Letters to the EditorPalm Beach Post
December 13, 2015
Gulfstream Hotel Likely to be Razed
Your editorial “Iconic Lake Worth hotel essential for economic revival” states that Hudson Holdings “makes a business of turning historic buildings into hotels across the U.S.” But there is no evidence of Hudson Holdings ever renovating any building. They have made acquisitions, but no renovations.
Is it not rather obvious that Hudson Holdings is, in fact, a holding company? Once our City Commission up-zones the parcels in the neighborhood adjacent to the Gulfstream Hotel from residential to commercial, Hudson stands a better chance of flipping the property to a real developer.
Anyone under the impression that the “historical” designation protects the hotel from demolition is mistaken. The historic preservation supervisor at the Florida Department of State has confirmed that the property owner can legally demolish the hotel.
We need a dose of reality in this city, and apparently so does The Post Editorial Board. The Gulfstream has never been a viable enterprise and, sadly, probably never will be. This would explain why Hudson Holdings has done nothing up to this point but demolish part of the building. I think we are going to be very disappointed when the real developers show up.
LAUREL DECKER
LAKE WORTH
16 comments:
Thank you ,Laurel. What in the hell is wrong with the Palm Beach Post? Are they such whores for developer's advertising in their paper that they cannot or will not run an honest story about the Gulfstream hotel?
The Post newspaper has a duty to report the TRUTH,not what Lake Worth city manager Michael Bornstein has fed them. That involves some real investigation on the part of the Post "journalists".
Unfortunately ,there don't appear to be any journalists employed by the Palm Beach Post.
Maybe it is just me, but there seems to be a real disconnect in logic in Laurel's opinion. As submitted evidence in the zoning request, the iconic building was built in the same period and similar style as what is now the Breakers Hotel on Palm Beach and what is now the Boca Hotel and Club in Boca Raton. Both historic properties appear to be viable enterprises but only because they have been improved upon over the years.
Also what process does she consider available to any developer that would demolish that building? Could you imagine someone even suggesting tearing it down. They would need to come up with hefty proof that the building is falling down, which it isn't.
So you are left with the last point which is that the current owner plans to flip the property. That somehow, aligning the property zoning with its designation in our future land use map showing it to be in a Downtown Mixed Use zone increases its intrinsic value to another developer? And even if so, so what? Lake Worth still gets a sorely needed hotel in our hotel district so what's the downside? That Hudson Holdings makes a profit on its investment? The former owner did nothing to the property in at least a decade. At least HH is starting the process by which improvements can begin.
Should you come out and protest the nose bleed, 5 story height suggested for the Western hotel addition once the site plan is submitted for approval? Hell ya. Start a lawsuit. Delay, delay, delay. But the land the proposed new hotel would be built on is already zoned DT/MU. (Which allows 65' high only for a hotel of 50 rooms or more) It is only the remaining properties which are needed for the parking structure that need to change from residential zoning because you obviously can't build a parking structure in a residential zone.
At 11:45, yes, there is a disconnect as you need to disclose that you are working for Hudson Holdings.
The former owner went through all of these political hoops back then and it even brought on a lawsuit. This is not about just this one property with 7 parcels. It is all the property on those two blocks or so that are zoned MF-30 that will change if an owner requests it and everyone will be building to 65 feet against the charter amendment. In my opinion, this is contract zoning and therefore illegal. Our zoning and comp plan and future maps were all done by ordinance by this commission. So where do you think it is all cut in stone? Everything is subject to change unless clearly spelled out in the Charter.
So, Hudson Holdings needs to stop this delay. The city needs to stop unless, of course, they just like jerking around voters and possible lawsuits.
P.S. The election results stand and tell your boss to build to 45 feet.
Hi Lynn, I thought you would probably post my letter. In response to the anonymous post questioning my logic:
I was merely stating facts in my letter, because they are so often lost in our emotional frothiness over drinks on the veranda and dancing under the stars.
Hudson has never renovated a building, even you are careful to use the vague phrase "starting the process by which improvements can begin". You as much as admit that your boss will flip the property, and believe me, I don't care. Just stating the obvious. You are the ones delaying delaying delaying here, not a lawsuit.
