Miami Herald Logo

North Miami Beach protesters rally against hotel by Greynolds Park | Miami Herald

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Site Information
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Herald Store
    • RSS Feeds
    • Special Sections
    • Advertise
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Apps & eReaders
    • Newsletters
    • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    • Sections
    • News
    • South Florida
    • Miami-Dade
    • Broward
    • Florida Keys
    • Florida
    • Politics
    • Weird News
    • Weather
    • National & World
    • Colombia
    • National
    • World
    • Americas
    • Cuba
    • Guantánamo
    • Haiti
    • Venezuela
    • Local Issues
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • In Depth
    • Issues & Ideas
    • Traffic
    • Sections
    • Sports
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Pro & College
    • Miami Dolphins
    • Miami Heat
    • Miami Marlins
    • Florida Panthers
    • College Sports
    • University of Miami
    • Florida International
    • University of Florida
    • Florida State University
    • More Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Fighting
    • Golf
    • Horse Racing
    • Outdoors
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Youth Sports
    • Other Sports
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • The Florida Influencer Series
    • Sections
    • Business
    • Business Monday
    • Banking
    • International Business
    • National Business
    • Personal Finance
    • Real Estate News
    • Small Business
    • Technology
    • Tourism & Cruises
    • Workplace
    • Business Plan Challenge
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Cindy Krischer Goodman
    • The Starting Gate
    • Work/Life Balancing Act
    • Movers
    • Sections
    • Living
    • Advice
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home & Garden
    • Pets
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • Wine
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Dave Barry
    • Ana Veciana-Suarez
    • Flashback Miami
    • More Living
    • LGBTQ South Florida
    • Palette Magazine
    • Indulge Magazine
    • South Florida Album
    • Broward Album
    • Sections
    • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Games & Puzzles
    • Horoscopes
    • Movies
    • Music & Nightlife
    • People
    • Performing Arts
    • Restaurants
    • TV
    • Visual Arts
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Jose Lambiet
    • Lesley Abravanel
    • More Entertainment
    • Events Calendar
    • Miami.com
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Sections
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Ed
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Jim Morin
    • Letters to the Editor
    • From Our Inbox
    • Speak Up
    • Submit a Letter
    • Meet the Editorial Board
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Blog Directory
    • Columnist Directory
    • Andres Oppenheimer
    • Carl Hiaasen
    • Leonard Pitts Jr.
    • Fabiola Santiago
    • Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Place an Obituary

    • Place an ad
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Apartments
    • Auctions/Sales
    • Automotive
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Employment
    • Garage Sales
    • Legals
    • Merchandise
    • Obituaries
    • Pets
    • Public Notices
    • Real Estate
    • Services
  • Public Notices
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Real Estate
  • Mobile & Apps

  • el Nuevo Herald
  • Miami.com
  • Indulge

Community

North Miami Beach protesters rally against hotel by Greynolds Park

By Paradise Afshar

    ORDER REPRINT →

April 15, 2013 11:45 AM

At the moment, city officials say there’s not a single hotel operating in North Miami Beach.

But that may soon change as developer Braha Dixie is planning on erecting a mid-range Hyatt hotel along West Dixie Highway.

The 10-story project, which is currently undergoing an approval process, is expected to consist of a mix of 260 overnight and extended-stay rooms, along with space for offices, retail and restaurants.

While Mayor George Vallejo and the council hope the project becomes the catalyst that helps revitalize West Dixie Highway, some residents and park-goers don’t agree with a development of that height being erected next to the entrance of Greynolds Park.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

On Sunday, nearly 40 protesters showed up at the proposed construction site to show their disapproval of a rezoning that the council approved last year to allow a development.

They held up handmade signs, waved the Florida flag and chanted “no high-rises.”

Their efforts were met with honks and waves from drivers and passengers of passing cars.

“It’s beyond my wildest nightmares,” said Letty Dykes, 55, of Biscayne Gardens, during the protest.

She said she would be OK with a two-story building being built on the property, but not the 10-story one that’s proposed.

“I don’t like big buildings as it is, but to do that here, that’s horrible,” Dykes said. “It’s totally wrong.”

When the council changed the property’s zoning into a general business district, it allowed for an up-to-15-story building to be developed, but Braha Dixie agreed on a restrictive covenant that limits the building size to 10 stories.

“My client chose not to go 15 stories for a residential project because that didn’t make sense for them, and it didn’t make sense for the city,” said Keith Donner, a spokesperson for the developer. “What does make sense is a mixed-use project anchored by a hotel.”

Protesters fear that a 10-story building will be harmful to the park’s environment, cause noise and air pollution, and take away from the ambience of the park.

