Thursday, January 16, 2014

Chapel by the Sea - Speaking out and telling it like it is

Comment Up
January 16, 2014

Chapel offer quite the scam

A developer shows up at a business and offers to buy a portion of the property for three times what it’s worth, only, however, as long as he can get permission to build three times as much density allowed by code, with the understanding that the value of the land correlates proportionately with the density granted.

The business owner now has a strong interest in backing the additional density because he’s a partner at this stage. The more density, the more he makes. The developer now has a local voice in the community, promoting a deal even he thinks is over the top, however, what’s he got to lose? Go in big, get shot down, come back with only twice the allowed density and have the city crow about the developer’s willingness to compromise. In truth, the developer falsely inflates the value of the property, but in the end he paid twice the value but got twice the density.

Now, substitute “business owner” with Chapel-by-the-Sea.

James Downey
Boca Raton

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

One word sums this all up, greed.

Never put a church, priest, and clergy on a pedestal, they are the worst often times. Look at the Vatican, the richest institution in the world, what are they really doing for the poor, uneducated, and persecuted? The common man?

Anonymous said...

Sad to say but this is exactly what the developers do and get away wit it and the stupid commissioners end up by voting for them every time. Do they get rewarded??!?!!!!!

Anonymous said...

This times a 100, developer proposes project 4 times as big as he really wants. Comes back and cuts it down a bit, comes back a third time and cuts it down a bit more. City will say he has worked with community and addressed concerns. Despite the fact it still in complete violation of zoning, density, set back, traffic, etc.

City will approve it. Waterline, skyline forever altered. Of course, the next developer with a proposed high rise can simply point to the other ones already approved. Pretty soon it looks like Ft. Lauderdale and no one can get anywhere b/c the WPB roads simply can't handle current traffic.

Clearly these elected officials are getting some back room deal.

Anonymous said...

its negotiating...you start high and settle for less. you sweet'n the pot with some greenspace and pretty benches. LW will never be FTL..no need to worry bout that. But LW will be built out despite the objections of the few. all the blogs in the world cant stop progress. (One mans progress is another mans heartache)
just like Joni said:
"They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot"

Anonymous said...

Don't we live in a capitalistic society?
"clearly these elected officials are getting some backroom deal".
You're accusing someone of serious crimes. You obviously have proof.
Wait I'm on the wrong blog. On THIS blog anyone can make any wild accusation and that makes it true. Because this is the factual blog.

Lynn Anderson said...

Yeah, people are entitled to an opinion here and can debate the subject. how lucky is that. Just as long as they don't get vulgar and stay on topic.

Elected officials should be protecting our waterfronts and our environment and stop giving excuses for highrises and caving into developers for them to make small fortunes off our towns and cities. Greed is a sin and the church is part of that... pretty ironic I would say :) Ruining our skylines is a sin too. Put protections in place in the land development regulations and get responsible.

Anonymous said...

If you read the Post, it says that "some" residents think there should be nothing there at all.

Sound familiar?