of ever doing what? >> I'm her co-chair. >> And there's my good buddy. December. >> You were last year. >> She's great. She's a real good one. >> Yeah, she Yes, she's
I read these. These were all very interesting, too. The name of yours. Because you know the university was at the youth center, right? recording in progress. >> I hope everybody's well today. And um
We'll get this meeting going here. We've got a pretty good sized agenda today and we're happy to hear from all of you and we're happy that all of you are here, you know, to be with us and share in this day. Okay. I'm calling the meeting to order, please. Good afternoon. Welcome to the regularly scheduled meeting of the city of Coral Gable's
Historic Preservation Board. We are residents of his of Coral Gables and charged with the preservation and protection of historic or architecturally worthy buildings, structures, sites, neighborhoods, and artifacts which impart a distinctive historical heritage to our city. The board is comprised of nine members,
seven of whom are appointed by the commission, one by the city manager, and the ninth is selected by the board and confirmed by the commission. Five members of the board constitute a quorum and five affirmative votes are necessary for the adoption of any motion. Any person who acts as a lobbyist pursuant
to the city of Coral Gable's Ordinance 2006-11 must register with the city clerk prior to engaging in lobbying activities or presentations before city staff, boards, committees, and/or the city commission. Copy of the ordinance is available in the office of the city clerk. Failure to
register and provide proof of registration shall prohibit your ability to present to the historic preservation board on applications under consideration this afternoon. A lobbyist is defined as an individual, corporation, partnership, or other legal entity employed or retained, whether
paid or not, by a principle who seeks to encourage the approval, disapproval, adoption, repeal, passage, defeat, or modifications of any ordinance, resolution, action, or decision of any city commissioner. Any action, decision, recommendations of the city manager, any
city board or committee including but not limited to quasi judicial advisory board, trust authority or council or any action, decision or recommendation of city personnel during the time period of the entire decision-making process on
the action, decision or recommendation which foreseeably will be heard or reviewed by the city commission or a city border committee including but not limited to quasi judic. official advisory board, trust authority, or council. Presentations made to this
board are subject to the city's false claims ordinance chapter 39 of the city of Coral Gable city code. I now officially call City of Coral Gable's Historic Preservation Board meeting of October 16, 2025.
Uh I'm going to call it 4:05 p.m. today. Present today are we have our staff here. Anna Paris is our uh head of staff for the historic preservation board and the cultural uh board of the city. U
think we've got our attorney over here, Miss Rock Morton hiding back over here. And then we have on my left we have Mr. Silva, Miss Jana, uh let's see, Miss Ever, and um
I'm I'm losing it here. Miss Yeah. >> And then over here we have Mr. Garcia Pon, >> uh, a lady who's been around longer than I can remember, Miss Spain, Miss Rolando, and Miss Alvarez. All members of our board. Um,
we don't have any distinguished members in the group except all of you. The next item, let's see, on the is the approval of the minutes of the meeting held on September 22nd. They were not included, so we're not going to have
them. So, there's no changes or corrections, and there's no need for a motion. Okay. Exparte communications. Please be advised that this board is a quasi judicial board and the items on the agenda are quasi judicial in nature
which requires board members to disclose all exparte communications. An exparte communication is defined as any contact communication, conversation, correspondence, memorandum, or other written or verbal communication that takes place outside a public hearing between a member of the public and a
member of a quasi judicial board regarding matters to be heard by the quasi judicial board. If anyone has made any contact with a board member, when the issue comes before the board, the member must state on the record the existence of the exparte communication, the party who originated the
communication and whether the communication will affect the board member's ability to impartially consider the evidence to be present in regarding the matter. In terms of our agenda, do we have any uh deferrals? >> Good afternoon. Uh, I did receive two
requests for deferrals for 1506 Livbin Street and 547 Alcasar Avenue. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. We're going to have a swearing in, please. If you for all people who wish to speak today, please stand and raise your hand to be sworn
in. If if you're not sworn in now, you're not going to be speaking later. [Music] >> There you go. >> Go for it. Thank you. M >> Mr. Chair, can we verify if there's
anyone on Zoom waiting to be sworn in? >> I'm sorry. >> Can we verify if there's anybody on Zoom to be sworn in? Just one moment, please. Elizabeth, can you hear me? Would you please raise your right hand?
Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give should be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> I do. Thank you. >> Are we all sworn in? >> Very good. All right. We're going to start our first uh uh case here with local design with a local designation.
Uh it is um case file LDH 2025- Z008 and COA which is certificate of a of approval uh SP 2025-021 and this is for the consideration of the local historic designation of the
property at 607 University Drive legally described as lots 9 and 10 block 139 Oral Gables Country Club section part six. Okay. Plat book 20, page one, public records, Miami date county.
>> The applicant >> The applicant is also requesting the issuance of an accelerated special certificate of appropriateness and design approval for additions and alterations to the residence and site work. Staff, would you like to make a presentation on this?
>> Can you hear me? >> Hi, good afternoon. Elizabeth Ying, historic preservation coordinator. And the following presentation is a brief summary of the historic designation report done by staff. Can you please open the PowerPoint?
The property at 607 University Drive is before you for consideration for designation as a local historic landmark. It is the result of a historic significance determination application that was submitted by the owner. The neocclassical single family home was
designed by Upton Euing for Dr. Odin Schaer in 1939. As per article 8, section 8-103 of the Coral Gable zoning code, criteria for designation of historic landmarks, a local historic landmark must have significant character, interest, or
value as part of the historical, cultural, archaeological, aesthetic, or architectural heritage of the city, state, or nation. For designation, a property must meet one of the criteria outlined in the code.
607 University Drive is eligible as a local historic landmark based on three criteria. Historical cultural significance criteria four. It exemplifies the historical, cultural, political, economic, or social trends of the
community. Architectural significance criteria one. It portrays the environment in an era of history characterized by one or more distinctive architectural style. In criteria two, it embodies those
distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style or period or method of construction. 607 University Drive is located on the southwest corner of University Drive, Siggoia Street, and Escobar Avenue, just
south of the Coral Gables Library in Country Club section part six. The property has a single family residence with an attached garage and a pool. Royal Gables was originally conceived as a suburb of Miami and attracted
investors from across the nation during the South Florida real estate boom of the 1920s. Founder George Merrick drew upon the garden city and city beautiful movements of the 19th and early 20th century to create his vision for a fully conceived Mediterranean inspired city which is now
considered one of the first modern plan communities in the United States. The city's developmental history is divided into three major historical periods. 607 University Drive was built during the second historical phase when few
homes were built and Coral Gables began to embrace contemporary styles that followed national trends. Coral Gable's initial development was predominantly around Merrick's family's Coral Gables plantation in section A.
Lots in section A, B, and C were offered for sale in 1921 and 22. Most early construction was concentrated north of and in the direct vicinity of the Granada Golf Course. In the mid1 1920s, Merrick announced plans for a premier hotel, an 18hole
championship golf course in section H. The primarily undeveloped sections of GH and II were reworked to accommodate the large $10 million Builtmore complex. These three sections were divided into six sections and renamed country club
sections part 1 through six as a higherend area. The home at 607 University Drive was built in this area in country club section part 6 which is outlined here in blue. With the replatting of this area, new
scenic boulevards were laid out which included Anastasia Avenue, Siggoia Street, and Ocean Beach Drive to aid in the rebranding of the area. Ocean Beach Drive was laid out as the prominent and curving boulevard passing through the heart of Country Club
section 6. It was later renamed University Drive. The Miami Builtmore Golf Course opened January 1926. Rapid growth of the country club sections was anticipated. Notable undertakings meant to kick off
section six for the home at 7-Eleven University Drive at the northwest corner of the intersection of Palaro Street in University Drive for George Merrick's sister Ethel and her husband Edward Bishop. the initial construction of the French Normandy Village and the
Anastasia Hotel, which started construction in 1925 and was completed in 1926 by the University of Miami. However, in September 1926, the Miami area was hit with a devastating hurricane that was followed closely by
the dire downturn of the national economy. This had a drastic impact on new construction as seen here. The precipitous dollar value decline of the permits issued in the late 1920s and the slow recovery during the 1930s until 1942 at which
time all efforts and materials were diverted to war endeavors. As seen here in the late 1930s, the building industry began to regain some footing with the assistance of New Deal relief measures. But by this time, people had adjusted to a new way of life
and their priorities and aesthetics had changed. This was reflected in all aspects of life, including the types of homes that were built. In Coral Gables, there was a shift away from the ornamented Mediterranean revival style homes towards the nationally popular styles
such as minimal, traditional, neocclassical, and art modern. The single family home at 607 University Drive was built in 1939. in the neocclassical style and was amongst the homes that ushered in a new architectural era in the city. It set
the trends for the postwar building boom. The neocclassical style is an eclectic classical style arising from the 1893 world colian exposition. The most common application of the style was for public and commercial buildings
and for large or more affluent domestic homes. It was a leading style for domestic architecture throughout the country during the first half of the 20th century. The dominant characteristic and driving force of the neocclassical design is
proportion and symmetry. Neocclassical architecture includes simple geometric forms balanced with austere ornamentation drawn from the classical orders. At its inception in the late 19th century, these stately homes presented a
dramatic contrast to the Baroque and Ropico styles, elaborate ornamentation, asymmetry, and serpentine lines. In Coral Gables, it offered a similar contrast to the Mediterranean revival style.
The style with it uncluttered appearance and grandeur of scale was most often features full height or full facade front porches, elaborate front doors, large columns with classical capitals and flat or low roof lines.
Noted architectural historian Vincent Skully described the domestic neocclassical style homes as intending to be austere symbols of influence and their formality and importance seem to suggest an upwardly mobile lifestyle.
607 University Drive was built on a prominent corner along Merrick Scenic Boulevard in an area laid out for higherend homes. The home was commissioned by Dr. Dr. Odin Schaper, an upand cominging doctor who later aided
in the founding of Doctor's Hospital. The neocclassical style first appeared in Coral Gables in the late 1930s and be became popular in the city after World War II. 607 University Drive is amongst the earliest of the neocclassical style
homes in Coral Gables. It was one of several hundred homes built during the New Deal area and it exemplifies the type of prominent home that was built as the city began to embrace new styles. The neocclassical style is inherently
eclectic and often, as does this home, draw from colonial revival. Hallmark and character defining features are the visual and physical features that give a building its identity and distinctive character. This home includes many defining
features of the neocclassical house. The home presents in a typical manner for the style and the time period. It has a grand two-story entry porch comprised of a even number of full height slender classical box columns supporting a molder in tablet.
It has a symmetrical appearance with a central federal inspired front doorway and an otherwise uncluttered presence under low roof lines. Overall, it has a refined and balanced street presence with a series of neocclassical and colonial revival
character defining features listed here and further discussed in the designation report. The front facade of the single family residence faces onto University Drive approximately 32 ft from the sidewalk. The sighting of the home is in keeping
with neocclassical style buildings which are often positioned to offer full views of their stately front facades. The massing of the single family residence is comprised of a central twostory core flanked by one-story bays
and a western rear one-story wing. Also typical of the style, the garage, while attached is accessed from the rear so that it does not detract from the stately view and the symmetry of the front facade.
All living areas are under low pitched hipped roofs, cladded flat tile. The current tile was installed in 2013. The original 1939 portion of the home faces University Drive and remains largely intact.
It is shown in here in blue. There were a few additions to the home. In 1948, Dr. Schaefer hired architect Upton Yuing again to add a one-story wing behind the rearfacing garage. At this time, Yuing enclosed the garage for
living space, added a staff room, and extended a new rearfacing garage. It's depicted here in orange. Along the east side of the wing, Euing also added an L-shaped covered terrace that was enclosed as a Florida room in
2021. It is hatched in orange. In 2006, the garage was lengthened and the covered porch was built along the rear facade. They are hatched here in gray. These campaigns all occurred at the rear
of the home and do not adversely impact the historic integrity of the 1939 home. A character defining feature of a new classical style is a prominent entry porch highlighted by visually dominant classical column assembly.
The home is a two-story entry porch with full height columns in the post 1920s fashion. They are slender and rectangular. They are fluted with simple stylized capital and bases. The columns support a simple intabe with the molded cornice.
Indicative of the style, there is an even number of columns framing the equally spaced fenistration openings of the front facade. The single family residence built over a crawl space and constructed of masonry block units. The front and side facads
of the first story are clad in brick. On the second story, wide plank siding wraps around the home. The use of different materials on the first and second story, which are both horizontally oriented not only adds to the visual interest from the street, but
also aids in balancing the verticality of the thin box columns. They grounded in part of permanence to this home. The material choices embraces the contemporaneous colon revival area aesthetic. Centered on the front facade, the entry
doorway is a neocclassical federal inspired ensemble. Comprises of a fan light with radiating mountains, sidelights, panel insets, and a molded framing and a brick door surround. Visually balancing the entryway on the second story is a circular window with
divided lights. It is framed in the same molding as the entry ensemble. Flaking. These central features are evenly spaced vertically and appropriate proportioned windows with fully sized working louvered shutters held by
shutter dogs. The first floor windows have brick lintils and sills. Euing designed the home with the typical neocclassical single hung windows on the front facade. However, he placed casements on the secondary facads.
This choice may have been a nod to the casement windows that adorned most of the 1920s Mediterranean revival styled homes that in 1939 still dominated the city's built environment. All windows had high-profile muttons.
Building records records indicate that the owner John Gunther replaced the original windows prior to 1961. Currently, windows on the side and the rear facades are now awning and horizontal slider in type.
The primary street presence of the home is visually symmetrical with a two-story core flanked by one-story bays. The bays are both currently hipped roofed clad in smooth stucco with a series of single home windows and shutters with projecting brick sills that match the
windows of the core. Originally, exposed raptor tales of these bays were simple. In 2007, new larger tails with curved edges were installed. The eastern bay, as seen here, was originally a screened porch. In 1972, a
permit was issued to reduce the screened openings and install a window to match the western bay. Rising at the juncture of the bay is a large rectangular chimney with the step brick top course. Centered on the facade and rising a half
story above the roof line in a strong visible feature from Escobar Avenue. The western bay was originally a rear-facing garage with windows matching the adjacent home and an arch covered entry porch. As seen here, by 1971, the
archway was screened and in 2007 it was enclosed with the matching window. At the juncture of the bay's hip roof ridge is a squat decorative chimney with a convex and ball cap. Hence why both bays have been repurposed
from their original function resulting in some exterior alterations. Both bays retain their original massing and the alterations do not significantly detract from the historic integrity of the property. The remaining facades of the home are
less formal and incorporate a more modernistic vocabulary and endrangement. The windows deviate from the neocclassical module as they incorporate both grouped windows and narrow openings and an arrangement that is not symmetrical or balanced.
