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Grove Isle

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Coordinates: 25°44′09″N 80°13′07″W / 25.7359339°N 80.2186599°W / 25.7359339; -80.2186599
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Grove Isle
Coconut Grove, Miami
Grove Isle lies in Biscayne Bay, Miami, Fl.
Grove Isle lies in Biscayne Bay, Miami, Fl.
Map
Coordinates: 25°44′09″N 80°13′07″W / 25.7359339°N 80.2186599°W / 25.7359339; -80.2186599
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyMiami-Dade County
CityMiami
NeighborhoodCoconut Grove
Area
 • Total
0.03125 sq mi (0.0809 km2)
Highest elevation
6 ft (2 m)
Lowest elevation
3 ft (0.9 m)
Time zoneUTC-05 (EST)
ZIP Code
33133
Area code(s)305, 786

Grove Isle is a 20-acre island lying off the north-east coast of Miami's Coconut Grove neighborhood. Three waterfront hi-rise residences have been built on the island which were master-planned to include a resort hotel, restaurants, marina, club amenities and services.

Origins

Fair Isle (now Grove Isle) lying off Miami's Coconut Grove coast in 1928

First known as Fair Isle, its land was dredged out from Biscayne Bay in 1924[1][2] by the Corps of Engineers[3] and subsequently subdivided in 1925.[4][5] Many artificial islands of the period, such as Fair Isle, were formed when artificial inlets were cut into Biscayne Bay's coastline.[6] The isle was then sold to investors at the height of the Florida Land Boom in less than four hours and for over $1.5 million.[7][8] A combination of real estate crash, freight blockades and hurricane damage during 1925-6 stalled further property development of Miami and the island.

Development

Miami's Grove Isle Condominium, Club and Marina

The island remained largely untouched—a large sand bar covered with Australian Pines—until large scale development came to Coconut Grove in the late 1970s and early 1980s.[9][10] The island was purchased for $6 million and restrictions on the island's development were finally agreed after protracted litigation over its size was settled in July 1977.[11][12] Cabot, Cabot and Forbes of Massachusetts were one of the principal sellers of the island.[11] Martin Margulies and Sun Bank of Miami were its eventual buyers and subsequently invested $100 million to develop the property.[13][14]

An earlier aspiration by Burton Goldberg, the notorious Miami nightclub impresario,[15] to make the island's club and residential project the largest in South Florida ended in foreclosure after a long legal battle with local stakeholders and residents.[3][16] The design was significantly reworked and Margulies' scaled-back development was finally completed in 1982. It would consist of three residential towers, a hotel and club,[17][18] deep-water marina,[19][20] pools, professional tennis club, original art and sculpture gardens.[21][22] The Grove Isle development set the standard for high-end Miami property.[23][24]

Character

The expansive gardens of Grove Isle, Miami

Grove Isle provides one of the most secluded spots to live in Miami and is highly prized "by residents for its tranquillity and panoramic bay views".[25] Its residents have included past Heads of State, Senators, judges, lawyers, doctors, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs and philanthropists.[26][27][28]

The Palmeiras Beach Club and Hotel, Spa, Grove Isle Marina and Cliff Drysdale Grove Isle Tennis Club are located on the island.[29][30] The world-class Grove Isle Sculpture Garden once comprised part of the island's landscaped design.[31][32][33] The three residential towers' interior designs were unique in the area for their Asian themes and accents.[17]

The island's wide open spaces and expansive tree canopy are highly valued by its residents.[34][35] The gardens and decks of Grove Isle were due to be replanted after damage received from Hurricane Irma in September 2017.[36][37] Major renovations were also planned to improve the structural and aesthetic integrity of the three towers, their decks and the gardens.[36] The retention of the island's tree canopy and its mature trees is a priority for many on Grove Isle and in Coconut Grove.[34][38]

