Saturday, February 21, 2015

"You have to know what you're talking about," says Commissioner John Szerdi the architect

Comment Up

When the lawsuit was filed in June 2009, the EcoCentre was one of the first projects in South Florida seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. From where were they seeking it?  The U.S. Green Building Council. They told us that the Eco Centre was the first "green" building to face foreclosure and it happened right here in Lake Worth. Read the article... and then let's talk.

Szerdi is the commissioner pushing for the U.S. Green Building Council to now have FREE space at our city hall. So, Commissioner Szerdi already had a relationship with the USGBC, something he did not reveal at the February 17th commission meeting.  Therefore, it is not unusual that they contacted Szerdi (before they would contact any other commissioner like McVoy) to once again get their foot in the door in Lake Worth. Most people know who their friends are.

John Szerdi was the architect for Lake Worth's one and only "green" building. The owner of this building before it experienced financial woes, John F. Romano, gave John Szerdi $1,000 for his re-election campaign.

Green is the new Red in more ways than one.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

In szerdi's mind, half the city is out of its mind and he knows best. Anyone downtown today? Crazy.

Anonymous said...

McVoy is to busy with Sea Level rise to be worried about what is, and is not green.

Lynn Anderson said...

Szerdi is VERY INVOLVED in sea level rise. He recently went to a conference on it in Miami. He is trying to bring the Green Council here.

Weetha Peebull said...



History repeating itself?

"The U.S. Green Building Council’s South Florida chapter, which had its office in the building free of charge, had offered Romano free advertising and an “inner circle” sponsorship level in exchange, said Lee Cooke, executive director of the chapter."

Anonymous said...

Ya. Who wants innovative thinking in Lake Worth anyway. You like to point out now how it went through "financial woes" somehow trying to tie this into Szerdi. Inuendo I think it's called. You not too long ago gushed about that world renowned "green" building until you found out how tall it is, even though its size is appropriate for where it is.

Was at Street Painting Festival all day Saturday. Saw Mayor Triolo helping out, saw Commissioner Maxwell helping out, saw Commissioner John Szerdi helping out. Saw tens of thousands of happy people loving Lake Worth.

Maybe Commissioner McVoy was there helping out, but I didn't see him. Did you?

Lynn Anderson said...

Well, I didn't see you. Maybe you were there "helping" out. I would rather expect Commissioner McVoy out campaigning.

You can read into whatever you wish, anonymous. Note I was kind and didn't use the word "foreclosure." Not sure if that building ever did get LEED certification...would have to look it up.

And I never GUSH about anything...not my style.

Anonymous said...

Unelected Commission member Szerdi is tied into the sleazy underbelly of Lake Worth politics and was given a seat on Lake Worth's gravy train when he was allowed to design and, of course, be paid for the unimaginative, square box, south half of the Casino building and that ridiculously oversized toilet that defaces the south end of the view of the Atlantic.
1000 Lake Avenue, South Florida's first GREEN FORECLOSURE is the appropriate place for free office space to be given to the USGBC.
This building was, by the way, seen be the Treasure Coast group as inappropriate for the area, lacking in style, too tall and boxy, and without setbacks and recesses of higher floors, in violation of our building codes.

The work on the building and lot south of this box was never completed and has been an eyesore for years, comparable to the property of the other passenger on the gravy train, Greg Rice.
I wonder why neither of them has been cited by the Code Enforcement Department.

Unelected Commission member Szerdi will of course tout his great achievements at the beach and his green building as exemplary and reasons to re-elect this pompous, arrogant author of the $63,000,00.00 bond including $800,000.00 for him to spend without Commission approval.

Anonymous said...

How can someone blame the architect for a building that went into foreclosure? I actually lost my house to foreclosure, but I don't recall the architect who designed it having any fault. The bank, maybe; the economy, definitely; me for borrowing too much, absolutely. I know taking personal responsibility for your own failures is now un-American, so call me un-American. In fact, I don't have any clue who the architect was and can't imagine why that would matter. Seems like quite a stretch to connect the two, but I suppose when you are looking for conspiracies, they happen to be everywhere. Now that's the new America - anyone who succeeds must have done so illicitly, right?

Anonymous said...

The author of post at 9:41 has a very familiar style and chooses specific wording. Reads just like the same person who writes maiers' talking points and speeches.

Anonymous said...

I have nothing to do with Ryan Maier's talking points and speeches.

I oppose unelected Commission member Szerdi because he tried to take $800,000.00 of taxpayer money to spend on anything or anyone he chose in his district, a perfect recipe for graft and kickbacks. He campaigned to force a $63,000,000.00 bond on all Lake Worth citizens to put us in totally unnecessary debt.
We need a new Commissioner, Ryan Maier, who will work within the budget to gradually repair and replace what is needed.
Years ago Paul Boyer created a map of red roads that were most in need of replacement.
This is what is necessary, not what this present Commission recommended last August 26th when those who would have been paying for it were out of town.