Modern square block openings were incorporated under the eaves and strategically placed to aid in balancing the facades. With the exception of the addition, these facades remain largely intact as designed by Euing.
The only addition to the rear of the 1930 twotory core is a covered porch built in 2006. The shed roof is supported by simple box columns with articulated bases and capitals of a different configuration
from the 1939 front porch columns. The remainder of the additions are located along the western wing and are shown here on the right. Overall, this wing is simple and continues the vocabulary of the original home throughout the various edition campaigns.
These elements include the smooth stuckle cladding, low pitched roof with rafter tails and extend the eaves and windows with colonial muttons. The wing does not detract from the overall historic integrity of the 1939
home. In conclusion, built in 1939, the home at 607 University Drive is a significant example of one of the earliest neocclassical style homes in Coral Gables.
It exemplifies the style of the time as well as the type of prominent home built during the New Deal era when the city began to expand from its Mediterranean inspired foundation. Building during the 1930s was sparse and this home is a significant example from
this pivotal era. With the construction of the Builtmore complex in 1925, Merrick replied country club section 6 as a higherend area with University Drive as a major scenic boulevard. Sitting on a prominent quarter along
this boulevard, architect Upton Yuing designed the home for Dr. Odin Schaffer. The choice of the neocclassical style for this upwardly mobile doctor while breaking from the city's Mediterranean inspired foundation aligns with Merrick's intention for the area.
607 University Drive retains its historic integrity. It is part of a collection of quality residences that contributes to the historic fabric of the city and its sense of place over time. Staff recommends the approval of the
local historic designation of 607 University Drive based on its historical, cultural, and architectural significance. Okay. Is there any further presentation from the staff? Okay. Are there any questions
for the staff or applicant? Oops. Here. Well, first of all, let's go through the Anybody have a X part? We have an applicant presentation. The local historic designation comes first. You all vote on that and if you
all vote that it is significant and deem it uh to be worthy of designation then we move towards the certificate of appropriateness. >> Okay. Discussion. >> So um as far as designation's concerned, I appreciate staff's report. I was really interested in the original makeup
of the house that had the main structure and then sort of the screen on one side as an appendage and then the garage that was kind of attached with the breezeway between that looked like a little recarfacing garage and its evolution since that time. Um I think the I would it would
have been really interesting to see in the original form but it's not that anymore. um the growth has been through the enclosures of the screens and the openings and then the extension of the garage towards the back and now it's just a further extension of the extension of the garage to the back. So,
I think the um the the changes to it uh have not detracted from the original main house with appendages, which is what the original design was. And um I agree with with staff's recommendation to um that
it's worth the designation. Miss Alvarez, did you have a comment? I think it's a it's a nice uh report and I agree the project should be designated. >> Still not working. >> Any further comments? Peggy, did you
have anything in there? >> Okay. based on >> I second that >> based on >> based on >> for the record Miss Rolando are you adopting uh staff's recommendation for those three criteria based on the report
and evidence presented >> I understand your motion >> okay do I have a second >> second >> okay is ever >> any further discussion >> I just say one thing I lived at 650 university for 10 So, right across the
street and uh our house was also built in 1939, but it was very art deco. So, the neighborhood's kind of a mix of 30s houses, but I know this house well. I'm delighted that it's staying and um so I
second it. >> I did want to note for the record that you all were provided with letters of support and uh of the application. So, those are part of the of the official record. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else over here? Okay. All right. We have a motion and a
second. We have a motion by Miss Rolando and a second by Miss Ever. Uh would you call the role, please? >> Mr. Chair, could we just verify if there's any public comment before we have the roll call vote? >> Uh okay, we can do that. >> If there's anybody in the audience
wishing to speak or on Zoom, if if not, Mr. Chair, I'll let you close the public hearing. >> Miss Alvarez. >> Yes. Miss Shield, >> yes. >> Miss Dane, >> yes. >> Mr. Garcia Palms, >> yes.
>> Miss Spain, >> yes. >> Miss Rolando, >> yes. >> Miss Sbert, >> yes. >> Mr. Silva, >> yes. >> And Mr. Maxwell, >> absolutely. >> Thank you. >> All right. Motion passes. Um, motion
passes. 90. >> Before we begin with the certificate of appropriateness, uh, the architect for the project does need to be sworn in. >> Okay. Yes, they do. Would you please swear in the architect? >> Go ahead. Um, do we need to read the title?
>> Yes, please, Mr. Maxwell, if you don't mind uh reading in this item, which is the certificate of appropriateness. I don't know if you read the title or the case file previously. If you did, I apologize, but you did. Okay. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Can you please put the PowerPoint up for presentation?
>> We have an accelerated certificate of appropriateness >> which makes it >> while it's coming up. Uh you all have just heard about this. I don't need to give any background information. The proposal um requests design approval for a two-story addition and alterations to
the residence, construction of a two-story freestanding auxiliary structure connected by a walkway and site work. Um if you could please put the PowerPoint. Thank you. Now we just skip right to it. Okay. Um there were no variances that were
requested as part of this application. It was reviewed and approved by the board of architects on September 4th, 2025. Um staff's conclusions are very simple. We had some questions about differentiation between old and new that we've addressed in the staff comments of approval.
And the architect is here. >> Thank you, Carol. Good afternoon, board members. Nelson DeLeon with Locus Architecture, Inc. Uh with me today is the homeowner, Ombberto Casargo, who's I believe uh only the third owner. Is that correct? Yeah. So, um, thank you for the
designation. Now that it's been designated, we request, uh, complete demolition and replacement with a modern home. >> Okay. Sarcasm really doesn't translate well. >> Unfortunately, that's not funny here. >> We laugh. >> I'm going to I'm going to speed through
some of the um things that you just saw on the designation report just to >> for brevity. But the site, as you can tell, is a very uh irregularly shaped lot. So, it was a a real challenge to work with a home. Um, the immediate
context and your home Marlin was >> it was it >> middle across the street on this image? >> No, it's not it's not on that. >> Oh, it's not on her. My apologies. >> No, >> apologies. So, as as uh Marlon had stated, it is a varied uh neighborhood
and the upper right corner is a recently completed new duplex home in a sort of um South African Dutch colonial style. Uh a couple of the views of the home from from the street both from from uh
university and from Escobar. It's actually hard to see the street. one, there's a high wall, there's a high hedge, and there's a number of trees that uh surround the property. I'm not sure if you saw these in the original, this is the original floor plan uh of which we're keeping the main body of the
twotory uh as is. The screen porch, you already know, is converted to a uh a den. The kitchen, which is in the middle, upper left hand corner, has been significantly expanded. And then the original garage replaced completely and extended the upstairs. The two main
bedrooms. The stair remain exactly as is. The back band of um original closets and bathrooms has gone through several remodelings. The home as it existed originally, main body exactly as as is and then the
two wings having been modified. the home that you saw earlier, the rear elevation which has gone through quite a few changes except for that upper uh second floor volume which is pretty much as originally designed
and to that we do have some uh modifications that we're requesting the home as it exists now showing that extension on the west which is the right side of this image wing and an ex covered porch extension along the main
twotory volume. This another view. So, we're we're keeping the pool as is. We're keeping the pool deck as is. We're keeping all the exterior walls as is. We're keeping the um existing drive and motor court off University and we're keeping the
drive uh rear entrance off Escobar as is. So, none of the site walls uh are being changed. So, in this diagram, we'll see the areas that are cross-hatched, which are a little bit darker. Those are being demolished completely and rebuilt. The areas that
are um diagonally hatched are being remodeled, part of which will have the second floor addition that we're proposing. the new site plan. In this diagram, the darker cross-hatch areas are the new
twotory elements and the diagonal lighter shade elements are the one-story elements. So, everything is sort of to the west and back of the existing property. The floor plan as it exists today. So,
the entire bar west wing will be reconfigured. The perimeter of that structure is being maintained as are the first several feet of that project. My client is a structural shell builder and is looking forward to working with the
walls which I had initially recommended just starting new, but >> he wants to keep that portion of the home and and challenge himself. So, I think it's square footage wise, we're actually adding practically no new square footage to the existing portion
of of the home and that bar that had been added, all the new square footage is being added to the back. One of the issues with the home is that that bar when it was done is two bedrooms and a garage. The kitchen, which is in the middle portion of this drawing, had very little
visual or connectivity to the pool deck. And then the formal living room on the right had a pair of doors which will remain. So, it's a home on a big lot with no visual connection and very little actual um connection between a space that would
be considered a family room, living room, entertainment room and the outdoor areas. The proposed ground floor now again the main body of the home stays as is. The kitchen stays in its same location with a little bit of modification. We're
opening up the corner that views onto the pool and pool deck and we're creating a an oops we're creating a a glass enclosed a glass enclosed projection so that from the kitchen now you can look at the pool and you can look at the pool deck. Uh a
new family room uh great room is added in that middle portion and that is doors that open out onto that pool deck. And then the bedroom was moved all the way to the back of that bar. And then off to the side is a twocar garage with in-laws
quarters at the second floor. Semi- detached covered connector but semi- detached. the second floor as it exists showing that bathroom closet wing that has been modified. The roofs to the left are being
completely redone. The again the footprint of the home stays as is the front portion. This is the proposed new the front portion >> along with I believe what was pointed out on the historical report is a sort of a little chimney pediment piece is
being kept. Uh, and then a new master suite comprises the entirety of the left side of the addition. Along the back, we're opening up one of the original bedrooms. We're taking out part of the closet, creating a pass through with
double doors to a new onetory uncovered uh but open air balcony to have access to that pool. the roof as it exists today. The roof as proposed, we we worked with
within a a width module that would ensure that our roof pitch and ridge height would not exceed the existing home. We're maintaining the exact floor level at the second floor all the way across and the tie beams at the second floor all the way across. So that's sort
of our our datam point to ensure that we respect the height and massing of the original home. The middle image here is the home as it exists today. And then the bottom is our proposed. So the new twotory wing occurring behind to the
left of the u one-story wing. That one-story wing we are requesting to raise it an additional 16 in. because that was the garage, that volume was lower. And because that volume was lower, the floor is lower. So that causes inside the house sort of a a step
up and step down. So we'd like to raise that floor, um create as much as possible a single floor height and sort of smooth the transition from one space to the other. So that volume now will match the den which was the
original sleeping porch on the um on the home when it was built in the in the 30s. The image in the middle again is the existing the image on the bottom is our proposed showing the new wing. Uh along the pool side you'll see all that
glass is in direct relationship to the family room. And then above that is the double doors and sight lights from the master bedroom that open onto the um open air uncovered um um covered I'm sorry not covered terrace but terrace
that overlooks the pool. The image on the upper right is the garage rotated so that you can see what the uh front of the garage looks like. Here's the view from the rear. Again, the the wing to that's in the
middle is all new construction. The wing to the left is the original two-story home. Here we could see the porch edition, the open air terrace, and the new uh pair of doors from the bedroom out onto that terrace from the original
bedroom, the west elevation. A rendering of the proposed So, we we've we've um removed some of the trees here so we could actually see the house, but even then we still have um a partial screen view of that new two-story
portion which is tucked away on the west and back of the main house considerably. It's a view from the corner of University and Escobar with a slightly elevated view so we could see a little bit more of the house.
And then as we drive down Escobar toward the uh driveway that's at the rear of the property off Escobar and then a um mid height flying bird aerial view over the fence so we could
see into the property. And then we created two complete aerial views so that you could get a better feel for the original home which is on the left side, the new bar connector, the pool deck and terrace which all are
to remain. And then the garage that's rotated and tucked further back into the property off of Escobar. And then a similar viewpoint but now from the west side looking at the main house, the one-story portion that's to
remain and then the new twotory wing. So that's our presentation. If you have any questions, let me >> Thank you. >> I tried to speed it up a little bit since you had seen quite a bit of the of the original house. I didn't have to go
into as much detail with with the feature. I if I I do want to add one more thing because I did see the the staff report on conditions and uh what we're doing as as usual. We're trying to to um not replicate but complement
incredibly difficult sometimes with these type of homes that have small window grids and details that are hard to differentiate even by degrees without them looking on a drawing like they're exactly copied. So to that end, the house has a very large plank siding on
the main twotory volume that's that's about nine inches in in in height. So what we did is there's nine rows of planking on the original. We reduced it to eight on the proposed. >> When you look at the elevations, it's almost impossible to tell, but but
that's how we differentiated the the siding from one to the other. the siding on the main home being wood, the siding on the new being a um stucco reproduction of that. >> And then the same thing with the window grids, just trying to change the grids
slightly. Um and which is always a challenge any of I'm sure Alex and and Anna when they've worked on these homes when you have this size grid, it's it's very difficult to stray too far off the path because then it just looks too radically different. So, it's always a
challenge when we're doing new windows to respect the original but yet be different of the original. The roof tile red clay, I think that's that's what we have shown here. So, we're in agreement with that. A lot of the standard items of the high-profile
mountains we have noted on our plans along with the the glass being uh clear view, non-reflective, non-tint. And I think uh that's it for this part of the presentation. So,
thank you, Anna. You've got that question on your >> others might have questions first, but >> can um can you explain the the rebuilding? You mentioned the piece that in the U
COA report they describe as a water tank um chimney. >> It was it was originally a solar water heater, right? So it's nonfunctional but has been completely been rebuilt and restored. Uh just
>> uh the wa there is still water heater inside that space but there is no solar panels. Solar panels were removed when I redid the roof back in 2015. The solar panels were removed when I removed when I redid the roof back in I
think it was 2015. It was a bit unsightly. Plus with all the shade it didn't really do much. Thank you. >> Could you put the rendering back that shows that the way you're rebuilding it? I think it's the rendering before this one.
>> I'm sorry. What? >> The rendering that shows that piece. I just wanted to know how the roof works. Could you bring it? >> Um, yeah. Let me go to the roof plan. >> So, that's where it is today. >> And then
It's very clear, but the the the little let's just call it the little chimney falls in exactly the same location which is centered with a ridge is the corner of it and then the two um flat portions of the roof itself connect to the front
face of it and that's how it exists today. So basically it'll be removed. The roof is raised and rebuilt to the same pitch and size that it is today. And then that element placed >> that center part is flat. Okay. Just in
the rendering it showed something else. Okay. >> Peggy. >> Uh I have a question about uh the windows in the garage. You say you're elevating the floor by 16 in. What's
happening to the windows? >> So, not in the new garage. >> No, I'm speaking about the former garage. >> So, yeah, all those will come up a little higher because they were they were they were um referenced to the
lower floor. So, when we raise that, the windows come up also. >> Okay. So that's >> so they're the exact same window configuration, the shutters. It's just that they they'll be raised. >> Okay. So that's a change in the front facade.
