St. Agnes basketball
Members of the St. Agnes basketball team display their trophies. Front row (1. to I.) Barbara de la Fuente, Marilou Gonzalez, Betty Macia, Monica Tarafa, Josie Vila, Jaimie Johnson. Back row Carla Vickers, Julie Alvarez, Coach Ron Wilson, Elena Macia, Linda Strain, Ana Santamarina.
Key Colony Construction Begins
Construction has begun on Key Colony, the 1,230-unit condominium project which will eventually raise Key Biscayne’s population by approximately 25 percent.
When completed and sold, Key Colony will house an estimated 2,200 people, according to Project Director Cal McHenry. Most estimates of the unincorporated island’s population are in the 8-9,000 range.
Sales are off to a fast start. More than 110 units have been sold for a total of $15 million, according to Sales Manager Paul Buckley.
“It’s been much better than we expected and we had some pretty high expectations,” he said. “I think there’s been a pent-up demand for this, a quality project on the ocean with all the amenities we offer.”
Buckley cited the 22 different apartment floor plans as one of the main attractions.
“This makes people feel their place is special,” Buckley said. “Most developments only have four or five floor plans.”
Sales have gone so well that prices have been raised an average of $10,000, Buckley said. The apartments now range from $75,000-$475,000.
Shopping center planned for Crandon Boulevard
Dead palm trees dominate the landscape at the corner of Crandon and Seaview but owner Ed London says he plans to build a high-class shopping center on the property.
A “high-class, boutique-type shopping center” is being planned for the large vacant lot at 800 Crandon Boulevard, according to Edward London, who recently bought the property.
London said the project would consist of “small shops, fashion shops; something on the order of Worth Avenue,” an expensive shopping area in Palm Beach.
Magic assistance
Alicia Tarafa (l.) and W. Bates Cole (I.) assisted magician Don Elwell at the Lollipop Theatre production last Saturday. If you would like a chance to be chosen to be his “assistant for an act,” he will be appearing at the Calusa Playhouse along with “Madam Butterfrog” the next two Saturdays.
Postal service looking for branch site
Postal facilities have not been able to keep up with the growth on Key Biscayne. Optimum space and location have not been available to date.
The U.S. Postal Service is looking for a site for a new Key Biscayne Branch Postal facility. They would like to find someone interested in selling a site suitable for construction or an existing one-story building. The “preferred area” for the site or building is anywhere within or near the business district of the Key. Minimum site size needed for construction of a new building is 66,000 sq. ft., or a lot with dimensions of 220ft. by 300 ft. An existing building should be a one-story structure containing a minimum of 6,200 sq. ft. of net interior floor space which lends itself to postal operations with reasonable modifications. The site upon which the building is located must contain a minimum of 50,000 sq. ft.
Property owners are asked to submit their site offerings or building and site offerings not later than March 10.
What is going on here?
Has an innovative robber once again struck Key Biscayne Bank, which was once robbed by a thief who sent a note through a drive-in banking capsule demanding money?
Or is an eccentric millionaire withdrawing his life savings, in pennies?
No, it’s just the beginning of work on a larger parking lot for the drive-in facility. When completed, the holding area is expected to have room for approximately 23 cars, or an undetermined number of bulldozers.
Couple arrested in Key burglaries
During the first robbery of the Key Executive Building, thieves broke into an office safe on the fourth floor.
Two teenagers were arrested at the Key Executive Building Saturday night and charged with the recent burglaries of offices in the building at 104 Crandon Boulevard.
A police officer saw Thomas Lehew, 18, of Liberty City, standing in the doorway of the second-floor fire escape at 10:50 p.m. Saturday, according to Detective Hap Lee of the Dade County Public Safety Department.
Stearns Turn Mackle into home of their dreams
Believe it or not, this was once a Mackle house. Gene and Diana Stearns have made a few changes.
The Stearns’ Mackle ain’t what it used to be.
That’s just fine with Gene and Diana Stearns. Ever since they came to Key Biscayne four years ago and moved into what Diana calls “a very basic” Mackle house, the Stearns knew they wanted something a little different.
“We just couldn’t find anything we really liked,” Diana said. “There aren’t many medium-priced homes out here.”
The Stearns found that the modern homes with creative architecture on the Island were too large for themselves and one child. So they have transformed their Mackle into the home of their dreams. Yes, the structure at 375 Hampton Lane really is a Mackle house. But a creative architect and six months of construction work have transformed the place into a modernistic but still cozy Florida version of the homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the pioneers of modern architecture.
What the Stearns and their architect, Robert Altman, have done is create a home that uses modern, almost futuristic design but still remains comfortable.
The Good Life in Key Biscayne
Underwater may be one of the few uninvestigated areas for a travel agent. Jim Eraso is familiar with land, sea and air travel, which may account for his interest in scuba diving. We bet he even knows where to go to find the clearest water.
Help Define Key Biscayne’s Profile
Key Biscayne is changing, whether we like it or not, and faster than we can believe.
The school population has changed. The housing style is hanging. Shopping patterns are shifting. In order to serve you and other residents as you want to be served it is imperative that the business community knows more about you.
We are now ready for the first stage of identifying the changing personality of Key Biscayne. Because we know you are as interested in our community as we are, we ask our Key Biscayne neighbors to help in the study to find out more about who we are. We are printing a questionnaire and hope that each family living on the Key will supply the needed information.
Picnic
Beautiful spring weather arrived just in time for Sunday’s “Picnic in the Park.”
1977 grocery prices
Butter for 89 cents. Ice cream for 69 cents. Coffee for $1.99. What surprises you most? What would you stock up on at these prices?
For the last Islander throwback, click here.