My very interesting conversation with Mr. Buddy Tuppen about the C-51 Canal.

Does the name “Tuppen” sound familiar? It should. Read more about that below.

First some updates about the Blueway Trail project on the C-51:

• The Palm Beach Post continues its news blackout, not reporting anything about the Blueway Trail. That includes local beat reporters.
• Still awaiting the first meeting of the C-51 Advisory Committee (CAC); it shouldn’t be too long before we get an agenda and then the meeting of the board.
• If you’re looking for more information about the Blueway Trail or have questions/comments, call 772-221-4060 or use this link to contact Kim DeLaney, PhD, Dir. of Strategic Development and Policy at the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council.

Now about my conversation with Mr. Buddy Tuppen.

That would be Buddy Tuppen, the son of another Mr. Tuppen who founded Tuppen’s Marine and Tackle on Dixie Hwy. here in Lake Worth. It was an earlier conversation with Mr. Joseph “Jay” Fearnley at the Lake Worth Rotary that set all this in motion. To read about my conversation with Mr. Fearnley use this link.

The Blueway Trail project on the C-51 Canal between the city’s of Lake Worth and West Palm Beach has been getting a tremendous amount of attention on this blog and took an unexpected turn after speaking with Mr. Fearnley: the Blueway Trail in the context of history. There once was a marina on the C-51 Canal in Lake Worth. More about that below; first some images to put this in perspective:

Inside the hashed box: Spillway Park, C-51 Canal and the S-155 “spillway” structure as it is today. To see this for yourself take Maryland Ave. off Federal Hwy in Lake Worth.

Note the change in orientation and C-51 Canal (on right). This image is from 1937. In the center you can see the early platted streets of what is now the College Park neighborhood in Lake Worth.

This image is from the 1950’s. Compare with the first image above. See the marina on the Lake Worth side of the C-51? How many businesses supported this marina? Motels? Restaurants? Fishing supply stores?

Buddy Tuppen is in his 80’s now. His family used to live on 15th Ave. North and would ride his bike with other kids to fish around what is now Spillway Park. Doing the math that must have been around the late 1940’s.

He remembers the era when the picture was taken (see image above from the 1950’s). This was south and east of the previous Dixie Hwy. bridge. You can see that on the aerial. He said there was also a “lock” so that boats could pass through. He said the land was owned either by the City or the County (Jay Fearnley said the City owned that land). He remembered boats in slips that were perpendicular with the dock which ran parallel to the shoreline of the C-51.

The marina was run by a fellow named Bill Murrelle. After the City or County made him leave he set up shop in Lantana and had a place called Murrelle Marine which is still in business today. Murrelle sold that business but it kept the same name. He has since passed after moving to Sebastian.

Buddy Tuppen went on to give more interesting history: his Grandfather bought the land where Tuppen’s Marine is today. The business began in either 1936 or 1937. His grandfather bought the land for past due taxes, about $38. Buddy said his Grandfather had to borrow the money from friends to make the purchase and wondered how he was going to pay it back.

Prior to being Tuppen’s Marine that lot had been a Ford dealership that was wiped out by the 1928 hurricane. The property sat idle after that hurricane until it was purchased by the Grandfather Tuppen’s in the mid 30’s.

Do you have any more history and/or pictures of this area along the C-51 Canal is Lake Worth? 

Please feel free to contact me: 561-308-0364; email: WesBlackman@gmail.com

The showroom “Grand Opening” at Tuppen’s in the 1950s. It’s still there at 1006 N. Dixie Hwy.

Will another marina open up on the C-51 Canal? If so, customers will be heading to stores like Tuppen’s, eating at our restaurants, and looking for hotels. Just like it used to be in the little City of Lake Worth “back in the day”.

TONIGHT: Lake Worth’s City Commission “Budget Work Session” begins at 6:00.

To watch this Commission meeting tonight Live Streaming use this link at or after 6:00 and scroll down for the City’s “Live Broadcast Channel”.

Prior to the Budget Work Session tonight at 6:00 there will be another closed door session “City Commission Special Meeting” (beginning at 5:00):

“Lake Osborne Waterworks, Inc. v. City of Lake Worth”.

At the City Commission meeting on June 6th, City Attorney Glen Torcivia stated he would have a closed-door session on June 20th, prior to the City Commission meeting, about a lawsuit filed over bulk water delivery in Lake Osborne Estates. Commissioner Andy Amoroso was out of town and not in attendance for the Special Meeting last month.

