We already went round and round about this several years ago with the Astros and Nationals but Commissioner Maxwell who represents this neighborhood doesn't give a flying fig. He loves secrecy and intrigue and the hell with his neighbors. It's still, with him, all about the possibility that some $$$ might trickle to Lake Worth from all of this. Just another one of his Field of Dreams. But what he is not considering, as it is not a priority, is the total ruination of a neighborhood.
This is posted as a reminder of the last behind the scenes discussions to screw this neighborhood and a beautiful Palm Beach County park that is deed restricted. Gosh, how soon everyone forgets.
Apparently a telephone survey went out yesterday on this. I have no details on it or who instigated it.
The PB Post said that there was a meeting on "Tuesday night at CityPlace that included officials from Lake Worth, Greenacres and the Economic Council of Palm Beach County, an influential group of business leaders that was a driving force behind the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches." Tuesday night is a curious date as Scott Maxwell was in a city commission meeting on Tuesday. At the end of the meeting when the city manager was asked if he had anything to report, he responded "no."
Palm Beach County is concerned about--"how to pay for the facility, which the Braves want to build in John Prince Park just west of Lake Worth. It could cost up to $100 million."
Besides fat cat Republicans, that's probably where a lot of that money came from. Hudson Holdings and baseball league investors.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little confused about you are blaming this on Comm Maxwell. I read the PB Post article too. The land is not owned by LW, LW commission has no say so on whether it occurs or not, and the baseball people are meeting with the County Commissioners, who seem to be in favor of the project. Personally, I'm against it, I believe we are over-developed already and need more open space, but am bothered by your attempt to place blame on Mr. Maxwell. No chance you are engaging in the dreaded "deceit" that you accuse anyone who doesn't agree with you, right?
ReplyDeleteIt was already reported that Scott Maxwell and Mike Bornstein were attending this meeting.
ReplyDeleteSo, don't get too disturbed...just check the facts. Thanks.
the link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/atlanta-braves-to-meet-with-local-officials-about-/nqqDz/
if you build it ..they will come...
ReplyDeleteI'm ready for the Braves to play spring ball at John Prince Park. Way better than letting the homeless set up tents and an encampment. At least spring training brings some jobs with it... The homeless don't.
ReplyDeleteSurely you jest, anony at 8:24. Scott is right in the middle of this nasty drive just like he was the last time. He is owned by developers now.
ReplyDeleteDisappointed in the Post's coverage of this issue. No mention of the fact that this park is deed restricted, no mention of traffic issues on 6th ave so., no mention of negative neighborhood impact.
ReplyDeleteI love the numbers batted around $100 millions to build, which a huge chunk would come from tax payers with a supposed $100 million in economic benefit (which of course can't really ever be tracked). So its $100 million in public money transfer to private interests. So dumb, these stadiums never pay off.
I agree with another poster, why is Maxwell and the CM of the City of Lake Worth attending these meetings when it doesn't involve the City or the City's interests??
ReplyDeleteOh my, can't believe you are asking the same naive question. You must have voted for Maxwell. Ask him. On second thought, don't ask him, he would only lie. Why did Greenacres attend? Why did Atlantis attend? The only people who were not invited to attend are those who it will affect the most. Residents of Lake Osborne and all country roads leading from Interstate I-95. What a mess.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about it. It won't happen. Mark Parrilla and Wes Blackman can go back to wondering why anyone should have a different opinion and continue on with their BS.
@10:46. I said why in the body of this blog. It's all that simple. He is for development at any cost as he believes that the city of Lake Worth will benefit from it all. Of course, he will sacrifice an entire neighborhood to do it.
ReplyDeleteJupiter's Abacoa certainly isn't complaining! The place is alive with entertainer at the amphitheater, restaurants and shops are hopping and the new'ish brewery is a hit.
ReplyDeleteSpring training lasts 6 weeks and the stadium rather small, I think it seats 3000 people and and they have ample free parking.
The the rest of the year the ball fields are home to Tommy Hutton Baseball camp for the kids. My boys loved it and being able to see major leaguers up close and personal.
Ok my bad, just looked it up, capacity of Roger Dean Stadium is 6871 and cost $28m to build in 1997- $40m in 2016 dollars
ReplyDeleteParking is not free game days, they charge $10 or $6 for parking, plus businesses might be fine when they play for a month, but after that they close up most of the time, Abacoa is not doing that great year round. I don't think the people that live close the the stadium like what is going on there at all, too much development there now and too much traffic, it is horrible. Politicians and big business control everything though, they do not care what the public wants at all.
ReplyDelete" Anonymous said...
Jupiter's Abacoa certainly isn't complaining! The place is alive with entertainer at the amphitheater, restaurants and shops are hopping and the new'ish brewery is a hit.
Spring training lasts 6 weeks and the stadium rather small, I think it seats 3000 people and and they have ample free parking.
The the rest of the year the ball fields are home to Tommy Hutton Baseball camp for the kids. My boys loved it and being able to see major leaguers up close and personal.
March 24, 2016 at 12:16 PM"
Abacoa is not standing on a public park that was destroyed for it. Residents moving in made THE CHOICE to move near a stadium. I'll say it again-Residents had A CHOICE to live near a baseball stadium. NEVER in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be living in the shadow of a friggin Baseball stadium!!! I was thrilled to be able to move near a beautiful public park! Katie Mcgiveron
ReplyDeleteKatie, I know where you live and you don't live in the shadows of John Prince Park, quit being do melodramatic.
DeleteMeeting could have been somewhere other than a steakhouse but some can be persuaded with merely a meal! Disgusting that they couldn't have this in a meeting place instead of a steakhouse. Who paid the bill???? Other than that big question, we the tax payors are going to pay the final bill. I hope the greedy County Commissioners wake up and see this is NOT the place for a ballpark! This is for greenspace. Why don't they build it in Belle Glade, where they really need the monies and tourism????? They have lots of property out there.
ReplyDeleteBecause no one wants to drive 45 minutes west to get to Belle Glade, not even big sugar could make that happen
DeleteAbocoa was a planned community, the stadium was part of that community from the beginning with traffic studies, road and infrastructure built out to accommodate the stadium and traffic, parking, etc.
ReplyDeleteThe WPB stadium is being build on a former landfill not park land. Don't know whether they did any traffic studies. The $135 million WPB stadium is already above budget at $145 million, add in interest over the course of the bond and it will cost $233 million. $115 million from County tax payers and $50 million from state coffers (also tax money). Crazy stuff, I'd much prefer my tax dollars going to services that benefit tax payers and not richie rich ball club owners. Things like schools, roads, services for residents.
If you know where Katie lives than you know she is one/half block from JPP. This is about her neighborhood, not about her.
ReplyDelete