>> Yes. >> Yeah. Basically, what's what will happen is those windows now will be even with the rest of the windows, the main part. So it'll be actually more symmetrical, you know, than what it was previously. and also even with the east wing.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. So, um I just want to first say that I live in a home that was designed by Nelson. Um I don't know whether I have to disclose that, but I do anyhow and I love it. And I love it. >> Nelson, you didn't you didn't
>> I'm not biased influencer. I do like his work. >> Uh I really love looking at your plans. They're so efficient and uh I even when I was a preservation officer, you would come in and I'd look at the original uh
for plans and I compared what you did. I You're great. >> Thank you. >> I I love this. >> This is really going to live well as a home, which is so important. I appreciate it. >> Thank you, Mr. Garcia. Plans.
>> Yes. So, I was going to start the same thing. I love that the plans are beautiful. They're easy to read and easy to understand, which is great. So, thank you very much for that. Um, I did want to I think Miss Alvarez her comment on the elevation of AO5 the little Koopa is
not doesn't appear to be on the drawing. Is it tucked behind the >> correct? >> It's not in the rendering that that was shown. It's it was it came up No, it came up during writing the staff report and it they were like, "Oh, by the way, we are keeping it." So, and they
actually have the copper >> the copper roof structure um off of it. So, it's being restored and brought back. So, no, it is not on your drawing. >> Okay. I I think now I understand why I was asking because I thought you were looking at >> it wasn't on the plan updated one would have the Koopa added back in. Yes.
>> Okay. >> And then the the windows in the front are are very clearly drawn. It's all very clear and And well done. I did have the only concern I thought I had, which is the the presence of the second story addition to the two-story house. The the
fact that it is set back and the dining room is left at the at the onetory height so that the main house has the right profile from one to two and then two in the back. Um but even then it's it's still a pretty large piece in the back. Um, I went through the photographs
that you provided of the front of the house and the street trees and the trees on site just will make it so that you cannot see it. So, I appreciate again the information that was provided because the questions I had were addressed in the drawings that you provided. So, thank you.
>> Thank you. >> I try not to let landscape though dictate the architecture, but sometimes there's things that are just in the way that make it very difficult to >> it works in your favor. Yeah, that banyion tree, you know, hides a lot of sins.
>> Yeah. Miss Shield, anything down here for you down here, Miss De? >> No, fine. Thank you, >> Mr. and Mr. Silva. Sure. >> Um, I would echo my colleagues comments. Um, I think the plans are great. Uh, excellent job. I don't have an issue with that raising of that existing
garage structure. Um, I don't have an issue with with keeping those windows and just pushing them up. Um, I appreciate the subtlety involved in changing the the rhythm on that sighting. I think I think it you'll pick it up if you really look. Uh, so I think it's a really subtle way of
differentiating it other than the material the actual material. Um, I did have a question on we we we went through all the staff's comments uh except the last one where where they had a a question or a concern on that round window on the rear
elevation. Um, so I'd like to hear both your thoughts on that. Um, I personally don't have an issue with with leaving it as it is. Um, but but I would like to hear kind of your comments and staff's comments. >> Yeah.
>> The rear facade I wasn't as concerned about. It was the front facade that it was it was just kind of matchy matchy on the on the two front facades. If you guys feel that it's going to be set far enough at back that it's not visible, then it might be okay. I just or or change the mton pattern maybe or the way
it's framed. Um the back one I don't have an issue with. >> Did you have anything else? >> Change, >> modify. >> Okay. >> Yes. Okay. >> Nelson, you got any comments on that? >> I loved it. I thought the project was really well presented. I thought the
drawings were very clear. >> Well, that says it all. >> The window. >> All right, Miss Alvarez. >> If you notice that the original >> Please speak into the microphone. >> If you if you show the original facade of the house when it was first built
back in I don't know. Go back to that first >> 39. >> 39. >> Yeah. 39. Do we have that somewhere? I don't know. Uh the whole facad we can see the >> that other little entrance that goes into the mud room. >> Oh. Uh
>> the mud room is that breezeway I guess between the main part of the house. >> Can you put the powerpoint back up please? >> Or the the archway. >> Yes. If you notice that archway imitates the front entrance.
So there is there is that. So there is that. So I I I I'm not personally I'm not sure why the round window in the front I'm sorry the round window in the back would
detract from you understand what I'm saying. Okay. So, >> do you understand what I'm saying? >> Yeah. The the window in question is the one at the laundry room, the second floor, >> which is set back, but I mean, we do have the same situation happening with
the original dry house, you see, between this and this. >> I don't really have a problem with it being the same. I think that the the fact that you're it's back number one, but also the siding is going to be different. So, it'll be someone's
looking at it closely. Understand that it's in the newer proportion. Even though the windows the same for me, it doesn't it doesn't detract from the original, but I also wouldn't care if it
was different. Are there any further questions? Okay. Is is there any uh discussion? Yeah. Go ahead. >> Yeah. No, I'm going to that right now. Yeah. Is there anyone from the public who wishes to speak for against this project
in any way, shape, or form on Zoom, >> ethereal or otherwise? >> No one on Zoom. >> No. Okay. So, then we're going to close the public hearing. We're going to come back to to the board for discussion and a motion. Is there any further discussion board? Any further questions
of anybody? >> No. >> If not, I'd like to entertain a motion, please. >> Like to make a motion. >> We have a motion by Mr. Garcia. A motion to approve the design proposal for additions and alterations to the residence and site work at the property located at 607 University Drive and
approve with the conditions above the issu the additions in the report the issuance of a special certificate appropriateness including number 11 to work with staff. Um but most of us are fine with the window as it is. >> You good with that Nelson?
>> Yes. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Do I have a second? Please. >> A second. I have a second by Miss Alvarez. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Like to call the role, please. >> Nelson, by the way, that was very, really good design. >> Thank you,
>> Miss Shield. >> Yes. >> Miss Date, >> yes. >> Miss Rando, >> yes. >> Miss Spain, >> Miss Spain, >> yes. >> Miss Eert, >> yes.
Miss Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Mr. Garcia Pan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Silva. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Maxwell. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> We have a motion. I know. >> Thank you very much. Wonderful presentation.
>> All right, ladies and gentlemen. We're going to move on to the next file, which is >> case file COA 2025-012. It's an application for the issuance of a special certificate of appropriateness for the property at 628 AlkaZar Avenue,
a contributing resource within the Alcazar Avenue Historic District, legally described as lots five and six, block 20, Coral Gable, section B, Platbook 5, page 111, Miami Dade County Public Records. The application requests design approval for additions and
alterations to the residence and garage and site work. Staff Good afternoon. Um, as mentioned, this is 628 Alcazar Avenue, designed in a minimal traditional style, built in 1937
by William Miriam. Uh, the application requests design approval for the additions and alterations to the residence and garage and site work. The two-story addition requires partial demolition of the southwest corner and relocation of the existing garage. And site work includes a driveway, covered terrace, pool, and
pool patio. Um the applicant is here to make a presentation and then we can go um discuss the recommendation and condition. >> Thank you. >> Thank good afternoon board members. Can't believe I have to follow Nelson. That's a tough one.
>> Please state your name. >> Peter Kigs Architects. >> Peter Khigian with PPKS Architects. We're the architects for 628 Alazar. Uh it's good to see you all again. It's my fourth William Miriam house that I've
worked on. So, I think I'm uh hopefully getting to know him on a personal level. >> Uh uh we agree with staff's recommendations. Um but let's go through the the project. Quintessential North North Gables
property and in in a historic uh street. Uh uh the property lies just at the west end of Alcazar right before it hits Alhamra. The here you have the the north street view and the south street view again um
typical North Cable Street with a variety of uh contributing properties and then you know um houses from different eras that are not necessarily contributing but do provide a different uh scale twotory and one
story. These are our immediate uh neighbors. In the center is uh 628 Alcazar. To to the right is 614 636. Those are the next door neighbors and the neighbors across the street.
And you can see there's a variety of homes, but it's uh all in all a uh a street that does have quite a bit of contributing properties. And it's clear why it was, you know, picked to be a a historic district. So we are working
within that and hopefully we can uh make this a successful project. Again this is the the historic picture of the house. We are in this um process restoring
any of the existing details that have survived and there's going to be a a strong effort to do that. So you know you can rest assure that's going to happen. There's a rec the microphones of the home. You know, they're
they're not in great shape, but we were able to extract as much information as we needed to to document the home. The home is a one-story home. Again, uh typical of that era. The four houses that I that I've worked on are 1108 Oispo, which is where I
live. Uh 1116 Oispo, which is my next door neighbor. That'll be coming to you guys in the next month or two. uh 23 2039 Alhhamra which will also be coming to you guys in a couple of months and this house 628 U Alkazar
uh you know his work uh again we're not asking for any variances as you can see in the report that's the survey and the zoning information and here's um some more close-up shots of the house William's
work is um you There's kind of a pattern. There's a typically a 35 ft front setback and then there's a projecting uh room that meets the 25 ft setback, but a lot of the you know there's a lot of um area given to the
front. the one-story homes are um the the pattern or or the strategy seems to be a very grandiose but humble entrance space with exposed ceilings and you know um flanked or or bookended by a fire
fireplace. So, three of those properties that I'm working on have that scenario going on. And then the secondary and tertiary spaces are treated in a more in a more utilitarian and and uh um just in a in a in a simpler way, but still, you
know, the the detailing is very nuanced. You know, there are scalloped walls, rounded corners, thickened walls. There's uh rod iron is used sparingly in I've only seen it in two of the homes that I'm working on on this one and the one on Alhamra and um you know as you
can tell from the the opening slide you know we are going to uh restore that element which is you know surviving. There's also in the report um mention of the tile the use of tile at the entrance
steps and and the surround of the door. We think we know for sure the door is not an original door and we don't think the tile is original, but you know towards the end we would reserve the you know request that we can work with staff to either uh repair these or do
something better that's more to the original because they've added like bathroom tiles on the edge like a bullnose tile. So it's kind of a mix. So even though at a distance it looks uh it looks like uh something valuable when you get closer up it's not um it's not original to the house. So that's
something that you know we can discuss if if we get there. Again the idea this is a 100 by 100 foot lot and and like I mentioned the house is set back at 35 ft. The idea here was uh this is a growing family. I'm here joined by the homeowners and their two
daughters. Uh Jan Janelli and Chris are the homeowners. Um the strategy here was to work with the flow of the house. In other words, on the right of the house is the utilitarian space is the kitchen and the garage and on the left were the bedrooms and obviously the the central
space which is the you know the primal space is remaining where it's at. But we wanted to really accomplish the program on the ground floor so we can have a compressed second floor so that the addition of the second floor is really reduced to its minimal um dimensions or
its minimal mass, let's call it, and still leave some room for a yard and a pool that uh a growing family uh will need. So, you know, this is a comparison of the of the existing and the and the
proposed. And you can see that basically what we're doing is layering an extra room to the existing to the existing uh layout. And then here you can see that the second floor is you know quite compressed. It's in the back of the house towards towards the corner of the
house of the existing house. And the additions that are one stories are subservient to the existing house. So you'll see in the elevations now that in and the roofs we you know there's a combination of hip gables flat roofs to really modulate and to really work with
the masking of the house. And here you can see the how we've kept even with the the one-story additions we've kept the original profile of the house where it's a telescoping element and the garage even though it has come forward it still remains in that in that original
profile. And then um on the second story edition, what we've done is we've taken advantage of the stairs and uh and a bathroom to kind of bring the tie beam down and create an intermediate level between the one story and the twotory. So that always helps the eye transition from you
know from a one-story addition from a one-story house to a two-story edition. And on the left we have uh the master bedroom addition and that is you know subservient again to the existing roof roof line and the side elevations
in the rear. Right now we're showing uh the report says a rear terrace at the time that we did this uh the there's a new section in the code that allows um terraces if they're open on two sides to be attached. At that time it wasn't
available. This right now we're presenting it as a trellis. If we come back as a terrorist, we'll either work with staff or come back to you guys, but we're not changing the submitt at this moment. We we we you know, we probably will come back with it, but that'll you know, that'll be at a different date.
And then on the west, what we did is uh something I caught in one of the meetings that I came here about leaving a a memory of the old garage on the existing wall. I think it was Mr. Maxwell that had uh spoken about that in a different project and I thought it was kind kind of clever and uh so we've kept
a relief of the of the garage. We've added a window you know so it's not a blank wall. So that western elevation, you can see that the additions are behind the existing house, even the even the the one-story ones. And then we left that, you know, that silhouette of the
of the original garage uh gave land. Here's some of the um three-dimensional representations of the house that give you give you the sense that the house really hasn't the front of the house really hasn't changed and it's still, you know, an appealing presence
on the street. Again in we I can go into more detail but we are employing that same technique of using you know double thick walls. You can see it there on the second story. The the the that wall is uh 16 in deep. The garage wall is is deep. So so that
the house even though it's not copying the scalloped detail of the existing house brings other details that you know that have been used in houses of the same era. And I'll run through these. These are just some of the contributing properties on Alcasar just in case we we get into a
further discussion about any of the elements in and how the neighborhood is. There's 1108 OBS. That's where I'm at. There's some the part of the reason why we took some on Obisville is because
Alcasar has a lot of thin lots where Obisville has some of the wider lots and our our lot is obviously 100 by 100. So some of the homes on Obisu are more appropriate in scale and and layout than some of the ones on Alcazar
and obviously Obisu is another one of those historic street districts. And so and I think there's a comment regarding the driveway. We haven't shown the landscape and same reason Elsa mentioned when we go to the board of architects, we asked for no landscaping
because we want to see what uh but this will get a hedge in the front obviously. We we uh showed some Oops. Sorry. Yeah, I'm going the wrong way. Yeah, we're showing some examples of
homes uh that do have that driveway because I think it's a comment. One of the comments we'd like to talk about uh from staff that we agree pretty much with all the comments. Uh again, the only one that we would like to to reconsider is the use of the driveway.
This house is on is on uh is on on sewer, so we don't have to worry about a septic tank. There is um you know, these are some of the homes. The driveway will be a Chicago brick, so it's going to be a nicely textured uh finish.
