Other voices...This from John Rinaldi via FaceBook

Used with permission.

Why did the city commission decide to create a “Hotel District” in the area between Lake and Lucerne east of Federal?

Tourism is the number one industry here in south Florida and without a hotel the city is at a major disadvantage over every other coastal city in our county. Our property values have plummeted and tax revenues cannot sustain the city. As a result our electric bills are the only thing that keeps us from bankruptcy. We are now poorer than Riveria Beach and almost as bad as Belle Glade.

The Gulfstream Hotel will require major renovations and expansion if it ever to sell and reopen. The current hotel exceeds 65 feet in height and any expansion will require that the adjoining property owned by the hotel allow at least the same height for the expansion.

There are only 6 parcels of land in this area of the city that could also be used as a hotel. To encourage any investor to buy one of these parcels we need to allow at least 65’ of height for a hotel to even be considered.

The purpose of creating a “Hotel District” is NOT TO INCREASE THE HEIGHT LIMITS ALL OVER THE CITY. Rather, it is to limit heights on every parcel of land except those 6 that can support a hotel. 

SO WHAT CAN BE BUILT 65 FEET TALL:

THE ONLY STRUCTURE THAT CAN BE BUILT 65 FEET TALL IS A HOTEL. NOTHING ELSE CAN GO UP THAT HIGH! ( No office buildings, nothing else but a hotel.)

THERE ARE ONLY 6 LOTS THAT A HOTEL CAN BE BUILT ON IN THIS DISTRICT. ONCE A HOTEL IS BUILT THE CHANCE OF A SECOND GOING UP IS SLIM TO NONE AS WE CAN’T EVEN GET ONE BUILT AS OF TODAY.

NO SURROUNDING LOTS CAN BE SOLD TO A DEVELOPER AND ADDED TO THE SIX LOTS ALREADY IDENTIFIED AS THE OTHER LOTS ARE PROTECTED AS HISTORIC.

THE COMMISSION HAS LOWERED THE HEIGHT LIMITS IN OUR DOWNTON AREA FROM 65 (corrected from original - Editor)  FEET TO 45 FEET TO MAINTAIN OUR SMALL TOWN CHARM. THE HOTEL DISTRICT WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON ANYTHING WEST OF FEDERAL. OUR DOWNTOWN IS SAFE AND PROTECTED AS AN HISTORIC AREA.

In an effort to improve the city’s finance and help our small merchants survive a hotel is desperately needed. A NO VOTE will allow this new district to be formed and give us a chance at getting the Gulfstream back in service. A yes vote will hurt those chances and could see the Gulfstream sold as a rehab center or nursing home.

Get the facts before you vote and don’t be fooled. No one wants to lose our small town charm. We just want our city to have a chance of recovery. Did you know that in the last year, not one piece of commercial property in Lake Worth was developed? Dixie Highway commercial property is in the worst economic shape ever. Save the GULFSTREAM and give us a chance by voting NO.