Hudson Holdings - Blowing in the Wind

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They came in droves...all those "gullible" people as John Szerdi would call them but mostly "hopeful" people...hopeful that we would actually find out something from Steve Michael and Hudson Holdings as to what they are doing at the Gulfstream Hotel.  I had suggested that all attend this "important" meeting held at the golf course last night by the Bryant Park Neighborhood Association, but if you attended, you learned nothing new. In fact, what they told us was less than it had ever been.

In May 2014, the hotel was bought by Hudson Holdings for $7,225,000.  When someone pays that much for an historic property you want to believe that their intentions are sincere especially when the city was jerked around by the former owner who allowed the property to sit there and only be used for an illegal banner. Now, as it turns out, it is becoming a place for vagrants and slum.

On September 22, 2014 at the Pineapple Ridge Neighborhood Association meeting, Hudson Holdings' rep, Steve Michael, told us that they planned on renovating it, making the rooms larger, build a parking garage and a "65' building built to code" on the vacant lot that will consist of rooms and apartments and the demolition of the outer buildings would begin in 90 days.  We learned more of their intent at that meeting than we did last night. Last night's meeting was nothing more than PR and blowing in the wind.  Nothing has been done at all on this property and no specific news was shared to the crowd in attendance last night. Once again, it was the big stall...they would begin within 6 to 8 months after they submit design plans that they say will be in 60 days for phase I (the existing hotel renovation) and Phase II (garage and new building addition).

John Szerdi gave a lecture to the crowd but never mentioned that he is an employee of Hudson.  He sounded like he was campaigning. His people were there. Steve Michael said that Hudson wanted to have a "partnership with the community." When asked about his proposal to the City of Lake Worth to expand the beach and its desire to obtain a long-term lease (recently revealed at the meeting they had at the Gulfstream Condos), the question was not answered but we were told that "we don't know if we are going to build at the beach." He then said that there was a cone of silence. Margaret Menge of the Lake Worth Tribune was heckled when she asked Michael about the beach. Commissioner Maier reminded Michael that Hudson Holdings was not under a cone of silence, only the commissioners, and that Michael could share that information with the crowd. Maier got heckled.  The meeting became politically charged and you would have thought you were right in the middle of a campaign or that Szerdi had actually won the election.

Peggy Fisher, a faithful supporter of the present commission majority and resident of Lake Worth, interjected and had to inform the crowd that the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) at our beach property was revealed to the public as early as September 2014...nothing new...no one was hiding anything and implied that we all were aware of it. (No one was aware that Hudson wanted to build a 20,000 s.f conference center). We were told that we could ask questions last night. Nothing was said by the president of the Bryant Park NA that we could stand and give political speeches as did Fisher and Szerdi.

This hotel is being used as leverage to get hold of our beach...pure and simple-- and they had the perfect crowd to give their pitch.  They know how desperate the city is to get a hotel opened.

Jim Walker said that he wanted to be the first one to make a reservation for ten when Hudson opened the restaurant at the Gulfstream.  I'm afraid that he will have a very long wait.