What is the latest news on the Calusa golf course? (Miami: fit in, purchase)

[valicky]

Whether the course must be functional or maintained, aren't both of those not being done? And what's the point of the covenant if you can stop the function of the golf course or maintaining it and then get to break the covenant? I don't get it. It seems completely illogical that the homeowners have absolutely no rights. They bought golf course homes. Then Bacardi blocked their views and now has let the place completely go. Could you imagine how outraged Bacardi would be if he had a golf course home that this happened to? And what he'd do if the owners tried to develop the land behind HIS home???

Hopefully, karma will kick in sometime. I don't feel hopeful that he won't get his way with this property, unfortunately.

[tallrick]

All they have to do is relay things till the next economic crash. Once the world loses confidence in the Fed, all these stupid development projects will end.

[straight shooter]

Originally Posted by valicky

Whether the course must be functional or maintained, aren't both of those not being done? And what's the point of the covenant if you can stop the function of the golf course or maintaining it and then get to break the covenant? I don't get it. It seems completely illogical that the homeowners have absolutely no rights. They bought golf course homes. Then Bacardi blocked their views and now has let the place completely go. Could you imagine how outraged Bacardi would be if he had a golf course home that this happened to? And what he'd do if the owners tried to develop the land behind HIS home???

Hopefully, karma will kick in sometime. I don't feel hopeful that he won't get his way with this property, unfortunately.

For some unfortunate reason South Florida is the scam capital of this country and all deceit starts here. With that being said, corruption and how much of it we have in Miami-Dade County will be the deciding factor in all of this. If everything is done by the book and the legal way then he will lose. He has no legal case and has not presented anything of merit or substance. If he prevails it is through influence, money and countless schemes.

[enfox]

Has there been any updates on this? I'm looking to buy a house on the golf course and worried this might become an issue.
Thanks

[nesssag]

I actually just looked the court case up, and Calusa Trust lost. They invalidated the covenant. Save Calusa Trust has appealed, so it's not over, but that's not good.

[nesssag]

An article on the ruling.

http://www.dailybusinessreview.com/i...20141014232958

[valicky]

A little palm greasing works every time.

[straight shooter]

The MRTA is carte blanche. It was basically create by the government to give them justification and the power to decide the final outcome on matters like this one. If they wanted they could have upheld the covenant and it would have also been justified. They can basically do whatever they want. There are laws in place to justify both decisions. It is very possible that this was all laid out prior to Bacardi purchasing the property and he is just a front just like the judge is a front. It seems to me like the government is more interested in extinguishing the covenant than anybody else. We have clearly seen this a million times. Very rarely does a development project or a zoning change not get approved. The goal is to get every piece of land developed and taxed to the max. Quality of life and the environment are only used as a cover up but are not of a concern in the least bit, it is all a farce. That I can recall, the only time a large scale development project has ever been halted in Miami-Dade County has been when the Federal Government has intervened (Everglades, Elliott Key) if not it is build baby build.

The matter is far from over. It would still need to go in front of zoning but like I have already stated, when has the zoning department not approved a large scale development project.

In the end, whatever becomes of the golf course property, wether it becomes a residential neighborhood, a nursing home, or even a park will be because that is what the government wanted not what the neighboring residents or even Bacardi wanted.

[tallrick]

Until the residents start targeting those who profit from these developments nothing wil be solved. Hurry up and crash the system already! Or at least crash into the fat cats.

[straight shooter]

Like I mentioned before MRTA is carte blanche but even in this case it is questionable as I do not feel it has anything to do with covenants. I don't see any relation to this case. This is clearly the State going against the law and the residents affected by all of this.

This is all very familiar to the FIU land grab. FIU was successful because they had the backing of the county, politicians, lobbyist, countless attorneys, influential people, faculty, students, alumnus, vendors, developers, contractors and countless other entities that will profit from the land grab. Who was on the Youth Fairs side? No one of importance, so they got eaten.

The Calusa case is very similar. Bacardi has been successful because he has the backing of the State, its court system, politicians, countless attorneys, influential people, vendors, developers (Swerdlow), contractors and countless other entities that will profit from this project. Who is on the side of the calusa residents and all kendall residents? The county, but in the end the county will most likely turn against them by approving zoning changes. If they don't, the land without the covenant is currently zoned for half acre homes. So it will be developed regardless. The county might be playing good cop. The ultimate goal which is to develop the land will take place regardless of the counties so called opposition.