Sunday, August 5, 2012

Lake Worth, Florida, a Low Rise city

Comment Up

A REMINDER to all of you who have forgotten--This is how the City of Lake Worth describes itself:

 "Lake Worth is a coastal city of 37,000 residents and 7 square miles, located in Palm Beach County, Florida. The Atlantic Ocean and the broad waters of the Lake Worth lagoon form the city’s eastern boundary. The cities of West Palm Beach and Palm Beach are its northern neighbors. Its location at the latitude where the subtropics of North America begin gives the city its extraordinary climate and landscape.

Lake Worth is a dynamic, multi-cultural city with a strong social and environmental consciousness. People are drawn to the city by its individualistic style, acceptance of different cultures and lifestyles, many historic structures, hip downtown, and distinctive residential neighborhoods. The city has a rich history and is protective of its historic architectural fabric. Over 1,000 historic buildings contribute to the human scale of the city and the charm of its downtown and residential neighborhoods. There are six designated historic districts in the city and a preservation code to protect exterior changes to buildings in those districts.

Lake Worth is one of the few towns in South Florida that has avoided high-rise development and retained its old-Florida flavor. While the city wishes to strengthen its economy, city government officials and residents alike are very committed to maintaining the character of the city, and protecting their town from insensitive development.

The downtown is considered the artistic soul of Lake Worth with an historic theater and museum, live music clubs, coffee houses, art galleries, antique malls, retail stores, and many restaurants.
The city has a broad array of recreational opportunities, including the beach, boating in fresh and saltwater, a municipally-owned golf course and fishing pier, a waterfront amphitheater, and many parks and athletic facilities."

See Virtual Tour

The above description is perfect and exactly how we see our city--not Delray, not Boynton, not Ft.Lauderdale, but Lake Worth, a unique, quaint and low-rise city located near the Atlantic Ocean with its own beach and 18 hole golfcourse, a delightful place for homeowners and tourists alike.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

When was this written? Commissioners seem to have forgotten that they are elected to represent the people of Lake Worth and not the out of town developers that want to profit from it. We should make a charter amendment that prohibits campaign contributions from PAC's and allows only human beings to contribute to our local races.It would also prohibit the Republican and Democratic parties from sticking their noses into what should be LOCAL CITY COMMISSION races.

Anonymous said...

I'm not against smart redevelopment, but the Lucerne and the building on 2nd Ave. North are horrible eyesores that have done nothing to improve our City.

We must vote on building heights, otherwise our elected officials will sell us out like so many others.

Anonymous said...

Now that this commission has voted to raise heights in our downtown, we can expect more 65 foot buildings in the future.

Brett said...

While we may need smart growth and not the entire city filled with skyscrapers, we do need some development, but I am afraid it won't happen as fast as you all think or in our lifetimes. Look at the new nice building they put at Federal between Lucerne and 2nd Ave north, a pretty building, replaced a blighted eyesore, looks great, but cannot even rent out its space or be fully occupied, there just isn't the need or demand yet for this, and it won't happen for a long time, all of this progress is so slow, we get so freaked out by thinking they are going to over develop and building all these tall buildings, it won't happen anytime soon, probably not in our lifetime here in this city, I don't mean to burst bubbles, I just don't see it happening that fast. It hasn't and what was built just is empty. Would love to know how many apts. int he Lucerne are empty?

Anonymous said...

Hey Bret, that nice new building is too tall if that amendment you like passes. These buildings are hurting because the entire city is depressed with low values and 50% or more of our properties paying no taxes. So with all that blight the one thing that Lynn and her friends can come up with is keep all buildings low no matter what the project and no matter what the possible benefit to our city. That will make us prosper. Blame everything on the unions and provide no solutions to our problems. I'm sick of the same old mantra that developers are coming to take us over. How about the reality that we are slowly dieing from within and our short buildings are not keeping us alive.

Lynn Anderson said...

1:29--LMAO...thanks for the humor today. Clean up your yard and get rid of the slum and the blight and perhaps all of us will be able to pay ad valorem once again. :)

Anonymous said...

Isn't it the commission that should be coming up with solutions? Certainly it is not this blogger's to arrive at solutions. The commission's solution is to build higher which is no solution to anything other than higher taxes.

Anonymous said...

But Lynn, you have no blight in Your Little slice of the town, and no one pay's taxes are you CRA area???

Lynn Anderson said...

You are talking about ad valorem taxes again? You sound like a broken record. As mentioned before, we pay plenty of other taxes.

Do us all a favor--Clean up your yards and get rid of the blight and perhaps all of us will be able to get out of the doldrums throughout the neighborhoods that look like a piece of chit for the most part. Bend over and pick up some trash. that would help immensely.

Anonymous said...

What a division in Lake Worth.
Half like that their taxes are down, they want the prices to stay low, low, low - unfortunately that also goes for the downtown as well.
Half want some higher end businesses and venues(not bigger bldgs) to draw people here who will spend money and bolster the economy.
Why can't there be both? The great lower end eateries/businesses can stay just that way (and everybody loves them!) but higher end will draw a crowd that will benefit both sides.
The Gulfstream is so vital to any business plan.
Personally, I would allow a variance for a quality project there. One that is approved and applauded -
Doesn't that make sense?

Lynn Anderson said...

Depending upon what they do there, it could make sense. The Gulfstream got tons of variances and some were not compatible to the neighbors. Everyone counts in this deal, not just the develop4er.

Greg Rice said...

Brett,
FYI, the Lucerne is a condo building. There are 80 residential units and 3 retail units. All the units are owner owned. About half are owner occupied and half are tennant occupied. Average rent is $1,400. Right now there is only 1 unit in foreclosure. When a rental comes available it usually rents in less than 30 days. About half of the apartments are seasonal residets.