Controversy

Grove Isle panorama with its Miami background

Competing visions for Grove Isle’s future have at times embroiled the island in controversy. Its 1980 development was only permitted under a landmark settlement after the project was significantly scaled back over a decade of litigation and protest.[11][12] A further proposal to develop the island’s yacht club also ended up in court due to concerns about its environmental impact.[4][39][40] Grove Isle residents were also involved in protecting the neighbourhood against a high-rise project on an adjacent Mercy Hospital site.[41][42]

More recently, attempts to close the island’s club were halted by court order in August 2015.[27][43][44] This was linked to a developer's efforts, first started in 2013, to build additional high-density residential units on the island.[25][45][46] Residents' efforts to retain the island's hotel, which was put at risk by the new development plans, resulted in litigation in 2017.[47][48] Issues regarding club membership rights, the quality of club amenities, and further development plans for the site (4 Grove Isle) continue to require judicial proceedings.[49][47][50]

  • Grove Isle Condominium, Hotel & Club
    Grove Isle Condominium, Hotel & Club
  • Grove Isle gardens with its bay views
    Grove Isle gardens with its bay views
  • Grove Isle (then Fair Isle) lying off Miami's Coconut Grove in 1940
    Grove Isle (then Fair Isle) lying off Miami's Coconut Grove in 1940
  • Original Grove Isle Sculpture Decks and Gardens (now moved)[51]
    Original Grove Isle Sculpture Decks and Gardens (now moved)[51]
  • View of Grove Isle & Biscayne Bay from Coconut Grove
    View of Grove Isle & Biscayne Bay from Coconut Grove
  • Image of Martin Margulies taken on the Sculpture Deck on Grove Isle
    Image of Martin Margulies taken on the Sculpture Deck on Grove Isle
  • Grove Isle gardens along Biscayne Bay
    Grove Isle gardens along Biscayne Bay
  • Coconut Grove coast before Fair (Grove) Isle was dredged out of the bay in 1923
    Coconut Grove coast before Fair (Grove) Isle was dredged out of the bay in 1923
  • Hurricane Irma hits Grove Isle in September 2017
    Hurricane Irma hits Grove Isle in September 2017
  • Rowing Team off Grove Isle Beach
    Rowing Team off Grove Isle Beach

