I hope that many of you will be able to attend this meeting to find out how this project will benefit Lake Worth. I certainly am curious.
$5.8 million spent on 6th Avenue South by the CRA that is STILL paying for the improvements that were to attract development. (The CRA still likes to brag that it was under budget on this Gateway) Instead, the CRA poured more money into this piece of land for a developer to build rentals on the railroad tracks. The NSP2 was burning a hole in their pockets.
It certainly is curious as to why the commission doesn't say anything about this development that encourages slum and blight but want more high rises in our city that only make developers wealthy like La Joya. politics. The CRA can't do any wrong.
Just what did you expect to be built next to th RR tracks in one of our higher crime areas in LW where the RE Taxes and Utility costs are higher than neighboring communities? BTW--traffic counts on that end of 6th Ave South aren't high enough to support fast food-national coffee shops. Just how quaint can you make a vacant lot along the RR tracks in LW?
Hello, many nice apartments in Delray beach next to railroad tracks, not problem. Lake Worth is Lake Worth, it not Palm Beach, not Boca Raton, not Delray Beach. Lake Worth is closer to a Riviera Beach, Belle Glade. Parts Lake Worth is for low income people, senior citizen, first home buyers. The Towers is for low income seniors, not for seniors who live in the Carlyle on Palm Beach who have moneys. Low income not mean low lifes becouse some with money are low life.
I will say East of Dixie have not look better in 30 year I come here. Now west of Dixie getting better with homes remodled by NSP2 for lower income families is wonderful. I see progress daily, the future is good.
I hope you do attend the informational session which is designed to get your input into the features of the La Joya Village complex.
Yes this was NSP-2 money from the federal govt that could only be spent on residential affordable housing. That's it.
We were fortunately to be able to design a small commercial component into the project. That will be explained at the informational session.
The CRA board could have rejected all presentations and left the lot vacant. They could not have made it into a park, dog or otherwise. Not with NSP-2 funds.
La Joya was chosen over a competing design for several reasons.
While being operated by a non-profit, the developer could have opted to be tax exempt but stipulated he would not seek that exemption. Therefore we have a multi-million dollar project that will be paying into the services it will use for the assessed value.
If now you hear that "the CRA will get all that tax revenue", consider this: The city will receive tax revenue that property was generating at the time of the base line when the CRA was created. At that time this property was generating taxes based on Light Industrial Improved land. The county was also receiving tax dollars based on the same land use.
As a vacant, un-improved lot, the tax revenue is very little and greatly diminished since it was demolished.
So, after this property is returned to the tax rolls, the city will receive more tax revenue than it receives now, plus permit and associated fees, utility fees, jobs and decent affordable housing unlike what now exists in that area.
The owner of the project will have on-site management offices and maintenance to keep the outward appearance of the property a benefit to the area.
The 2 and 3 bedroom town house styled apartments will be energy efficient to keep the utilities as low for the families as possible, which is an important issue here in Lake Worth.
The project will recycle rain water for a community garden and "living wall" which is an innovative way to deal with its location next to the rr tracks.
It will have a splash park for the kids that live there also utilizing the recycled rain water.
At least this money is being spent in Lake Worth, in an area that could use a facelift. The jobs it will sustain during construction and afterward need to stay here. Is it perfect? I guess not. But it is a big improvement over what is there now and was there before.
Hey Chris--how come you sound like you just got off the boat. You like it so much, you rent next to the rail road tracks. Come back and tell us about it later. The NSP2 has not made ONE dent in the slum and blight and what they have built has yet to be proven in that area.
Once our economy turns around, things will get better. In the meantime, developers have the entire Dixie corridor to build. Get going. Whats stopping you? Heights?
@ 10:34. Are you really trying to convince us that you made a great decision with government grant money? Forget about it. I will try and show up for meeting to find out why in hell we want more stuff being built like this. You want this city to rise up and be prosperous and this is what you do. Good thing they are having onsite mge because they will be lucky to collect rents. What a joke.
The developer has also reached out to Genesis Neighborhood Association and they have offered a place for us to have our meetings and community events. Realtex is also sensitive to our desire to court artist to the extent of preliminary planning for a community art studio. They are requesting community involvement to further insure its success. People do some research on some of the other developments Realtex has done and their amazing track record for RESPONSIBLE management and receptivness to surrounding community involvement to assure that their sites do not become cespools. Can we please at least come into this with an open mind. I will be the first to say darn I was wrong you guys told me so but until then if enough of us go into this with the determination to NOT ALLOW this development be a failure I think we all have what it takes to be responsible for the success of what definitely has the possiblity to be a great long overdue asset to the Genesis neighborhood. Hope to see you all on Wednesday.
