Coral Gables moves a step closer to approving a new apartment-retail tower.
Merrick Manor, a mixed-use, 180-unit rental apartment complex and retail property extending 100 feet above the ground along Le Jeune Road, received final approval from the Coral Gables City Commission on Tuesday.
The five commissioners, including Mayor Jim Cason, unanimously voted on second reading to support several stages of the project that will eventually replace an old trolley yard at LeJeune at Altara Avenue, once Miami-based Astor Development Holdings completes the project sometime next year.
The mixed-use site plan proposes a seven-story building of 72 feet fronting LeJeune and 10 floors and 100 feet at the opposite side of the property, along Laguna Street. Merrick Manor would feature apartments ranging from 790 to 1,200 square feet, along with 11,740 square-feet of retail and 5,946 square-feet of office space along with street level improvements.
“I think we’ll all be happy with the project,” said Mario Garcia-Serra of Greenberg Traurig, who is representing the developers.
But approval wasn’t guaranteed. During the first reading in July, commissioner Ralph Cabrera urged Astor officials to discuss, in detail, how to minimize the impact of construction with the owners of nearby Caffe Vialetto, a restaurant that has operated in Coral Gables for 14 years. The restaurant uses an alley way for its customers to enter and exit the parking area, and this portion of land would be modified by the rising of Merrick Manor.
On Tuesday, co-owner Ernie Fernandez said he still had concerns over potential lost business during the construction period that hadn’t been adequately addressed during the month between readings.
“I support the project — at the end of the day, 18 months from now, but during that time period I’m worried. People don’t understand how tough the restaurant business is. How this whole project will affect us in that time frame, I can’t predict what’s going to happen, but I have major concerns.”
In particular, Fernandez specified that obstructing the alley with construction material would block access for employees and customers.
Cabrera was not pleased.
“I gave a very specific direction that this item be addressed,” he said. “I wanted to see staff be a part of the process. Here’s this new applicant coming forward with this wonderful project and somehow we missed the boat taking an active role in this, rather than sit here and watch an applicant and affected property owner bring this to us.”
Ultimately, Fernandez, representatives from Astor and Garcia-Serra adjourned privately for 15 minutes to discuss remedies to present to the commission.
Among the concessions, Astor agreed to provide temporary signage for Caffe Vialetto during the construction period and that access to the restaurant would not be blocked with construction staging materials.
“I’m satisfied. At this point,” Fernandez said, shrugging.
Astor began formal negotiations with the city in March by offering to do a land swap to acquire 4133 LeJeune Road from the city in exchange for property on Douglas Road that would serve as the new trolley facility.
In other business, the commission unanimously approved an emergency ordinance amending its pension code to preserve its benefits plan in the wake of several employees who experienced a reduction in their retirement benefits due to the application of Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code. The current Section 415 annual limit on employer-provided benefits paid from a defined benefit plan is $200,000 at age 62. The section also provides for a downward adjustment of the benefit limit for plan members who retire before age 62. The ordinance was adopted to alleviate the economic hardships incurred by about three former employees who experienced a reduction in retirement benefits and who were not advised upon enrollment in the plan of Section 415’s limitations on their benefits.
The commission also agreed to augment a $30,000 grant provided by American Express to restore the ticket booth kiosk at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theater, a historic site the city owns. Executive director Barbara Stein estimated that proper restoration could cost upward of $48,000 and the city agreed to make up the difference
Miami Herald
Miami Herald
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