Gazette
Volume 2 • Issue 13 July 1, 2015
Wilton Manors
Twice-Monthly Neighborhood Outlook
Page 1 New City Manager
Page 2 Not So Eco Friendly
Page 3 Real Estate Geek
Page 4 Symposium For Safety
Page 4 More Green Homes
Business
Eucalyptus Gardens to Stay Open Minus the Farm Store By Michael d’Oliveira A campaign to raise $15,000 to pay for paved parking at Eucalyptus Gardens has ended short of its goal and the closing of the EG Farm Store. The campaign, which got donations of $3,317 through a GoFundMe page, was to fund the paving of a dirt lot on the property, located on Northeast 13 Avenue behind the former Old Florida Seafood restaurant, and create 11 parking spaces. In a Facebook post on June 18, Deanna Brizuela, owner of EG Farm Store and founder of Eucalyptus Gardens, said she was unable to get the city to approve any of her parking solutions. She thanked supporters, promised to give refunds and said she was working on finding a new location. Brizuela blamed the city for forcing her to temporarily
close her business earlier this year because of lack of parking. City officials say they are only enforcing the parking regulations that are applied to the rest of the city. In 2013 and 2014, Brizuela filed for a business tax license for Eucalyptus Gardens as a nursery use but eventually allowed a coffee shop, bakery, restaurant, wine bar and the farm store to open. In 2015, officials denied Brizuela a business tax license because her farm store did not have the necessary parking required under the code. The other businesses are still open and Roberta Moore, director of Community Development Services, said they are not required to provide more parking but are prohibited from having special events unless they get clearance from the city. WMG
Community
Police Looking for Folks to Host National Night Out Parties By Michael d’Oliveira Betty Winslow is looking for a “few good homes.” Winslow, a police department volunteer and organizer of Wilton Manors’ National Night Out [NNO], is looking for residents to host parties in their front yards on Tuesday, Aug. 4 between 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. In the past, the parties were attended by neighbors, local business owners and police personnel. The purpose of NNO
is to improve the relationship between the residents and the police department. Last year, 15 parties were held around the city. Winslow said she doesn’t yet know how many will be held this year. To volunteer to host a NNO party or find out where parties are being held, call Winslow at 954-390-2150, email ewinslow@wmpd.org or visit wiltonmanors.com/nno. WMG
Photo: WiltonManors.com
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Opinion
Green is Not The New Black In Wilton Manors
By Sal Torre
Gazette Wilton Manors
JULY 1, 2015 • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 13 2520 N. DIXIE HIGHWAY • WILTON MANORS, FL 33305 PHONE: 954-530-4970 FAX: 954-530-7943
PUBLISHER • NORM KENT NORM.KENT@SFGN.COM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER • PIER ANGELO GUIDUGLI ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER / EXECUTIVE EDITOR • JASON PARSLEY JASON.PARSLEY@SFGN.COM
Editorial
I was planning an article about selecting a new tagline for the city until something the Mayor said at last week’s Commission meeting got stuck in my head. During a discussion about the city’s Green Building Code, Mayor Gary Resnick made a comment about meeting with an unnamed developer who is planning, in his words, “low-income housing” in Wilton Manors. The Mayor talked about working with a developer who has plans for a sizable low-income housing project here in the city. Going even further, he voted against a proposal to strengthen our Green Building Code because he does not want to put an economic burden on this developer by adding minor increases to the cost of construction. Wow, let’s think about this for a minute. In a city that has seen some of the highest increase in property values in Broward county over the last two years, where residents are pushing to have the Andrews Avenue Redevelopment Project move forward, where we continue to improve our park facilities at huge expense, and where Westside residents have a glimmer of hope that blighted areas are beginning to turn around, our Mayor appears more concerned about the bottom line of some developer than about the concerns of residents and about creating a substantive Green Building Code for our city. I hope this is not the case. Now do not get me wrong. At some point the city must look into projects that will offer affordable housing choices for our residents, affordable housing to our seniors who have lived in Wilton Manors for many years, for veterans, for our aging LGBT residents, and others. If the Mayor’s developer cannot build quality, green, safe, energy-efficient, sustainable affordable homes, there are plenty of other developers who can. Progressive eco-friendly firms are doing amazing work around the country, building affordable housing projects that utilize the latest in green technology and
Business By Michael d’Oliveira
energy-saving devices. If this can be done elsewhere, then why not here? Settling for mediocrity is not the way to move our city forward into the future. Climate change is real, and South Florida is only beginning the planning needed to move our region where it needs to be with building codes, infrastructure, energy efficiency and LEED certification. Commissioner Green’s insistence on mandating certain green changes to our building code and Commissioner Flippen’s going one step further by asking for holistic review of the entire Green Building Code are what we should be hearing from our elected officials. Instead, we still see the same old resistance to change, the bottom-line interest of a few over that of the public good. As this issue moves forward, it would be interesting to know exactly where the Mayor’s “sizeable low-income housing project” will be located. Perhaps the church site on NE 26th Street, perhaps along Andrews Avenue, maybe even in Jenada Isle (oh no, that will not happen, silly me.) We need to talk about attracting awardwinning eco-friendly development for affordable housing that bring together innovative design, energy efficiency, green building codes, and community involvement. The Westside would welcome such discussions. Certain aging properties along Andrews Avenue and NW 29th Street are prime spots for such redevelopment and community partnership. Perhaps tapping into funds collected from the Affordable Housing Impact Fee our city collects might offer the means to attract the type of quality development this city deserves. Our city should demand projects that have the opportunity to deliver significant healthy, economic and environmental benefits to our residents, not a cheaper way out for some developer. This is Wilton Manors. We deserve better. We should demand better. Why? Because “Life is just better here….” WMG
Art Gallery 21 Boasts Affordable Art
When Constance Ruppender founded Art Gallery 21, she did so with the goal of helping artists and buyers keep more money in their pockets. Now, with the Island City Art Market, which runs from now until Aug. 31, those who look to Art Gallery 21 as a source for affordable art have their best chance yet to pick up something new to hang on their walls. Located in Art Gallery 21 at the Woman’s Club of Wilton Manors, 600 NE 21 Ct., Art Market features about 40 pieces – water colors, oil on canvas and more – by 21 different local artists.
