Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Recognition of Architectural Review Board Chairman, Frank Gunther, AIA

By the Mayor & Board of Trustees

Mayor Dominick Longobardi

Tonight, the Village Board of Trustees is recognizing the Chairperson of the Village of Floral Parks Architectural Review Board (ARB) upon his retirement. On behalf of the Board of Trustee and the residents of Floral Park, thank you to Frank and Gail Gunther who have been so generous to the Floral Park community by serving and volunteering in so many organizations over these many years.

I would like to thank Frank especially this evening for his outstanding service as the Chairman of the Floral Park ARB. Frank has been the Chairman since 2003 and in that role he has helped many homeowners make their homes better because of his contributions to their design and construction projects. Frank always gave that little bit extra of his time and talent to make the home become that much more special. Architects enjoyed presenting before Frank and many were inspired by his ideas and leadership. Frank is a wonderful person and talented architect. He could enhance home designs and maintain the integrity of the charm and aesthetics of the Village homes, buildings and properties. Everyone benefited from his expertise.

I offer Gail a special thank you for sharing Frank with the Village these many years. There are many guests participating in the Zoom tribute tonight who wanted to recognize you, Frank and I will be turning it over to them shortly. Before I do, I just want to say now that the Zoom meeting platform is being widely used, you cannot retire. You are only a Zoom call away. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all that you have contributed to the beauty and charm of the Village of Floral Park these many decades.

I wish you and Gail every happiness as you start the next chapter of your lives in Pennsylvania. Thank you.

Deputy Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald

Frank, I would like to thank you for all of your efforts in making Floral Park look the way it does. It was not until my time on the Village Board that I came to know of the vast influence that you have had in shaping the aesthetics. I think besides all of the buildings and homes that you have approved as Chairman of the ARB, the thing that I will remember the most is the manner in which you worked with residents. You always offered them alternatives and knowing how precious their time was, many times you offered them additional time at the meeting for them to work with their architect to re-present their plans.

I would be remiss if I did not thank you for your guidance and wisdom as a member of the Belmont Task Force.

In closing, Frank thank you for your time and your influence will certainly be felt by many for generations to come. And thank you for showing all of us what a true public servant should look like.

Dr. Lynn Pombonyo, Trustee

Frank, tonight we salute your seventeen (and many more) years of meaningful service and valuable contributions to the residents and businesses of Floral Park. While I could speak for way too long about your extraordinary talents and skills, Ill pick one that I think has had and will have a lasting impact.

That is your ability to createaestheticsolutions to mathematical problems. As the Architectural Review Board (ARB) has considered the designs of ever-increasing numbers of large houses being proposed on some of our smaller pieces of property, we watched in awe as you worked your magic. You shared your vision and wisdom, reimagining the fronts and sides of houses that had been designed to maximize their footprints on the properties; instead, you envisioned their potential beauty. You taught homeowners, architects and all of us about setbacks that are different floor to floor; colorful, decorative siding; eye-catching porches, peaks and turrets; inviting entranceways and doors; breathtaking bay and bow windows that become portraits of lovely, outside landscapes; and so much more. You transformed the standard and routine, and inspired many homeowners and architects to value their homes aesthetic quality, over maximizing the size of their houses on the properties.

You are brilliant, creative and visionary, and your designs dazzle! I dare say, weve all enjoyed working with you and learning from you. Its been an honor.

Thank you for your decades of giving yourself, your time and your talents to the Village of Floral Park, and for making the places we call home beautiful, inside and out. May God bless you always.

Trustee Archie Cheng

Tonight, I am pleased to join the Village Board and the entire Floral Park family in thanking Frank Gunther for his years of service to our beloved Village. As a young boy, I would ride my bike from Braddock Avenue through our Village and knew that someday I wanted to live here. As a newly married couple, Denise and I picked Floral Park as our first home because of its charm, its character and for the beautiful homes.

Many tonight have spoken or will speak as to what Frank has accomplished over the past four plus decades. How through his leadership, he has preserved our character, charm and beauty, and those accolades are well deserved. However, I would like to tell you what Frank did and how he influenced me way back in 1990-91 while I was a trustee for the

Floral Park Bellerose School District. It was in 1990 that I met Frank. The district was about to embark on a most ambitious project. The district needed to build additions to the Floral Park Bellerose School and the John Lewis Childs School. These additions would add much needed classrooms to accommodate our growing student population. We also needed to expand our gymnasiums and make several other improvements. The cost of these improvements was 6.8 million dollars, an amount unheard of back then. We selected Frank and his firm to be our architects. It was a decision that the Board and the district never regretted. While Frank and I argued over fees many times, there was never an argument as to his ingenious architectural eye, his vision, and his way of designing improvements that met our needs while maintaining the character of our beautiful schools. He was at the forefront of our presentations in explaining our need and convincing the voters to approve this expenditure. He was our leader in how to make it happen and probably first and foremost, the architect who created the extensions to be compatible with the existing buildings.

For 40 plus years, Frank has brought that expertise, that tradition for keeping Floral Park what it is, and the ingenuity to help all residents who sought direction. I with the rest of the Village and the Floral Park Bellerose School District thank you for serving our Village so well. I hope you and Gail enjoy your retirement and never change your phone number because I know we will always need your expertise in the future. Thank you.

