Stephen Murray

Coconut Grove Village Council

3051 Elizabeth St.

Coconut Grove, FL 33133

115 E 87th St. Apt 26F

New York, NY 10128
The Honorable Carlos Gimenez
Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners
Stephen P. Clark Center
111 N.W. 1st Street, Suite 220
Miami, Florida 33128

June 9, 2010

Re: Government Obligation Fund (GOB) Allocation – Village West Affordable/Workforce

Housing Project

Dear Commissioner Gimenez,

I would like to express my formal support of the proposed affordable housing project in
Coconut Grove. After meetings with various stakeholders to discuss the plan, I now believe
it is crucial that we as a community join together to back this project and allow it to go
forward as soon as possible. Never before has there been such a viable, shovel-ready
proposal that involves so many key community stakeholders (such as Thelma Gibson and
the University of Miami). From my understanding, this proposal has been thoroughly vetted
by Miami-Dade County staff and now eagerly awaits your approval.

Pinnacle Housing Group has a proven track record of completing projects within budget and
on time. They are considered to be in the top fifty affordable housing developers in the
country according to Affordable Housing Finance Magazine. I understand other developers
also have proposals on the table but are requesting the entirety of the GOB funds available
to District 7. While I appreciate the efforts of the other developers, they are currently
responsible for dozens of empty properties on Grand Avenue, having displaced many of our
residents without moving forward on their project. It is only fair that the GOB funds
available to your office are split equally between the different proposals.

As I’m sure you are aware, the Village West has long faced severe economic hardship. Long
before the rest of our community began to feel the weight of the current recession,
residents of the West Grove grappled with extreme poverty, unemployment and limited
access to affordable housing. Grand Avenue, the main artery to Coconut Grove’s business
district, has become the symbol of the disparity and blight that plagues our community. This
project would be the first step in the redesign and revitalization of Grand Avenue, making
us safer by providing more lighting and security, and improving the overall health and
aesthetics of our community. It would also become the home to the Gibson Community and
Educational Center, giving the youth of the West Grove a safe and productive environment
to grow, learn and have fun.

I sincerely hope you allow this much-needed project to move forward. The residents of the
Village West are counting on you.

Best Regards,

Stephen P. Murray

Coconut Grove Village Council

CC:
Jihad Rashid, Coconut Grove Collaborative
Thelma Gibson, Thelma Gibson Health Initiative
Dean Isaac Prilleltensky, University of Miami School of Education
Louis Wolfson III, Pinnacle Housing Group
Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, Florida House of Representatives