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| Rendition of the proposed project - Vomit |
Blame: Last week I attended yet another West Palm Beach City Council Meeting. It was a packed one. There was a hot button issue; the Chapel by the Lake. It's a love story between church, politicians and big business.
Here's the backstory as I understand it, Chapel by the Lake was owned by First Baptist Church, a church where the wealthy prayed. Unfortunately, the wealthy either weren't attending or tithing so the church found itself in financial need. In their time of financial need they voted to sell the property (tax free) adjacent from the church, known as Chapel by the Lake. Developers swooped in to build yet another condo tower where millionaires can purchase a place so that they have somewhere to crash after they pull up in their yachts. But first they had to turn to the city's politicians for permission to develop.
Which brings us to last week's meeting which consisted of developers consuming some eighty minutes answering questions from council members (for show), Mayor Jeri Muoio acting like she's still in the school house and citizens noisily expressing their anger with the project. I will say it was interesting to see rich people get screwed over by other rich people. Inter coastal property ain't cheap in West Palm Beach.
The developers demonstrated to the packed house how they plan to make this too large project, just small enough to receive countless waivers from the city so they can still build these extravagant condos. With 75 condos wearing a $5 million dollar price tag, it's gonna be worth the $23 million (tax free) they paid for it after selling to five people. Oh and minus what the council members got paid. But probably still worth it.
And hey the church is happy. But you know who's not happy? The citizens who already bought property in that area, the mom who loves to take a daily walk with the kids by the water, the commuter who on their daily drive gets a beautiful view of the coast. The bike rider who rides on the coastline for exercise. The people who are already there.
West Palm Beach is like a beautiful woman, who keeps getting unnecessary plastic surgery. It's a beautiful place why try to use cosmetics to make it into something it's not. That's what attracted me to live here. It is it's own South Florida gem. Not too flashy, like Miami, and not too dirty like Ft. Lauderdale. Authentic. But unfortunately they are trying to fill the ENTIRE South Florida coastline with gaudy, luxury apartment complexes. Doesn't Florida already have enough? Vomit.
Here's the backstory as I understand it, Chapel by the Lake was owned by First Baptist Church, a church where the wealthy prayed. Unfortunately, the wealthy either weren't attending or tithing so the church found itself in financial need. In their time of financial need they voted to sell the property (tax free) adjacent from the church, known as Chapel by the Lake. Developers swooped in to build yet another condo tower where millionaires can purchase a place so that they have somewhere to crash after they pull up in their yachts. But first they had to turn to the city's politicians for permission to develop.
Which brings us to last week's meeting which consisted of developers consuming some eighty minutes answering questions from council members (for show), Mayor Jeri Muoio acting like she's still in the school house and citizens noisily expressing their anger with the project. I will say it was interesting to see rich people get screwed over by other rich people. Inter coastal property ain't cheap in West Palm Beach. The developers demonstrated to the packed house how they plan to make this too large project, just small enough to receive countless waivers from the city so they can still build these extravagant condos. With 75 condos wearing a $5 million dollar price tag, it's gonna be worth the $23 million (tax free) they paid for it after selling to five people. Oh and minus what the council members got paid. But probably still worth it.
And hey the church is happy. But you know who's not happy? The citizens who already bought property in that area, the mom who loves to take a daily walk with the kids by the water, the commuter who on their daily drive gets a beautiful view of the coast. The bike rider who rides on the coastline for exercise. The people who are already there.
West Palm Beach is like a beautiful woman, who keeps getting unnecessary plastic surgery. It's a beautiful place why try to use cosmetics to make it into something it's not. That's what attracted me to live here. It is it's own South Florida gem. Not too flashy, like Miami, and not too dirty like Ft. Lauderdale. Authentic. But unfortunately they are trying to fill the ENTIRE South Florida coastline with gaudy, luxury apartment complexes. Doesn't Florida already have enough? Vomit.