The non-jury trial slated for June 5th was cancelled. The parties agreed to settle on June 1st. Residents in Lake Osborne Estates claim their water rates are too high and filed suit for damages going back to 2008.

Lake Worth’s former Post reporter Chris Persaud (the winner of 2 prestigious journalism awards for election reporting) penned an article about this in July 2014.

Here is the “closed-door” agenda item tonight:

“City Attorney Announcement”

Pursuant to Section 286.011(8), Florida Statutes, the City Attorney desires advice concerning pending litigation in the case of Lake Osborne Waterworks, Inc. v. City of Lake Worth Case No. 502014CA08137XXXMBAI in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit, in and for Palm Beach County, Florida.
     The following individuals will be in attendance: Mayor Pam Triolo, Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell, City Commissioners Omari Hardy, Andy Amoroso and Herman Robinson, City Manager Michael Bornstein, City Attorney Glen J. Torcivia, Attorneys Brian Bolves and/or Bill Bilenky (by phone) and a Court Reporter.

Lake Worth commissioner interviewed on Boston’s Fox25/WFXT.

Were you one of those in attendance at the Scottish Rite Temple last September to hear Asst. State Attorney Al Johnson talk about what was being done to curb the proliferation of so-called ‘sober homes’ here in the City of Lake Worth?

Did you leave thinking nothing was ever going to change?

Think again. A lot has changed since last year but there’s still a lot of work to be done. For example, use this link for the latest very sad news from PBSO Cpt. Todd Baer.

For the entire news segment by reporter Eric Rasmussen and to watch the video use this link:


“Stop sending your loved ones to South Florida because we’re sending them back in body bags,” said [Lake Worth City Commissioner Andy] Amoroso.


LAKE WORTH, Fl. - In the midst of a statewide public health crisis involving opioid overdose deaths, leaders in South Florida are urging out-of-state patients seeking recovery to go somewhere else for help.
     The message comes as 25 Investigates found at least a dozen people from Massachusetts and New Hampshire have overdosed and died in Palm Beach County while seeking recovery since 2015.
     Lake Worth City Commissioner Andy Amoroso said he’s lost friends and relatives to addiction and he now sits on a task force dedicated to fighting the heroin epidemic and to cleaning up so-called “sober homes.” [emphasis added]
     But when it comes to out-of-state addicts seeking treatment in Palm Beach County, he doesn’t mince words.
     “Stop sending your loved ones to South Florida because we’re sending them back in body bags,” said Amoroso.

and. . .

     A 25 Investigates review of the records revealed at least a dozen of those people were from Massachusetts and New Hampshire while seeking recovery.
     Authorities in Palm Beach County have since stepped up efforts to prosecute a crime known as “patient brokering,” where people fighting addiction are offered free flights, insurance and other giveaways to get them into particular programs.

and. . .

     “If their insurance stops paying or they relapse, they throw ‘em out, but there’s a full circle of people who are grabbing those people who relapse and putting them right back in the system,” said Amoroso. “Getting them new insurance and that’s where the money is.”

Did you miss this news from yesterday?

The latest “Captain’s Corner”: News from Cpt. Todd Baer, PBSO District 14, City of Lake Worth.

Did you receive your City of Lake Worth “NewsWorthy” newsletter in the mail with the Utility Bill this month but you couldn’t read it because the type was too small, 6′ serif type in gray-scale?

Well, there’s good news!

Cpt. Baer sent me the text from his most recent “Captain’s Corner”. Read about the very successful “First appearance” program below.

Helpful information for the City to post on Facebook — but the City of Lake Worth doesn’t have a Facebook page — however, the City of Greenacres does.

There was also more good news about Code Enforcement in the latest “NewsWorthy” newsletter also printed in gray-scale 6′ serif type that’s too hard to read. 
Without further ado. . .

