The Gulfstream property and Hudson Holdings

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Let me say this right from the start--I want this hotel to re-open. I don't know why Hudson Holdings never started to renovate it after nearly two years of purchase. They promised that would be done within nine months of closing on it. They bought it but let it sit idle going to slum, blight and rats. Then they came up with a scheme to build on the vacant property and it was all put on hold.

Last night, all the big-wigs with Hudson Holdings were in the room:  Steven Michael, John Szerdi, Bonnie Miskel of Dunay, Miskel and Backman, land-use attorney, who gave another long presentation to the Historic Resource Preservation Board. She represents Hudson well and frequently reminded everyone that they are building per our code and law. There was Timothy Graviss with JRA Architects out of Louisville, Kentucky. And we can't forget Wes Blackman who spoke as a private citizen not revealing that he does or did work for Hudson Holdings.

Darrin Engel recused himself at the beginning of the meeting.  He works for REG Architects and now REG is part of the Hudson Holdings team.  If you recall, the night before at city hall, Morganti threw REG under the bus for bad specs at the casino building.

Our issue of the charter amendment was not considered but it is not the job of this Board to consider it.  Their only duty was to consider the plans before them and they spent hours on the most important issue that has ever come before them or even this city. I still feel it was way too rushed last night for this Board to consider it all and should have been done in segments.

One thing that is certain, all those private residences surrounding the Gulfstream property will live in hell down the road. The traffic will be a nightmare on Lake Avenue, South Lakeside Drive, 1st Avenue South and Golfview Road.  The Board asked for a Traffic Management Plan six months after the place is built. The noise--forget about it.  And the parking?  Well, it will be a nightmare too and it was even suggested that Hudson could make the parking garage higher. Right now it will hold three levels of cars. Last night Hudson Holdings, before even any approval for anything, asked for three different waivers on setbacks and got them approved. We can expect more of this.

The original historic hotel building was not talked about and more than likely it could be on the demolition block down the road. Building new is the most cost effective method. The new hotel (they call it the Annex because no one is even sure that they will build this for a hotel) will look different than the original and not look like a part of the Gulfstream Hotel at all. Their architect said it was a Spanish Mission Revival style. Even the setback from Lake Avenue is recessed. With the design, it could be a separate property down the road or a separate use. It will even have its own address on S. Lakeside Drive.

With this tremendous intrusion in the residential neighborhood that surrounds this property on all four sides, residents' lives will change forever and their quality of life will be altered. They are still talking about a rooftop bar on top of the Gulfstream with closing hours at 11pm. Sound travels and this will effect the city for multi-blocks. Lynda Mahoney, one of the petitioners in the lawsuit, reminded the board that closing hours at Bryant Park are 10pm. That did not faze the board and probably not part of their job.

Basically, the property will consist of 174 rooms (remember their attorney said they only needed 120 rooms to be profitable) with parking for 145 cars. Where will staff park? Hudson says they will create 300 jobs.  If the hotel is full, where will their patrons park?  Wes Blackman suggested letting them take over parking at our beach.

Hudson's Steven Michael mentioned again that it would be a Curio hotel using the Hilton's booking system and they would retain the name of the Gulfstream.  I would suppose that Hilton is not yet officially involved with this property until Hudson can prove to them that all their requests, plans, and waivers are in order. No one has seen evidence of Hilton's involvement.

Click here for channel 5's segment on the Gulfstream Hotel. To reiterate my statement of last night, there is not one person in this city who does not want to see this iconic hotel refurbished, renovated and opened again in spite of what a few citizens want to believe. We would ask that Hudson Holdings build the new Annex within the Charter Amendment height of 45 feet.