This inappropriate architectural style reminds me of the art lofts before the P&Z Board suggested changes that the architect made and turned them from gloomy garden apartments into the appropriate commercial looking spaces you see being built. Where is the step-back for the 3rd floor that is being promised for all new projects? A few crumbs like a community room does not make it a good project.
You first have to admit that this developer's goal is to make money. Once you start with that premise, then everything else falls into place. The next premise you have to admit to is that the cra had to spend the money. Next, the dog park idea was a good one. Who said that the cra had to use nsp grant money for it? We need a dog park and this would have been a good thing for our city. The cra has convinced itself now that this project of rentals is a good thing. No rational person alive would agree. It's just another sham on our city and the poor. Let's stick the poor slobs on the railroad tracks and then justify it by saying it is luxurious.
The compassion expressed by some here is overwhelmingly heartwarming. A dog park? Really? Does anyone who suggested the ridiculous idea ever actually go to a dog park? Have you ever seen one near a major thourough fare or railroad tracks or right in the backyard of a residential area? I guess the fact that maybe some human beings, regardless of where they came from, will not sleep piled up 10 to a one bedroom the way so many of the low income residents do now. I see that means absolutely nothing to those who never have anything constructive or positive to contribute. Newsflash 2/11/13 1:07 everybody's goal in business is to make money even nonprofits because without it they couldn't operate. Even religions are all about making money spending nearly 400 billion a year lobbying our government.
Well, thanks for calling the idea 'ridiculous," anonymous. And yes, I have been to a dog park having been a dog lover and owner for 40 years. I take it you like cats.
I hope that many of you will be able to attend this meeting to find out how this project will benefit Lake Worth. I certainly am curious.
ReplyDelete$5.8 million spent on 6th Avenue South by the CRA that is STILL paying for the improvements that were to attract development. (The CRA still likes to brag that it was under budget on this Gateway) Instead, the CRA poured more money into this piece of land for a developer to build rentals on the railroad tracks. The NSP2 was burning a hole in their pockets.
It certainly is curious as to why the commission doesn't say anything about this development that encourages slum and blight but want more high rises in our city that only make developers wealthy like La Joya. politics. The CRA can't do any wrong.
ReplyDeleteJust what did you expect to be built next to th RR tracks in one of our higher crime areas in LW where the RE Taxes and Utility costs are higher than neighboring communities?
ReplyDeleteBTW--traffic counts on that end of 6th Ave South aren't high enough to support fast food-national coffee shops.
Just how quaint can you make a vacant lot along the RR tracks in LW?
Wasn't this proposed before with Commissioner Szerdi as the architect?
ReplyDeleteWhat about the CRA making it into a dog park? NO, it was about them spending millions to get rid of government FREE money to attract what??????????
ReplyDeleteHello, many nice apartments in Delray beach next to railroad tracks, not problem. Lake Worth is Lake Worth, it not Palm Beach, not Boca Raton, not Delray Beach. Lake Worth is closer to a Riviera Beach, Belle Glade. Parts Lake Worth is for low income people, senior citizen, first home buyers. The Towers is for low income seniors, not for seniors who live in the Carlyle on Palm Beach who have moneys. Low income not mean low lifes becouse some with money are low life.
ReplyDeleteI will say East of Dixie have not look better in 30 year I come here. Now west of Dixie getting better with homes remodled by NSP2 for lower income families is wonderful. I see progress daily, the future is good.
Polish Chris
I hope you do attend the informational session which is designed to get your input into the features of the La Joya Village complex.
ReplyDeleteYes this was NSP-2 money from the federal govt that could only be spent on residential affordable housing. That's it.
We were fortunately to be able to design a small commercial component into the project. That will be explained at the informational session.
The CRA board could have rejected all presentations and left the lot vacant. They could not have made it into a park, dog or otherwise. Not with NSP-2 funds.
La Joya was chosen over a competing design for several reasons.
While being operated by a non-profit, the developer could have opted to be tax exempt but stipulated he would not seek that exemption. Therefore we have a multi-million dollar project that will be paying into the services it will use for the assessed value.