“Most of the art is of local people or local things or landscapes. We have a lot of local landscapes,” Ruppender said. Opened in July of 2012, Ruppender calls it a neighborhood art gallery. Local artists can keep more of the money from their own work and non-profit art organizations are allowed to host art shows for free. “I know a lot of artists and they never have anywhere to show their art. A lot of galleries charge 50 percent [commission] and double the price of the work. That makes the art cost prohibitive for a lot of people,” Ruppender said.
ART DIRECTOR • BRENDON LIES ARTWORK@SFGN.COM ONLINE PRODUCER • DENNIS JOZEFOWICZ DENNIS.JOZEFOWICZ@SFGN.COM EDITORIAL ASSISTANT • JILLIAN MELERO JILLIANMELERO@GMAIL.COM NEWS EDITOR • MICHAEL D’OLIVEIRA
Correspondents
CHRISTIANA LILLY • DENISE ROYAL • NATALYA JONES • JOHN MCDONALD • JAMES OAKSUN
Staff Photographers
J.R. DAVIS • POMPANO BILL • STEVEN SHIRES
Sales & Marketing
DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING • MIKE TROTTIER MIKE.TROTTIER@SFGN.COM
SALES MANAGER • JUSTIN WYSE JUSTIN.WYSE@SFGN.COM ADVERTISING SALES ASSOCIATE • EDWIN NEIMANN EDWIN.NEIMANN@SFGN.COM ADVERTISING SALES ASSOCIATE • CINDY CURTIS CINDY.CURTIS@SFGN.COM ACCOUNTING SERVICES BY CG BOOKKEEPING South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs.
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Art work at the Art Market starts at $95 and maxes out at $1,250. “We have a lot of affordable art. A lot of it is in the $200 to $500 range. A lot of it is the 200 to 500 range. It’s framed and ready to take home or to the office,” she said. A portion of each art sale will be donated directly back to Art Gallery 21 and used to pay the application fee to become a 501(c)3 with the IRS. Recently, Art Gallery 21 was awarded non-profit status by the State of Florida. The city has also been making improvements by adding a sign, new roof, landscaping, fixing
electrical problems, upgrades in the kitchen and more. “The city has been incredibly cooperative and generous,” Ruppender said. Ruppender also wants to see an “art garden” developed behind the building with “sculptures, public art, that kind of thing.” Those interested in purchasing art can call Ruppender and set up an appointment – 954661-4740. WMG
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Preparing for Next Season
Real Estate Geek
By James Oaksun
Our seasonal residents and visitors are now “summering” in Rehoboth, Fire Island, Ptown, Ogunquit and places in between. A large opportunity now comes for property owners thinking about selling next season, who are willing to invest a bit to maximize sale price. Of course, one must be careful when doing so. It's easy to make improvements that are not economically sound. However, as discussed previously, my research has shown that certain improvements will return more than the improvement's cost. So, what are three things a property owner can do to boost their return when they list and sell next season?
1. Enclose your carport. It'll give you better secured protection for your car and perhaps some yard equipment. Depending on the design of your home you might be able access your vehicle without going outside. And some seasonal residents would prefer to keep a vehicle here, and a garage would make that possible. In most areas, turning a carport into a garage can increase sale price by as much as two times the cost of the project.
It's not messy, it's outside, you don't have to go stay elsewhere while the work is done. To me it's a slam-dunk.
