After an ongoing debate regarding the annexation of Little Gables to the city of Coral Gables, the issue has been voted upon by residents. During a straw ballot held on Aug. 20, the same day as the city’s primary election, Coral Gables residents demonstrated strong opposition towards the idea of officially adding the Little Gables region to the City of Coral Gables. Out of residents who cast a ballot, over 62% voted against the proposition, while the remaining 37% voted in favor of it.
While the purpose of the poll is a survey among the population and it is non-binding, it still issues a strong testament against the annexation of Little Gables, which can be found directly south of SW Eighth St. and west of Ponce De Leon Blvd.
Little Gables’ population had over 21% of its residents sign in favor of annexation in fall of the previous year, which meant that it had surpassed the 20% necessary to begin the application process. Rather than continuing on with the application process, a pause was taken to poll the population on their opinion, and hence the straw ballot was scheduled.
Despite the pushback from Coral Gables and Little Gables residents, commissioners have specified that they will reserve the right to carry on with the annexation process or not. However, Gables Commissioner Ariel Fernandez has already began working on a resolution to formally end the annexation process.
“From what I know about it, it’s a waste of time and money to annex Little Gables and the people inside think the same as well. It’s not good for either side,” sophomore Erick del Valle said.
Should Little Gables be annexed, the annexation will prove to be a stark change in zoning code regulations for Little Gables residents, as they are currently under Miami-Dade County, which enforces less strict zoning laws. Along with these changes includes expenses for the city of Coral Gables to provide for and restructure the new area. Costs including a possible new fire station, bringing the infrastructure up to code and the implementation of other structures are estimated to total over 20 million dollars, a sum many aren’t quite so eager to pay.
Coral Gables House (left), Little Gables House (right)
While in the first several years of the annexation expenses are estimated to exceed incoming revenue, models also predict that the city will eventually break even. For this reason, those that are in favor of it being annexed believe that over time it will become a valuable source of revenue for the city.
“With a bit of money and development put into it, Little Gables can be almost completely part of the rest of Coral Gables and start making money in return for people that live here,” junior Anastasia Caputo said.
Residents of Little Gables in favor of the annexation, likely are intrigued by the prospect of increasing their property value by being classified under the city of Coral Gables. In the housing market, houses within Coral Gables are sought after and tend to fetch a higher price. Despite initial costs to bring the house up to code, the hike in price over time would benefit landowners within the neighborhood.
“For me and my family, I wanted the annexation even though I don’t live in Coral Gables or am able to have a say on it either. My parents own a house in Little Gables that they rent out, so it would’ve helped them with getting more tenants, and they would probably be able to charge more for rent,” sophomore Erik Hjelm said.
Even with this possibility of potential property value increase and investments in the city, residents of both areas turned out at the poll to express their discontent with this idea. Taxes would likely be increased in both areas to pay for infrastructure costs, as well as homeowners having to be responsible for bringing their house up to code. This idea of immediate expenses for potential benefits in the future has made residents reluctant to commit to the process.
“My parents already complain about taxes as it is, so adding any more to that is something they absolutely don’t want to do. From what I’ve overheard from them, they both are against the Little Gables annexation,” sophomore Victoria Robertson said.
Although the recent straw poll seems to suggest otherwise, the issue of annexing Little Gables still stands to be a topic of debate within the city, as it has been for the previous 40 years. Similar to the issue of short term sacrifices for the possibility of long term gain, neither side is 100% right, and this recent poll has not truly ended the push for annexation.
