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HomeMy WebLinkAboutsubmission - correspondence 3Judith Gray 1036 NW North Kiver Drive Miami,1L 3 513 6-2916 February 26, 2004 Miami City Commissioners City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 Dear Commissioners, I live in the beautiful neighborhood of Spring Garden, a jewel in the downtown Miami area. I live directly across from the old Miami News building which is presently being considered for development by Royal Atlantic. They are proposing two high-rise towers, 25 and 27 stories, with an advertised height of 280 feet. I am requesting your support in fighting this totally inappropriately sized development. The proposed development will overwhelm the adjacent neighborhoods including Spring Garden. I am certain that my neighbors across the river in East Little Havana can make similar claims. There is nothing in the middle river area that comes even close to the height proposed in this project. I object to this development for several reason. Privacy. Both towers are aimed directly at my home and those of my immediate neighbors. As a result, hundreds of people will have us as their view. The apartments will be occupied at the same times that we are at home, unlike a business that might operate on the property. We will never again be able to sit privately on our decks and enjoy a quiet afternoon, evening, or weekend. This has a fundamental negative impact on the character and privacy of our homes. View. The proposed development will block the sun and sky for the residences immediately across the Miami River in Spring Garden. Right now, my neighbors and I have the ability to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful middle river. The views from our decks and docks include the big sky and sun, weather patterns moving through, and (at night) lovely distant views of the lights of Miami. These structures will eliminate most of our views, except the view up and down the axis of the river and, of course, the view of the two proposed overwhelming apartment structures. Our homes will be in the shadow of these buildings. The sun will be blocked for part of the day, especially in the winter, when we spend much of our time outside on our decks and docks along the river. 305-545-7955 (h) 505-561-4506 (w) 505-785-5665 (cell) ,0,_sti_BWITEDZITO THE PUBLIC RECORD FOR ITRfl Di Night-time Light Pollution. The proposed development will not only block the sun during the day but provide 25 and 27-stories worth of additional lighting during the night with porch and security lights aimed out in the direction of our homes. Noise Pollution. My neighbors and I live in a city and it is noisy. We accepted that when we moved downtown. Several of our homes are directly across from the center of the horn formed by the two proposed towers. The orientation of the high-rise towers will focus the sound energy directly toward the Spring Garden neighborhood, specifically my home and those adjacent to me. As was so eloquently demonstrated by my neighbor, Mayte Deramon, at a recent Planning Board meeting, the orientation of the towers will amplify the sounds of overflying aircraft and the nearby highway, exactly as sound is amplified when you cup your hands around your mouth to amplify your voice. This will make it much noisier at my home and in my neighborhood. Traffic. The proposed 744 units will dump circa 1000 additional vehicles into the very busy intersections around the 12`h Avenue and 5`h Street bridges over the Miami River, the primary access points to the city for neighborhoods on both sides of the river. Their way in and out of their neighborhood would be the same as our way in and out of Spring Garden. Peak traffic times for the proposed buildings will be the same as the peak traffic times for all area residents. Traffic studies that amortize the traffic from this proposed complex over a 24-hour period are unrealistic. Increased traffic at the river -bridge choke points will likely increase the number of cars cutting through Spring Garden to avoid the lights at NW 12th Avenue, NW 1 1th Street, NW 7`h Avenue, and NW 5th Street. Spring Garden is a neighborhood of single family dwellings including townhomes. Our streets are filled with children playing and people walking their dogs. Anything that would increase the traffic in our neighborhood will limit these activities that define the neighborly qualities of Spring Garden. Property Values. The value of our properties may or may not be affected by development of the property across from us on NW 7th Street. I cannot imagine how our property values could be enhanced by these huge structures blocking the sky. Air Flow. My home is directly across from the space between the two towers. I am a meteorologist with a background in studying winds along mountainous coastlines. While there are few mountains in Florida, I am concerned about how these two huge towers will affect the flow of air in the nearby neighborhoods. Will the towers cause pockets of stagnant air where we previously enjoyed the relief of evening sea breezes? Will the change in air flow due to these huge structures slow down the dissipation of ship exhaust, common along the Miami River? What about the funneling of high winds during tropical storms and hurricanes? My limited understanding of sensible city planning advises gradual increases in height from single family residential, slowly increasing to high-rise developments. The scale and balance of 505-545-7955 (h) 5o5-561-14-506 (w) 5o5-785-5663 (cell) 305-561-1119 (fax) judy.gray@noaa.gov this proposed project is inappropriate for this neighborhood since there is nothing nearby that is anywhere close to the proposed height. I fully endorse the development of Miami as a world class city that celebrates the Miami River. The proposed Royal Atlantic development is just too high. I agree that the area along NW 7th Street needs improvement. While Restricted Commercial zoning allows this completely inappropriately sized development, let's work together to do something appropriate for these neighborhoods along the middle river and not overwhelm them by taking the zoning to the limit. My neighbors and I are fighting for the quality of life afforded to us as residents of Spring Garden, a jewel in the downtown area. Please don't ruin this lovely part of the Spring Garden neighborhood. Once a historic district loses its character, it cannot be reclaimed. The historic neighborhood designation ends at the river. The character of the historic district extends beyond the river. We have what everybody wants: a vibrant, involved community of single-family homes with plenty of green space in a location near downtown jobs and services. Please work with us to enhance this area and not overwhelm it with these two huge towers. Please help us maintain the character of the middle river and the Spring Garden neighborhood. Sincerely, 5o5-545-7955 (h) 305-561-4-506 (w) 505-785-5665 (cell) 505-561-1119 (fax) judy.gray@noaa.gov