2. Change the flooring! In most areas, tile is the baseline expectation for flooring. However, terrazzo and especially carpet are huge turn-offs to buyers as shown by actual MLS sales data. If you've got terrazzo or carpet, get rid of it and tile. This is a quick 2-for-1 return. And you can do even better? Add some wood flooring. Or even better, some marble. Yes you're going to have to vacate temporarily and move some furniture. My research shows it's a great idea.
3. A shower (or tub/shower) for each bedroom. Households and lifestyles have changed. Families are smaller, sometimes we have adult children returning to live with us, and here in south Florida we often have winter visitors. If each bedroom has its own bathroom, it's usually a big selling point. Now this will require a contractor, possibly
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an architect, and may not be possible with all homes. But the return on investment is worth it. There are other value enhancing improvements, of course, but I'm not going to tell you about them here. Some things stay in my bag of tricks for my customers alone. James Oaksun, Broward's Real Estate GeekSM, is a Realtor with the Wilton Manors office of RE/MAX Preferred. In addition to having degrees from Dartmouth and Cornell, he is a graduate of the Realtors Institute (GRI).
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Business
Community
City May Require Greener Homes
Symposium Aims to Curb Vehicle/Pedestrian Accidents
By Michael d’Oliveira
Developers who want to build new homes in Wilton Manors may soon have to offer greener amenities. Commissioner Tom Green suggested the change to the building code, which would require future residential buildings with a car port or garage to be fitted with an outlet capable of being used to power a car charging station. Installing a station would be optional. The commission, except Mayor Gary Resnick, voted to place the item on the agenda of the next commission meeting on July 14. Green said existing home owners would not have to spend “one penny of money” to add outlets, only homes that have yet to be built. Homes being renovated could fall under the requirement if the majority of the structure is being demolished. Vice Mayor Scott Newton said he would only support the measure if it didn’t force builders to install charging stations. Currently, the city’s building code allows builders to voluntarily choose to install the outlet.
“Voluntarily doesn’t carry a lot of weight with people,” Green said. But Resnick and Commissioner Julie Carson, although supportive of a greener city, said they didn’t want to force anyone to add an outlet. Carson said forcing people to add bike racks in their home might encourage more bicycling around the city and a reduction of car usage. “Is that something we should require? I don’t think so . . . but I certainly welcome the discussion,” she said. Commissioner Justin Flippen also suggested city staff look into other possible green requirements but proposed the city use incentives to ensure compliance, such as possibly defraying the permit costs associated with installing an outlet. Resnick, who worries that the requirements could negatively impact affordable housing and make it more expensive, rejected Flippen’s incentive idea. “I don’t want to raise taxes to pay for building renovations.” WMG
By Michael d’Oliveira
As residents blame city officials for pedestrian accidents on Wilton Drive and city officials tell residents and visitors to use the crosswalks, both sides look for ways to improve safety. To improve the safety of Wilton Drive, which has experienced at least two pedestrian accidents, city officials have been communicating with the Florida Department of Transportation [FDOT]. But at the June 23 commission meeting, Assistant City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson said all the city’s proposals, including painting the speed limit onto the street, have been rejected by FDOT. Commissioners said they haven’t given up yet and will continue to press their case to state officials. The panel discussion, organized by Central Area Neighborhood Association President Paul Rolli, will include a panel discussion with an FDOT representative. It will be held on Wednesday, July 15 at 7 p.m. at Hagen Park, 2020 Wilton Drive. Commissioner Tom Green cited 595, A1A and SR 84 as examples of state roads that already have the speed limit painted right onto them. “These things are not unheard of,” said Green at the June 23 commission meeting. Two weeks earlier, Green, while expressing support for trying to make Wilton Drive safer, pointed to Las Olas Boulevard, a street where pedestrians are also injured and killed by motorists. Las Olas, he said, is much more pedestrian-friendly than Wilton Drive, with its higher number of crosswalks and narrower lanes. “People still get hit. But it helps,” Green said. Two options still open to the city include the relocation of the traffic signal in front
of city hall a few feet south to Northeast 20 Street. Proponents say the move will encourage more people to cross the street safely. In response to being accused of not doing enough to make Wilton Drive safer, officials have said pedestrians should only cross at crosswalks. “[Safety is] everyone’s responsibility,” Newton said. According to the Wilton Manors Police Department, there have been two fatalities on Wilton Drive since 2009. One in 2009 and the other in 2014. Three occurred on Oakland Park Blvd. – 2009, 2011 and 2013. Oakland Park Blvd. had the most accidents, fatal and non-fatal, with 32 since 2009. Wilton Drive had 18, Andrews Avenue had 21, Northwest 9 Avenue had 14 and Northeast 6 Avenue had 12. According to FDOT, pedestrians are more likely to get hit by a vehicle if they don’t use an intersection than if they do. Unable to get any changes to the roadway yet, the police department has begun issuing jaywalking tickets to pedestrians who don’t use crosswalks. “It’s a start,” said Mayor Gary Resnick at the June 9 commission meeting. Green said he supports handing out tickets but “I don’t want a major portion of our police force ticketing.” WMG
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