Update on the SW 136 Street project. Village renderings as well as private photos and video are provided.

EDITOR'S NOTE:  Who doesn’t love Sesame Street? "One of These Things" was a song regularly used on the show where the children would be shown a group of four items, one of which was different from the other three. Viewers would learn to identify the item which didn't belong. Not everything is equal. This game provides a lesson in learning to look to find the detail and discern subtle differences.  Some differences are not subtle. 

It’s a good game for children, but it is not a game that local governments should be inflicting on residents. This is especially true when the actual differences impacts their homes, which for most, is the largest investment we make in our lifetime. It is not a game.

So with that lead in, Palmetto Bay residents once again are called upon to play the game of "some of these sections are not like the others". People are starting to compare - sections of the so-called shared path.  And affected residents are starting to notice that not all sections are created equal. Why do some residents have the full 10 feet imposed while others suffer less, 8 feet or worse, at least one section where the sidewalk is the standard 5 feet? That is right! Five (5) feet!

This 5 foot section is located just east of 77th Avenue
Not really much of a so-called bicycle upgrade

It is a fair question to ask who made these decisions that impact their property values and ability to park on the swale? Were there private, unadvertised meetings? 

It is also a fair question to ask whether Pinecrest officials would ever consider inflicting such a project on their residents, on their side of SW 136th Street (or anywhere else in Pinecrest for that matter)? I bet not.

Why are trees being knocked down in some areas while the path was reduced to the standard 5 feet to save the trees. 

Many want to know how residents in that area pulled off 5 feet while they are suffering 8 to 10 feet.  

I am documenting here that 5 feet has been poured in at least one area (photo above), yet village officials continue to advise residents that this project includes an 8 to 10 foot "shared use path" (see rendering immediately below), 

Note: The Village representation as to the 8' to 10' width are identified with red arrows and circles

You can't hide the cement. The 8 to 10 foot width range is far from the truth. The cat is out of the bag as a friend of South Dade Updates (FOSDU) called me out to the scene to witness the in fact all sections are not being treated equal. Please view the videos and photos.

      

The dirty little secret (until now) is that shared path narrows as the standard 5 foot sidewalk in at least one section (see video above and photo below). Who else will get a special dispensation for a reduced 5 foot wide path? Remember, the project is far from complete.

Saving the trees - a worthy goal: An unnamed source within the project contractor advised that the reduction to 5 feet for the section documented above was done in order to save the trees. Save the trees! There is otherwise sufficient right of way to pour a 20 foot path.  Wow. let's work together to save more trees.

why are changes keep being made for some, but not all. My purpose here is to really keep you in the loop as to this SW 136 Street Project. Perhaps more affected residents need to speak out and make their voices heard before the fate of their property is sealed in concrete.

Path section located west of 77th Avenue. No parking.
Essentially all green space removed.

BACKGROUND: For background, please see my post of August 2, 2021: How will SW 136th Street look and function when completed? Some fair questions. Remember, this shared path will have all the effectiveness of the Old Cutler Shared Path. It is a shame. I have always keep my constituents, now my readers in the loop.  Please review my concerns expressed about the many questions about the final look and function of SW 136 Street. I have also heard that there have been some changes made based upon special input. The path with has shrunk in some areas. It may zig where it was programed to zag or go straight. We will all just have to wait and see as no one is keeping us all in the same loop as to those pesky details. It is strange (and sad) that some people have been provided significant input while others have been kept in the dark or told simply that this is 'a county project'. That is not true, this is a JPA and Palmetto Bay has designed it.