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Letters to Boca First

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Subject:  Survival Chances

The title of Jim’s excellent article should be “You Didn’t Get What You Were Promised.” Back when I founded Boca Beautiful, the “fix” was in. Developers were able to twist or ignore the standards in Ordinance 4035 to maximize square foot profit. Do you see anything resembling Addison Mizner in the sterile boxes that are the Hyatt and the Mark? If you like Via Mizner, you’ll love it when it is three boxes instead of one. The City Council shamelessly amended the rules to allow Tower 155 to be build on a lot that is way too small for its bulk. The apartments may be elegant inside, but outside Boca’s citizenry (and neighboring small businesses) get to look at the incredible hulk. Palmetto Promenade was extremely controversial, but developers managed to break up its mass with clever design. I was actively involved in opposition to the Alina on SE Mizner Boulevard, but we reached a COMPROMISE with the developer after hard fought negotiations involving the newly-elected City Council. It’s not yet finished, but what is going up seems to be the most attractive new building in East Boca. The lesson from all this is to listen to those who are most affected by new construction, i.e. the neighbors, and follow the aesthetic guidelines that are set forth in the law. Avarice and inattention to those guidelines are what brought the Ugly Sisters to Downtown Boca. 

John Gore
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Subject:  WildFlower & Silver Palm Park

My son is a resident of Boca. He owns a boat but launches it in Delray. There are many reason , mostly because Silver Palm is chaos. Everyone driving around look for a spot to park, boaters and people who want to just relax and view the intracoastal water way. Then Rangers who are not helpful . There was a mom who is going to get picked up for her birthday of boating with her friends at Silver Palm, by her son. 

No where to park. No where to park. No where to park . It has been 11 years since the purchase of Wildflower, i know because i took the original picture that started the ball rolling for the property to become a community place for all to enjoy. I find it ridiculous that all of this is taking so long , believing too many egos are involved. How long is long enough ? 

Linda Jackson
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Subject:  Wildflower Park 

IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING ANY ROAD WILL TAKE YOU THERE: 

You cannot expect a superior outcome from an inferior process. I attended one meeting where EDSA made a presentation to the City Council and at best I would describe the decision making process as ‘the art of muddling through’ It was impossible to differentiate between a ‘decision’ versus a ‘suggestion’ versus a ‘random comment’. It only took about 15 minutes for me to want to tear my hair out. At the outset the city should have given EDSA two things – a set of criteria (deterministic versus constraint) and a budget. From that point there could only be three possible outcomes: 

1. A design that meets the criteria and the budget 

2.A design that meets the budget but not the criteria 

3. A design that meets the criteria but not the budget 

Given these three scenarios – I have no idea where we are. 

I also have some concerns around how EDSA is being compensated for their work. It they’re on a fixed price contract then they are fools and if they’re on a monthly retainer then we are fools. 

Ian MacDougall
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Subject:  Wildflower Park 

It is a disgrace that our City Council cannot move forward on this project. And even more of a disgrace is that the “projected costs” are absolutely ridiculous. If this project had been given to a private entity it would have been done. Does the City Council even know what the annual maintenance costs will be after completion? Why is the City even getting involved? Do we really NEED another multi-million park? The property should be sold or leased to private enterprises who will pay for and maintain all the improvements. And the City will be collecting property taxes forever! 

Dee Petinakis
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Subject:  Are we in this together? 

Should your data come with an asterisk given that Rebekah Jones, the architect of Florida’s COVID-19 dashboard claims that was removed from her position because she was ordered to censor some data, but refused to “manually change data to drum up support for the plan to reopen.” 

Ian MacDougall
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Subject:  Are we in this together? 

Excellent to read professionally-tabulated statistics without an agenda or bias attached. Too often, articles on this emotionally-charged subject are written from the point of view of “Here’s the conclusion, get me some “facts” and “experts” to back it up. We are also confronted daily with false dilemmas, such as “do you want to open the economy or save lives?” As a long-time political observer, sadly I have to say that we are not all in this together. We should be. I believe there will be numbers in November that support my thesis.

JOHN GORE
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