Our Lake Worth Casino Restoration- Part II

Comment Up

The Casino will be built to at least a 50 year life expectancy and will be around long after any possible or questionable global warming could possibly affect our coastline. It has been predicted that our coast will change by the end of this Century or within the next 100 to 200 years. It is uncertain and no one knows if it will happen at all. Scientists have predicted anywhere from 1.5 feet at the end of this Century to 15 feet. There is no scientific proof of any of it. Their guess is a good as yours.

If we make a decision, it should be based on scientific certainty, not best guesses. All we know is that since 1921, the building stands and we have not lost any of our coastline.

January 2010

The Omphoy, formerly the PB Hilton, was just restored for a cost of $27 mil and its location is reported more east than our Casino.

One firm that specializes in restoration has already guaranteed a fixed price based on the number of square feet. No matter what is found in the renovation/restoration, the cost will be absorbed by the Contractor and the City will make sure that there are no cost over-runs. It will cost less to restore than to build new as the foundation is already in place. Everything in the building will be new and up to present code.

Our former Chair of the Planning & Zoning Board, Wes Blackman, has met/talked with a few of the firms that have submitted proposals. He has advocated for “altering the approach to this project so that the best process for the residents in terms of time, money and quality are achieved.” He said that he did not blog his perspective during the RFP process because he did not want “to unduly change the level of responses to the RFQ or influence the content of the responses.” I guess an actual conversation or meeting interjecting his personal opinion did not influence any of them to his perspective—that of demolishing and building from scratch.

The tenants approve. They are not in the “driver’s seat” nor have they given any demands to the City in any way. The residents approve. The only people who do not approve are the same ones who have always wanted the building torn down or who keep complaining that our tenants should be paying "market rates." Soon, with a newly restored building, the City Commission will decide what rates they need/want to charge and the present tenants have first choice to lease under new terms.

On Saturday, February 13th, 14 architects will make presentations at City Hall. From this, a short list of firms will be chosen. To read all the proposals, CLICK HERE

Look for construction to begin by Fall.