If now you hear that "the CRA will get all that tax revenue", consider this: The city will receive tax revenue that property was generating at the time of the base line when the CRA was created. At that time this property was generating taxes based on Light Industrial Improved land. The county was also receiving tax dollars based on the same land use.
As a vacant, un-improved lot, the tax revenue is very little and greatly diminished since it was demolished.
So, after this property is returned to the tax rolls, the city will receive more tax revenue than it receives now, plus permit and associated fees, utility fees, jobs and decent affordable housing unlike what now exists in that area.
The owner of the project will have on-site management offices and maintenance to keep the outward appearance of the property a benefit to the area.
The 2 and 3 bedroom town house styled apartments will be energy efficient to keep the utilities as low for the families as possible, which is an important issue here in Lake Worth.
The project will recycle rain water for a community garden and "living wall" which is an innovative way to deal with its location next to the rr tracks.
It will have a splash park for the kids that live there also utilizing the recycled rain water.
At least this money is being spent in Lake Worth, in an area that could use a facelift. The jobs it will sustain during construction and afterward need to stay here. Is it perfect? I guess not. But it is a big improvement over what is there now and was there before.
Chip Guthrie, member
Lake Worth CRA
Hey Chris--how come you sound like you just got off the boat. You like it so much, you rent next to the rail road tracks. Come back and tell us about it later. The NSP2 has not made ONE dent in the slum and blight and what they have built has yet to be proven in that area.
ReplyDeleteOnce our economy turns around, things will get better. In the meantime, developers have the entire Dixie corridor to build. Get going. Whats stopping you? Heights?
@ 10:34. Are you really trying to convince us that you made a great decision with government grant money? Forget about it. I will try and show up for meeting to find out why in hell we want more stuff being built like this. You want this city to rise up and be prosperous and this is what you do. Good thing they are having onsite mge because they will be lucky to collect rents. What a joke.
ReplyDeleteThe developer has also reached out to Genesis Neighborhood Association and they have offered a place for us to have our meetings and community events. Realtex is also sensitive to our desire to court artist to the extent of preliminary planning for a community art studio. They are requesting community involvement to further insure its success. People do some research on some of the other developments Realtex has done and their amazing track record for RESPONSIBLE management and receptivness to surrounding community involvement to assure that their sites do not become cespools. Can we please at least come into this with an open mind. I will be the first to say darn I was wrong you guys told me so but until then if enough of us go into this with the determination to NOT ALLOW this development be a failure I think we all have what it takes to be responsible for the success of what definitely has the possiblity to be a great long overdue asset to the Genesis neighborhood. Hope to see you all on Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Mark A. Parrilla
This inappropriate architectural style reminds me of the art lofts before the P&Z Board suggested changes that the architect made and turned them from gloomy garden apartments into the appropriate commercial looking spaces you see being built.
ReplyDeleteWhere is the step-back for the 3rd floor that is being promised for all new projects?
A few crumbs like a community room does not make it a good project.
You first have to admit that this developer's goal is to make money. Once you start with that premise, then everything else falls into place. The next premise you have to admit to is that the cra had to spend the money. Next, the dog park idea was a good one. Who said that the cra had to use nsp grant money for it? We need a dog park and this would have been a good thing for our city. The cra has convinced itself now that this project of rentals is a good thing. No rational person alive would agree. It's just another sham on our city and the poor. Let's stick the poor slobs on the railroad tracks and then justify it by saying it is luxurious.
ReplyDeleteThe compassion expressed by some here is overwhelmingly heartwarming. A dog park? Really? Does anyone who suggested the ridiculous idea ever actually go to a dog park? Have you ever seen one near a major thourough fare or railroad tracks or right in the backyard of a residential area? I guess the fact that maybe some human beings, regardless of where they came from, will not sleep piled up 10 to a one bedroom the way so many of the low income residents do now. I see that means absolutely nothing to those who never have anything constructive or positive to contribute. Newsflash 2/11/13 1:07 everybody's goal in business is to make money even nonprofits because without it they couldn't operate. Even religions are all about making money spending nearly 400 billion a year lobbying our government.
ReplyDeleteS. Collins
Well, thanks for calling the idea 'ridiculous," anonymous. And yes, I have been to a dog park having been a dog lover and owner for 40 years. I take it you like cats.
ReplyDelete