"The city of Lake Worth provides a distinct and highly attractive urban and waterfront experience to Palm Beach County visitors and residents alike. It has been a magnet for travelers for over a century and the recent renovation of the Lake Worth Casino facility and park add another dimension to the city’s tourism appeal. What it very much lacks is a significant hotel presence in or near the core of its Lake and Lucerne business and entertainment district. Overnight visitors attracted by Lake Worth and its multiple festivals, exhibits and events may be opting for accommodations in neighboring cities that provide such options thus reducing the economic benefit for the city. The renovation and reopening of the Gulfstream hotel would be a tremendous boost to the city’s tourism development efforts and will create many permanent jobs. Recent suggestions to enact reduced height limits will be a major deterrent to the rebirth of the historic Gulfstream hotel. The Convention and Visitors Bureau’s vision for the successful development of Palm Beach County’s tourism industry is dependent on the cities’ and towns’ commitment to grow their tourism product and appeal. We urge Lake Worth residents to reject height restrictions east of the business district and support a Gulfstream Hotel renovation and expansion in the near term. "
Jorge Pesquera
President & CEO
Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Proverbs 4:14-19 (NIV)
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.
or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.
Vids from the 3/5/13 Lake Worth City Commission Meeting
I left at the break and do not have a video of the discussion on the Sub-Regional Sewer settlement. Enjoy!
Historic Pasco hotel to get new life || Business Observer | Tampa Bay, Bradenton, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples
The new life is in the form of intervention from the residents of New Port Richey. Click title for link to article. Note the following:
Built in 1920, the Hacienda Hotel was called a “Bit of Old Spain Amid the Palms” and was a favorite of silent film stars. The hotel eventually became an assisted-living facility, and since 2006 has been vacant.From better days:
Lake Worth customers’ bills expected to drop in spring as part... | www.palmbeachpost.com
This is one of the bigger items from last night's meeting. Lake Worth went from claiming that our customers owed us tons of money and it turns out we owe them - and us - mostly. This is from the article - another legacy from the Stanton period. She turned down a settlement in the range of about $3 million since she was confident (ha!)) in the city's numbers. From the article:
"The settlement gives refunds to all of the partners except Palm Springs, which has been withholding a portion of its payments because of the disputed charges. If the agreement is approved by Palm Springs officials, the village would pay $52,708 to Lake Worth Utilities.
Payments to sewer system partners will be made using money from reserves. They include: $222,299 to Lantana; $262,406 to Palm Beach; $58,639 to Atlantis; $58,028 to Palm Beach State College; $34,631 to South Palm Beach; and $8,753 to Manalapan.
Lake Worth sued the regional sewer partners in 2010, claiming they failed to make payments as required, particularly for the “renewal and replacement” fund used to cover costs associated with maintaining sewer lines, lift stations and the East Central Regional Water Reclamation Facility, the plant where the sewage is treated.
The dispute was handled through the government conflict resolution process outlined in Florida law and led to a state audit. The audit found vague contract terms, inconsistent cost calculations and poor record keeping by Lake Worth Utilities."
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Abraham-Hicks
"Many people are wanting to fan your flames of discomfort, because they believe that "you're either with us or against us; if you don't stand in the same disgust and horror that we are all standing, then you are not with us." It's hard for people to understand that you can not agree with them — and not be against them. That you could be for something without being against something else."
Monday, March 4, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
One of the points made at the 2/20 joint meeting...
Well, guess what - this picture was taken from the corner of South Ocean Breeze (O Street) and Lake Avenue. It was taken while the banner on the building was up. You can't see it now - that is my point. The existing buildings block view of the empty, vacant and unused hotel already regardless of what would be there in the future. So, pick another argument to hang your hat on...
"What if" Presentation by Steven Fett from the University of Miami - Part I
William Waters, the city's Director of Community Sustainability, tapped the expertise of the University of Miami Architectural Department and had Steven Fett prepare a series of "what ifs" for the various lots prone to possible redevelopment east of Federal Hwy. These were prepared for the joint Planning and Zoning, Historic Resource Preservation Board meeting of 2/20. I will prepare each over time to post here, but we will start out with the western lot at the Gulfstream property since it has seemed to garner the most attention.
It is important to look at the assumptions and all are situations where the development is "maxed out" according to the new code requirements contained in the city's proposed land development regulations. To be clear - the only buildings that could be built to 65 feet would be hotels of 50 or more units - any office or condominium building would be limited to 45 ft. The prospect that each of these lots would be developed with at least a 50 room hotel stretches the imagination, but this shows what the extreme would be under the proposed code. A conservative analysis it is. It is also important to realize that this would happen gradually over time, with the various properties finding an opportunity, governed by market forces. It is not likely that the three or four bank related properties would be redeveloped any time soon.
This would be in the event 65 ft. were allowed east of Federal, as included in the current version of the city's comprehensive plan.
It is important to look at the assumptions and all are situations where the development is "maxed out" according to the new code requirements contained in the city's proposed land development regulations. To be clear - the only buildings that could be built to 65 feet would be hotels of 50 or more units - any office or condominium building would be limited to 45 ft. The prospect that each of these lots would be developed with at least a 50 room hotel stretches the imagination, but this shows what the extreme would be under the proposed code. A conservative analysis it is. It is also important to realize that this would happen gradually over time, with the various properties finding an opportunity, governed by market forces. It is not likely that the three or four bank related properties would be redeveloped any time soon.
From Friday night's dedication ceremony at the Lake Worth beach...
I am pleased that the official proclamation from the city includes the fact that the former building was demolished - telling it like it is...or was.
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![Dr. W. H. Cotton’s ode: “Oh, My Lake Worth, Florida!” [circa 1920].](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUL75cv6zJQFjX15ojOIIz9AjnbqH4asHJTYSDhnGnYr7rJZRha1NcNTirj2xPcId158vkz5Hw-wXgOfrlztj8Zr8jLFFCfuEN6PyV44ZlpMRmJ68xbtFL9vzxNiG7xDs_HJvm/s1600/LakeWorthPioneers.JPG)
