The arrival of a dredge from Savannah signaled was what supposed to be the beginning of a posh private development on Virginia Key.
The year was 1940 and the imminent filling of “swampy areas” was to transform 600 acres of the island into home sites to be sold exclusively to private club members.
In a news story dated February 18, 1940 headlined “Virginia Key Filling Slated For This Week,” The Miami Daily News even reported on the target market:
The development is expected to attract yachtsmen, since Norris cut, separating Terminal island from Virginia key, will be dredged to a depth of 20 feet and other waterways through the islands to 12 feet.”
Though, as always when it comes to Virginia Key, there were competing plans from the public sector for the land. A joint city-county project was proceeding to purchase the land for a harbor.
Alas - for the proponents - neither project came to pass as. To quote a poet- the “best laid schemes of Mice and Men oft go awry.”
Which brings us to today.
Same waterfront lands coveted both by private development interests and the public.
One difference: this time the land is owned by the public.
Photo: Virginia Key, circa 1963-1973. Note: swampy areas.
from the Poet:
"The best laid schemes of Mice and Men
oft go awry,
And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy!"
Robert Burns, To a Mouse (Poem, November, 1785)
Scottish national poet (1759 - 1796)
@2010 All Rights Reserved
Also on Facebook: Friends of Virginia Key
No comments:
Post a Comment