Comment Up
The city charter gives the commission 60 days to adopt an ordinance after a sufficient number of verified signatures of city voters have been gathered in support of a ballot question. The commission could wait and bypass the Nov. 6 election, but that would trigger a special election that would cost city taxpayers about $30,000. Read more...
Besides the usual arguments and/or exagerations from those seeking development at the expense of our low rise city and for our favorite planner saying the only way to build is "UP" as he knows the rest of the city is built-out, the argument now is that we all have stopped the development of any hotel in Lake Worth. This argument, along with all the rest hurled at us, won't wash.
The residents said, and in no uncertain terms, they did not want the downtown landscape to change. We agree that some development is a very good thing. We have an entire Park of Commerce that cries "develop." This is where we will make our money. We have the Dixie Corridors.
To extend the present Gulfstream Hotel property by building adjacent to the present historic structure, is an option and a good one. We look forward to a buyer who will do just that.
Many cities across the U.S. and the world at large preserve their small town feel.
91 rooms, 14 suites
--
A country inn adjacent to the Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area
and the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club.
The only obstacle in Lake Worth are elected officials who are "sell-outs" and who will not recognize the value of staying a low-rise city and who are convinced by special interest friends that we need to grow vertically for the tax base.
Lynn Love the pic's, but how much square footage is there in either of these Hotels, looks like much more than one or two of OUR 50 X 135 foot lots.
ReplyDeleteIt is too bad that the uniqueness of Lake Worth is the first thing cast aside by the agenda driven opponents of compatible development.
ReplyDeleteWe have a closed hotel that nobody wants to operate unless the room sg footage is doubled. Our Commission dragged out the last attempt to expand the hotel so long that the market changed and the owner stopped its efforts.
Now we have people who never built anything, much less operated anything, proclaiming that if they can't expand with 45 ft height limits then they shouldn't be operating hotels.
Hopefully we will get more productive leadership in the city that doesn't result in greater declines in a down market and fewer gains in an up market.
As far as The Gulfstream is concerned, the owner over-paid. He then got caught in the national recession. He had already over-extended himself. It was a bad business decision and property values declined over many years. What the hold-up here is the amount of the foreclosed property's mortgage. Banks have been less than cooperative to work with.
ReplyDeleteThe expansion efforts of this past owner were not approved by many of the people and they were challenged in-spite of a P&Z that approved everything even to the detriment of the nearby residents and properties. Residents must be considered and have important input. This is not about 3 people on the dais wanting to change our city forever.
I am sure that you are a development expert and that we, because we have never developed anything, just don't have the where with all to think it through or even know what is desirable.
And I agree with you--a change of leadership is just what the doctor will order.
Gulfstream Hotel Sq.ftge.: 65,456
ReplyDeleteon 0.54 acre.
Adam Schlesinger.had the entire building gutted ,reducing its' value from his purchase price of
$12,910,000 to approx. $2,650,000.-
This gives Lake Worth the opportunity to acquire it. Your brain power Commission should know how! I do.
We like to do something which benefits ALL Citizens,without hysterical melo-dramatics at City Hall and for performing melodrama declared hero by a primitive,know nothing,no manners, element!
The Casa Madrona looks like a mini Lucerne building. It is right on the sidewalk, a concrete box, and blocks out the sky. Why would we want that in Lake Worth? We need something that has the flavor of Lake Worth.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, we get a commenter who just flat misses the point. Thanks for your astuteness, anonymous at 10:17.
ReplyDeleteThe Historically designated Gulf Stream Hotel sits on a 2.5 acre site.
ReplyDeleteOther than the anti growth of any kind for any use group, the only other 2-3 objectors to the proposed addition to the Gulf Stream were condo owners to the south who would lose the free parking for their underparked condo building.
None of the surrounding 6 and 7 story condo buildings had any objectors.
Well, of course, you are over exagerrating/lying once again and being offensive--something you developer types do with gusto. NO one that I know is anti-growth. Your right in this democracy to say so I suppose.
ReplyDeleteEveryone involved in The Gulfstream Hotel screwed up starting the moment Schlesinger bought it. Wrong buyer. Wrong timing.
Sausilito Californis, Williamsburg Virginia, Lake Worth Florida. Great comparisons. I can see the family of 5 deciding where they want to go on vacation. Historical Sausilito, world renowned Williamsburg?
ReplyDeleteNo wait let's go to Lake Worth. They don't have any buildings over 35 feet. And kayaking. And an RO plant. And a new beach building the taxpayers are going to have to subsidize.
How do you guys get through the day?
Your sarcasm is overwhelming and your total lack of depth on this blog subject is even more so.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you answer his question? Where are they going to choose to go?
ReplyDeleteIt was answered. Re-read.
ReplyDeleteMy question was answered? Where? How? By who?
ReplyDeleteYou answered my question the same way you answered a previous question about the Casa Madrona looking exactly like the Lucerne. You can't.
I know you and Dee are always seeing tons of tourists and lots of new home buyers flocking to Lake Worth because it's a low rise city but like that kid in The Sixth Sense, you're seeing ghosts.
Most importantly you didn't answer my question about how in the hell do you get through the day?
I get through the day with absolutely NO problems. Thanks for asking.
ReplyDeleteI did not answer your question because it was dumb and all you want to do is argue and get your way.
I never said the 4 story hotel in Sausalito looked exactly like The Lucerne. This was to depict a 4 story hotel. Do you possibly get that? There is not much that looks like the Lucerne. That is unique, especially in our downtown.
Using that argument now is the same as using the graphic argument that has been explained over and over again. You don't want to listen.