“I have to tell you, in 23 years I’ve never, ever seen so many people come out. . .”

Coming up on January 5th, 2018, will be the second anniversary when the community in Lake Worth rallied to save our historic Gulfstream Hotel. And we’re still left wondering and looking for answers. Again.

But on January 5th, 2016, the future looked so bright:

The Coastal Observer ran a popular series of articles focusing on Lake Worth history, one that’s hard to imagine without our iconic Downtown hotel.

It was on Jan. 5th, 2016, at a Lake Worth City Commission meeting where one of South Florida’s most well-known land use attorneys, representing the owners of the Gulfstream Hotel that day, said this:

“I have to tell you, in 23 years I’ve never, ever seen so many people come out, leave their homes at dinner time to speak in favor of an application. It just doesn’t happen. People come to speak against, but people don’t come to speak in favor. So I am overwhelmed by the volume of people that have been here this evening.”

Earlier that evening, the video below is Lake Worth resident and businesswoman Ariana Peters giving testimony why she believed the Gulfstream Hotel redevelopment would be so positive for our City. At the 1:00 mark she says:

“I believe the Gulfstream project is not only the right step but also a very crucial step in the right direction. I thank the board for their consideration of this project and I’m looking forward to the re-opening of this great landmark bringing people to Lake Worth who have always been hesitant and to finally showing off our town’s incredible Downtown and one of the best assets Lake Worth has to offer. Thank you.” [standing applause follows]