WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2009

Gables Is Among Top 10 Cities To Live Well

Forbes.com, the online version of Forbes magazine, has ranked Coral Gables among the top 10 cities to live well in America. To determine the best towns, Forbes teamed with ZoomProspector.com, a San Francisco-based consulting firm specializing in corporate relocation. They looked at median income, average commute, distance to highways and airports, per capita venture capital funding, per capita number of small businesses, and other favorable business environment factors. Not surprisingly, the City of Coral Gables was ranked #9 overall in the nation as a top town to live well, and ranked third for its number of small businesses per capita. Weather, restaurants and entertainment options found in the City Beautiful also helped to achieve this top ranking. The top city to live well in the U.S. was Boulder, Colorado. 

Granada Bridge To Get Aesthetic Makeover

Onlookers from land and sea in Coral Gables will see a noticeable change at the Granada bridge over the already picturesque Coral Gables – Mahi Waterway. The concrete bridge that crosses over the Mahi Waterway between Alfonso Avenue and South Alhambra Circle will get a new look, thanks to a public/private partnership that involves the neighborhood and the help of community donations. Residents of the South Gables area, like Peter Hairston, who frequently cruises the waterways and traverses the bridges, wanted to improve the aesthetics of their facades and adjoining landscaping as part of a revitalization of the waterways. They approached Coral Gables Vice Mayor Bill Kerdyk Jr. to aesthetically enhance the bridges in the City. He proposed working with the Coral Gables Community Foundation’s Parknership to seek the $20,000 to $25,000 needed to prepare the bridge and apply the multiple layers of mineral paints and patinas required to achieve the classic, conservative look. The color selection for the Granada bridge will simulate that of the DeSoto Fountain and the Alhambra Water Tower, replicating years of natural weathering. Crews are expected to begin work within the next week, first by pressure-cleaning, sealing and priming the bridge. Two or more layers of mineral paints will then be applied and a professional artist specialized in this type of process will provide finishing details. The work is expected to take about two weeks, weather permitting. After work on the Granada bridge is finished, the expectation is that residents will want to see the same process applied to other nearby bridges such as the Maynada Street and Hardee Road bridges. For more information on the project, upcoming events and how to donate funds, please contact Peter Hairston at 305-740-2922 or peter@waterwayrenaissance.org or at the Parknership Program by calling 305-446-2586. 

City To Get Funding For New Trolleys,
Pilot Route Extension

Through a joint participation agreement, the City of Coral Gables is set to receive funding from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for new trolleys and a pilot route extension to West Flagler Street. On May 12th, the City Commission approved a resolution giving the go ahead to seek financial assistance from FDOT for $377,641 for the purchase of two new trolleys. Monies collected from Miami-Dade County impact fees in the amount of $352,359 will cover the rest of the $730,000 needed for the purchase of two 30-foot long, low-floor trolleys. In addition, the City Commission is asking FDOT for $92,500 in funding for service development that will expand the trolley route on Ponce de Leon Boulevard north from S.W. Eighth Street to West Flagler. The northern route extension will not be implemented for at least 14 months, until the new trolleys are purchased and delivered. This route may continue after the first year based on ridership utilization and financial conditions. For more information, contact the Trolley Division at 305-460-5070. 

City To Study Fire Assessment

On May 12th, the City Commission authorized the hiring of an independent consultant to develop a fire assessment program for the City’s fire services in order to diversify the revenue stream that supports this vital service. The study will provide the City Commission with options in order to make policy decisions and address the financial challenges expected for the upcoming fiscal year. Miami-Dade County is doing a similar fire assessment program for the unincorporated area and the 30 municipalities it serves. 

New Pay & Display Parking Machines
Installed Along Biltmore Way

If you park frequently in front of City Hall along Biltmore Way, you might have noticed the new pay and display machines. Four new machines that allow users to pay for parking and display the ticket on the windshield have replaced older versions that only accepted coins and credit cards. For the convenience of those wanting to pay for parking, these new machines also accept bills.  Parking enforcement officers can monitor the machines online to ensure that they are functioning properly. The machines also process payment faster and with added security. After a four-month tryout period, the City will analyze the possibility of implementing these convenient pay and display machines in other areas. For more information, contact the Parking Department at 305-460-5540. 

Coral Gables Restaurant Week Held June 1-14

Get your taste buds ready to enjoy one of the best events in the Gables: Restaurant Week, scheduled June 1-14. During two weeks, you can indulge in savoring three-course, fixed price menus available in Downtown Coral Gables for lunch and dinner. All you have to do is pick a menu and go to one of your favorite downtown restaurants, among them: Cacao Restaurant, Da Vittorio, Flemings, Hoja Nueva, Le Provencal, Morton’s Steakhouse, Ortanique On The Mile, Por Fin, Randazzo’s, Red Koi, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Tarpon Bend, and more. For a list of all participating restaurants and menus to pick from, click here. 

Tour Operators Visited Coral Gables

Thousands of domestic and international tour operators and travel buyers stopped by Coral Gables last week to be wowed, as part of the International Pow Wow. The annual event is the travel industry’s most important marketplace and the largest generator of domestic travel. The Coral Gables City Commission declared May 9-17 as National Tourism Week in Coral Gables, and worked with the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, the Business Improvement District, the Village of Merrick Park and the Hyatt and Biltmore hotels to welcome members of the travel industry. Among the events hosted in Coral Gables were a media familiarization tour, a delegate tour and a fine dining, and shopping experience at Miracle Mile and the Village of Merrick Park. 

Carver Teacher Wins National Green Award

Congratulations to Bertha Vazquez, a science teacher at G.W. Carver Middle School for receiving the Richard C. Bartlett Education Award from the National Environmental Education Foundation. Vazquez was recognized for her leadership in integrating environmental lessons into daily education and awarded with a $5,000 cash grant to continue her efforts. Vazquez, a science teacher for two decades, spearheaded efforts to ‘green’ Carver’s campus, launched a recycling program at the school, led students on annual bird counts and field trips and inspired students and colleagues throughout the Miami-Dade County Public Schools to make green education part of every subject area. Thanks to Vazquez, environmentally themed lessons have been integrated into math, language arts, visual arts and even French classes.