Remind You of Anybody?

South Bryant Park Aerial Views

The “In Whose Hands?” post about South Bryant Park has received an extraordinary amount of interest and many well thought out comments.  Here are some aerial views that may be helpful in understanding the layout of the park and the surrounding neighborhood and streets.  Note that they were taken when the park was in its “original” configuration before any work was started.

Click on images to enlarge.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

In Whose Hands?

A battle was fought here; a one-sided battle that resulted in the decision-making process of the design of the south end of Bryant Park being surrendered to staff.   While many Lake Worth residents have heard there is an issue with the parking lot, there are many who do not live close to the park who may not be familiar with the original plan, what changed, and the plan subsequently developed by Joe Kroll and staff.

The original plan as shown on the signs at Bryant Park. (Click on image to enlarge)

As work progressed the contractor found that the tiebacks for the seawall extended further than expected and would necessitate moving the  location of the parking lot.  Upon learning that the parking lot needed to be moved an opportunity for revisiting the design of the park and improving the layout to maximize usable space presented itself.  At this juncture Mr. Kroll should have reported the situation to the City Manager who in turn would have informed the City Commission.

This, of course, was not the case and without informing his superiors Mr. Kroll altered the plans, placing parking for at least 39 cars in the interior of the park.

The current plan as submitted by Joe Kroll and staff. (Click on image to enlarge)

The backup material indicates that Mr. Kroll met with residents who “expressed an interest in having more usable park space and less asphalt”.   The same backup material also contains the following staff recommendation, “The proposed location can easily provide 50 spaces that existed before the seawall was rebuilt, and could also accommodate a more modest parking area if desired”. (italics added).

In a subsequent City Commission meeting  Commissioner Mulvehill  sought  compromise by presenting research indicating that more parking could be located on the streets around the park and in conjunction with existing parking in the north end of the park.  Also questioned was the location.   Mr. Kroll defended staff’s plan and noted that the proposed parking lot would be shielded from nearby homes by existing trees, thereby not affecting their view.  While some residents view of the parking lot will be blocked by existing greenery,  several homes will directly face the parking lot unless extensive planting is installed.

Homes facing the parking lot.  (Click on image to enlarge)

No compromise was brought forward by staff.   Mayor Varela, Vice Mayor Golden and Commissioner Maxwell voted to proceed with Mr. Kroll’s plan.

Many have sought to absolve Mr. Kroll of guilt by stating that he was working to finish the project in an “expeditious manner”.  Bryant Park is too valuable to have been treated as just a job to get done quickly.  Others have taken the position that it would have cost more to have pursued alternative ideas, but with no consideration for compromise or change, the actual costs were never discussed.

Recently, speaking about the Casino plan bids Vice Mayor Golden said, “The companies that I choose in this round … are going to have to let their egos go, because it’s going to be important that the public is involved.” Should  the public be any less involved at Bryant Park?  Parks are community assets that demand public input and often the involvement of  professional designers.  Other municipalities employ public surveys to first identify needs such as parking requirements before starting the design process.  Even design competitions are held to foster creative design and heighten public awareness.

The Project for Public Spaces,  a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public places that build communities, has this to say about parking:

The hang-up on parking is an indicator that a community has no broader vision for itself.

After researching the planning and design of public parks and parking lots it becomes apparent that if you design a park for cars you will get more cars, but if you design a park for people you will get more people.

Three votes took the future of Bryant Park out of the hands of the citizens and placed it in the hands of Joe Kroll.  It is unfair to expect Mr. Kroll to perform design work of this nature and it was irresponsible to vote to do so.  The Commission must reverse its position on Bryant Park and vote to explore solutions in keeping with their constituents’ desires instead of Mr. Kroll’s.

Green Day

The proverbial Luck of the Irish was evident this afternoon as clear skies and sunshine blessed the downtown Saint Patrick’s Parade.  Crowds packed the sidewalks, restaurants and bars before, during and after the parade and smiling eyes were shining everywhere.

The horses’ tails were green.

And so was Javier’s.

 Lake Worth’s self-proclaimed “token leprechaun”.

Pipers.

Now, this guy’s got to be Irish.

Miss Florida Junior Teen’s ride.

And Mrs. Florida’s ride.

 A parade isn’t a parade without baton twirlers.

 Or clowns.

This year’s award for the smallest amount of green fabric used in a costume.

 Bringing up the rear.

Getting clipped for a cause.

Just wait  until he gets his first drum. . .

Above The Fold

Here’s you chance to be the editor.  Submit the headline you’d like to see on the front page of the Lake Worth Herald.  The best entry will be photoshopped into a commemorative issue suitable for framing.

