“The Bohemian”: A CRA redevelopment proposal for the downtown in Lake Worth Beach.

The following information comes from the January 14th meeting of the LWB Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).

Memorandum

TO: Chair, Vice-Chair and Members of the Board

FROM: Joan C. Oliva, Executive Director

DATE: January 14th, 2020

SUBJECT: Financing Agreement between 1017 Lake Ave. LLC and the LWB CRA

EXPLANATION:

The development of the City’s western downtown area continues to be a priority for the CRA. The two main thoroughfares, Lake and Lucerne, saw little development before the CRA infused grant dollars and assisted developers. Over the past several years, CRA assisted developments in the area include the Urban Arts Lofts, The Hatch, West Village, 1013 Lucerne, the Downtown Shops and others.

In 2018 the CRA helped attract the MID development to Dixie Highway. This project, by Affiliated Development will bring 230 new, one and two-bedroom units and 9000 square feet of retail to the Dixie Highway corridor. The founding partners of Affiliated, Jeff Burns and Nick Rojo, approached CRA Staff in fall of last year with a new mixed-use development concept.

Affiliated has a contract to purchase a 2+ acre site bounded by the FEC railroad on the west, East Coast Street on the east and Lake Avenue to the north and the remaining Padron site (201 East Coast Street) to the south (Exhibit “A”). The proposed plan would include 186 residential units, ground floor retail, parking and room for a future train station platform (Exhibit “B”).

Click on Exhibit A to enlarge:

Note the area hash marked from Lake Ave. south to 2nd Ave. South; this is the site for the proposed Affiliated Development project called “The Bohemian”.

The following two images are Exhibit B:

The CRA memorandum continues. . .

One of the CRA’s goals in the Redevelopment Plan is to encourage market rate housing opportunities in the redevelopment area. Affiliated’s new project, The Bohemian, will provide new, modern housing opportunities in the district that will attract professionals and couples who will support not only the commercial component of the project, but also businesses in the downtown, as well as the artisanal area. The Bohemian also provides an opportunity for the attraction of additional restaurants, retailers and much needed new housing to the area, making Lake Worth Beach’s downtown a destination for art, entertainment and shopping, while also providing choices for urban living enthusiasts.

This project addresses other goals and objectives in the CRA’s Redevelopment Plan including:

• Create programs for land development and property rehabilitation, using financial or other incentives, to facilitate new investment in the district
• Work creatively to provide incentives for private sector participation in redevelopment projects and programs
• Elimination of conditions that decrease property values
• Facilitation of new investment in the redevelopment district
• Establishment of a safe, functional and aesthetically pleasing community environment
• Identify and market areas where private interests can develop housing and necessary support facilities in the Redevelopment Area
• Encourage efforts toward building housing in the Redevelopment Area
• Initiate infill housing development

Staff recommends the CRA Board consider giving assistance to the project in three ways. First, the CRA would provide immediate funding from our already budgeted program/economic development and commercial grant lines to assist with pre-development and infrastructure costs. Staff recommends providing the TIF subsidy over a three year period. The CRA could grant a total of $800K this fiscal year. To provide the subsidy needed, the CRA is also being asked to provide an additional $400K for the next two fiscal years, bringing the direct appropriation total to $1.6M. Affiliated is also requesting $200K in Neighborhood Stabilization Funding. These funds can be used in the future for demolition and/or to help subsidize the portion of workforce units that may be provided.

Lastly, Staff recommends awarding 1017 Lake Ave. LLC with a tax-increment rebate. The CRA only receives increment from two of the nine taxing entities in the County, the City of Lake Worth Beach and Palm Beach County. For purpose of this award, the current increment distributed to the CRA would be frozen. Property taxes, over the next eleven years, would be paid by Affiliated to the tax collector. The CRA portion (the additional increment created after the project reaches stabilization) once received, would then be reimbursed to the developer. The project is estimated to produce over $6M in taxes by 2030. Of that the CRA would receive $1.9M. The eleven year term under consideration is directly related to the life span of the CRA. Because the CRA amended their boundaries in 2001 the sunset date for the Agency is 2031. A spreadsheet showing the annual increment and payments is attached for your review as Exhibit “C.”


[To look over exhibits C and D click on this link.]