But there's something that that's been happening on an Alcazar is that people are putting up the the no parking signs on the swale. So it gets, you know, the the whole swale parking and and um the appearance of the street comes into into question when when we're talking about
driveways. So I know there's a you know there's a different tolerance for driveways. I think there you know the driveways that are well done in a good material are attractive. So and that's what we intend to do. Um and again this is regarding the
discussion of the of the tile in the front. It's you have to look hard but you know it seems like it's not the the the original tile but we would like to work with staff to get to a good place for that with that and the stoop. So with that I'm here to answer any
questions uh that you guys may have board. Okay. I'm going to start down this way. Kelly, you have any questions? >> Um, I it's very well done, I think. And I like the fact that the the front
elevation is pretty unchanged. I do have to agree with the staff on the comment number five about um having the driveway remain just as the access to the garage and leaving the front porch open. I think with, you know, even though it's Chicago brick, I think it kind of
changes the look of it. Correct. Um the you know the original garage is the original driveway is very deep. So now we we're not as deep. So we I don't think we can maintain a single driveway if we you know if we end up
doing uh a mod a different driveway would have to be something that's you know more more substantial to really first of all to merit the size of the lot and number two to really take care of the of of the cars. We're only we're only at you know we're staying with a onecar garage. So the garage you know
it's there's minimal garage space. So what we're trying to avoid is really just parking on the swale and and not really having the correct place for the cars even though they're you know we understand and I understand as an architect that the car is not you know the the primal part of of the of the
ensemble but um you know that's we would like you know I I know and I know there's very varying tolerances for the driveway so you know um I would like to hear from everyone and then we can we can get to to a place where
you know if that's the last the only sticking point then I would like to know >> thank you >> ever >> I agree with Miss Shield on number five >> very good >> Mr. I think it's very well done. I
appreciate the the the thickened walls on the front and the way that you're treating that garage addition on the front. >> It it's a tricky site because you're so close to the rear. >> Yeah. >> And because of the amount of square footage you're adding um and the fact that you're not coming with a variance and you were able to accommodate everything and still respect that front
edition uh the front facade uh is important and I think you did a very good job. >> Thank you. Um, in terms of the driveway, I'm uh I'm kind of on the fence. Um,
think I'll I'll see what the rest of my colleagues have to say. Um, there there is a lot of pavement here, but I suspect that if you get rid of that driveway of the of the circular driveway, then you'd be adding more
pavement to be able to kind of fit two cars there. So, so, um, yeah, let me just wait to see what else. >> And let me let me say that we're on the driveway. We're we're less than the allowed I don't know if you can see it
here, but the the throat of the driveway is 10 ft wide and and so are the the approaches, which uh I think I think 11 is the the the maximum. we're below that and we're not creating park, you know, like a double parking area on the main
part of the driveway. So, I I feel that if we do get rid of that, we're going to have to create a place for two cars, which then would create like a parking court off to the side, which is also works. It's not, you know, it's not a I've done it many times. We've all we've all worked with that scheme. It's, you
know, it's not a um but again the the fact that the house doesn't have a a septic tank. The other thing that I sort of um liked about it is this this coil element here on the left that >> you can use I think your pointer to
point at the screen and >> sorry >> I have no idea what I'm talking about but apparently >> there you go there. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. the fact that the driveway kind of, you know, um takes that into account and, you know, it kind of brings the
whole thing together. I think it's, you know, >> something to think about. But >> sorry, >> if you could bring up the image from the 1200 block of Oispo, I think that would help. There's a good example that does that where the landscape creates um a buffer.
>> Yeah. And I think I probably should have had a a rendering with the landscape and without the land. here. This is the the obeseo world >> and you know I think I think it's it's I live on obeseo obviously it's and to me it's completely acceptable but I do
understand there's different different tolerances for the driver and it's a discussion it's a discussion at our board as well and my my my view on it is always you know if it's done well and it's a good material it's better than
having them on the soil that's just uh the way that you But I I understand the the uneasiness with the driveways and just the the you know conceptually. So >> thank you Peggy.
>> I'm not a fan of paving over the front yard. Uh I um I think less is better and I agree with the staff report. these plans are good enough. You could come up with a much better solution than
bricking over >> Miss B. >> Well, the issue is that they need to somehow get two cars on the lot, which I totally understand. >> Yes. >> Instead of always having one on the whale. Um
I mean, I guess you could end up with >> half a flag. I guess you could end up with one always in the garage and the other one. But what a mess >> or two drivers. It would be uh very difficult to have one. >> The family is back there. I will tell
you that they live on Columbus and they're going to move here and I think they're going to be here until the daughters drive. I don't know how long is that how old they are. Five and six. Have you >> That's scary. I can tell you that day is very scary when you're >> So So that you know that's something to
consider. I'm going through that and uh >> but listen, I I understand both viewpoints and and like I said, we you know um we've done it both ways and and uh you know, if that's the only if that's the one thing that you know, I
would like to have the opportunity to work with staff to get to to a place that you know, >> maybe maybe it's just maybe it's the two curb cuts that are an issue. Yeah, >> it's not it's not so much for me the amount of paving in the in the uh site,
although I get it. That's not the ideal situation. Um >> but maybe it's something with the >> Yeah, the part of the problem if you don't if you don't do that then zoning has hard heartburn about uh a drive leading to nothing. If you you know if
you try to do some kind of >> to your your walkway to the front door. >> Pardon? Peter, can you pull up those sight plan? >> And I just was in Chicago and drove with my granddaughter >> her first time. That was really terrifying.
>> Caesar, the site plan, you say >> 8100. Yeah, >> so I I thought I thought my concern was going to be with the garage moving forward, but I I think the the detailing actually works out pretty well with the with especially with the scaling of the second floor to the first floor. I think
that was a really interesting solution over there. >> Um I have a suggestion. >> Yeah. >> Um and it has to do with the drawing on the right is I also think the driveway is kind of a bit much. Um and for me it also is the second cut through of the
sidewalk. Um my recommendation for your consideration would be is just end it at the um front door walkway so that you can actually have a tea. you can drive in, pull in left, go straight, pull out so that you have you can move some cars
around. Um because if it was just one straight shot or you do a carport, it's just in and out. But this way you can have a T. >> I I I I understand. I I think that um that again what I was saying is that that T gives zoning heartburn
>> because it doesn't lead to a drive to so the zoning has a rule that any drive has to lead to a garage. But I could so >> we can get over that through through >> we can do it here. >> No, I know. >> At this at this level, this board can make that >> recommend. I I
>> I believe that because the curb cut would still lead to the garage, >> it can do that T-shape >> without it being an issue. >> We'll do like like I said, we'll do I think what I'm hearing is that the driveway is not acceptable. So I, you
know, I will work with staff to to get to some kind of version that comes close to that where we can actually park two cars and, you know, move them in and out um without impacting, you know, something that's complimentary to the
house, not just thinking about the car. >> Then my my recommendation for whoever makes the motion is that there only be one curb cut, not two. uh and to keep the throat at 10 feet. So, I don't know
how you do it behind there, but I think it's it's important to try to keep those two things, particularly the one curb cut. >> I mean, if we can do one curb cut and then maybe maybe the approach is not 10 feet because then it gets I mean, I know
how to do it. You got you go to a parking court. I get it. I understand. It's just then you're, you know, it then you're almost like always in tandem parking, right? You always have to be moving a car to get out. So, you know, um >> there there are many cars in Quables
that do that, especially I know >> and not if you do it you have a tea. >> Yeah, the tea works. >> The tea works. >> You can both you can have you don't need >> one parked in front and the other parked in the uh >> Yeah, I I can see that.
>> Yeah. I mean, if if that's the if this is the only, you know, if this is the one thing I we'll, you know, we'll work with staff to get to to something that, you know, I don't know if it needs to come back here or not, but it's up to, you know, that's um I'm definitely capable of doing 67
different driveways here. It's not uh it's not a you know, >> some reason zoning doesn't allow it, that could be a variance that we would approve. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, no, I understand. >> Having to come back My my Yeah. My issue is when I see a
tea, when I see it at the board, it it feels like it's car oriented. If if it's not done like a like an arrival parking, like a like a a geometry that's, you know, like it feels like a parking court, then if it looks like it's, you know, like something done out of a traffic uh uh something for traffic.
But, you know, I I you know, I can work with this. It's not, you know, and I'll I'll um So, yeah, we'll, you know, if you allow us to work with staff on that, we we'll definitely get to a solution that uh
that uh that'll uh be acceptable and and workable. >> Thank you. Are there any other questions by members of the board? Miss Alvarez? >> Oh, no. I just wanted to say um you know, it's a it's a great um
presentation and and project and so thank you for studying the architect and kind of the architecture of that period. I know how difficult it is to add to the minimal traditional houses. >> It's it's a nuanced architecture, right? The the details are hidden in the walls. I took your suggestion from the the
other house. No, that one I took from him, but the other the other house that I presented on Cordova that we talked about the windows was the final result was much better with your suggestion. But that was also the same era, not the same architect, another William, but it was um but it was a good observation and
yeah, I think uh it's like ingrained them, you know, the the thick walls and good stuff. So, it's good. >> But thank you. >> Thank you for the compliment. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Are there any other questions or anything from members of the board? No. Okay. Then we're going to close this
session and open it up to the public hearing. Is there anyone in the public on the Zoom or here in the room that would like to speak for or against this project? Hearing none, we'll close the public portion and come back to the board for
discussion and emotion. I'm happy to move it. Um I'd make motion to approve with the staff conditions. Um, and number five, to make sure its driveway should remain as a single access to the garage, and that could be a period after the open front yard is
something to be worked out with staff. Um, the design approval for the addition alteration to the residence and site work on the property located at 628 Alazar Avenue and approve the issuance of a special certificate of appropriateness with the conditions um,
as stated previously. >> Okay, we have a motion by Mr. Garcia. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. I have a second by Miss Alvarez. >> A question, Mr. Rosopon. So, you're striking maintaining the open front yard portion of that. >> I am.
>> Okay. We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? If not, we call the role, please. >> This shield. >> Yes. >> Pull this down a little bit so we can hear. >> Okay. We're getting old up here.
>> Okay. Miss Schil, yes. Miss Dain, >> yes. >> Okay. Miss Rando, >> yes. >> Okay. Miss Bain, >> yes. >> Miss Ever? >> Yes. >> Mr. Garcia Ponds? >> Yes. >> Miss Alvarez? >> Yes.
>> Mr. Silva? >> Yes. >> And Mr. Maxwell? >> Yes. >> Motion passes unanimously. >> Thank you very much and uh good luck with the rest of the day. Thank you. >> Thank you for coming. All right, we have one more application at this time before we move in into
other business and we'll try to take a break at 6 o'clock uh before we get into that. The next is case file COA 2025-022, an application for the issuance of a
special certificate of occup certificate of appropriateness, excuse me, for the property at 5005 Hammock Park Drive, a local historic landmark legally described as lot 4, block one, Hammock Park, uh, flatbook
71, page 43, Miami Dade County, Florida records. The application requests design approval for additions and alterations to the residence and site work. A variation has also been requested from article 16 of the Coral Gable zoning code to increase the size of the gazebo
from 300 square ft to 450 square ft. >> Good afternoon. Um uh thank you. This property is a single family residence at 55 Hammock Park Drive. was designed by architect Alfred Browning Parker in 1964.
The largely unaltered home is a mature work of this renowned architect. It employs many of his design precepts and features. It responds to the tropical environment with a narrow plan, large eaves, his signature Pana doors, um banded windows and terraces. Uh the
property was designated a local historic landmark in November 2023. Uh the application requests design approval for one and two story approximately 3,000 plus square feet addition and alterations to the residence and construction of a
freestanding gazebo and site work. A variance has also been requested of article 16 definitions of the Coral Gable zoning code to increase the maximum allowable size of a gazebo from 300 square feet to 450 ft. I'll let the applicant make their presentation and
then we can discuss any um issues with the recommendation and conditions. >> Hi, thank you all for your time today. Andrea Rabul, principal of Studio will be designing um worked on with the the family on the design of 5005 Hammock
Lake uh Hammock Park Drive. Um this property in particular just as um see if I could click ahead. Great. Um, as context, it's part of the gated community of Hammock Lakes. Um, and the community right now is really made up of
traditional, transitional, and contemporary homes. Um, you know, so really seeing a variety of roof typologies and architectural styles throughout the neighborhood. The original deh house was designed in 1964 and as as mentioned um you know
really took into consideration the Florida environment from its materiality irregular sighting um stone cladding exaggerated overhangs um you know all really defining features of Alfred Browning Parker's work and um you know so luckily I compared to the other the
other houses presented today we had such beautiful drawings to reference back to and see his drawing types and I you know made just want to draft the project by hand. Our client probably wouldn't have loved that time frame for um our production standpoint, but really such a beautiful set of drawings that we were
able to reference and and study. So, um, but you could see here in the original floor plan, um, the the narrow proportions of the architecture and, um, really beautiful elements, you know, coming into the dining room, the sunken
living room, um, and, um, just the the use of of natural light to the rear yard. Um, so really all defining features of Alfred Ping Parker's work. Um and then looking at the materiality um of the home where in this house in
particular um different from many of his other projects, the front facade is extremely solid. So the sighting is so beautiful and important um and unfortunately not probably taken care of with a level of love for the last um you
know decades. But um the regular sighting is such a defining feature because of the the solidity of the front facade. As we move to the rear facade, these exaggerated vertical windows um that are slanted back um really defining the
architecture um and opening up to the rear yard. The house is is really set within a jungle. So, it's very hard to even see in the neighborhood um at the moment, which um you know, with the materiality of Alpha Parker's work is really actually so appropriate. It
blends in with the environment in a really beautiful way. Uh I will go back to the slide. Uh in 2003 it was not uh deemed historic at the time. There was additions and alterations made to the home. Um
and unfortunately some of them are within the city, some of them not. So we've been trying to piece together what what was changed and not. Um but you could see here. Yep. Okay. So the, you know, the kind of this kind of open terracing and corners which offer Bonnie Parker repeated in the home was enclosed
and this wing of the house has really been touched and renovated um you know with the bathroom layouts and in general this closed corner. So the glazing um has been adjusted and and currently um you know the the kitchen opens up now to
what originally was a carport is now a glass enclosed family room off the back of the house. Um, so kind of alterations made to bring it to current lifestyle. Um, and a strange addition to um a a a
back balcony off a second floor edition. Um, so it's very eclectic the the added work and it's something that we really wanted to work solely on the areas that had been touched from the original design. Um, these are current photos of
the house that we're looking at. uh and like I mentioned and you'll see in the end of the presentation but a lot of the features which again we find so important the uh irregular sighted uh wood sighting um the cladding has been painted and restored in different times
and areas and you do read that in the house right now. It's something the homeowner really wants to work on restoring and see okay well how could we patch these kind of different um you know you you read the layers of paint in different areas and in different years of application. So, uh, you know, we're
really look, you know, the owners really wants to work closely with staff and how do we restore that to to have continuity, um, in in restoring that sighting. Um, like I I mentioned in the previous slide, I think this slide's important for us just so you could see, we're really focusing the work on the areas
that have been restored and and altered um, sorry, altered uh, within the 2003 edition that was made. So, uh, the removal of that back balcony, um, and really working on the section that has been previously touched, the dining
room, the sunken living room features with all of its interior elements. And I I want to bring that in because there's really beautiful interior doors and and woodworking, just like the craftsmanship he took on the exterior of the work into the interior of the house. And the homeowner wants to restore that and
leave the main living room as originally designed. Luckily, it hasn't been touched over these years and that's something that we want to preserve. Um, the family is a young growing family, three young kids. Um the husband loves to cook and I always give family background was probably too much for
this presentation but the reason I'm mentioning it because um they have you know newborns two-year-olds and this house in the 60s the parents had like their own suite upstairs and the bed the kids were downstairs in their own unit and the split floor plan just really didn't work well for the family in their
current dynamic. Um and uh the husband loves to cook and have his kids nearby. So the kind of closed chef's kitchen also wasn't, you know, um inviting for what their family dynamic is now with kids of young age. So because of that,
you could see that the the floor plan um revisions will really be made to accommodate for their family living and that more family room and kitchen space. again uh preserving the living room and formal dining room as originally designed.
