What's going on with the waterfront RFP's?

Yesterday at City Hall, the RFP decision regarding the Scotty's Landing, Chart House and Marina were deferred by the City Commission (they were to choose developers for the properties from the bids that came in). There is one more meeting on July 26 until the Commission takes a summer break and comes back again in September, but they deferred so many things yesterday, that who knows if the issue will come up on July 26 or be deferred again, many feel it will be put off until September.

I am being told that the current RFP for the Chart House property may be thrown out and a new one is being proposed so that there will be more than just one bidder on that property. 

It's also being said that Scotty's Landing may bet an extended one year lease, which may go to two years and the way things are going, maybe even longer. But then again, Scotty's owes so much in back taxes that the only way it seems to get it is for the County to sue the City (with the City's blessings).

Scotty himself, Scott Wessel, had a letter to the editor in yesterday's Miami Herald, you can read it here. Scotty is promising a better deal for the City, but if he hasn't paid almost $2.5 million in back taxes, how can they promise to pay the City? Scotty's and Grove Key Marina are one and the same

With all due respect, I don't care so much for Scotty's Landing. I used to eat there two or three days a week, but after the meat started tasting funky and the staff got unfriendly (maybe they are just overworked, probably are), I just stopped going. I don't think they put a new screw or nail in the place from day one and now they are promising to make it the showplace of the Grove? Maybe they will, we'll have to see what happens.

As for the precious view that everyone keeps complaining about losing, I have a little secret guys: the view is staying. It's Scotty's that would be going, but the view will be the same no matter what goes in.

As the Grove turns. More to come July 26 when the City Commission convenes. Speaking of which, there is an uproar of Sarnoff's Burn Notice decision and it is believed that a large protest will take place at the July 26 meeting to help save Burn Notice's home (the Expo Center) for another year.