Message from Vice Mayor Suzanne Mulvehill on the Casino

Comment Up
In follow up to concerns expressed to me yesterday and at the meeting last evening, I would like to clarify how these concerns were addressed:

Existing tenants – "first rights" will first be given to the existing tenants. The first 90 days with the broker is exclusively for existing tenants to prepare and sign a lease. The broker will be paid 3.5% to sign on the existing tenants.

Remaining space – The remaining space in the casino building will be for seeking a local/regional business. This was added into the work authorization for the Broker. The remaining space will be listed on the MLS with a 50/50 split for co-brokers, 7% commission split, 6% straight.

Commercial/public space – The Casino building is 45% public space of terraces and walkable areas. An average building, like City Place, is approx. 20% public space. There are 11 foot walkways on the 2 floor – as requested by residents at the charettes for a walk-around terrace. There will be benches upstairs, similar to downtown, for the public to sit and enjoy the view. We discussed a sidewalk café lease or something similar, for the 2 floor restaurant – similar to downtown. This building is being paid for by the rents generated from the building. Not tax payer dollars.

Ballroom size – The ballroom is 3400 sq. ft of air conditioned open space, not including the storage or kitchen areas (see attached floor plan). The ballroom seats approximately 200 people with banquet round tables. Residents asked for a terrace upstairs around the entire building and this decreased the size of air conditioned space in the ballroom from approx. 5,000 sq. ft to its present size of 3400 sq. ft. There is a covered terrace around the ballroom of approx. 2,500 sq. ft that can be rented with the ballroom. The total rentable space for the ballroom (air conditioned and open air) is approx. 5,900 sq. ft. Almost 1,000 more than the existing ballroom (due to the restrooms and kitchen areas being added onto the building footprint.) Additionally, there is also open green space on the grounds in the back of the building where a 5,000 sq. ft. air conditioned tent can be placed and rented out for additional space or separate space from the ballroom. For a comparative, the Ritz Carlton in Manalapan has 3 ballrooms. One is 9,680 sq. ft. that can be partitioned for 3 events at 3200 sq. ft each – each of these partitioned spaces holds 200 guests with banquet round tables with a band/dance floor or 300 in a theater style conference setting.)

Restaurant – open air component – in the original drawings, the building was bigger and there was an open-air component. Due to cost, this open air space was removed. The restaurant can still design space that is open, similar to Dave’s Last Resort or Brogue’s.

Local/Regional Business Mix – It was clarified in a motion last evening for the Broker, that space that is not leased by existing tenants will be available to local/regional businesses. All leases will come before the commission for approval.

Hours of Operation – Discussed but not finalized. Proper lighting will be required, regardless of the hours of operation, for the turtles. (Like with the pier which is open until midnight)

Architectural Style – The building is true to its architectural style. The original building built in 1922 will be reconstructed to its original style and the 1949 building, which is where the ballroom is, will be reconstructed to its original style. The city and the architects will be working to apply for a National Historic Destination for the Casino Building.

Wind Turbines – Have been added back into the plan.

Archaeology Oversight - William Waters, our Senior Planner, will present to the commission within 60 days a plan for the archaeology oversight at the beach site.