Gulfstream Hotel

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Today, the Editorial Board of the Palm Beach Post wrote Historic Lake Worth Hotel necessary for economic revival.

The Palm Beach Post Editorial board is not telling us anything that we didn't know. However, they forgot to mention one important fact--The Heights Charter Amendment vote that only allows 45 feet in that area. The Post is great with opinions but many times they don't get all of the facts.

I agree with William Waters. It is sad that we don't have even a single 2 star hotel. But whose fault is that? Owners of that property in the past either didn't make a go of it, constantly jerked the city around before City Boards all too willing to give them what they wanted or were subjected to the economic crash. One paid way too much for it. Some got too greedy and got resistance that caused lawsuits.

Hudson Holdings could have started the renovation of the Gulfstream right after they bought it but it has languished since May 2014. Their lack of attention to their property resulted in many code violations. Why would they let a $7,225,000 investment go to slum and blight? A lot of us believe they want to demolish this property. It would be more cost effective to build new. The homeless hung out and some occupied the lower floor. Decay and trash was prevalent and the property became worse. Hudson Holdings got rid of its security guard eons ago. They had no interest in pouring in more money into that property. The object was to make it more valuable so that they could sell or partner with another investor.

Hudson Holdings' partner, Steven Michael says, "The Gulfstream will be flagged as a Curio Hotel, Hilton's ultra-luxury class brand." This was probably his intent and was his intent all along...find a partner or flip the property once upzoning was given and throw in the casino complex if that could have been achieved. Think how valuable his property would become.

If the owners of the Gulfstream really gave one hoot for Lake Worth, they would have proceeded with their original intent as told to us by them--hotel renovation. Instead, that "intent" embraced by all of us in Lake Worth eventually came with veiled threats that included our casino beach complex in order for them to proceed with their upgrade of the hotel property.

We say, renovate the hotel. Stop all the empty promises like "work on the hotel might begin in the Spring" as quoted in today's newspaper.  Build on your vacant lot. BUT, stay at 4 stories to do it. It was already stated by Hudson's attorney that a hotel needed to have 120 rooms for success. Well, with their proposal, it will have 180 rooms. Knock off one floor and everyone will be happy.