Kim Lumpkin, chairwoman of Friends of the Oleta River, the group that has spearheaded the protest efforts, said she feels encouraged by the support the protest efforts have gotten from the community.

Through grass-roots efforts, the group has spread the word about the project. As of Thursday, the Save Greynolds Park Facebook page had more than 1,720 “likes” from people around the country.

“Just by looking at the surrounding environment, they can see how such a development will affect everything — from environmental to traffic to the park. Just everything in the surrounding area,” Lumpkin said. “They aren’t against development, but I think people realize that we don’t need development of this size in our city.”

On Facebook, the group is encouraging people to speak on the issue at a council meeting to be held at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, at city hall, 17011 NE 19th Ave.

In addition to protest efforts, an appeal has been filed against the city claiming that the council’s decision violated city code. It also says the city failed to properly disclose private conversations between city officials and interested parties as required under state law.

City attorney Darcee Siegel said the city’s procedures are in compliance with state law.

“These people are making it sound as if there is a nuclear winter in North Miami Beach,” Donner said. “What they’re saying is completely over the top.”

Donner insists that the project will not have the adverse impact that protesters say it will.

“This is abutting the park entrance. The park itself will be fine,” Donner said. “There is a tiny minority of people who will only be satisfied with a two-story log cabin and with a yogurt store and sewing-machine repair shop on that property. That is unrealistic and unreasonable.”

City planner Chris Heid said the project still has a series of approvals to go through with both the city and the county.

“Ultimately, Miami-Dade Parks is going to have to be okay with it,” Heid said. “The park is as important to us as any resident. We know what a treasure it is. We aren’t going to allow a development that benefits the city but harms the park.”

Vallejo stands by the council’s choice to allow for the project to move forward and believes that, once completed, the property will have a positive impact on the community.

“There is always a small group who’re opposed to everything you do,” Vallejo said. “The park itself is not going to be affected; life is going to go on as it has long after this project is built. A few years from now, people will look back and wonder what all the fuss was about.”

  Comments  

Videos

Woman removed from JetBlue flight after profanity-laced outburst

Parkland one year later

View More Video

Trending Stories

Military planes carrying 180 tons of aid for Venezuelans fly from Miami to Colombia

February 16, 2019 08:00 AM

Here are some of the worst mistakes immigrants make applying for legal papers

February 15, 2019 11:26 AM

Dolphins sign former second-round defensive end and a young cornerback

February 15, 2019 03:30 PM

‘Crazy chick’ didn’t want to sit next to a toddler on a plane. Then came the outburst.

February 15, 2019 03:28 PM

U.S. looks to send food aid to Haiti as violence brews humanitarian crisis

February 15, 2019 06:27 PM

Read Next

‘Youngest customer to date.’ Baby boy born aboard a JetBlue flight to Fort Lauderdale
Video media Created with Sketch.

Broward County

‘Youngest customer to date.’ Baby boy born aboard a JetBlue flight to Fort Lauderdale

By Martin Vassolo

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 16, 2019 04:08 PM

A baby boy was born Saturday aboard a JetBlue flight from Puerto Rico to Fort Lauderdale, the airline said. The airplane was called “Born to Be Blue.” Medical personnel met the plane on the tarmac.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE COMMUNITY

A cyber crimes prosecutor was a victim of a real-life robbery on South Beach

Crime

A cyber crimes prosecutor was a victim of a real-life robbery on South Beach

February 16, 2019 02:34 PM
Mark Walton, former Canes star now with the Cincinnati  Bengals, arrested in Miami

Crime

Mark Walton, former Canes star now with the Cincinnati Bengals, arrested in Miami

February 16, 2019 11:05 AM
What’s black and white and runs all over? Barry holds its first Nun Run to find out

Miami Shores

What’s black and white and runs all over? Barry holds its first Nun Run to find out

February 16, 2019 01:01 PM
Wrong-way crash on Alligator Alley kills 2, including an off-duty Miccosukee officer

Broward County

Wrong-way crash on Alligator Alley kills 2, including an off-duty Miccosukee officer

February 16, 2019 11:01 AM
Kidnap victim, mobile home, retail game-changer: The many lives of a shopping cart

South Florida

Kidnap victim, mobile home, retail game-changer: The many lives of a shopping cart

February 15, 2019 09:41 AM
Federal judge dissolves homeless protections from police harassment in Miami

Miami-Dade County

Federal judge dissolves homeless protections from police harassment in Miami

February 15, 2019 03:59 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Miami Herald App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Public Insight Network
  • Reader Panel
Advertising
  • Place a Classified
  • Media Kit
  • Commercial Printing
  • Public Notices
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story