Everybody Must Get Stoned?

Click on image to enlarge.

Alley Oop

Such A Deal!

A call today to the phone number included on the signs at the Gulfstream Hotel confirmed the fact that it is indeed up for sale, in fact the owner has lowered the price from $30,000,000 to $17,750,000 in order to, “encourage a quick clean sale on this hotel”.

Here are some of the highlights from the information package for the Gulfstream, some of it appears to be out of date.

The Offering: Existing hotel ready for redevelopment. This hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is currently closed. Adjacent land for new development.

Existing Building: 65,360 Square Feet as per Current Tax Roll. A Six-story interior corridor building built in 1924 with 106 Guest rooms (15 of these are suites). 4000+ square feet of flexible meeting space and 100 Seat Restaurant 96 designated outdoor parking spaces in parcel adjacent to Hotel.

Land: Hotel Parcel is .71+/- Acre (30,928 square feet). Adjacent Parcel is 1.24+/- Acres

Location: This grand hotel is located on the lake between the city and the sea! The hotel sits on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway and fronts on Bryant Park. The views of Lake Worth and the Island of Palm Beach to the east are terrific. Downtown Lake Worth is home to the Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art, The Lake Worth Playhouse and the Museum of the City of Lake Worth. The Demetrius Klein Dance Company also resides in Lake Worth. Lake Worth is full of retail and restaurant options and plenty of outdoor activities too. The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is 15 minutes north in West Palm Beach. This hotel is extremely well located- close to beaches, golf, cultural destinations, shopping, eating and more. And the Palm Beach International Airport is just 6 miles away. Easy access to all points north, south, east and west.

Re-development: The hotel is currently closed with plans for redevelopment and new development. Current ownership planned to reconfigure existing guest rooms from 106 to 85 units ranging in size from 300-900 square feet and re-open the hotel’s 4000 square foot restaurant at street level. Meeting space was to be redesigned too. Phase 2 of the redevelopment plan included adding a large destination spa and gym, additional meeting rooms and 100 additional units designed to appeal to destination spa goers. The new guest rooms are expected to range in size from 450-475 square feet.

Price: Asking $30 Million (Please verify. Subject to change) (Note, the price is now $17,750,000.)

Comments: This property is in close proximity to the beach (3 minutes!) and the terrific and up and coming Lake Worth Proper Area.

This property is partially renovated and ready for complete renovation and repositioning and is unencumbered with management and/or flag!

A unique hotel with great upside potential!

Also sent along with the information packet were the estimated costs to reopen the hotel:

Gulfstream
Re-opening Budget
Hotel Rehab
HVAC			300,000
Elevators Repair & Basic Cab Rehab			75,000
Fire Sprinkler Panel			250,000
Roof			75,000
SE Corner Waterproof			60,000
Lobby & Common Area Rehab			75,000
Hotel Lobby Accessories			100,000
Pool, Landscape and Hot Tub			75,000
Western Parcel Demo, Parking Landscape			125,000
Restaurant Appliances			100,000
Carpet Rooms & Corridors			95,000
Paint Interior Rooms & Corridors			150,000
Paint & Re-key doors			24,500
Soft Costs
IT/Training			200,000
Marketing			300,000
Restaurant China & Inventory			120,000
Maid Carts/Bell Carts			15,000
Engineering & Supplies			20,000
Pool Furniture & Towels			50,000
Phone Equipment			Leased
FF&E Package
TV Flat Panel	111	650	72,150
Clock Radio & Phone	111	50	5,550
Bed	111	150	16,650
Safes	111	95	10,545
Mattresses	120	400	48,000
Side Tables	222	50	11,100
Lamps	222	50	11,100
Sleeper Sofas	20	500	10,000
Dressers	111	450	49,950
Desk	111	100	11,100
Chair	111	100	11,100
Artwork	222	75	16,650
Bedding/Linens/Towels/Pillows	222	550	122,100
Irons,Hairdryers,Hangers,Lugg Racks	111	50	5,550
Spray Tubs	111	375	41,625
Bath Mirrors & Bath Access	111	250	27,750
Room Products & Inventory	222	50	11,100
Miscellaneous			300,000
Total			2,991,520

Revive

If you attended Mayor Varela’s State of the City Address you heard him touch on the “Revive Lake Worth” initiative.  Revive Lake Worth focuses on the Economic, Environmental and Cultural sectors of our city that will use citizen and government involvement to jump-start our City’s revival.

Tom’s Page is lending a hand by displaying a few of the early contenders for the logo.

Your input is welcome and needed to make this campaign a success.  So have at it and post your comments.