Some Fort Lauderdale residents would like to see a more pleasing skyline, and hope the new Bahia Mar Park, the projected $500 million redevelopment project on the Intracoastal Waterway, can be the way of the future.
"Bahia Mar is probably the most precious public land the city owns," Steve Glassman, president of the Central Beach Alliance, said during a recent meeting of the group with about 60 members in attendance. Peter Henn, LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels vice president, said he hopes the Bahia Mar Park Project will win unanimous vote of approval from the Alliance at its meeting in January. Henn offered a presentation to Alliance members – including miniatures of the proposed project and posterboards with before-and-after illustrations. His aim: to persuade members that Bahia Mar is exactly what the city needs. Project plans include a luxury hotel, two upscale residential buildings and a parking garage.
Alliance member Joe Panico said he liked the project and agreed that the land has been wasted.
"But you need to work on the aesthetics," he said. "The buildings have no 'wow' power."
"Visit Dubai or Barcelona, where the buildings are spectacular, not rectangular boxes," he said.
Beach resident Shirley Smith said the project is too big.
"The architecture is all right, but I'd love something more Mediterranean. There has to be a lot more talking," she said.
In other news:
Glassman announced said that the Beach Music Festival is scheduled for May 2009.
Capt. Victor London of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department said crime statistics in the Central Beach Alliance area are good news. There were 70 crimes between September and October, compared with 79 in the same period last year. Additionally, there was 809 calls for service compared with 860 in 2007.
source: sun-sentinel.com
link to the original post:
Alliance hopes Bahia can improve view
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Rory Vanucchi
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