The latest news from Cpt. Baer:

Greetings,

     I would like to make you aware of an opportunity to get involved as an “advocate” for the City of Lake Worth. This is joining a group of fellow citizens willing to take turns attending first appearance.
     First appearance is the initial court proceeding where an arrestee from the previous day stands before a judge who decides bail and other pre-trial conditions. Deputies and Assistant State Attorneys are there and represent the citizens. However having actual citizens there speaks volumes.
     The judge gets to see/hear how crime affects your neighborhood. This can result in drug dealers, burglars and prostitutes receiving higher bonds. This keeps them in jail which reduces the chance for them to commit more crime.
     Hearings are daily at 9:00 a.m. in the Gun Club courtroom at the base of the main jail. PBSO will notify the group of volunteers the night before any operation or “Sting” or when a significant arrest is made, i.e., a burglary or robbery suspect.
     One or two citizens each time can make a world of difference. I would like to extend a special “thank you” to a small group of citizens who have embraced this project and are working diligently to make it a success. They are:

• Bernard “Chip” Guthrie
• Tammy Pansa
• Richard Guercio
• Lake Worth CRA Director Joan Oliva

Yours in Service
Captain Baer, PBSO District 14.

Daily Progress Report. Gulfstream Hotel, Lake Worth, Florida.

Today’s “Daily Progress Report” is the same as all the previous ones. No progress to report (it may take a few moments for Tweet by Senior Reporter Brian Bandell from the South Florida Business Journal to load):

I don't see a construction loan for this hotel yet.

— Brian Bandell (@SFBJRealEstate) July 10, 2017

Monday, July 10th, 2017.

“With its site plan approved for the renovation of the historic [Gulfstream] hotel. . . . . . Hudson [Holdings] is estimating it’ll begin construction by this fall on the main building following completion of construction drawings and the finalization of its construction loan, [Steven] Michael said.”
—Quote from the Sun Sentinel by reporter Arlene Satchell, April 14th, 2017.

Hudson Holdings: “PRESERVING THE PAST  -  WHILE BUILDING THE FUTURE”.

“FIVE STAR LUXURY  -  COMING SOON”.
For media inquiries contact the spokesperson for Hudson Holdings using this link.

“Simplicity and repose are the qualities that measure the true value of any work of art.”
—Frank Lloyd Wright.

Have questions, comments, or concerns? Contact Hudson Holdings, a company specializing in “adaptive reuse of premier historic structures”, using this link or call 561-768-7621. For the Gulfstream Hotel’s Facebook page use this link. Email: info@hudsonholdings.com

Progress Reports, June 28th–July 9th:

• Sunday, July 9th: “Will next year be another Street Painting Festival, one more festival or big event in our City’s Downtown, with the Gulfstream Hotel closed and shuttered?”
• Saturday, July 8th: “Maybe it’s our Gulfstream Hotel, still an eyesore in our Downtown following all that excitement in January 2016, that stands a constant reminder what historic preservation cannot do. What needs to happen is not happening.”
• Friday, July 7th: Email from Hudson Holdings dated March 31st, 2017, “More good news from Hudson Holdings. The Gulfstream Hotel is a GO!”, following District Court of Appeals ruling.
• Thursday, July 6th: “This sidewalk is nearly impassable due to all the unkempt vegetation and weeds.”
• Wednesday, July 5th: “I do not believe anything Hudson Holdings says,” one resident posted on the Facebook page Lake Worth Local. “Look at how they let the property deteriorate.”
• Tuesday, July 4th: “Once referred to as the ‘Jewell of Lake Worth’ . . . this elegant property is undergoing a multi-million dollar face lift.”
• Monday, July 3rd: “A tree growing out of the structure cannot be good for this ‘elegant’ structure. Simple pruning shears would help this ‘multi-million dollar facelift.’ ”
• Sunday, July 2nd: Special treat, “Preserving Tomorrow”. Watch this video, Hudson Holdings “is a national historic property developer”.
• Saturday, July 1st: “[T]his elegant property is undergoing a multi-million dollar face lift”, according to Hudson Holdings’ website.
• Friday, June 30th: “5 Star Luxury - Coming Winter 2015”.
• Thursday, June 29th: “Grand Reopening of Lake Worth’s Historic Landmark”.
• Wednesday, June 28th (windows left open all the time and plywood for security of the structure).

Housing policy, city planning and development, urban sprawl, transportation, communication, education, city services, delivery of goods, family services. . .