A financing commitment is needed at this time for the project to move to the next step. A copy of the commitment is included for the Board’s review as Exhibit “D.” The letter details the CRA commitment to the project while also granting authority for the Chair, Vice Chair and/or CRA Director to sign a future development agreement with 1017 Lake Ave. LLC provided no material changes are made.

REQUEST:

Staff requests the Board approve the funding agreement with 1017 Lake Ave. LLC and give authorization to two of the three signers, the Chair, Vice Chair and/or the Executive Director to approve the future development agreement, once complete.


End of memorandum.


Note that The Bohemian redevelopment project was passed at the CRA meeting on January 14th and the next step will be the Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Board. At this point it is still to be determined whether or not this will be an item up for discussion at the City Commission. The P&Z may give the final go-ahead approval to proceed with The Bohemian.

Stay tuned.

“What’s happening in Lake Worth Beach”: To find out go to the source.

Below is the latest press release from the City.

To look over all recent press releases and to join the Lake Worth Beach mailing list click on this link.

To follow the City on Twitter use this link and the City also has an official page on Facebook.

Without further ado, the latest press release:

FOR RELEASE UPON RECEIPT

City of Lake Worth Beach
7 North Dixie Highway
Lake Worth Beach, FL 33460
www.lakeworthbeachfl.gov

January 21, 2020

Contact: Ben Kerr
Phone: 561-586-1631
Email: bkerr@lakeworthbeachfl.gov


Lake Worth Beach — In preparation for heavy swells and strong winds the City of Lake Worth Beach will be closing the pier [closed as of Tues., Jan. 21st]. Once the inclement weather has subsided staff will assess for damage and reopen the pier when it is safe to do so. At this time staff anticipate the pier re-opening Friday the 24th.

Please contact Ben Kerr, the City of Lake Worth Beach Public Information Officer with any questions or comments.


Located in Central Palm Beach County, Lake Worth Beach is a dynamic, multi-cultural city with an individualistic style. People are drawn to the City by its acceptance of different cultures and lifestyles, historic districts, hip downtown and colorful arts district.

News in The Coastal Star: Lake Worth Beach and Lantana take leadership role in Central Palm Beach County.

Being municipal neighbors and coastal communities how vulnerable are the Town of Lantana and the City of Lake Worth Beach to weather events and any potential shifts in the climate?

What are the vulnerabilities of the beaches in Lake Worth Beach and Lantana? On a policy matter, for example, should LWB construct a new swimming pool at the beach or instead focus on fortifying the beach property and seawall protecting the Casino and Beach Complex?

On these questions and more what follows are two excerpts from a piece by journalist Mary Hladky datelined Dec. 31, 2019, published in The Coastal Star:


Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Highland Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Lantana [emphasis added], Ocean Ridge and the county have approved an agreement to conduct a climate change vulnerability assessment. The County Commission was the last to sign on, voting Dec. 17.

Once the municipalities and county have data on the threats they face, they will take up the task of making the region more resilient.

and. . .

The municipalities and county set a Jan. 15 deadline for consultants to submit proposals on how they would conduct the vulnerability assessment, and will select one in February to do the work.

The consultant’s tasks will be completed in two phases, with two tasks to be completed by June 30. The remaining tasks will be finished and a final report issued by March 31, 2021.

The consultant also will create a geographic information system-based interactive mapping tool that can be updated with new data and will allow users to zoom in on a specific neighborhood to see climate change impacts or zoom out to see regional impacts.

The assessment will evaluate the vulnerability of people, property, water and transportation infrastructures, critical facilities, the economy and natural resources.

The governments have budgeted $366,797 to do the work and will share its cost, supplemented by a $75,000 Florida Department of Environmental Protection grant to Boynton Beach.


To read the entire piece published in The Coastal Star by Mary Hladky click on this link.

As noted in the first excerpt above the consultant’s final report will be issued at the end of March, in just about eleven weeks.

MLK Day schedule of events in Lake Worth Beach.

Information from the City on Twitter.

Pause momentarily for Tweet to load:

Please join us in Lake Worth Beach on Monday, January 20th as we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. pic.twitter.com/zAvQtGYLmj

— Lake Worth Beach (@LakeWorthBchPBC) January 17, 2020

Poolside. The Colony Hotel, Town of Palm Beach, 1961.

Photo courtesy of Slim Aarons.

Carpool Alert: Lake Worth Beach needs representation next Tuesday morning at CCRT public meeting.

