The Villages of Homestead received a City Beautification Award from Councilwoman Judy Waldman for their assiduous efforts in restoring the waterfall garden located at the entrance to the Villages of Homestead Residential Complex.
“Hurricane Andrew was a terrible storm destroying lives, homes, and many beautiful areas around the City of Homestead, including the beautiful fountain that welcomes residents and visitors to the Villages of Homestead,” said Councilwoman Waldman during the special presentation at the July City Council meeting. “I have been working on this project for twelve years, and it gives me great honor to recognize the Villages of Homestead with an award for their labors in preserving this beautiful City landmark. I also want to thank the Villages Waterfall Committee, the Audubon HOA Board Members, City of Homestead City Manager George Gretsas, Assistant City Manager David Hebert, and Livingston Tree Farms for making the restoration possible. David really went above and beyond to help me find the solution!”
Councilwoman Waldman presented the City Beautification Award to the Villages of Homestead alongside Jim Sutton, Yvonne Knowles, Mark Constable, Larry Diehl and Assistant City Manager David Hebert. Special thanks went to Livingston’s Tree Farms Landscape Architect Albert Livingston who established the landscape, as well as Walter Dawson for the design and installation of the falls, and Office Manager Hazel Bell for the design of the landscape and managing the entire project.
The waterfall entrance was originally built by the Villages’ developer around 1979 and was damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Since both the Homeowners Associations and the City claimed ownership, repairs became a problem. The Villages Waterfall Committee members approached the City of Homestead in 2012 willing to restore the waterfall, however this was prevented because money could not legally be spent on property the Homeowners Associations did not own.
Councilwoman Judy Waldman, the Waterfall Committee, and the Audubon HOA Board Members along with City Manager George Gretsas, proposed a solution of a long-term lease in 2011 of $1 a year, so the Homeowners Association could maintain its own entryway. On March 28, 2012, the Audubon and Villages HOAs signed a 50-year lease with the City of Homestead. The Audubon Villages of Homestead dedicated its renovated waterfall garden as the neighborhood entry feature in April 2013 and is located on the southwest corner of Farm Life School Road (167 Avenue) and North Canal Drive.
