A nice article in the Miami Herald re HLP...

>
>> Residents rally to save the Lake
>> Neighbors of Hidden Lake continued the fight during the holiday weekend
>> to
>> save at least a slice of the West Kendall area property.
>> Posted on Thu, Sep. 06, 2007
>> BY YUDY PINEIRO
>> ypineiro@MiamiHerald.com
>> A county park planner gave a small group of West Kendall community
>> activists
>> some hope Sunday when he told them there's a chance they can save some of
>> the Hidden Lake property.
>>
>> The land, amid warehouses at Southwest 128th Street and 127th Avenue, is
>> zoned for industrial and office use and slated for office condos,
>> warehouses
>> and shops.
>>
>> But residents say the lakefront property should be turned into a public
>> park
>> to preserve its history as a spot where hundreds of area families and
>> teens
>> gathered over the years to picnic, swim or hang out around bonfires.
>>
>> Park planner Eric J. Hansen told about 10 activists rallying at the lake
>> Sunday afternoon that the department can try to negotiate with the
>> developer
>> so at least a portion of the property is dedicated for park land.
>>
>> ''Doing something with the developer is not out of the question,'' Hansen
>> said. ``We've worked with developers before.''
>>
>> The possibility that some piece would be saved sounded good to the group.
>>
>> Though according to developer Adrian Homes, it has already compromised by
>> promising West Kendall Community Council members that it would build a
>> walkway around the lake and leave it open to the public. It has also said
>> it
>> is doing the community a favor by not building the massive development
>> already approved for the land, which includes a hotel.
>>
>> But the activists, who are calling themselves the Consortium to Save
>> Hidden
>> Lake, want a little more than a sidewalk. They spent several weeks trying
>> to
>> muster support for their cause, asking philanthropists and some
>> organizations to donate money for a park.
>>
>> But with the developer scheduled to appear before the local zoning board
>> only a few days later on Wednesday night, the group had realized that
>> time
>> was not on their side.
>>
>> ''We wish it was, but it's not,'' said Trish Marciano, a resident of the
>> nearby Tuscany Village residential development.
>>
>> ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
>>
>> Comments
>> I wish to congratulate Richard, Trish and Tuscany homeowners for
>> their
>> hard work and determination.
>> The council voted 3 to 3 Wednesday evening so you now have more time
>> for better planning.
>> Shame on those in favor of over developing without sufficient green
>> space -
>> How much did the owner of the HL give to KFHA to support something the HOA has fought
>> in past years.
>> Thanks are in order for those in the audience coming up to speak
>> against this waste of an office park. SAVE THE PARK

>>