Here's our proposed site plan. Um and just to highlight, you know, we really wanted um our scope of the work, like I said, is a very lush landscaped um site. And we wanted it to really sit behind the Alfred Browning Parker original structure, detach itself from it, and
really feel almost as a garden pavilion. We want it to really sit in the rear yard where there is lush trees um in the periphery and and and be more of a a low-lying garden feature. Um so our two additions here are the new bedroom wing
and here's the detached pavilion. Um to note on the very being requested for the detached pavilion, the homeowner does have enough F um you know extraordinary enough F to have uh an attached cover terrace or pavilion. We
just didn't find it appropriate with the architecture to have it be attached. We wanted to detach oursel from the original routing parker as much as possible. So, um, as mentioned, you know, the proposed floor plans are preserving this, uh, interior work and really
focusing on these wings back here. So, we want to bring the this was originally the carport location. The homeowner does want it to be an enclosed garage, but we want it to be used for the vehicle again. Um, and then really opening up this span that had had adjustments over
the years to be their kind of open kitchen, family room that opens to um the the rear yard and and pool space and garden space for their open family living. Um so again just bringing in this open kitchen and family room and
then when and using those bedroom spaces we've designed a new uh flat roof structure to to be below the original Alfred Bonnie Parker again we want to uh really differentiate ourselves from it and uh be very lowlying in you know behind the structure. So this this wing
here um allows us to have the master bedroom on the first floor uh with you know I say today you know you look at the original plans and then you look at the size of master closets and bathrooms today. Obviously, they needed a lot more expansive space than originally proposed
in the Alfred Rody Parker house, but um his and her closets, large master bathroom. That brings us to the second floor for their three kids um bedrooms uh right above them. And the kids have their own little den. So um the the
majority of the work is again this detached structure allowing for the bedrooms and the kid and the fam the family dynamics to work without uh outside of the Alfred Bronny Parker to not have so many interior adjustments to the plan. Um this proposed work down
here is to have a guest suite and a home office. This was that addition um starting at this line right here was a 2003 edition made on the house. Uh we tried very hard actually to get the Homer to demo that portion. You'll see in the elevations the Alfred Browning
Parker house pushed to its original line really was so beautiful. Um but wow it's really hard to have someone knock down something that's already built and working. So he um he he he allowed us to restore some window elements and bring it back um as much as we could.
So here you could see the um house as it is today. Um the addition was made right here at this this kind of awkward little line that you see there in the roof. Um and this is um the proposed addition again with our home
sitting in the rear um flat roofs which is already part of the neighborhood and again um really trying to differentiate from uh Alfred Bronning Parker's architecture. Something to note and we'll look at it in the renderings, but uh you know our
our roof typology is different. Our window system is different from the original house, but we did want to have continuity and materiality. So it would be a woodclatted um bar, uh you know, contemporary bar with the flat roof. We want to introduce the natural stones
similar to Alfred Bronning Parker's materiality in his original house. Um something in the staff report that's mentioned and the homeowner is is you know very happy working with them is how the stone will be applied. Um Alfred Brown Parker's stone application obviously is something very particular
of his work and you know we will work with staff in making sure that the application isn't trying to exactly copy um the installation. So in the rear yard here you could see again um in this elevation um the this
was again we don't have the drawings of it houses now but it's an enclosed glass family room. We want to bring it back for the vehicle and then having this lowlying glass bar uh with the wood cladding u sit in the rear garden. This is here looking at the pool area
with the height um you know I think is such a dominant feature of the house um of the uh slanted windows which uh part of our request today all of the doors and windows will are not currently hurricane um windows obviously a really
big priority for the homeowner uh we want to keep all the pro proportions we've met with window vendors to go out there measure them see how we could handle them um and so we're looking at working with Marvin in in matching all of the existing window features. One
that um is important to note uh there's a beautiful um a stained glass window uh that you know we is is I think we find particularly hard to replace. It's such an important historic feature on both the interior and on the exterior of the
home. So we'll be um you know we've requested to have an armor screen system there that is one that we can't replace so we could preserve the historic integrity and see it from both the interior and the exterior of the architecture. So and from the you know the main pool area living room again our addition
sitting beyond it um within the landscape as a flat structure. The pavilion we really wanted to be something simple and small. Again, we didn't attach it to the main residence because we didn't find it appropriate to to engage the Aring Parker uh structure. Again, um so it just be a simple um
pavilion within the garden. some of the historic features that I've discussed throughout the presentation, but the use of armor screening on the stained glass windows, the preservation of Alfred Pony Parker's pattern in the original stone work um wherever it's applied and needs to be restored. Um the
restoration of the irregulars sighted uh woodwork. Um again, really for us we're you could see and I wrote that the color is like uncertain on what our final color will be for the final stain and paint as it's been painted over many years. So, we really want to strip that
and see what you know, we want to get it back to its original coloring, but it's been really painted over many years. Oh, there it's not frozen. Okay. um for the front door. Um you know, obviously such an again identifying
feature of Alfred Bonnie Per Parker's work is the craftsmanship. The there's a wood screening system at the front door which is such an incredible feature. Um and so for our our current plan is to to remove to he wants the front door of
course to be hurricane impact. Um so to remove the screen, restore it, replace the glass door behind it and um so that the screening system can maintain and uh the glass door behind it um be hurricane impact. So we had the same exterior
integrity of the craftsmanship. Now it's catching up quite quickly. Um, there's one more sheet there and I guess it will catch up and go back. >> But in terms of materiality, like I mentioned, the finish of the wood is one
that's really important for us that we want to work with staff on. Um, the proposed windows will be Marvin. Um, here it is. Uh we're just going to just so you know restain um uh restore all rafter and tail details which again is part of the craftsmanship of his work.
Um and um mentioned you know the homeowner does want to replace all exterior doors with impact doors. So we want to see not much of the screening system has actually been maintained over the years. The bar is one room that has the Persiana screening system and door.
Um, and so we do want to restore that one and see if we could use it on the interior of the house, whether it's going into the barroom to kind of give a nod to what that space was. Um, so we want to restore it and reuse it within the home but not in its original location as it's the only one standing.
And then as this clicks ahead, um, uh, the roof will be replaced as part of the scope of work. Like I mentioned, we want to use the same natural materials like Alfred Browning intended for it to be part of the natural environment of Florida, the wood siding and the stone in our new edition as well. Uh we'll be
working with uh Marvin in the replacement of all the doors and their coastline system in the new addition. Um and we'll be working in the bronze color tone. Um and part of the um request today is also a rework of the driveway
and the pool. Uh the pool is not original to the design and so the homeowner wants it to feel a bit more current and in align with the architecture and the additions that we're working on today. Here's our addition tucked behind the house. Um the breezeway connector
connecting the Alfred Browning Parker House to the new addition. Um and then I think in this aerial you could see here um the rework of the pool aligning with this really you know beautiful vertical feature of the original house and our u pavilion sitting behind uh kind of the
main tea of Alfred Browning Parker's design and that concludes my presentation. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right board questions comments discussion. May I make a
comment? I feel like I've walked through Architectural Digest just now. >> It's beautiful. >> Thank you. >> Wow, >> Miss Alvarez. >> Yeah, very nice and very clear and complete presentation. Thank you. Very nicely done.
>> Thank you very much, >> Mr. Silva. >> I I echo the comments. I think it's a great job. I think the way that the addition kind of disengages from from the project is is very good. Even the rhythm on on your floor to ceiling uh glass kind of talks about the random
sighting. So that's that that's really well done. Thank you for taking off that that porch edition. >> U the only question I had is is the the connection with that breezeway. Um I don't really see >> I don't I don't I don't see a clear
section of that. I think the best place to see that is is actually on the renderings. Um just just um I guess take a look at how that that abuts how that connection hits the >> Could you put the presentation back up please CGTV?
>> Yes. So >> it's like a flying slab, right? And it and it comes in >> it starts underneath the the new edition, right? Yeah. You can see it in the back, but uh it's it's hard for me to see on on this laptop how it how it how it connects to the the Parker house.
>> Yeah. So, that that is one particular spot where we had to kind of, you know, cut back obviously on his overhang and then disengage those rafters. So, have it, you know, exaggeratedly detached from the breezeway um to allow that to breathe breathe. And that will be a lower portion of a walkway connected to
to the main beam there. >> Can you go to the next sheet? 504. Does that show it >> for the roof plan? >> And I'm sorry to jump to this because the rest of it is beautiful and >> No, of course. >> But this is just a question that I had that how that connects
So, it's just this guy here. >> No, nothing's being removed to add that in. Right. The the fly over. >> You're not removing anything in order to get that connection. Right. >> I So, we do have So, I'll see I'll show you here on the original. There is the where the portion of the breezeway
connects. We do have to cut on the original roof at that portion. >> Can you go to the plan? >> Yes. It's just thinking. >> Okay. because I also had a question on the this part behind it. >> I think what happens at that location is
that the overhang is too low to to engage below it. So that is the only place they'd have to cut back the overhang and the and the rafter tails to be able to connect it. But what you're I think what you're well when we get there is explaining is that it'll be along
it'll be the height of the wall. >> Correct. >> Okay. So it won't go past where the roof is or >> correct. We're matching all door and windows heights at that height. But the R because of the overhang, it comes lower. It comes to like a six uh 62 height at the end of the overhang. So we
can't connect below it for walkability. So we will have to cut back the rafters at that portion and connect um which is actually how he treated that vertical element um within the living room. Right. So he cuts back the rafter and it accepts it. >> That that same sort of
>> that same Yeah, that same um >> detail. And we could ask that they include a section of that detail so that we know the connection is not engaging the roof in any other form or cutting it back further than the wall um existing wall location >> if you want to add if you would like to
add that to the condition. >> Sheet 202 is that where Yeah. >> 202. >> Yeah. Does that show it? Go to the >> There we go. >> Behind the trees. Is that what we're talking about? >> Correct. >> Yeah. So it almost looks like it's drawn
behind it. You can see the gable comes down and it's behind that it cuts in so that you still see the line of the gable just you cut into it at some point. >> Correct. >> And since it's covered by the trees, it's hard to know what the detail was. Correct. I also shared >> So yes, your rafter detail will continue
for the for the duration of the structure and then it will >> yeah the trees is >> is not bringing the most clarity there. It's pretty much in so that the rafters exist on either side of >> again like like he does
>> um >> sheet 102 shows where you carve it out >> up here, right? So, it's going to notch back and accept the breezeway. Um it's just because of the length of the overhang at that point, we couldn't keep it below it. >> Yeah, that's
>> And did you want me to click to the floor plan? Is >> No, I I can see the 102. You can see the where it touches in. But I also think it's lovely. It must be so much fun to work on. >> It is. >> Um the you mentioned the sort of stained window.
>> Which one is that one again? I wasn't sure. I couldn't follow that. >> So what happens at the end of the gables? Um it's like an apex window right above um >> on the front or on the east or west. >> It uh Yeah. I'll show you here on the elevations. >> So this one has been altered. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. The back over there on the side. that I remember seeing the pictures on the inside. >> Yes. So from like from the living room and dining room, you see that at the termination gable. So we really didn't want to replace that as it's a really important interior feature as well as exterior. >> There's no skylights in the house, are
there? >> No. >> Yeah. I've worked on several of these Parker houses. They leak like SS. >> And the on sheet 202 the rear hearth, it looks like it's been extended. Yeah, >> it's where the laundry room is now, I think.
>> So on the top it's a thinner bar and on the bottom it's a wider bar. So it turned I don't know >> the the the chimney. >> The chimney. >> So that was an addition in the 2003. It's a strange trapezoid right now. It's a little eclectic. Um and attaches to
the balcony in a very strange way and to the interior. Uh so we wanted to really mirror the proportions that he had in the chimneys and kind of this kind of wider element. >> It's rotated. Correct. Which is nice. Mhm. >> Um and then the front um the the screen door in the front. So the I mean that's
I think a character defining element of the house and and I >> you're definitely keeping it above the door, but even the detail that comes down and then it goes back and then it goes down again. >> Um >> I would I like the idea of keeping it
somewhere, but I really like the idea of keeping it there. Um so I don't know what my fellow board members think. I think the fact that that that vertical element of the same material from the eve to the ground is really spectacular and I
>> I agree that is maintained. >> I thought you taking the door out. >> No, so the front door with the checkered kind of pattern that is remaining >> the door that they're talking about is the pana door. The >> it's like a double door on the the door
is actually right here. So, this one we're maintaining. >> Yeah, that >> Yeah. Yeah. They were just going to replace the door and then add the framing back on. >> I saw a wood screen door to be removed.
>> So, this one here is um one of the only one that the screening system maintains and that's one that we want to restore and use within the interiors because it's the only one that has >> misunderstood. Thank you. >> No, no problem. I was like, "No." >> I was like, "Whoa, >> thank you.
