By WILLIE HOWARD
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Updated: 10:04 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012
Posted: 9:48 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012
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LAKE WORTH — Commissioners approved three leases for the new casino building at Lake Worth Beach late Tuesday night, then repealed two of them in a 3-2 vote early this morning amid questions about the process of leasing to a former longtime tenant of the old casino.

"It's an embarrassment," Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill said, referring to the time spent approving, then rescinding leases with Fox Surf and Beach Shop and NYPD Pizza.

Mulvehill, who voted against rescinding the newly approved leases, left the commission chambers and paused to regain her composure before reentering the meeting.

"I'm shaking," she said.

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Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Updated: 10:32 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010

Posted: 5:54 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010

LAKE WORTH — REG Architects presented a conceptual design for the Lake Worth casino today that blends the style of the original 1922 building with eco-friendly features and what the firm estimates is enough commercial space to cover the cost of the renovation.

The northern half of the casino is designed in a Mediterranean Revival style similar to the original W.B. Eckler design, with arched walkways, a second-floor terrace where visitors could look out over the ocean and a domed tower at the northeast corner.

The southern part near the city pool has a more modern Tuscan Revival style, said William Waters, project manager for REG.

"We're going to create a waterfront village so the whole feeling of the project has a little variety," said Rick Gonzalez, president of REG Architects.

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By Willie Howard

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Updated: 7:08 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010

Posted: 6:18 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010

LAKE WORTH — Dozens of residents came to the Compass Community Center Saturday to share ideas about something city officials have been discussing for more than 30 years: renovating the casino building at Lake Worth Beach.

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7/14/10

LAKE WORTH — Architects planning the overhaul of the casino at Lake Worth Beach have received more than 150 responses so far to a survey that asks how the historic building should look and be used.

The "casino charrette questionnaire" is available online at www.Lakeworth.org and in hard copy at city hall, the city library, the Osborne Community Center and in a drop box next to the Casino Dairy Bar at the casino.

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7/6/10

The Commission majority "Blessed" the scheduling of the first of two community Charettes to garner input on the design of the Beach Casino building.

Unfortunately, in stark contrast to the time and care afforded Beach charettes of years past..only 3 hours are being allocated for each of the two events.

6 Hours! 

Imagine this, the amount of time allocated for arguably the most important city project in nearly a century, is dwarfed by contrast to the hours and effort repeatedly expended by the City Commission on a laundry list of irrelevant & misguided issues, for example...

• the condemnation of the Arizona Immigration law, 
• the attempted obstruction of a new Publix for our downtown,
• plastic bag ordinances,
• sister city presentations,
• Commission "Visioning" sessions, etc.

...and in the end, the truly unfortunate reality is that there seems to be no clear means of funding this beach project given the precarious financial situation the city finds itself. 

Frankly, I expect this Charette process to be used solely for political gain during this November election cycle with no real commitment to seeing the project advance.  Just a lot of energy talking about "saving the beach", I hope I'm wrong, only time will tell.

6/15/10

By Willie Howard

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Posted: 9:58 p.m. Tuesday, June 15, 2010

LAKE WORTH — City commissioners Tuesday approved a contract with REG Architects to design the renovation of the historic casino building at Lake Worth Beach.

Approval of the contract came in a 4-1 vote despite concerns that the city has no financing plan in place to rebuild the casino, a job expected to cost $6.5 million. Commissioner Scott Maxwell dissented.

The $460,000 contract with the West Palm Beach is written in phases. The city manager was instructed to provide funding for the $75,000 first phase.

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