If any of these subjects are of interest to you — whether you are an elected official (or considering elected office), government staff or city board member, in the private sector (business community or a nonprofit) — the article by reporter Mahima Singh cited below titled, “Millennials on the rise in snowbird county” is a MUST READ. Singh’s article was published in yesterday’s Sunday print edition on the front page of The Palm Beach Post:

“Why they’re flocking here”

An excerpt from Mahima Singh’s article:

“Many millennials are shunning the suburbs. They are gravitating to areas that have a more local feel. Local business, local products, etc., places that are more authentic,” said Raphael Clemente, executive director of the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority.

What will the future look like for cities like Lake Worth?

Another excerpt from the article:

Minority majority in eight years

     By 2025, the county’s white population is on pace to fall below 50 percent for the first time.
     As of July 2016, whites made up 56 percent of the county’s 1.44 million residents, a drop from 60 percent in 2010. Hispanics made up 21.5 percent while growing at a 23 percent clip since 2010. Blacks, growing at an 18 percent pace, represented 18.3 percent of the county’s population.

As Raphael Clemente was quoted in the article, “Many millennials are shunning the suburbs.”

This question (asked repeatedly on this blog) — still unanswered — is not going away:

When will the environmental community engage and have a serious conversation about “Eastward Ho!”?

And our “Urban Core” in Central PBC? Time to get serious about, “The area between the Florida East Coast (FEC) and Chesapeake Seaboard (CSX) railroads . . . once the thriving, functional core of the region opened up by Flagler’s railroad.”

Attention City of Greenacres.

An important deadline is this Thursday at 5:00 (see below).

Here in Central Palm Beach County political news on any consistent basis between the City of Lake Worth and the Village of Wellington (aka, “flyover County”) is almost nonexistent, unless of course you read The Lake Worth Herald or the Coastal & Greenacres Oberver. For example, the City of Greenacres needs to fill the vacant District 1 council seat; below is more about that published in the Herald last week.

But guess what! Today is the City of Lake Worth’s Very Very Special Monday Collector Print Edition (LWVVSMCPE) in The Palm Beach Post!

Today’s LWVVSMCPE has a photo montage of Lake Worth’s Benzaiten Center by Post photographer Meghan McCarthy.

Click on image to see the six Very Very Special cities, towns, and villages in Palm Beach County.

Delray Beach IS NOT one of them.

FYI: Reporter Lori Hope Baumel at Around Wellington recently had a feature article on the Benzaiten Center: “You too can become an artisan.”

So. What does it take to get featured in the Post? Have you tried the “Five Tips” from the Business Editor Antonio Fins?

A visit to Downtown Lake Worth isn’t complete without stopping by to chat with Mr. Brian Schlitz at Artsy Fartsy Décor & More.

Without further ado. . .

CITY OF GREENACRES, FLORIDA

REQUEST INTEREST: COUNCIL SEAT - DISTRICT I

Applications are being accepted from residents who are a qualified elector (registered voter) and a continuous one (1) year resident of District I of the City of Greenacres, who would like to serve a temporary unexpired term of office on the City Council until the Municipal Election held in March 2019. Applications may be obtained from the City Clerk’s Office or the City’s website at www.greenacresfl.gov and submitted to:

City Clerk
City of Greenacres
5800 Melaleuca Lane
Greenacres, FL 33463

Deadline to submit: July 13, 2017 - 5:00 p.m.

The City Council will conduct interviews and make a final selection at a Council meeting on July 17, 2017. Council District I boundaries are shown on the map and include the following communities:

• Dahl Park
• Manatee Key
• Mil-Lake Estates
• Nautica Isles
• Nautica Isles West (East 1/3)
• Original Section
• Palm Beach Villas II
• Pickwick Park (East ½)
• Pine Grove Townhomes
• Pine Ridge III
• Southwind Manor
• Verona Estates
• Verona Palms
• Villa Madonna
• Wellman Trail Apartments
• Whispering Winds 

Check back to this blog or next week’s Lake Worth Herald/Greenacres Observer to find out who will fill the now-vacant City of Greenacres’ Council seat until March of 2019.

“One Small Town, Over 100 Little Libraries”

A truly wonderful story by Megan. . .

“To say that the city of Lake Worth, Florida, has a lot of Little Free Libraries would be a huge understatement.
     With a population of around 30,000 people, Lake Worth is home to over 80 Little Free Library book exchanges, with another two dozen on the way at the time of this writing. That’s one Library per 300 residents; an impressive accomplishment!
     No one person can take all of the credit, but Little Free Library advocate and local resident Mary Lindsey is undoubtedly the heart of the Lake Worth Little Free Libraries project.
     Mary’s enthusiasm and creativity are an inspiration! When Mary offered to share her expertise, we jumped at the chance to write a post full of her tips and advice to others looking to start Little Free Libraries in their towns.”