Proof that a building is falling down has never been necessary for demolition in Lake Worth. For example: the city allowed a beautifully restored former church to be demolished (code enforcement harassed the owner until she shut down her flourishing DT business and sold to developers) so we could have townhomes instead. Sounds like you're not a local.
Thank you for comparing the Gulfstream to the Breakers and Boca Hotel & Club. That's refreshing, since the mayor usually compares us to Pahokee and Belle Glade.
Prior to this commission's future land use map amendments in 2013, the parcels on Lakeside were limited to residential land use high density with 40' height limits, not commercial with 65' limits as we have today. Prior leadership felt strongly about discouraging commercial activity in residential neighborhoods. A condo would have had parking integral to the building, not a parking garage. Thankfully, you're right. Parking garages are not allowed in residential zoning. Solution? Re-zone, thank you very much!
And . . . could you imagine someone even suggesting tearing down the Gulfstream? Why, yes I could. Can you imagine someone suggesting a 75,000 sf convention center and private beach club on our public beach property?? Like I always say . . . anything can happen!
Didn't the huge A-Holes at Hudson Holdings know what the zoning was when they bought the property? How stupid are they? This is indeed contact zoning.
Iconic is a gross exaggeration for that sad property in a dreary location.
I actually don't mine the zoning change for this property if it gets the Gulfstream renovated and reopened, but sadly I generally agree that HH has been an awful "partner" to the City. Besides doing nothing to renovate the property, they actually have done the opposite, let the property fall into repair, fail to secure it, fail to keep the property neat and clean and safe. They actually are nothing more than a slum lord. And, looking at many of their properties along S. Federal in Lake Worth you see the same.
I expect they will flip and I expect the new developer to demolish by permission or demolish by neglect.
Now there's something wrong with the location? It's right across from the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean can be seen from the top floor.
No Lynn. There is something wrong with the narrative being put out about how some shadowy figure will want to pay $6 million for a historic landmark just to knock it down. Then when I draw the obvious problem with the logic, I'm an employee of HH. Again, even if I were, so what?
Why is Laurel pushing the odd idea of demolishing the building? I have not heard anyone else even hinting that it is a possibility. It is absurd.
What exactly is "absurd" about it? We know it would be cheaper to build new and up to all our present codes.
But, thanks for your opinion.
If you are not taking care of a historic building from the 1920s then its not at all odd for people to speculate that building will be torn down. Just look around at tall the 20s and 30s structures that have been demolished here in the City in the last 10 years (due to neglect, open to elements, etc.).
HH isn't doing much to keep the building secure from the elements or critters (animal and human).
Well, you know it's election time when Laurel Decker starts showing up. Haven't seen or heard from her once since the last election, now all of a sudden she the expert on historic landmarks and oh so concerned for lw. Just another political panderer using lw as an easy victim for political misdirection and misinformation, same as the rest of them. She's no better than the mayor, just happens to disagree with her on everything, but they are cut from the same mold. Go get 'em laurel, let's put Rachel Waterman back in office
Take a walk in Bryant Park, see the dreariness of dogs and others running off leash, fighting and defecating. Not what it was. Hope it can be redeemed.
Do you go to meetings @3:08? Laurel can be seen there.
Next, yes she is very well informed about historic properties and she is very concerned about Lake Worth. That is why she did a Charter Amendment on heights. She, along with John Pickett, are also helping the CM on the beach asset. She is a CPA and very smart. She is definitely not a political panderer, whatever that means. She stands up for what she believes is right and spends her own money standing up for those beliefs.
Watch your crass comments here.
Ya, 3:08. Besides, Laurel really knows how to save a historic structure as evidenced with the historic casino building. Thanks to her efforts, the building was saved and the upstairs restaurant was restored to its original splendor. Additionally, she was able to increase parking AND green space with a well lit parking area. Now, as residents, we can also park in not one, but two areas designated for residents only with only a few short steps to the sand and water. So if Laurel says a building is coming down, stand clear.
Hi, political panderer here, just checking back in on the progress to renovate our glorious historic landmark hotel. The Commission has approved ALL up-zoning and the CRA has generously given the poor little developers $12 million of your tax dollars.
Hmmm, it only gets 3 stars on Booked.net. Are we ready to have drinks on the veranda while the breeze wafts through our hair and the piano tinkles in the background?
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