social service
agency and drug treatment agency in existence, a fact which is
odd enough to begin with, considering the rampant drugs and crime
these people are subjected to ,when they arrive. We do not need
to be officially designated as a magnet for further decline. For
these reasons, and the fact that we do not want another "CBO" of
questionable motives and practices to resurface, the view of the
people in this area is to change the Edision/Little River target
area back to the original boundaries.
In fact, perhaps all of the target areas should be reviewed,
as the areas as now drawn cover nearly the entire city. our city
may have problems, but we are not that bad off.
The first step in economic recovery for Northeast Miami
would be to take us out of the target area. Residents would
still qualify for the home painting project on an individual
basis. I also note that the County, for example, has used these
funds for economic redevelopment in non —target areas also on an
individual basis. I see no reason why an area business can not
qualify for such funds if legitimately needed, even though the
business is not within a target area.
�i
- � After we are taken out of the red line area, the City must
focus on the three main problems that impede development here:
-� (1) zoning; (2) crime; and (3) code enforcement.
'j I propose that the City create a "Biscayne Boulevard
,E Commercial District" similar to that created for the Grove, with
specific limitations on the type of business in the area (which
would exclude motels), design standards, and zoning restrictions
that fit into the overall development plan for this area. The
plan should be based upon pedestrian access to businesses from
the residential areas adjacent to the Boulevard and businesses
that cater to the residents. Along with these businesses would
' be others that would cater to nonresidents such as tourists or
others that pass by on U.S. 1 on this main thouroughfare.
In conjunction with this new development plan would be an
increase in police presence, more sophisticated and in-depth
investigations of the dntrenched criminal activity on Biscayne
Boulevard establishments, more imaginative uses of statutes and
law enforcement techniques short of standard prosecutions, and
increased code enforcement. This program would complement a
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positive development plan with what you might call "negative
reinforcement" to push out the undesireable element.
I realize that successful development for this area may seem
hopeless. tie have no illusions that our area is going to change
overnight. Right now, however, there is no change in the status
quo at all, which is not acceptable.
You can do your part by ridding us of the yoke of being
inside the Edison/Little River "red line" and diverting the funds
of the Chamber of Commerce to where it belongs. Perhaps if the
Chamber is forced to seek its funding from donations from the
community and the businesses in the area, it will begin to listen
to us and will recruit many of the legitimate businesses in the
area that have shunned the Chamber because of its associations,
past activities and poor reputation. That would be a benefit
both to the area and to the Chamber should it choose to change
course and become a nosi.tive force for change in the area.
I hope you find this letter and the thoughts I have
expressed helpful in discharging your duties to the people of
this great city.
Copies to:
Mayor Suarez
Commissioner/Vice Mayor Alonso
Commissioner Dawkins
Commissioner De Yurre
Commissioner Plummer
Ceasar Odio, City Manager
Mr. Jim Nichols, U.S. HUD
M
Sincerely,
1'**/
Jenni r Ashley Clark
Bay
side Crime Committee
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Wednesday, Juno 3, 1987 s 1t,e Miami News • 9/1
DEPARTMENT -OF COMMUNITY,
DEVELOPMENT
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The City at Miami Commission will conduct a public
hearing to reconsider the expansion of the boundaries of .
the Edison/Little River neighborhood community
development target area eastbound to, and Including both
sides of Biscayne Boulevard from 1.195 on the south to N.E.
871h Street on the north. The expansion of the Edison/Little
River target area was previously approved through
Resolution No. 87-385 passed by the City Commission at a
public hearing held on April 30, 1987.
Date: Thursday, June 11, 1987
Time: 2:5ti P.M.
place:, City of Miami Commission Chamber
' 3500 Pan American Drive
All interested persons will be given the opportunity to
express their views on the proposed extension of the
Edison/Little River target area of Community Development
funds. Should any person at the public hearing desire to
appeal any decision of the Cily Commission with respect to
any matter considered at this hearing, that person sliall
ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made
Including all testimony and evidence upon which any
appeal may be based.
92- 400•1
CITY Or MIAMI, FLOMDA
INTER -OFFICE h9EMORnNOUM
TO Honorable Mayor and Members DATE. FILE:
of the City Commission
SUBJECT-
Resolution Authorizing an Amend -
meat to revise and extend the
boundaries of the Edison/Little
River Neighborhood Community
FROM Cesar 11. Odi.o REFEnENCEsDevelopment Target Area
City Manager
ENCLOsunEs:
RECOMMENDATION:
It is respectfully recommended that the City Commission adopt the
attached Resolution authorizing the extension of the boundaries
of the Edison/Little River neighborhood community development
target area eastbound to, and including both sides of Biscayne
Boulevard from I-195 on the south to N.E. 87th Street on the
north.
BACKGROUND:
The Department of Community Development has analyzed the need to
extend the boundaries of the Edison/Little River neighborhood
target area.
The revision of the ' boundaries is necessary to include the
deteriorated commercial district along Biscayne Boulevard within
the Community Development target area. This will allow the City
to make funds available for rehabilitation and revitalization
efforts.
Businesses in this area can not currently participate in the
City's commercial facade program, receive financial assistance
from Miami Capital Development, Inc. or receive other government
program aid.
The Planning Department has reviewed the request and has provided
the required material for the extension. Planning also reports
that the proposed addition to the Edison/Little River Community
Development target area, will encompass 5,163 residence changing
the Community Development areas population from 35,861 to 41,024
using the 1980 census population statistics.
92-- 400•1
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d-87-343
4/1!87
RESOLUTI0N 110.
A RESOLUTI01i EXTENDING THE EASTERLY BOUNDARY
OF THE EDISO1i/LITTLE RIVER HEIGIINOR1100D
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TARGET AREA III THE CITY
OF HIAHI TO THE EASTERLY RIGHT -OF -NAY LINE OF
BISCAYNE BOULEVARD (U.S. 1).
WHEREAS, the deterioration of the neighborhood located
within the herein extended boundary limit, especially in the
neighborhood's business district must be halted and reversed; and
WHEREAS, the area from Biscayne Boulevard to the FEC
Railroad is currently outside a Community Development target
area: and
WHEREAS. in order to qualify for assistance under the
Community Development Block Grant Guidelines, a neighborhood
section must be within a designated community development target
area;
NOW. THEREFORE. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COHHISS101I OF THE CITY
OF HIAHI. FLORIDA:
Section 1. The easterly boundary of the Edison/Little
River Neighborhood Community Development Target Area is hereby
extended to include the area in the City of Miami from
Interstate 95 to the easterly right-of-way line of Biscayne
Boulevard (U.S. 1).
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 30C1L day of ,Apr i1 1987.
ATTEST:
14 ATTY IiIRAI/G
CITY CLERK
PREPARED AND APPROVED BY:
x��z ,
ROBERT F. CLARK
CHIEF DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY
RFC:bss:H400
]{AVIER L. SU FEZ.
APPROVE AS TO FORM AND
CORREC i SS:
LU A . DOUG ERTY 2— 4 O Q • 1
CITY ATTORNEY
CITY COMMISSION
MEETING OF
I
APR 30 1561
030111101 no 87— 38 )` 3 - I