Sunday, July 31, 2011

Lake Worth Beach Redevelopment

Comment Up

Today we find out that the beach redevelopment has been delayed because the contractors involved in the project want $3 million dollars more than the $5 million bond money from Palm Beach County. This is BULL. Don't you just love finding out what's going on in our city by reading the the Palm Beach Post? Why has this never been mentioned at a commission meeting? Perhaps it has and I just didn't stay that late.

This is a perfect time, now that these bums are jerking us around and coming in at 60% over budget before they even dig out one piece of dirt, to retain all of the upper level parking that EVERYONE WANTS.

I would like to kick these guys to the curb and get REG to do the beach redevelopment. Perfect time to end another bad deal for Lake Worth.

Also what this is--a perfect time to rethink the lousy configuration of the upper level at our beach that was pushed by Rene Varela and Cara Jennings because they like all things "green" and they both fell in love with Michael Singer instead of what the people really want--convenient parking to be retained. The new upper level design has cars driving into parking lots as the main ingress and egress. We won't be able to see the ocean at all. Can you even imagine all the accidents waiting to happen? Lousy design to ruin our beach.

The City says that perhaps they can re-figure the lower level parking area and keep the plans for the upper dune intact. NO. Bad idea.

1) Get rid of these contractors, Kimley-Horn, Michael (Life is Beautiful) Singer and John Szerdi of Living Designs.
2. Hire REG to continue on with the beach redevelopment.
3. Don't worry about Jungle Jims for Suzie. This is a damn beach.
4. Re-do the walkways, plant some trees, resurface the parking area across from Bennys'.
5. Resurface the lower parking areas.
6. Keep our decal parking as we have always had it.
7. Forget about wind-mills and the rest of the bull.

Contractors give me one swift pain but more than that, it is decisions made by commissioners who listen to the voices in their minds rather than to the people and what makes sense. Kick them all to the curb.

22 comments:

kkss21 said...

Fire these jerks.What kind of shady, blackmailing crap are they trying to pull?They obviously falsly lowballed the deal just to get the job. I agree with Lynn.Resurface and keep our upper deck and decal parking.Give the county the big third finger salute and tell them to get lost!When did this info come out? Has Lake Worth staff been sitting on it?

Anonymous said...

In Just A Few More Years.....................................................................

Lynn Anderson said...

That's a real helpful comment.

Anonymous said...

Each of these companies want $1 mil profit a piece. that's it.

John Rinaldi said...

I am completely confused. We have a contract to get certain work accomplished. How do you end up with a 3 million additional cost? What changed? Who did the legal work on this deal?

kkss21 said...

John made a great point. The answer ,John, is that Lake Worth does not have a competant attorney on staff. We keep getting the shaft because of this.We need a real city attorney ,not an incompetant para legal. NOW !!!

Lynn Anderson said...

I think that these firms are saying that the job will cost $3 million more if we want all the elements originally discussed. Sounds corrupt to me.

They picked this up from the Greater Bay contract that came in at $8,620,800...who knows?

Kimley-Horn first gave its professional opinion on Oct 13, 2009 of the construciton costs-- it came in at $5,034,700 that included the design cost of $457,700.

INFLATION--Not!

Anonymous said...

There is always someone to screw up something in this city. Greedy developers. They finally get a big project and all they see is how to extract money from this town.

Anonymous said...

Guess the BCM and the BCCE have been Bamboozleed. just like they have been doing to the PUBLIC for some time now.....

Lynn Anderson said...

If that is all you can contribute to this $3 million surprise, then go to the Wes Blackman blog.

Anonymous said...

It's not a 3 million dollar surprise, just like it is NOT a renovation...

Lynn Anderson said...

The Casino rehabilitaiton is one issue.
The beach redevelopment is another and totally separate.
How come you are so wise and all knowing?
How come you can't contribute anything rational here other than your famous "I told you so."

Anonymous said...

And you're statement i would love to kick them to the curb, Helps Hows?

Lynn Anderson said...

It will get them off the beach and allow us to find qualified people who will do it for the specified amount.

Anonymous said...

Do you truly believe that the commission will go against the advice of the CM on this subject?

John said...

Who is running this city? Down't the City Manager report to the City Commission? It seems the Commissioners are taking their direction from the City Manager and not the other way around.

Anonymous said...

Lynn for 2 years you told everyone that people go to the beach for the beach. The ocean and sand are still there, what's the big deal?
BCE BCME

Lynn Anderson said...

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL????????????????
Agreeing to do a beach redevelopment for $5 million dolLars and now they want EIGHT MILLION. THAT'S THE BIG DEAL.
I say, don't do it at all. Find our $3.5 million in the beach rfund that has been moved around and do the upgrades that are necessary--no more and no less. You are kidding, right?

Anonymous said...

But IT is not redevelopment, it is NEW CONSTRUCTION.

Lynn Anderson said...

Whatever you say, Wes. :) This blog is about beach redevelopment, not the casino. That is a different issue, remember? Do you want me to send you that broken record?

Anonymous said...

I have said all along that "we are 'giving' the beach to the County for $5million" when they can make the rules of where residents can park (now on a lower lot) what we can and can't do on our own beach.

We don't need their $5million, we have "a cash portfolio".

Anonymous said...

Wise guys come a dime a dozen. Taking lessons from that other blogger?