Does your neighborhood or community in Lake Worth Beach need some “stabilizing and revitalizing”?

Maybe your community, big or small, could be designated by the County as one that needs special attention. But in order to accomplish that you need to make your case. How? Convoke your neighbors and community leaders and have a united presence at this important County meeting.

The following item was published in this week’s Lake Worth Herald and headlined, “Countywide Community Revitalization Team Public Meeting”:


A Countywide Community Revitalization Team (CCRT) public meeting hosted by the Office of Community Revitalization (OCR) will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 21, beginning at 10 a.m.

The meeting at Vista Center, 2300 N. Jog Road, [suburban] West Palm Beach, will focus on the Countywide Community Revitalization Team (CCRT) Areas Reassessment Study.

The study provides an update of the CCRT Community Needs Analysis. The study is intended to be used as the basis of information for continuing efforts towards stabilizing and revitalizing designated residential Palm Beach County neighborhoods. [emphasis added]

This public meeting will also provide an opportunity to network with county agencies, OCR partners, and other community leaders who strive to make a difference in their communities.

For more information contact Houston Tate at 233-5303 or htate@pbcgov.org

Support your LOCAL small town newspaper
and support LOCAL journalism.

For this week’s front page headlines click on this link.

Do you have news to report or an upcoming community event or meeting to publicly notice? Contact the editor by calling 561-585-9387 or send an email to: Editor@lwherald.com

Upcoming Home Tour in Lake Worth Beach: Sunday, January 26th from 1:00–5:00.

“The Parrot Cove Neighborhood Association is named for the flocks of green parrots nesting in our trees.”

Click on image to enlarge:

To purchase tickets on Eventbrite click on this link.

Historic Lake Worth Beach and Casino Pictures/Postcards

Click on images to enlarge.

On flooding and flood maps in Palm Beach County, a question:

“Do you know your risk?”

Click on image to enlarge:

Check back later for more information.

National Trust for Historic Preservation.

PastForward 2020: National Preservation Conference

About PastForward 2020,

PastForward, the National Preservation Conference, brings together a community of professionals and volunteers passionate about saving places, creating an unmatched opportunity to network, learn, and be inspired. The next conference will be held October 28–30, 2020, at the Hyatt Regency in Miami, Florida.


For more information about this year’s conference click on this link. One of the awards this year is the Trustees’ Award for Organizational Excellence:


The Trustees’ Award for Organizational Excellence recognizes a nonprofit organization, large or small, that has demonstrated sustained and superlative achievement in historic preservation. Award winners will be honored at the 2020 PastForward Conference in Miami, Florida.



Please note: Nominations for the Trustees’ Award for Organizational Excellence will be accepted through February 3, 2020.

The municipality of Lake Worth Beach: Official recognition by PAPA.

On March 12th, 2019, the electorate in the City of Lake Worth voted to rename this municipality as Lake Worth Beach and the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser Public Access (PAPA) website has since been updated to reflect the name change (see map below).

However, as newsworthy as Lake Worth Beach is and continues to be, there is a much bigger story happening out west that is largely going unnoticed in Central Palm Beach County and that is the growing dominance of the City of Greenacres, a municipality expanding at a rapid rate.

Click on map to enlarge, note the label “Lake Worth Beach” and annexations further to the west:

Many areas west of LWB (unshaded) will keep a ‘Lake Worth’ mailing address until being annexed by Village of Palm Springs (shaded blue) or Town of Lantana (verdenia red). In both square miles and population the City of Greenacres is expanding rapidly, already exceeding Lake Worth Beach.

Which delves into zip codes. . . Lake Worth Beach has two zip codes, 33460 and a portion of 33461:

What if Lake Worth Beach was all one zip code (33460) including all incorporated areas west of I-95 (shaded blue)?

Tickets on sale for Lake Worth Beach Daddy Daughter Night

Lake Worth Beach, FL -- The City of Lake Worth Beach is pleased to announce that tickets are now available for the 11th annual Daddy-Daughter/Mother-Son Night at the Lake Worth Beach Casino Ballroom. This popular event will be held from 6-9pm on Saturday, February 1, and those aged 3-14 are invited to bring their parent/guardian and enjoy a night of dinner, dancing, games, face painting, photo booth, and much more! Parking will be complimentary for those attending the event.