>> Thank you for addressing me so positively if you thought I was removing that." >> Yeah, because the demo plan shows it going away, but it's it's not going away. >> It shows the other one going away, the front one. >> Correct. >> Okay. Any further questions? >> I did I did have a question on the on
the variance. Um, so the the variance is being requested because the Gable's code has a specific maximum size for a gazebo regardless of lot size and all that, right? >> It's just a random maximum size. >> Um, you're way under your F and way
under your ground coverage for this, right? So >> given that they could by zoning have attached this thing and it be unlimited in size up to the maximum F, I think this is an appropriate solution. And I think a a variance is totally valid in
in this case. So I agree with with the recommendation >> especially since it's so open, right? It's just an open plan of the chimney. >> I do have one question. Um just the front door, the lattice front door.
You're going to put an impact door there too. Is going behind that door or in front of that door? >> It's going behind the screen door. >> Okay, that's all. Any further questions? >> Any further? Okay. Well, then we'll just close this and open it up to the p
public. And is there anyone here that would wish to speak for against this on here in the room or on Zoom hearing? None. We close the public hearing and bring it back here to the board. >> Great house.
That's my only comment. It's a great house. It's really fun. >> All right. I'd like to have a there further discussion or like to have a motion. >> I'll move approval. >> All right. >> I'll move approval. Would you like
Morton two separate motions for the >> That's fine. If you'd like to make two separate motions either way. >> Okay. >> Okay. Good. Um, so I will make a motion um to approve the design proposal for the additions and alterations to the residence um and approve with the
conditions noted in the staff report the issuance of a special certificate of appropriateness. >> Okay, we have a motion. Do I have a second? Miss D. >> Oh, it's okay. Money. >> Okay. >> Okay.
>> Any other discussion before we call the role? Any clarifications needed? All right, we'll move the question. >> Miss Alvarez, >> yes. >> Miss Shield, >> yes.
>> Mr. Garcia Pans, >> yes. >> Miss Rando, >> yes. >> Miss Bane, >> yes. >> Miss Everett, >> yes. Mr. Date, >> yes. >> Mr. Silva, >> yes. >> And Mr. Maxwell,
>> yes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Motion number one for the design approval passes. All right. We have another motion, Mr. Silva. >> Sure. I will make a motion to approve a variance to allow the gazebo pavilion to be 450 square ft versus the required
maximum 300 ft as required by article 16 of the coral zoning code. >> Wonderful. May I have a second, please? >> I can second that one. Thank you, >> Miss D. Wonderful. Okay. Would you call the role, please? >> Miss Alvarez? >> Yes. >> Miss Shield?
>> Yes. >> Mr. Garcia Puns? >> Yes. >> Miss Rolando? >> Yes. >> Miss Bane? >> Yes. >> Miss Ever? >> Yes. >> Miss Date? >> Yes. >> Mr. Sila? >> Yes. >> And Mr. Maxwell?
>> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Motion passes. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. I appreciate your time. >> You'll enjoy working on that. >> Thank you. If you can't fun, you get to design it. >> All right, ladies and gentlemen, we're going to take a we've been here two hours now. I know that everybody, you know, wants to get finished and we just
have a little bit more, but if we can have like a 5m minute break for restrooms and things like that. Uh so the board's not uh overly taxed. We'll reconvene at um call it 605.
Get involved. shortly because she's got to get something to warm up on. Uh but we're going to go ahead and call the meeting back to order and uh we're going to >> recording in progress. >> We're going to go move into our old and new business. So, I'm going to defer to
our city attorney and she's got an announcement here. >> Thank you, Mr. Maxwell. So, um welcome back everybody. As you know on the agenda, we have two matters of um old business and new business. And I have uh one additional item. So the first item
is just to remind you all that hopefully I'll be seeing you tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. at our um bianual boards and committees training from 9 to noon. If you cannot make it, we will be filming it and share that information with you um and ask you to fill out an affidavit of compliance with that training. But like I said, I
hope we'll see you. We the clerk's office is generous generously providing breakfast for everybody. So if that doesn't tempt you, I don't know what will, but a very riveting three hours on ethics and um we will have a separate meeting as we did last year. You know, I
would uh ask your input on this, but last year we held a board only workshop at the studio where we could in compliance with the sunshine law sit down and discuss generally the way this board operates um the standards of which
um the standards in the zoning code that you all apply to the applications before you. If it's all right with you, we're going to work with staff to work on scheduling that again. I hope that all of you or most of you can attend especially of those of you who didn't get a chance last year because I do think it was a very helpful thing to do
a board specific training. So, we're looking to do that. We have two discussion items. We have the update regarding 1021 Hardy Road and a discussion item about 2026 meeting dates. I don't know um Mr. Maxwell if you'd like to move on to 1021 Hardy, but I'll I'll defer to you as the chair. We
also have the election now that we're a full board and everyone is present today. the um reelection selection of a chair and vice chair. >> All right, we're gonna wait for Miss Rolando to come back um to have that, but let's have a discussion quickly about um the meeting date. You know, um
traditionally we have met on a Wednesday. Um you'll notice that that if it's on Thursday sometime, I'm not able to attend. You know, many of us have other obligations that we have to do. Uh, and I have a client that meets on
funky times and so I have to be there. Um, we've had discussions about moving this back to Wednesday. I have sent a note to the city clerk requesting that that we do so and because it's been discussed by many of us. I know Mrs. Spain has has a conflict right now, but
um, most of us who have been on the board for a long time, you know, have sort of this dedicated Wednesday, you know, to that. And so I'd like to have a short discussion about the day of the week that you would like to do that we could perhaps recommend to the city
clerk as we're getting ready to be moved out of here soon and we'll be going back over to the public service building. So I'd really like to hear we'll just start down here with Miss Alvarez. Um with days of the week would you like to return to a Wednesday
or >> I'm okay with either day. Um >> either date with you is fine. >> Yes. >> Okay. Miss Rolando. Um, I'd prefer Wednesday, but either day is >> okay, Miss Bane.
>> I don't care. >> Those days that I have conflicts, I just won't come. >> So, it doesn't matter. You know, you're >> you know, I don't I don't like to not go to a board meeting, but if if I'm not able to, I'm not able to. >> That's a good reason. Mr.
So I my question is for staff. Do we have an idea of what's anticipated in the new year with the move? >> Yes. So um the reason we are scheduled on Thursdays this week this year is that if you recall we began this calendar year over at the community meeting room
of the public safety building before we returned. And as Mr. Maxwell noted, we will likely be returning soon back to the community meeting room of the public safety building. that room when it needs to be set up. The uh the plan of staff has been to have our especially our quasi judicial boards back to back to
back >> so that they're not constantly setting up and breaking down that room. And the my understanding of the way it was working this year and I I think that's the anticipated plan for next year is that you have a commission on Tuesday. Wednesday morning you have code enforcement board. Wednesday evening you
have planning and zoning board. and then we would meet on Thursdays so that they're not setting up and breaking down the setup of the the chambers day every every other week etc. So my understanding is that's why we were moved to Thursdays. I anticipate that
the clerk's office will likely be looking at doing something similar when we move back but of course you all are make welcome to make that request to the board but the city sets the the board meeting dates but I just wanted to explain the reasoning of the moving which I think is a logistical one. Yes,
I understand. Mr. Silva, your you have a preference. >> I had a question. >> You have a question? >> That was very well answered. >> Um, so I'll express my opinion now. >> I I I your opinion is is is open for discussion. >> Uh, so either is fine. I currently have
a a conflict on Wednesdays because I've scheduled other things for those times. But but what'll happen is if it changes, I'll see what I can change with those schedules. But it'll sounds like the clerk will give us their best. You know, my preference is for Wednesdays, Mr. Maxwell, because of 7 PM on Thursdays.
So, >> yeah. And I have I usually have a 6 PM condo board meeting, and these people actually pay me, so I I I need to go. >> Um, my preference would be on on on Wednesday, but again, you know, I'm flexible, too, and if I can't be there,
I can't be there. Uh, I I try to schedule everything else around that as well. Mr. Silva, >> I'm I'm okay with both days. I I I do prefer Wednesdays though, but >> Mr. N. >> I prefer Wednesday as well. So perhaps if we do make that request, it might
have some bearing on how they decide to schedule the different meetings. >> Miss Ever, >> I can try either day. I mean, whatever works. The majority. >> Miss Shield, >> I'm available either day, but Wednesday probably does work better for me, too.
>> Okay. So we really have kind of a consens not I won't call it a consensus but yes everybody can do it on Wednesday and if if not well you know Thursday works okay too you know if you would convey that please to the clerk and to just say there's a preference for Wednesday perhaps and and if it could be
if not well you know we're here. >> Understood. We'll certainly pass along that message and request. >> Yeah that would be lovely. Okay. Should we go ahead and uh and address the um the discussion item on the Hardy Road? Is that is that where we are? >> Certainly. So, Mr. Maxwell, I I know you
unfortunately were not able to attend this portion of the meeting. At the last meeting, um staff did give a an update and we heard from the public. Um I can give you a brief um summary of the legal case. Just as you all know and may recall, there is a legal case proceeding with the city and the property owner.
There was a hearing last week or the week before last week. Um, and at that hearing, there was a new notice of appearance by a new attorney who has now accepted service for all parties related to the owner. Um, and there is now a November 10th hearing scheduled for the
city's injunction, which is an injunction asking for reopening of permits, um, certain deadlines for construction and finalization of the permitted work. So, that that injunction is scheduled for November 10th. It's my understanding um that the city staff may
have some updates about the shoring that had been previously completed, but I'll defer to Miss Paris on that. >> Yes. >> Do do you need a coat? >> Sorry. >> Do you need a coat? I can see how cold you are. >> We'll be providing ponchos next meeting.
>> Um no. So, I just wanted to give a little bit of a timeline here because I think there was some discussion about expiration dates, when things were issued, when things had been done. So, um, as you all know, the there was a COA issued by this historic preservation board on November 23rd, 2021 with an
expiration date of 2023, um, of November 2023 and the ability to extend through 2024 administratively. Um, the building permit was issued May 18th, 2023, which falls within that 2-year period. Um and that building permit did comply with the
conditions and staff's um and the board's recommendations of um for issuance and that was reviewed by staff and approved again like I said in May 18th 2023 um work had begun stopped begun stopped we worked on complaints we
monitored there was you know discussions about when to go to court when not to go to court um I will say there was a the code enforcement board did have um hearings in July And then following those hearings on July 22nd is when the city took over um
the site and began shoring the property. Uh the permits were issued on July 23rd and the work was completed and permits were closed on September 17th. Um so right now the buildings have
been um secured and they are shored uh and permits have been finalized and closed. Um so that work has been done and the buildings to the city's um perspective has been at least stabilized. Uh the constru the
contractor of on our end did their best efforts to waterproof what they could that was coming from the 1021 Hardy that was affecting any of the neighbors um properties. Um like Miss Stra Morton said there was a hearing on October 3rd and um the following hearing will happen
on November 10th. Uh again, we keep continue to monitor the site. Uh we will continue to work with the neighbors on any repairs and exploratory demolition that needs to occur to understand what other um issues have been done through their permitting process, but the city will not be taking on any other repairs
to those properties. Um I think that answered all the questions I had from you all. So there's anything else? >> MH, do you have a question? >> Is there a is there a mortgage a lender? Uh >> I don't believe so. on the property. >> No,
>> I and I'll confirm, but I don't believe there is. >> No question. >> Okay. Any any further discussion question? >> I did have um you you did mention something about the the abuing historic
properties. I know that we're talking about this particular one, but the whole um area is historic and >> right >> there was some discussion at the last meeting about >> Yeah. So there the this property specifically shares walls with other properties. So that's where there was
damage. Damage had occurred to the neighboring properties which I believe we discussed at the last meeting the homeowners here today. Um and so the city took on what they could on the 1021 Hardy side where they accessed to provide any um to stop any water intrusion that was coming from there
from that end. Um but again the city will not be taking on any repairs to those structures um at this time. some sort of a civil matter between >> Yes, that's the civil matter between the neighbors and the property owner. >> Um, and my second question is going going forward like using this as a case
study and thankfully it doesn't happen very often. Um, uh, are there is there a way that this board can get informed in possibly a more timely manner of any sort of COAs that are having some difficulty getting
constructed? Yeah, I mean I think one of the things that we can do because like I said this went into code enforcement. A lot of the the issues and it came up at the last meeting too of like who has jurisdiction over what and when and who punishes who and how. And so the code enforcement board is really responsible for those
things. And so what we can do is share the code enforcement board agendas with the board. Um if you want to look at those, the historic items are identified on the agenda. So it'll say clearly historic on next to the property address. So you can kind of see what's going on. If there's something on the agendas that you have questions on,
you're welcome to, you know, obviously then ask us. Their meetings are actually the Wednesday before ours. So the agendas kind of circulate at the same time. So we're happy to just share that link. Um and if there's any other ways that you want to be more involved or understand more or have questions or if
you see something, let us know of, you know, we're happy to go out and take a look at any of these properties that are being worked on. May I I think it would be also appropriate if we could follow up on uh permit approvals and things. You know,
let me give you an example. Um over several years we have approved uh renovations to a house on South Greenway, one of the early Coral Rock houses. They've done nothing >> over years. And so I think it would be really appropriate, you know, to just
begin to follow, you know, that and and see about the follow through that that's occurring because I mean these permits are going to expire and they'll have to people have to come back. >> Yeah. So almost like the status of >> lasts some some sort of kind of update
on that. I'm trying to see how the best way to kind of go about it because obviously we can't force people to pursue a building permit and do the work if they don't want to >> but they should maintain the property which I think I know which address you're talking about and there's been discussions about that already with code enforcement. >> They don't cut the grass real well but other
>> So would that be part of what you were mentioning before the the code enforcement? Would they be cited? Would that be the report that goes to the code enforcement board that you can >> So not every case would go to code enforcement board. Some things get taken care of before they're actually scheduled for hearing which is the best case scenario. The ones that end up at
code enforcement board means that they're still in not in compliance or they're not responsive or they're trying to fight it. So those are kind of our bigger cases that we have are either problematic, have been going on for years, have been more troublesome. >> So I think Mr. Maxwell that was sort of the idea is you know they can get a COA
and not execute it. That's that's their >> right. But if it's >> get a COA and they don't do >> the code enforcement on these historic properties is what I think I'm more concerned about. It sounds like you are. >> Um and that would be we could be able to
source that out in the code enforcement agendas because it would be there would be some sort of a violation on there. >> Yeah. Yeah. It clearly will state what what issues there are of each item or if it's cited multiple times, it'll all be there. >> And I'm sure that's a pretty comprehensive agenda. Is there a way to sort of sift through it for
>> Yeah, that so every all the historic properties are identified next to each other. What I do to go through it is just just kind of search the the you know keywords for historic and it'll go through the agenda items and be there. >> Well, great. We look forward to that. >> Yeah. So that that would just be
>> we could just the same day. Yeah. The same day this include that link to that agenda. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. So Anna, you're saying that right now the city is just stopped because there's litigation going on or I mean you when you said that you
>> Well, when I drive by I mean there's no roof on this. There's no >> you just look right through the windows to the sky. >> Yeah. So the city wasn't going to pursue completing the renovation of the property. They were just stabilizing the property so that no further deterioration or you know an imminent
danger of collapse, anything like that. So the building is short and stabilized to be able to then be, you know, the work continued by either the property owner or a future owner. >> And that's where the injunction and the hearing comes in that that will give the timelines that are going to be required
by the the court order um to move forward with the building permits. >> Okay. Any further questions on this item here? We we've got some people that are willing that would like to speak. I don't I don't have questions on that but but I have some questions on something else. So I'll wait till the end.
