City Considers New Development on Waterfront
Posted by Sandy on August 11, 2023 · Leave a Comment
WPTV (Channel 5) Ethan Stein has a new story on the city’s plan for the waterfront. Below are excerpts from the story. My comments in italic. Please take the time to read Channel 5 story and see emails between City Attorney and City Administrator and pictures of the great lawn.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — “The city of West Palm Beach is exploring development beyond a new marina on its waterfront.”
“Emails, which WPTV received from a public records request, show Mayor Keith James asked to begin discussions about projects along the waterfront targeting the Banyan Street parking garage and the great lawn on Clematis Street.”
I have no knowledge of the city’s plan for the Banyan St. garage. I do know going to dinner, having a before dinner cocktail, dinner, desert and coffee. Best move the car within 2 hours or receive a $35.00 fine. I attended the City Commission meeting was there for 4 hours and leaving I was charged $12.00 parking fee. It’s important to remember if you attend the meetings bring your ticket with you for validation.
“Diane Papadakos, who is the director of communications for the city of West Palm Beach, said the city is working on a plan to understand people’s perspective on amenities along the waterfront in an email.”
I believe people’s perspective on amenities has been discussed multiple times in calls and emails to city commissioners, visits to city commission meetings where people spoke out with the same message. Leave our waterfront alone.
“[The] mayor is forming a committee to discuss how to activate the waterfront,” she wrote. “They are working on a plan now.”
I wrote asking residents to keep an eye on what would be coming down the pike and tried to warn residents James was not done with his plans for a marina. There was enough of an uproar they had to calm residents down and forget about the marina. It worked, people started celebrating, thinking they have won and went back to their business.
“Papadakos said the only idea she remembered hearing was a children’s playground area. She didn’t comment if plans for those projects were affected after the council ended negotiations with a marina developer in July.”
“She didn’t comment” was a comment in it’s self.
The great lawn, which is located at 100 Clematis St., is a green space area for the public to use for a wide arrange of activities. It also has become a place where homeless people seek shelter.”
This is the spot the FNB (Food Not Bombs) uses Saturday between 4:30 and 6:00 PM to give a hot meal to the homeless.
I attend these feedings and I police the area to insure trash is not left behind. The FNB crew also do an excellent job of cleaning up the area before they depart. The city and residents have no complaints about trash being left behind.
Another issue concerning the homeless is late July during a sever thunder and lighting storm the homeless sought protection under an awning to escape the torrential down pour when a PSC security guard approached a group of homeless stuck her phone with a picture of a “No trespass” sign in their face and demanded they leave the area.
My understanding is a group left, while one woman stood her ground. The situation escalated, the police were called the woman received a notice to appear in court. If found guilty, she could receive a fine of $500.00 and spend the next 60 days in Jail, or both. This should please Mayor James as he declared war on the homeless soon after being elected.
Read Diana and Freddy Naranjo comment along with Telly Jones comment when interviewed by Channel 5. Read the entire story below.
The end