So. Then Megan asks. . .

“How Did the Lake Worth Little Free Libraries Project Get Started?”

Use this link to find out.

And don’t forget:

Have a book or books to donate? Children’s books are always in need. Call 561-585-6035 or email: LakeWorthLFL@gmail.com

Daily Progress Report. Gulfstream Hotel, Lake Worth, Florida.

Sunday, July 9th, 2017.

“When we build, let us think that we build forever.”
—John Ruskin, English writer and social thinker, 1819–1900.

“Once referred to as the ‘Jewel of Lake Worth’ and on the National Register of Historic Places, this elegant property is undergoing a multi-million dollar face lift.”
—Quote from Hudson Holdings’ Gulfstream Hotel website, “A glimpse into the past”.

“With its site plan approved for the renovation of the historic [Gulfstream] hotel. . .

. . . Hudson [Holdings] is estimating it’ll begin construction by this fall [sic] on the main building following completion of construction drawings and the finalization of its construction loan, [Steven] Michael said.”
—Quote from the Sun Sentinel by reporter Arlene Satchell, April 14th, 2017.

There really is no Fall season in Florida. However, the official start of Fall in the United States begins with the Fall Equinox on September 22nd this year. Stay tuned. That’s only about 2½ months away.

Pictures taken today.

Click on images to enlarge.

Why are there no community and neighborhood updates about progress, if any, to renovate the Gulfstream Hotel?

Using one of the creative tools on my phone:

Will next February be another Street Painting Festival, one more festival or big event in our City’s Downtown, with the Gulfstream Hotel closed and shuttered?

Send your questions to Hudson Holdings, a company specializing in “adaptive reuse of premier historic structures”, using this link or call 561-768-7621. For the Gulfstream Hotel’s Facebook page use this link. Email: info@hudsonholdings.com

Wouldn’t it be nice to see work being done to renovate the Gulfstream Hotel during the Street Painting Festival next year? 

Stay tuned for another “Progress Report” tomorrow.

Progress Reports, June 28th–July 8th:

• Saturday, July 8th: “Maybe it’s our Gulfstream Hotel, still an eyesore in our Downtown following all that excitement in January 2016, that stands a constant reminder what historic preservation cannot do. What needs to happen is not happening.”
• Friday, July 7th: Email from Hudson Holdings dated March 31st, 2017, “More good news from Hudson Holdings. The Gulfstream Hotel is a GO!”, following District Court of Appeals ruling.
• Thursday, July 6th: “This sidewalk is nearly impassable due to all the unkempt vegetation and weeds.”
• Wednesday, July 5th: “I do not believe anything Hudson Holdings says,” one resident posted on the Facebook page Lake Worth Local. “Look at how they let the property deteriorate.”
• Tuesday, July 4th: “Once referred to as the ‘Jewell of Lake Worth’ . . . this elegant property is undergoing a multi-million dollar face lift.”
• Monday, July 3rd: “A tree growing out of the structure cannot be good for this ‘elegant’ structure. Simple pruning shears would help this ‘multi-million dollar facelift.’ ”
• Sunday, July 2nd: Special treat, “Preserving Tomorrow”. Watch this video, Hudson Holdings “is a national historic property developer”.
• Saturday, July 1st: “[T]his elegant property is undergoing a multi-million dollar face lift”, according to Hudson Holdings’ website.
• Friday, June 30th: “5 Star Luxury - Coming Winter 2015”.
• Thursday, June 29th: “Grand Reopening of Lake Worth’s Historic Landmark”.
• Wednesday, June 28th (windows left open all the time and plywood for security of the structure).

Stay Tuned: Before long we’ll see agenda for the C-51 Advisory Committee (CAC), then very first meeting of the board.

To learn more about CAC and the role of this City of Lake Worth volunteer advisory board use this link.

Latest news about the Blueway Trail Project: June 30th was the Project Design and Permit Filing Deadline with the State of Florida.

The Palm Beach Post’s news blackout continues, not reporting any news about the Blueway Trail. However, the Sun Sentinel and other news outlets are picking up the slack.