>> Okay. We'll do further discussion a little bit later. Thank you. >> Okay. So um you ladies are here to speak about this. Please come up and uh I know you were sworn in. >> We don't need anybody to be sworn sworn in on this. Mr. Maxwell. It's not a cause judicial item.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Um >> please state your name. >> Hi. Good afternoon. My name is Amy Schwarz. Um I live at 1017 Hardy Road. Um, I'd just like to say a couple of words. Uh, to me, the fact that the city, including historical preservation,
the board, um, have allowed this to happen is really tragic. They've ignored this neglect for eight years. We've been dealing with this. Um, this was once a beautiful historic 100-year-old home, and on the city's watch, it was allowed to be demolished by neglect. I've I have
a share a main structural wall with the house, 1021. I've had a lot of damage. um water pouring in, mold, and I'm gonna get upset. I'm sorry. Um and even after this shoring up of the house to
hopefully stop this intrusion and to prevent the house from falling down, um I still have water coming in. I've contacted the city multiple times with videos of the water coming into my house after they shorted up. They have stopped
responding to me. They ignored my emails. In fact, they have gone ahead and final the permit as Anna just said the signed off on it and given it back to the owner. Um, and I still even knowing that I still have water coming in my house. Um, I had a structural
engineer who came to my house and did a whole structural report and he after he did it, he was able to get the report from the city for the shoring up of 1021. and he contacted the city and said that the one the roof part
of the roof that I'm joining on the main wall is not sufficiently shored up and that if there's a storm my my roof is going to blow up with it. Um and I just feel that we as tax rate payers and residents of the coral of Coral Gables
deserve better than this from the city. >> Thank you for your time. Well, thank you. I'm really sorry. And I think all of us are a long >> unhappy about this. You know, I hope you have a good lawyer >> because that's what really what you're going to need unfortunately. >> Yeah. I know. >> And I'm sorry it's come to this.
>> Yeah. You have a beautiful home >> because we can't fix anything in our house because it's ongoing. >> So, my house is falling apart. I mean, and I, you know, can't do anything. And also to the structural engineer is going
to have to take up all my floors at one point to see what's happening under there from that house. So, I'm going to lose that. Um, we've also applied for exploratory permits from the city over a month ago and haven't been
permitted. So, yeah, not you're not too happy, but but thank you for your time. >> May I ask how long have you lived at 107 1017? >> I'm sorry, 2016. So, I've lived here nine years. >> Um, Miss Delgado bought the house or the
trust bought the house um, 10 months after me in 2000 May of 2017. >> And started demoing it then and then this sporadic whatever. >> Yeah. >> Very we're all very sorry for you. You know what's going on. >> Thank you.
>> Are there any questions or any any further discussions on this item? My my question was I I actually had a question before you came up um but I was waiting until you spoke. So with the city um as um
Stephanie mentioned that they're they're finished with their scope >> but obviously there's still um issues in the neighboring properties. Is that are they reopening that >> reopening the permits or re reopening I guess the permit or the scope of work to
address. >> My understanding is that the city is in in receipt of the report that the property owner just mentioned that they received today and that the city manager was going to take a look at that report from a structural engineer. We just received it, I think today or yesterday. And um but as of now, the city's work is
complete on the project. >> Yeah. I mean, my the structural engineer emailed the city weeks ago. >> I can't hear you if you're not speaking on the microphone. Yeah. They my structural engineer emailed the city weeks ago as did I sending them videos
of the water still coming into my house. >> So who who are you emailing in the city? Are you emailing the manager's office or >> Peter Glacius? Um >> please speak into the mic. >> I'm sorry. >> We really need you to be on record.
Um, Lope Manny Lopez, Doug Ramirez, >> Miss Spain, the the right people are getting the information. It's my understanding a full report. Is it a full report or what was provided today? Something was provided today. Yeah, >> I don't know.
>> Me either, but something was >> my understanding at least talking to the manager's office was that a report was received today by the engineer to um regarding something with the calculations. I think they were going >> my engineer or or Okay. your engineer. Maybe they received that initial I'm
kind of going off because I'm not included in any of those emails. >> Um but my discussion with the manager's office was that they received um I guess the report initially stating that the engineering that was done that the shoring was not sufficient enough. >> Okay. >> And then I believe the manager responded
to that to the engineer and then the engineer provided additional information today. >> Okay. >> And that was provided to this morning I think is what it was. And so the manager hadn't by the time I spoke to him this I spoke to him this afternoon before this meeting um they were going to try to look at it and get me some answers for tomorrow.
>> Okay. Okay. Okay. That's good. Okay. >> And I do have your permit in my queue and so that was I think because of the engineering we were all trying to coordinate. >> Okay. Okay. And just one other thing. Um I I do believe that the Delgato have a mortgage on the >> Okay. Again I will say I'm not completely sure but I I believe she
does. >> Yeah. And and that's where our our city attorney not Stephanie but Mr. Panel will deal with that part. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you for waiting. I'm sorry that this taken so long. >> Uh my name is Stephanie Schmidt. I live
at 1028 Couturro Avenue. My home butts to the back of 1021 Hardy. I I was here at the last meeting on September 18th and there was a lot of discussion with regard to the November 2021 certificate of appropriateness and the conditions
that followed and I have been trying to get answers since that time to a number of things on there that required the applicant to submit additional information for staff review. That is what I'm trying to get. Um I did send a letter to Miss Parnes. She has
responded. However, the response was really an explanation of what the permitting process is and then she did redirect my request to be able to get me some final plans. Again, though, these plans will not articulate the answers
I'm seeking from the certificate appropriateness time. And I'll give you two examples. One was that the applicant needed to confirm what the intended use of that walkout porch that was open air coming from her second floor with a
staircase going down to her new plunge pool. We still do not know what her intended use is. So here is a roof that is going to be a terrace I should say that's going to be 4 feet away from my house. Is she going to put lawn furniture there? Is she going to have
parties? Is she going to barbecue? What is she going to use that terrace for? We need to know that. That's one question I had that we have not been furnished the answer to. The second was it was very clear by those minutes from 2021 and
discussion has ensued here that there needed to be discussion about the proposed impact negative impact that this terrace had on the adjoining neighbors. Again, we share a wall. So that terrace will be right where my home
ends. And the other adjoining neighbors are going to be able to see this and hear this. And no one has ever gotten back to us about who evaluated the potential negative impact and how this got cleared. No one asked us anything.
No one asked to come see this from our v our vantage point from our residents. So, those are just two examples that it's great that I know now how the permitting works and it's great that I'm going to get plans, but those plans will not articulate any answers from the 11
required submissions that the applicant needed to submit for further staff review. So, can we get the comments from staff of the approval? Can we get the staff report to know how this ended up? This has been years. I have been sending
letters for eight years and you know the the city wants to say that they're operating in a trans transparent fashion but this is not transparent. Miss Bane, you were nice enough last time to say that Miss Parnes should have the answers to this. I can't get the
answers. >> I don't know. >> Any recommendation? I mean, we're entitled to these answers. this fairness. >> I I can give you what I have and I and my explanation to you at least I was just trying to explain how the conditions work. So there are conditions within that staff report that include
like the window products, the terrace, the um the terrace paving, the paving materials. There's a lot of finishes and things that happen through shop drawing approvals through during the construction process. This didn't get through the construction process, right? So we never received a lot of the items
that were outstanding in that list because the construction didn't occur to that point to that extent. So anyone that moves forward with that construction with those construction plans will be required to still submit window product approval, pa materials, um finishes for the pool. They'll have
to get the COA for the pool. There's a um information about screening of the pool equipment. Um all of that again happens during those subpermit approvals that happen during construction. the specifics about whether or not the the impact of the adjoining neighbors, the
reliance of our our meetings being noticed, our neighbors being noticed due to the variances. So there was the the mailings that went out and and neighbors attending this meeting that well sorry the November 2021 meeting um would have been the time for those neighbors to
explain if there was an impact and if they had an impact there was nothing appealed to the board or to the commission to show that there was a concern at the time. So staff moves forward with their review of the permit documents when they were submitted for um issuance.
But was that a condition the use of that terrace? Was that one of the conditions listed in the COA report? >> I believe it it does have the language that she had just written. It did say that about the terrace. >> We don't have really perview over uses.
So it's an interesting p like request. I understand. So had but the furniture I don't think there was a furniture plan or anything that was included in the in the building permit approval, but I'll I'll confirm it when we get the documents from you that we're getting through the clerk's office because of the um request.
>> Stephanie, were you ever notified about a neighborhood meeting? >> I attended the November 21st meeting in 2021 and at that meeting there were a number of conditions as I mentioned there were 11 of them that required additional information from the
applicant. We were very vocal then to say we were concerned about the impact but until until those other the other information was provided by the applicant. There was very it was difficult for us and we keep keep hearing about this. We had 10 days. We didn't have all the information at that
point in time to be able to respond within 10 days. Okay. So I mean that that's that's immaterial. But the point is is that you know this reminds me of a commercial application like you'd find at a restaurant. This open air terrace. I mean, if we start having that within
the whole village, and we've been very explicit to talk about security and privacy and all the other things, and I've got to say, if that if that goes through with the current or future owner and someone falls off that balcony, it will be on my property. Someone will be
injured. So, I mean there's and the ramific excuse me for one moment. The ramifications of that spiral staircase getting to all the walls and somebody walking throughout the whole historic village and possibly robberies. I mean these are things that are significant to
us. We cannot get answers. We are entitled to these answers. Great. >> So the other thing I want to mention is that it is our understanding that the property has been for sale since August. There is a contract on the property. >> Okay. Um, it's also our understanding
that in the last few days, we have not seen that any lean was ever put on the property for the shoring. I would like to know how much the shoring cost the city of Coral Gables because this is our taxpayer dollars. >> Do we know? >> I do not have a final number for the shoring, but when the shoring um invoice
is created, that will be the like there will be a lean placed on the property as per Mr. Aglesia's email to you and the other neighbors or sorry, it was to Mr. Diaz at the time. >> Okay. So then the the the um fines that have been placed on this, do we know what the total fines have been? >> They are just above 200,000 right now
and they're incurring daily fines of >> about $2,000 a day and I think there's an additional 500. But again, those numbers are >> so those fines are going to those will continue throughout this process. >> The process meaning what?
>> Uh till the property is in compliance typically. So it depends on whether the property changes hands and then there's a new owner. There's a different way to how the to mitigate those those fines if work is continuing and they're moving forward with the project as per the injunction or per the agreement that's done with the city and the and the
property owner any property owner new or old. >> So so the are there plans that have been signed off and issued for the um project or is it just a demolition? >> That's what I was saying. the building
permit plans were issued in 2023. And so that's the plans that would then move forward with any with the new owner or can be can be renewed or um transferred >> even though >> which would be the plans that you have >> even though those 11 items weren't
weren't um >> those 11 some of the I realize some of them are uh you know surfaces and all that stuff. That'll come later. We went through that list the other day because we actually had someone that was
looking into purchasing the property. >> Um, and we went through the 11 items and a lot of them are shop drawing approvals. It's uh working with >> there was three I'm concerned about is is the one, >> but those are items that again wouldn't stop us from issuing a building permit
because they're during construction process. So, they're shop approvals. Three of the items speak to just the iron work of the house. I get it. But the only one I'm concerned is is this this open terrace which >> the terrace issue I think went in under
the impact thing the the uh the joining neighbor impact which was approved because there was no appeal and nobody made a motion to go through that show that there was >> and there was neighbors and there were neighbors at that meeting >> was advertised. It was tough. Oh,
>> so is that saying that that the city will not look at this for the negative impact on the neighbors because we did not within that 10 days say something other than what we said at the meeting contingent on waiting on the applicant submitting and I know there's been a change of staff and there's been all
kinds of things that have happened over the last eight years because I know you weren't here at that time but the point is is that you know this is impacting our quality of life, our privacy, our values of our home, our security, all the other things. And this just goes, it
just goes on and on and on. This property owner, the trust, the individual has been given so many allowances that now we are fearful that this this these dollars for the shoring and her fines will be forgiven by the city because this has just been very
very ongoing for her and the partiality that's been shown. We live there. She's never lived there. We live there and the permits just kept rolling and rolling and all we've been told are two things. There was a glitch in the system and the processes that the city of Coral Gables
had were not very strong and now it's been corrected. Now we're suffering from that. So we need answers. I mean there's got to be some staff comments to this. She was required at that time to submit I mean I have it and I sent it to you to submit
additional information for staff review. Did she ever do it or did that get waved and she just kept getting the permits? >> The the process that that's why I kind of explained of how those conditions are met that there were their work through the subpermit process and shop drawing approval process. And so those items did
not get to our approval because they didn't even get to that point of the work. So they're still they were probably in the first 10% of this project. They just started the demo and then stopped. >> Yeah. No other work was done at that
time after that. >> So paving materials wouldn't have been picked. >> Well, I'm we're not again I'm not concerned about the paving materials. I'm not concerned about the surface of the plunge pool. I'm not concerned about any of those. I'm concerned about the two things that I have brought up today. Again, I've done it in writing. I say it
again here. We do not get answers and we are entitled to those answers. Are they nowhere to be found? Did no one take it into consideration and just let it pass? I mean, something has to give here. We want answers.
