Keeping parties in check on the Venetian Islands

The party house.

It’s a problem that goes back years on South Beach, especially on the Venetian Islands and Sunset Islands — the neighborhood house that regularly gets used for huge parties, maybe for hire, maybe not, but certainly a neighborhood headache.

And oh so hard to prove.

Creating attention these days is a house on the north end of Di Lido Island, which island residents complain is being used as a base for parties on a boat several nights a week, according to an email circulated by the Venetian Island Homeowners Association.

From VIHA president Greg Carney:

Recently, there have been complaints by the neighbors about activities going on at a house on the north side of West Di Lido Drive.  As best as can be determined, the occupant is renting the property.  He has a large boat which he takes out with large numbers of “guests” on most Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.  He advertises for “guests” via the Internet (e.g., via Facebook) and suggests they help out with “gas money” or other incidentals but does not explicitly solicit fees on the Internet.  When the “guests” arrive, they typically park up and down the street and make it difficult for the residents to find on street parking.

The neighbors have made a number of complaints to the City about this situation.  The City has not been able to prove that this Party House is being used for commercial purposes, but they do respond to complaints about parking.

Compounding the problem, Carney says, is the fact that lots of island homeowners have parties — and lots of people park along the narrow streets on Di Lido and other Venetian islands when private driveways overflow. When code enforcement gets called to ticket people for parking where they shouldn’t, EVERYBODY gets ticketed — including folks who have nothing to do with the party.

Carney, again:

Many of us will have a party at our home several times a year, so we need to be careful to not go overboard on the enforcement end.  And when you are having a party, be considerate of your neighbors (maybe invite them) and when they have a party, cut them some slack.  However, some situations seem beyond reason (three parties a week, every week seems excessive).  I have only cited the situation I know of on West Di Lido, but I suspect there may be similar ones elsewhere.

Party House problems go back years on the islands. Back There