But that doesn’t mean excitement is dimming in the least. For example, read what Lake Worth Commissioner Omari Hardy had to say at a recent gathering of local government and County officials:

“[T]he Blueway Trail Project, there’s this very, very strong interest in that from our neighboring elected officials just like there’s strong interest from our residents here in Lake Worth.”

Take note supporters of the Blueway Trail: Be prepared for more propaganda/mis- and disinformation just like last year.

This Letter to the Editor published last July in the Post demonstrates perfectly the mis- and disinformation to look out for in the press and media:

West Palm Beach has plans [not true, it's not a city project] to connect the chain of lakes to allow small boats access to the Lake Worth lagoon. My concern is for the quality of marine life, human life [huh?] and tourism from discharge that will be flowing into the Intercoastal [sic, s/b “Intracoastal”] Waterway, eventually contaminating beaches.

 Tweet courtesy of Discover the Palm Beaches, July 2016 at our Lake Worth Beach!

“Beautiful blues!” at the Lake Worth Pier at the BEACH! 

There wasn’t always a news blackout at the Post about this exciting project. In 2015 there were several news reports, e.g., reporter Tony Doris had this article published in April of 2015, an excerpt:

A sometimes boisterous gathering of more than 100 residents of West Palm’s South End told consultants at a neighborhood “visioning” meeting Thursday that they want a cohesive plan to revitalize the area but that that can’t include messing with the popular municipal golf course.
     Several suggested building a new golf club house that could serve as a community center. Others urged working to turn the C-51 canal into a focal point, with a marina, restaurants or other attractions.
     Still others said it was clear that all the city’s revitalization money has been going to the North End and downtown and that the South End has been neglected for too long. And there were calls for better street lighting and sidewalk treatments, for supporting local businesses rather than chain stores, for providing families with a place to go and for coordinating efforts with neighboring Lake Worth.

The last line is what pushed some in the City of Lake Worth over the edge and became “unhinged”. This group is small and getting smaller all the time. However, they can make a lot of noise sometimes.

“I’m new to this. Can you explain what the Blueway Trail is?”

Absolutely, let’s take a step back.

Here is a map for your reference as we proceed.
Click on images to enlarge:

You can see the C-51 Canal. West Palm Beach is to the north, City of Lake Worth to the south.

Here is an aerial photo of the area.

Water in the C-51 canal flows east into the Intracoastal.

Boats and pleasure craft could easily make their way into the Intracoastal but for the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) “Spillway Control Structure S-155” marked by the large black “x” in the map above. This structure is called a ‘spillway’ by most of the public and that is actually untrue. Water doesn’t spill over the structure; the gates rise and water flows under the gates, not over. But that’s a small matter.

The discussion by many in the south end of West Palm Beach and in the City of Lake Worth as well is about looking at the C-51 Canal in an entirely new way. For example, when you enter Lake Worth, to the west, you’ll see a large, mostly vacant shopping center with the back of the structure facing the canal.

Many envision this changing in the future with buildings and new development facing the canal.

Instead of a “spillway” blocking access by water, the public (recreational boaters, kayakers, canoes, etc.) will have access to the Intracoastal and also access from the Intracoastal to communities to the west such as Lake Clarke Shores, Palm Springs, and even the County’s John Prince Park.

Sounds like a good idea, right? Unless you are one of that group in Lake Worth that rather keep the C-51 what it is now, a moat of sorts to ‘save’ our wonderfully ‘charming’ little City.

As it is right now the cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth share a waterway that does nothing but act as a drain — that’s it — it serves no public purpose other than that. Kayakers never use it and neither do people in canoes. Once in a while you’ll see a small watercraft in the C-51 turning around when they see the warning signs not to proceed any further. Now and then you’ll see people fishing west of the Spillway. That’s about it. 

Along the C-51, just east of the Spillway on the Lake Worth side, is a park called “Spillway Park”. Access to the park by car is Maryland Dr. off Federal Hwy. (or Olive as it’s called north of the C-51). Spillway Park has undergone recent improvements and the editor at The Lake Worth Herald has some things to say about that. The actual Spillway structure is closed to the public. When you walk up to the fence at the Spillway it looks like a wonderful bike and pedestrian path and maybe that will happen some day. 