References

  1. ^ During the boom years of the early 1920's the spoil bank that would become Fair Isle (now Grove Isle) was created when an "L" shaped canal and channel were dredged in the area. In 1924 a wooden bulkhead was constructed around the spoil bank and the area was filled to a 2 foot elevation (Voss, 1974)
  2. ^ National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science National Ocean Service (2000) Biscayne Bay: Environmental History and Annotated Bibliography. Maryland: NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, p. 65 & pl. 74 (Fair Isle)
  3. ^ a b "Club on Sailboat Key Slated - Plush Condominium Project". The Naples Daily News, Naples, Florida. www.newspapers.com. 1972-11-12. p. 50. Retrieved 2017-09-04. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  4. ^ a b Voss G. (1974) Biological survey and development recommendations for Fair Isle, Biscayne Bay, Fla. Unpublished manuscript. University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Miami, FL. 15 pp. and A. Cantillo, K. Hale, E. Collins, L. Pikula and R. Caballero (2000) Biscayne Bay: Environmental History and Annotated Bibliography, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS CCMA 145, p.65
  5. ^ Hailey, C. (2013) Spoil island: reading the makeshift archipelago, Lanham, Md: Lexington Books, p.173-229
  6. ^ "East Florida's Barrier Islands: Natural vs. Man-Made; By Dr. Charles W. Finkl | Coastal Care". coastalcare.org. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  7. ^ Ballinger, J. Kenneth (1936) "Miami millions: the dance of the dollars in the great Florida land boom of 1925, Miami, Fla.: Franklin Press, p. 126
  8. ^ Turner, G. M. (2015) Florida land boom of the 1920s, Jefferson NC: McFarland & Company, p.22
  9. ^ A surge of commercial development was driven by three major residential complexes in Coconut Grove during the late 1970s and early 1980s: Yacht Harbour Condominiums in 1975; Grove Isle, a condominium and hotel complex, in 1979; and L'Hermitage in 1980. This was followed with the opening of 2575 S. Bayshore in 1982 and the 1983 opening of Grove Towers. Laurie Baum (1984) The New Face of Coconut Grove, Miami Herald, The (FL) - August 27, 1984, Page number: 1BM Record: 8403030190; Fair (Grove) Isle was expanded in the 1960s [Wanless et al. (1984) Sources and circulation of turbidity, Biscayne Bay, FL. Final report to Sea Grant and Dade County, 499 p]
  10. ^ Local efforts made to convert the island into a park for $8 million failed at the ballot box in 1970. Source: details provided by Seth Sklarey, Coconut Grove Village Council member, at Miami District 2 Candidate Commissioners Presentations on Grove Isle, April 15, 2015.
  11. ^ a b c The local community had been in total opposition to the development and expressly the over-development of the island with a plan to build four 40 story towers with 2000 units and 1500 parking spaces. Further detail regarding these policy and political discussions may be found at GI DOCS Note: large document (accessed Jan 30 2016. See also terms set out in Final Settlement of 27 July 1977, Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit in and for Dade County, Florida, Case No. 73-6449
  12. ^ a b Moore Parks, A. and Bennett, B. (2010) Coconut Grove, Florida: Arcadia Publishing, p. 119-122
  13. ^ Herald Staff (1982) Grove Isle, Miami Herald, The (FL) - December 12, 1982, Page number: 1G Brian Blanchard (1982) The Grove Steps Up To A New Look, Miami Herald, The (FL) - November 18, 1982, Page number: 14
  14. ^ Disclosure Documents of Grove Isle, A Condominium. Note: large document
  15. ^ Rowe, Sean (1997-02-27). "Glorious & Notorious". Miami New Times. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
  16. ^ Parks, Arva Moore; Bennett, Bo (2010). Coconut Grove. Arcadia Publishing. p. 122. ISBN 9780738586274.
  17. ^ a b Ronald John Gee, a London-born Coconut Grove resident of Gee & Martinez Architects, designed many of the buildings on Grove Isle. Fernandez-Rocha, P. (1997) Ronald John Gee, Designed Public Buildings, Miami Herald, The (FL) - March 9, 1997
  18. ^ The Grove Isle Hotel and Club would go on to become a member of the Relais & Chateau fellowship of individually owned and operated luxury hotels and restaurants (2001). The renown restaurant Baleen was also located at the Grove Isle Club.
  19. ^ Juanita Greene (1984) Private Marinas Wait For Grove Isle Ruling, Miami Herald, The (FL) - August 6, 1984
  20. ^ U.S. Army Engineers (1978) Grove Isle Marina, Miami: Environmental Impact Statement. Accessed February 2016
  21. ^ Helen L. Kohen (1994) A Center of Learning and Centre of Sculpture, Miami Herald, The (FL) - March 24, 1994, Record: 9401220979, Page: 1G
  22. ^ Blumenthal, Ralph (1983-01-09). "Florida Condominiums: A Buyers Market". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-02-06. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  23. ^ Sandra Evans Teeley (1982) Florida's Upper Classes Escape to Fortified Living, The Washington Post, May 1, 1982, Page number: Real Estate; E21 Laurel Tielis (1982) Just 4 Years Old And Already A Business Showoff, Miami Herald, The (FL) - December 8, 1982, Page number: 4B