Trustee Frank Chiara

Congratulations Frank. Id like to thank you for all of your service to the ARB. You will be forever remembered as the Muntin Man as I look at all of the windows in Floral Park. Your attention to detail and your willingness to share your expertise are equally amazing. Most applicants that presented before you at the ARB were left satisfied and even smiling, quite an accomplishment. You always took the time to work with the homeowners and many new architects enjoyed learning from you. The Village of Floral Park is very grateful to you and now with the Zoom capabilities, the Building Department and the ARB will still be able to include you in the meetings. The Village of Floral Park cannot thank you enough. We wish you and your family the best of luck and hope that you enjoy your new home. You will be forever be remembered as The Architect of Floral Park. May God bless you and your family.

BOARD REPORTS

Belmont Redevelopment Project Deputy Mayor Fitzgerald

Last week the ESD released at Proposed Modifications to the 2019 General Project Plan. They are looking to modify 4 specific items: 1) Relocation of 25,000 gross square feet (gsf) of retail from Site A to Site B. No change to total square footage of retail; 2) Replacement of the Site B parking beneath the retail village with a free-standing, aboveground parking structure and related modifications to the Site B site plan; 3) Substitution of the landscaped berm on Site B with a 10-foot wall with plantings and landscaping along the eastern perimeter of Site B; and 4) Inclusion of a hydrogen fuel cell technology option for on-site shuttle buses. Additionally, in the document there is discussions with regards to the new train station and adjustments that are being made to visual barriers as the station is being moved slightly further west than originally planned. It is our understanding that there will be a public hearing on these changes. The document can be found at the ESD website and we will post on our website tomorrow under the Belmont Redevelopment News section.

Fire Department Update Trustee Pombonyo

On an early Sunday morning, November 22nd at 3 a.m., our police and fire departments responded to yet another major fire, this one at a home on Webster Street. Trustee and Fire Commissioner Archie Cheng, who always responds to Village fires, was unable to do so this time and, since I could see the intense flames from my home, which is about a block away, I was right there at the time.

Once again, our fire department, working with several mutual aid departments, did an outstanding job attacking the fire from both inside and out, and putting water on the two adjacent homes (which did suffer siding damage due to the intense heat). Most importantly, the families and their pets all got out of their homes safely and were taken care of by our dedicated Rescue Squad and their very kind neighbors. The fire was extinguished in about ninety minutes with the use of two tower ladders, including Floral Parks. The house on fire suffered extensive damage, but we are grateful that there were no serious injuries or fatalities, and the fire did not spread.

Several neighbors on Webster Street asked me to convey their tremendous gratitude to our fire and police departments for their courage and hard work in saving lives and property.

This was the third Village fire in eight weeks. Indeed, thanks to Floral Parks bravest and finest from all of Floral Park. And we wish the families, whose homes were so damaged by the fire, well.

Conservation Society Trustee Pombonyo

Thanksgiving weekend continued to be a busy time at Centennial Gardens with over 500 visitors entering and enjoying the beautiful fall foliage during the very sunny, warm and pleasant days. On Sunday, the 29th, the Gardens closed for the winter, leaving the outer brick path open and benches available for viewing nature as winter approaches.

All our Centennial Gardens fans will want to take a look at the Centennial Gardens 2021 Calendar. It is filled with magnificent photos of the flowers, trees and birds that make our Gardens so unique and special. Please check the Floral Park Centennial Gardens Facebook page, take a peek, and get your own copy of this lovely photo journal.

Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce and Our Businesses Trustee Pombonyo

We congratulate the Park Place restaurant on their move to a new and exciting location, the Olde Trading Post restaurant in New Hyde Park. We wish them great success and look forward to the possibility of their continuing a business in Floral Park as well.

Work on the site of the fire will continue, as the property owners and our Building Department move the recovery process forward.

Meanwhile, on Covert and Tulip Avenues and Jericho Turnpike, the holiday season has arrived. Suggestions for your holiday shopping include strolling along our business thoroughfares and looking for new and different gift ideas in our beautifully decorated store windows; checking the individual business websites and Facebook pages to view the merchandise and learn about all the specials; and perusing the Covert Avenue and Floral Park Chambers of Commerce Facebook pages and/or websites to see all that our local businesses bring to a joyous holiday season. And, now, please SHOP, EAT, SPEND AND ENJOY LOCAL as we all support our Floral Park and Stewart Manor businesses.

Our Holiday Season Trustee Pombonyo

Thanks to our residents and businesses for the sparkling holiday decorations and lights that have begun to adorn our neighborhoods. Enjoy walking and driving throughout the Village to take in these beautiful displays as well as the magnificent Christmas trees which will shine brightly in the coming weeks.

Fire Department Trustee Cheng

Inasmuch as I could not respond to the house fire on Webster, I want to thank Lynn for giving the report on our Departments response. We are all thankful that there were no injuries and as always thanks to the Fire Department for their bravery and dedication.