The point is that the future of the south end in West Palm Beach won’t happen in a bubble and neither will the future of our Dixie Hwy. in Lake Worth. In many ways the public in West Palm Beach want the same things we do: a walkable, bikeable city that’s safe, fun, and accessible for everyone. We can help each other and in many ways that’s already happening.

Many are excited about the Blueway Trail project and I hope after reading this you will get excited too. Get involved, attend meetings, and contact your elected officials as well!

Thank You for visiting today.

Worth Another Look: Highlights from Jeff Perlman’s talk at the Bourbon Sprawl gathering in West Palm Beach.

Please Note: This month’s guest speaker at the “Bourbon Sprawl” at Hullabaloo (517 Clematis St.) in West Palm Beach will be West Palm Beach Commissioner Shanon Materio. Save the date, Wednesday, July 19th at 6:00.

This blog post is a follow-up with more details about the monthly meeting last month at Hullabaloo. Use this link to learn about some exciting things happening in, of all places, the downtown parking garages in West Palm.

On June 21st about 20 people interested in cities, local politics and emerging trends came to hear author and former Delray Beach Mayor Jeff Perlman.

 

A view of the monthly talk at the sub-culture “gastro-pub” Hullabaloo.

The following are some of the highlights of Perlman’s talk — this is not a verbatim account of what he said — but things that stood out from my point of view.

One of the more important themes of his discussion was that our cities in Palm Beach County are where things are going to get done and problems solved in the future. This will require collaboration on a new level among local governments. He proclaimed that Washington, D.C., meaning the Federal government, is broken and cannot be relied upon to help us. And the problems are not going away on their own.

He believes the current system that elects our representatives to go to Washington, D.C. does not attract the most qualified. Instead, it tends to attract individuals that have polar and opposite world views. He talked about how the public square has been made “toxic” and the best, brightest candidates are not going to take part of the political process to lead in that sort of environment. He pointed at the recent Georgia Congressional race where nearly $50M was spent, most of it on negative campaigning.

The conversation in Georgia was all about what was wrong with the opponent rather than a conversation about addressing problems in a positive way. He wanted us to think about all the ways $50M could be spent to address the real needs in our communities. This was just one political campaign in the State of Georgia: $50M — many more millions of dollars are going to be spent in future races just like the one in Georgia — here in the State of Florida too.

Then he talked about his local government experience in Delray. He remembered how before Delray’s turnaround many years back one of their residents opined Delray Beach was “circling the bowl”, or put another way, on death’s door. He added success doesn’t happen by accident. You have to get the right group of people together and then focus on outcomes rather than the process.

It is important, Perlman said, to “put things in the outbox”, realizing some projects and initiatives may not be perfect but you have to move on. You can always go back to adjust and make corrections later. Get things done! In order to do this you have to bring on the right people with the talent and the skills.

Perlman reminded everyone it can take 10–20 years to rebuild a city. But it can take as short as a year or two to tear down all that hard work and all those accomplishments.

When the wrong people get in office — the ones that just want to undo what others have done — you have to take on a defensive posture to try and preserve what you created. That’s why it is so important to recruit future leaders that share a position and a vision for the future and even more importantly, they have the skill sets and talent to bring those to fruition.

He then spoke about Benjamin R. Barber’s book, If Mayors Ruled The World. In the future cities will have to collaborate as never before. The right people have to be in the right places. The public square needs to be made attractive again to bring forward those people. We need to do this in order to respect the past, respond to the present, and prepare the field for future generations.

Locally, Perlman says one of our universities or colleges needs to create an “Institute for Public Leadership”. This will help produce the kind of leaders this collaborative future will demand. We also have to recruit people that show promise and encourage them to volunteer on local government boards. This will give them confidence and experience when they enter the public square and go on to be our future elected officials.

Lastly, following his remarks, he offered these important reminders:

• You may have geographic divides, e.g. east/west in your city, but the downtown belongs to everyone. It is the center and a key part of your city’s identity.
• He talked about the importance of neighborhood teams tasked with one year of planning and then one year of implementation.
• He shrugged off questions about, “if he had any regrets” by saying, “the work is never done.”
• Perlman praised the YIMBY movement, the group “Better Boulder” and Strong Towns as well.

It was a pleasure listening to Jeff Perlman and attend another of his enlightening and engaging talks. If you ever get a chance to attend one of these events I strongly encourage you to make the time and go hear what he has to say.