  24. ^ Ian Glass, Martin Margulies; His is the art of living well in a kingdom -- Grove Isle, The Miami News, August 12, 1981, p. C2
  25. ^ a b Andres Viglucci (2015) Developer's plans roil Grove Isle tranquility, Miami Herald, The (FL), August 21, 2015
  26. ^ Andres Oppenheimer (1989) Panama's Ousted Leader Moves To Miami, Miami Herald, The (FL) - March 22, 1989, Page number: 24A Record: 8901210323
  27. ^ a b Andres Viglucci (2015) Developer's plans roil Grove Isle tranquility, Miami Herald, The (FL), August 21, 2015, p. ?
  28. ^ Office of the Miami Dade County Property Appraiser's Registers
  29. ^ Tom Falco (2015) Palmeiras Beach Club opening on Grove Isle, Coconut Grove Grapevine, November 25, 2015
  30. ^ Menache, J (2011) Grove Isle condo dedicates new dog park, Miami Herald The (FL), December 22, 2011
  31. ^ "Patronage Under Fire : A Case For Showcasing Living Artists - Art Antiques Design". www.art-antiques-design.com. Retrieved 2017-03-27.
  32. ^ "Developer Shows Heart,". tribunedigital-sunsentinel. Retrieved 2017-03-27.
  33. ^ Harper, Paula & Katherine Jannach Hinds (1986) Contemporary Sculpture from the Martin Z. Margulies Collection - Grove Isle, Coconut Grove, Florida. Published by Margulies Collection, Coconut Grove, FL, 1986
  34. ^ a b "Grove Watch Group - Preserving The Nature and Character of The Grove". Grove Watch Group. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  35. ^ "Grove Isle project risks damaging neighborhood". Grove Isle. 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  36. ^ a b GroveIsle123. "Updates on the construction - Summaries of the Valet & Design Committees". Grove Isle 123 brings you the news. Retrieved 2018-02-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  37. ^ "At messy Coconut Grove marinas, most boats intact — but some not so lucky". miamiherald. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  38. ^ GroveIsle123. "Design Committee Notes on the Meeting Page". Grove Isle 123 brings you the news. Retrieved 2018-07-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  39. ^ "Apathy reigns and Biscayne Bay pays the price". www.grandlifestyle.com. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  40. ^ "Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve Management Plan". www.gpo.gov. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  41. ^ "Coconut Grove, 300 Grove Bay, Jorge Perez, Manny Diaz". www.coconutgrovegrapevine.com. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  42. ^ "Coconut Grove Grapevine: Zoning Board turns down Mercy request for rezoning". coconutgrovegrapevine.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-06-07. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  43. ^ "Miami Private Island Developer Ordered To Keep Club Open - Law360". www.law360.com. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  44. ^ "Judge Grants Luxury Condo Owners Rights to Miami Club". Daily Business Review. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  45. ^ "Demolition on the Horizon for Grove Isle Hotel & Palmeiras Beach Club". 2016-08-25. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  46. ^ "GROVE ISLE: One if by land and two if by sea redux". Grove Isle. 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  47. ^ a b PRESERVE GROVE ISLE, LLC VS GROVE ISLE YACHT & TENNIS CLUB, LLC ET AL, 2017-007277-CA-01, 03/27/2017
  48. ^ "The Markers Grove Isle Coconut Grove; High Luxury or Hype?". Lux Life Miami Blog. 2018-02-02. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  49. ^ "Noble House Grove Isle Hotel & Club Truths". nobletruths.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  50. ^ GroveIsle123. "Grove Isle Legal Committee Reports. See below". Grove Isle 123 brings you the news. Retrieved 2018-05-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  51. ^ Maya Bell, A Gallery Without The Walls; A Miami Developer Turns The Main Campus Of Florida International University Into A Showcase For Prized Sculpture.Orlando Sentinel. Available on http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1994-10-09/entertainment/9410060910_1_modern-sculpture-contemporary-sculptors-borofsky

Bibliography and further reading

  • Final Settlement of 27 July 1977, Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit in and for Dade County, Florida, Case No. 73-6449 copy accessed January 11, 2016
  • Margulies, M., Harper, P., & Varon, M. (1986). Contemporary sculpture from the Martin Z. Margulies collection: Grove Isle, Coconut Grove, Florida. Coconut Grove, Fla: Martin Z. Margulies Collection. 144 pp. [UM and FIU Libraries Special Collections]
  • Moore Parks, A. and Bennett, B. (2010) Coconut Grove, Florida: Arcadia Publishing, p. 128
  • Nepomechie, M., & Brooke, S. (2010). Building paradise: An architectural guide to the Magic City. Miami, FL: AIA Miami.
  • Voss G. (1974) Biological survey and development recommendations for Fair Isle, Biscayne Bay, Fla. Unpublished manuscript. University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Miami, FL. 15 pp.
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