This impacts our life. This impacts our day-to-day life. >> And did they need the other variance for that? >> Unfortunately, this is not the board for that. I mean, you've seen what you've seen what we do. >> Do they need where we are >> and and how we operate? >> Okay. As a quasi judicial board, you
know, we look at just the information in front of us like a judge. And so on the followup, I mean that really goes back to the city, okay, and to the other departments and and not only do we hear you, you know, Miss Perinis hears you, Miss Throck Morton hears you, okay? You
know, go talk to I mean, you need to have a conversation with the manager. I mean, have a personal conversation with him and maybe you want to bring your attorney. So, you know, I mean, these things evolve have it evolved into a legal matter and you know, it and
everybody's in a very bad position. So, you know, I remember we looked at this property, you know, when we did the when we did the permit and there were a lot of questions about it at that time, too. So, >> you all had a lot of questions at the time that the owner presented the conditions that she did because the
comment was that no one had ever seen as many as the day she presented them. >> Yeah. But unfortunately, once it once it passes here, that's it. Okay. We don't see it again. I understand and I do appreciate the comment that was made a short time ago saying that the followup obviously did not exist because you all
did not know as the years were going by that this property was deteriorating. No one brought that to your attention. >> Yeah, we're not the you know we're not the code enforcement board. >> No, no, but I'm not saying for a code code enforcement. I'm saying just to the preservation side of this of this home that has just deteriorated. But once
again, I sent letters. Why didn't it get any place? >> We haven't seen them that I would not know. I know. I would have liked to have known. I was shocked. I ran into Chip Withers and Whole Foods. He didn't know. And he lives very close by you all. And he was really upset about it.
>> I mean, you know, it's clearly a lack of oversight and irresponsibility. But, you know, we want answers and still if if if it's not, you know, designated what that that terrace could be used for, someone needs to ask that question what the
intended use of that terrace is. I mean, are you still not able to ask the applicant that we could still ask the applicant that I just don't think it's the purview of this board? >> Someone needs to ask. >> They made the determination that it was didn't impact historic significance. >> I I have to say that if if this is what
starts to happen within that village or any other village and the openings of everyone's backyard is a porch that everyone is going to walk out to and entertain on and have music and dancing. This this is far from what much meant had intended for this village. It's it's
shameful. So I would like to get some answers. >> One last question. >> Um I know you've been to the commission. What did they tell you to do? Did they tell you to come to us? >> No one has really said anything. Quite honestly, there's really not been any direction to get answers. And I I I'm
not here today seeking answers. I'm here today to voice that someone is obligated to find the answers for us. >> Sorry, when did when was this? >> I know that you spoke at the commission. I mean, I know some of the neighbors spoke at a commission.
>> There's there's been numerous meetings that, you know, numerous meetings >> enforcement, but they're the ones that really, you know, can can make the city. >> I again, I I just say it's been a failure to report to you all over many years. a failure. Huge failure.
>> I believe the the meeting that you're speaking of, Mr. Diaz had clarified last time was that he spoke at a code enforcement board meeting. >> So, yeah, he wasn't a I don't >> I mean, if you all have any particular um suggestions, I'm open. >> Mr. Chair, if I may, just as you know, there's pending litigation on this
matter. There's also a pending code enforcement board case and a pending construction regulation board case. To the extent that there's appeals and things that go to the city commission, we always like to make sure that the city commission is aware. Obviously, they're aware of what's going on here, but to the extent things ever come to them in any matter, we always try to
make sure that they're um able to hear those things in a fair and unbiased manner. It's my understanding there has not been an item placed on the city commission agenda about this either. Though, as Miss Paris pointed out, there have been multiple code enforcement construction regulation board um hearings. And we do have pending
litigation on this case where the city proactively filed a lawsuit regarding this. >> So, we all have the same common goal. We want to see this house restored. We certainly don't want to appear to be blocking any future owner who is going to have a lot to contend with. But, you
know, we we we as taxpayers and residents that are there need some answers. So, I don't know where they are, but they must be out there unless staff just didn't do the review. I don't know what to say and I don't want to keep coming back here and saying the
same thing. >> Mr. Garcia. >> So, Mr. I have a question for Miss Bennett. I again hope I'm hopeful that the code enforcement agendas that come to us will hopefully help us in the future to understand what's happening. But I did have a
question with regards to this matter and I think you did it for the previous meeting or the meeting prior to could you at least email me. I don't know if the rest of the board wants it. the approved COA of the November meeting and then the subsequent meeting minutes of
the of that >> okay >> just >> for the 10 for the November hearing of >> for the November for the approval of the initial SOA and then the subsequent meeting minutes for that >> because I as Mr. M I also al also
remember the meeting um but I would like to see how it was recorded and specifically how the um conditions were included and if there are any variance just again for my own >> yes there were multiple variances. >> Yeah and I think
>> could you send that to the board? Yes, send it to the court. >> And I think that would help >> us refamiliarize with the specifics of those things. And Miss Benas is correct in saying that the the um conditions are usually left to staff with regards to things that happen after
they leave the board, but there I just want to be comfortable that I understand if there was a condition or two that may have been >> different than that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you very much and thank you for bringing this to our attention. >> Could I question? I have one more question. Go ahead.
>> Given the time that's lapsed and obviously the concern about the the project scope of work, um with the new owner, assuming that that's going to go that route, um would there be potentially um a request to do a different scope of work if um or they
could honor the same permit? >> The the new owner can do what they please. So, they can come in and do a restoration project. they can come in and pursue the permits that have already can be transferred to them um or they can change that scope of work. So if they want to pursue that and maybe
remove or include different work from that then depending on what that work would be it may return to you all or it may not. >> So it just it's at the hands of the property owner. We don't pursue we don't we can't make any do any make >> they have an approved building permit so they can build it they have an approval
for >> if they choose >> or they can change it >> or they can >> right >> okay all right well let's uh anything anything else otherwise we'll move on >> just have a not about this but I have something else on >> you have something else miss
>> what's happening with the Builmore lobby that's a quick one yes I mean is anything happening or There there really hasn't been too much progression. The last submitt that they gave me we rejected um because it wasn't doing it doesn't it didn't satisfy the
the needs that we had >> to uh um the code enforcement board at all or any type of code enforcement action been taken against the Builmore Hotel >> um at this time. No, because they are work we also are working with them on about >> I want to say I had 15 permits in my
queue for other work that they're legalizing also. So, they're working on getting there and continue to have discussions with us, but we're not to that point yet. Why? Why? Because they're working with us and we're trying to satisfy. Well, we're also the
property owners, but we are also but we I think we need to realize that as the landlords of the building that they need to come into compliance with everything and not and we're focused on the lobby because it's the most visible, but there was other things done throughout the entire property. Have they been red
tagged for the for the work on that they did? So they can't do anything else. >> They were red tagged um for the ground. Yes. >> I don't know if the I believe the red tag was removed >> so that they could proceed with the legalization of >> the legalization of the permitted work that we're working on we're getting through.
>> But but don't they need to to bring you um drawings for what they're going to put back there? So that they've pro they've we've had proposals from them that I have worked with city architect and our staff to and I've rejected the
proposals when we've had discussions about what we our expectations are for the space that it should you know satisfy our needs for the you know complement the historic character of the building >> to this board because uh the interiors I think are designated on on a national
>> you gonna send that >> don't believe I'll I'll double check with with the process but at this time there was >> surprise to the situation. >> Yes. Yes. >> Thank you. >> And this happened I mean my last month and a half or two months here that I rejected their last proposal. >> Miss Spain they've taken Blame it on
mirrors though. >> Pardon me. >> They've taken down the ugly mirrors. I can tell you >> they taking the mirrors down. >> Yes. They took down they did some things. They took down the mirror. They put back some of the trim. they um >> you know little things here and there, but they're also working on the legalization of of a lot of other parts
of the building >> up to par. But uh let's just say this, the ship's not sinking, >> right? >> Okay, let's go on to the next item here, which is >> on our radar elections. >> Well, before we do that, um one more Builtmore related item, the update on
the gondola building. I know there was a presentation by Mr. Silva last meeting and >> Yep. So, we had I had pulled the board about a letter um to go out to the state for um to see if the board would be interested in supporting the idea behind
the commission's motion at their meeting to relocate the gondola building actually by the tennis center. The majority that I received were um against it. So, we're that's it. Uh the the the commission has will be sending a letter
to the state requesting a further review of whether or not the gondola building could go next to the tennis center versus um down by the maintenance facility which is the proposal that you all saw that day um using that section of the code. So they're still using that section of the code. Um and so we've re
recommended but we're >> and the commission did approve the the location, >> right? But >> so with with a request to see if there was a last stitch effort to >> so it'll be maintenance facility location or >> if they state will consider the tennis
center. >> So they are going through with that request. >> Yes. At least >> I'd like to make a recommendation and and have it discussed here very quickly is that if it's moved or if it's demolished either way that none of the
historic elements architectural elements from the building be incorporated into the new building that they be copied and and replicated and that existing architectural elements be saved by the city and we can use them as landscape
elements in other parts like >> Mr. Maxwell, I believe the design approval that you all issued that COA had a lot of those conditions about um preserving certain architectural features and the commission um discussion was about the location, not
about the design approval that you all approved previously. It's not going to be a new building. I I guess it will be a new building. >> Yes, it's a new building, but I don't know what you're talking about. So they're replicating. They used staff already went out on site and they identified multiple pieces that were going to be used to create replicas and
to be restored or to be stored and reused. >> I was here for that. Um, >> right. But I'm saying staff has already done that field trip exercise and then whatever else we can do, we'll try to work with them because there's other pieces that are just too >> But he's asking something separate, >> right? To maintain and then reuse them.
>> We reviewed this, Mr. Rock Morton, we reviewed this. It was sight specific for the existing site. Okay. And so given the existing site and the historical nature of that site next to the water, then then what the board came up with at that time would be appropriate. However,
if it's relocated and completely reconstructed, which it would be, okay, why incorporate these elements with it? I mean, it's a whole new building. You can copy them, but keep these as this is this is part of the heritage of that site. In other words, yes, you rebuild
it. Yes, you copy it, but you keep these and say this was the original building. >> Okay. >> It's kind of like, you know, baby shoes in a certain sense. >> The kids grown up. Yes, ma'am. >> I just wanted to make a comment that Mr. Silva did an excellent job.
>> Oh, yes. Um, and it's unfortunate that the the statement of the historic board was un um honored, but could we get a copy of the letter that's going to be sent to the state the commission is signing on to? Thank you.
>> Yeah. Yeah, they're having their meetings here. I think they've already started having meetings, you know, on on review material. So, but this would come back up and have to go to staff, I think, and probably be voted on >> for the state. Yeah, by the state by the they would have to have the board come back, I think.
>> I don't think so. >> It's just It's just the location part. We They've had multiple meetings with them in the past about it. It was the state's recommendation. I don't know if you remember a few meetings ago when Hermes had come that um the state had recommended keeping it anywhere along the waterway. So, that's where they they
had looked at kind of shifting it around. >> Yeah. But there's a swale that comes up from the waterway, you know, right to where they're going to put it. So that's so the discussions have been just at the staff level not having to go back for review from the >> all right but if you would kindly convey you know kind of sentiments like that I
think it would really be good you know one of the things that's really important is that you know our city is really comprised of a series of of >> pre-made architectural elements pylons different things like that you know and so incorporating pieces of historic buildings into landscapes particularly
public landscapes you know is is a beautiful element And when Miss Rockmorton goes back to the University of Virginia, she's going to see that that the capitals from the from the Rotunda NX and the original Rotunda are were saved and put into the gorgeous garden.
>> Mr. Maxwell, it sounds like you're you're asking staff to do something that the board has already voted on. So if you want to change the board's vote, >> I'm not changing I can't change the >> So then that's not a direction to staff. >> Not a directive. It's it's a suggestion. >> Just clarification. Oh, not a suggestion
because we voted on it. It's >> I understand that it's a discussion. >> Okay. Uh I did have a question with regards to the letter being sent by the city commission to the state. Um is the historic preservation board's last three recommendations to not move
it going to go along with that letter? Can it be, >> are you kidding? >> An a an agenda, a copy appendix to Can it be referred to? >> Um, but it's going to the same state agency that has >> can always make that request of whoever
has sending out the letter, but I think it will be reflective of the commission's direction rather than this board's direction. >> Yeah, >> there was there was no appetite for that. I think if you saw the meeting, it was very clear. Um, you know, We did our
best and and they they were not having keeping it in the same location, right? I mean, it was pretty clear unanimous against, right? >> How many times has it been we don't really want it here in this location? So, we've seen this quite a bit. >> Okay.
>> So, and and they took action that the action was to put it where where public works is suggesting on that corner near Bird Road. So, if if their appeal to the state to move it to the center fails, it's going there. deal. Thank you.
>> Okay, we have uh other new business. I believe we've got to elect the uh a chair, co-chair, and um >> I think that's it. So, then we can >> go home and warm up, >> build a fire. If anyone wants a
refresher of the process, if we just would take a nomination and then a motion and a second and approve a chair and then a vice chair. As you all know, the vice chair serves in the absence of the chair and the chair is here to um run the meetings um generally. >> Okay. So, we're open for discussion and
nomination. >> I nominate Mr. Maxwell as chair. >> I second the motion. All in favor? >> Oh, is he accepting? >> I was gonna say, doesn't he have to accept and then you have Does anybody else wish to nominate?
>> All told. >> Well, if nominated, I will serve. >> Wow. You should run for office. >> I'm not Lyn Johnson. >> All in favor. >> I'd like to throw my name forward for vice chair, unless Mr. Silva wants to
stay in that position. If somebody would like to nominate me, Mr. Silva, not in a a negative way because you have you have so studiously and wonderfully served this as both chair and vice chair.
>> Let us give Miss D a chance at this. I think that she would do wonderful. >> Um Mr. Chair, if we could take one at a time. If we could take one at a time. Um I think it's appropriate we have a motion on the floor in a second. So, if we could address that before a vice chair, but I appreciate um always a a
volunteer. >> Yeah. So, I I'll just say we don't need to take a roll call. Um all in favor, this is for Mr. Maxwell to remain as chair for an additional Do we do a one-year term or a two-year term and a one-year term? >> Yeah, we're doing one year one-year terms.
>> All in favor? >> I Any any opposed? >> And now we can take nominations for vice chair. I'd like to nominate Miss D. >> Does Mr. Silva not want to continue doing this?
>> I'd be happy to continue. I'd be happy to step back. >> You're such an agreeable >> at the will of the board. >> I was going to nominate Mr. May to be the chair. So, um, if she wants to be vice chair, that's okay with me.
>> Thank you. >> Is that a second, M? >> That could be a second. >> Okay. So, we have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I I >> Any any opposed? >> None. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations. I hope I will see you all tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. We
will train you on being chair and vice chair. >> All right. And uh we have a motion to adjourn. So moved. It's not >> about travel.
>> I'm going to Jacksonville. >> My oldest daughter and so I'm celebrating my birthday with her. Today is my birthday and last year it was my birthday on our board meeting as well, but we met on Wednesday and so you
may remember