Daily Progress Report. Gulfstream Hotel, Lake Worth, Florida.

Saturday, July 8th, 2017.

“Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves.”
—Julia Morgan, American architect, 1872–1957.


The video below is from early last year, following all the initial excitement our Gulfstream Hotel was to shortly begin its renovation and spring back to life:



“Maybe it’s our Gulfstream Hotel, still an eyesore in our Downtown following all that excitement in January 2016, that stands a constant reminder what historic preservation cannot do. What needs to happen is not happening.”

Why are there no press releases, community, or neighborhood updates about what’s happening with the Gulfstream Hotel? Do you want to know?

Contact Hudson Holdings, a company specializing in “adaptive reuse of premier historic structures”, using this link or call 561-768-7621. For the Gulfstream Hotel’s Facebook page use this link. Email: info@hudsonholdings.com

Stay tuned for another “Progress Report” tomorrow.

Daily Progress Reports:

• Friday, July 7th: Email from Hudson Holdings dated March 31st, 2017, “More good news from Hudson Holdings. The Gulfstream Hotel is a GO!”, following District Court of Appeals ruling.
• Thursday, July 6th: “This sidewalk is nearly impassable due to all the unkempt vegetation and weeds.”
• Wednesday, July 5th: “I do not believe anything Hudson Holdings says,” one resident posted on the Facebook page Lake Worth Local. “Look at how they let the property deteriorate.”
• Tuesday, July 4th: “Once referred to as the ‘Jewell of Lake Worth’ . . . this elegant property is undergoing a multi-million dollar face lift.”
• Monday, July 3rd: “A tree growing out of the structure cannot be good for this ‘elegant’ structure. Simple pruning shears would help this ‘multi-million dollar facelift.’ ”
• Sunday, July 2nd: Special treat, “Preserving Tomorrow”. Watch this video, Hudson Holdings “is a national historic property developer”.
• Saturday, July 1st: “[T]his elegant property is undergoing a multi-million dollar face lift”, according to Hudson Holdings’ website.
• Friday, June 30th: “5 Star Luxury - Coming Winter 2015”.
• Thursday, June 29th: “Grand Reopening of Lake Worth’s Historic Landmark”.
• Wednesday, June 28th (windows left open all the time and plywood for security of the structure).

“This city is what it is because our citizens are what they are.”

—Plato.

“PHOTOS: Testa’s Restaurant through the years”

Use this link to see the photo gallery in the Palm Beach Daily News, aka The Shiny Sheet:

Testa’s “opened in December 1921 and settled in 1946 in its current digs at 221 Royal Poinciana Way. The Palm Beach restaurant began staying open year round in 1990 after operating seasonally between Palm Beach and Bar Harbor for about 60 years.”

From the Testa’s Restaurant website:

“Mike [Testa] moved to Palm Beach, Florida 1921. He opened a small soda fountain in the old Garden Theater from December 1921 until November 1929. Testa’s Palm Beach began with seven seats, one table for four and a small table for two.”

“CORRECTION” in The Palm Beach Post today. This one is a whopper.

“Because of a reporting error, a story in Friday’s Palm Beach Post [link added] incorrectly stated that Virginia Giuffre claimed that she had sex with former President Bill Clinton. [emphasis added] While Giuffre claimed Palm Beach billionaire Jeffrey Epstein allowed his famous friends to use her for sex when she was a teen, she said only that Clinton was at Epstein’s estate in the Virgin Islands when she was there. The error appeared in a story about an upcoming civil trial on Page 4 of the Local & Business section.”

It would be nice to get a “CORRECTION” or “CLARIFICATION” for this item published last Thursday in the Local section, page B3; but that will never happen:

Lake Worth

Grouper workshop scheduled for July 31st

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has scheduled a public workshop to be held July 31 in Lake Worth to gather input on Goliath grouper management, including the possibility of a limited harvest in Florida state waters.

This workshop IS NOT “in Lake Worth”.

It’s being held at the Lantana Road Branch Library west of Lantana in suburban Lake Worth. The address is 4020 Lantana Rd., 33462. To learn more about Zip Codes in Central Palm Beach County use this link.

Lake Worth pioneers assembled for a group portrait in 1919

Photo credit: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory collection.