Advance Tickets are now on sale for $30 per couple and $15 per each additional guest. After January 30th the ticket price will raise to $40 per couple and $25 per each additional guest. Those interested can purchase tickets online.

Please contact Ben Kerr, the City of Lake Worth Beach Public Information Officer with any questions or comments.

Scene: Dennis walks up to Mrs. Wilson and asked curiously, “Hi, Mrs. Wilson! Is Mr. Wilson busy on Wednesday?”

. . . well, Dennis, you know Mr. Wilson gets up early and scoots like hell over to World Thrift every Wednesday and has his lunch at Tacos Al Carbon!

That’s right. WEDNESDAY,
every Wednesday, is Senior Citizen
Day at World Thrift!

Looking for something to do midweek but you’re not sure exactly what? Maybe watching a few episodes of Dennis the Menace? Well, guess what! Senior citizens from all over the area go to World Thrift every Wednesday. And you’ll meet Hipsters there and Apatharchists too (they are completely harmless and highly entertaining!), and there are Millennials and families with kids there as well.

World Thrift is located at 2425 N. Dixie Hwy in Lake Worth Beach, open Monday–Saturday, 9:00–6:00 and closed on Sundays. Call 561-588-4050 for more information.

Following your shopping experience pack your stuff in the car and walk across the street for breakfast, lunch or dinner at Tacos Al Carbon. It’s the new hot spot everybody is raving about in Central PBC and a popular stop on the Taste History Culinary Tour!

When you get to World Thrift say,
“The Skipper and Gilligan” sent you!

So. You’ve been wondering where everyone goes every Wednesday? Well. Now you know.

“The Science of Social Media”: a FREE one-hour business workshop offered by the Lake Worth Beach CRA.

This workshop is tomorrow morning. RSVP ASAP.

This FREE event with guest speaker Holly McPhail (of Windwood Communications; more details below) is sponsored by the Lake Worth Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and will be held at The HATCH located at 1121 Lucerne Ave. on Tuesday, January 14th at 9:00 a.m.

To RSVP call 561-493-2550. One can also contact Emily Theodossakos, the Marketing & Program Manager at the CRA by clicking on this link or send an email to: etheodossakos@lakeworthbeachfl.gov

About the workshop and guest speaker:

To see return on your social media investments takes time and planning. During this 60-minutes you will dive deep into the mechanics of major social media platforms, learn how to create compelling content that your audience will want to engage with, and understand the basics of social media evaluation.

This workshop is designed for small business owners who want to tap into the power of social media without paying for influencers. This workshop is geared towards small business entities, corporations, partnerships, for-profit companies, entrepreneurs and sole proprietorships.

Guest speaker Holly McPhail is the chief strategist and creator at Windwood Communications, LLC, a boutique communications firm in Tallahassee helping organizations and small businesses build communities online and in real life. Holly specializes in program development, persuasive messaging and digital communications. With over a decade of experience, she has served on and led communications teams at the state and local level, managing digital strategy across multiple platforms and developing strategic messaging for events and advocacy.

Holly routinely provides training and consultation services on a variety of topics including her favorite, how-to leverage social media to better engage audiences no matter your message. She holds degrees in Urban and Regional Planning and International Affairs with concentrations in Anthropology and Economics from the Florida State University.


Also featured at the upcoming workshop is Lake Worth Beach Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso with information on Green initiatives in the City.

Click on image to enlarge:

RSVP today to reserve a seat at this social media marketing seminar on January 14th, 9:00–10:00 a.m. at The HATCH.

Monthly meeting of The Town & County Garden Club is tomorrow morning.

The following notice was published in this week’s Lake Worth Herald:


The Town & Country Garden Club of Lake Worth, a non-profit whose mission is to promote an interest in gardens, their design and management, and to cooperate in the protection of wildflowers, birds, native trees and shrubs, to encourage civic planning and to fund and award scholarships, meets the second Monday of every month [emphasis added] October through April, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 1415 North K St., Lake Worth Beach. Meetings include lunch and guest speaker. There are several organized field trips throughout the season. New members welcomed. Annual dues are $30.

For more information about the club contact Erin Allen at 561-312-5925 or erinallen.realtor@gmail.com

 For this week’s front page headlines click on this link.

Have an event to promote? Contact the editor at 561-585-9387 or send an email to: Editor@lwherald.com