Third Track & LIRR Trustee Cheng

The three new elevators at the Floral Park train station are currently being tested and testing should be completed by the end of December. They all should be in service the first week of January if the test results show safe operation. Sound and retaining wall installation on the north side of the main line Right of Way (ROW) near Charles Street is now slated to begin the end of January. All materials have been procured so there should be no more delays.

Library Trustee Chiara

At the Library, the Food for Fines program was very successful. The overwhelming generosity of the patrons allowed the library staff to make multiple trips to the Our Lady of Victory food pantry with a large amount of food donations. With all that is going on with this pandemic our patrons showed how much they cared for all others who are in need. Im sure it helped make for a Happy Thanksgiving. THANK YOU to all who donated.

The Library virtual programs continue and a Holiday Concert with Niamh Hyland will be held on December 13, at 4 p.m. Niamh, a former Floral Park resident, will sing well-known holiday tunes. Her performance of Silent Night in several languages, including Gaelic, is not to be missed. Those interested can register online or call the reference desk for assistance. This Library Holiday Concert will be held on zoom.

On Monday, December 14,from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the St. Francis Hospital health van will be curbside at the Library. The van will offer free health screening, including free flu shots. No appointments are necessary.

Building Department Trustee Chiara

The Building Department, with the assistance of DPW, installed a mail slot to the right of the front door for use during times when the department is closed or for those wishing to maintain social distancing. Starting January 1, all Building Department forms will be updated and posted on the Village website. There will be minor modifications to most forms and some new forms will be added to expedite disapprovals if a variance is needed and a process to implement full electronic review of drawings.

A Covert Avenue debris clean-up will start on Monday Dec. 7th, weather permitting. This clean-up will include debris outside and inside of the buildings affected by the recent fire. The main structures will remain, until all debris removal is completed and the buildings are further evaluated.

Police Department Trustee Chiara

The Floral Park Police Dept. is helping coordinate Tricias Kids 2nd Annual Toy Donation Drive-by on Saturday, December 5 staring at 12 p.m. Participants please arrive at the Carlton Parking Lot at 11:30 a.m. The car parade will start in the parking lot across from 1 Floral Blvd., ending at 200 West Poplar St. Unwrapped toys can be donated to make for a brighter Christmas for children who are in need. The rain date is Sunday, December 6.

This event is in support of the efforts of the Big Brothers and Sisters and the John Theissen childrens foundations.

Check out the Tuesdays Traffic Tips on the Floral Park Police Dept. Facebook page for updates on helpful traffic tips. With the holiday season upon us, the Police Dept. reminds all to be careful while driving within our community and please obey all traffic laws. Also remove, as soon as possible, packages that are delivered to your homes or ask your neighbors to do so to avoid any unwanted events.

Mayors Report Mayor Longobardi

Mayor Longobardi reported that the Annual Tree Lighting at Memorial Park is scheduled for December 4, 2020, at 6 p.m. The Junior Womens Club of Floral Park and Our Lady of Victory help coordinate this wonderful evening. Fr. Tom Fusco will be blessing the Manger at 6 p.m. followed by the lighting of the tree. Due to Governor Cuomos most recent COVID-19 regulations, the Tree Lighting will be virtual only. You are all invited to join us on Facebook for the live streaming of this special tradition. The recent Governors Executive Orders unfortunately do not allow crowds to gather so to keep everyone safe please enjoy it virtually and visit the tree with your family during the holiday season. The Village and many of its organizations are creating special events to help all of us enjoy the holidays safely this season. Perhaps you can enjoy dinner at a local a restaurant, shop locally and enjoy the neighborhood to celebrate the holidays.

Thank you to the brave volunteers of the Floral Park Fire Department who responded d to the fire on Webster Avenue. It was a very serious fire and fortunately, resident and their family pets were evacuated safely and the fire was extinguished in under two hours. It is a testament to the amazing group of volunteers in the Fire Department and Rescue Squad along with our DPW, Building Department and Police Department employees who provided their expertise in these dangerous situations. Thank you to Trustee Lynn Pombonyo who responded for the Board of Trustees and reported details earlier.

Finally, on behalf of the Longobardi family, I would like thank everyone in the community for their outpouring of well wishes and texts to express their concern for all of the members of my family during the past few weeks. We are very touched and truly appreciative.

There is one more meeting on December 15for the 2020 year. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to thank everyone for their kindness and patience throughout the unprecedented events of this past year. Floral Park is the model community of showing what we can do to help each other when we all work together. We wish all of you and your families and friends a very safe and Happy Holiday season. Please support the local businesses and enjoy the holidays close to home in Floral Park, truly the greatest place to live. Thank you.

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Floral Park Board of Trustee Report from Dec. 1 meeting - Community News - The Island Now

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NEWBURYPORT A second James Steam Mill resident tested positive for COVID-19 last week, prompting the management company to suspend construction there and issue a warning to tenants.

There are 99federal subsidizedunits at the Charles Street complex, which houses people62 years old and up and peoplewith disabilities.The former mill building is overseen by SHP Management Corp., a private company, and not the Newburyport Housing Authority.

The announcement of a second resident testing positive comes less than two months after SHP said a second employee tested positive for the potentially fatal virus.

Company President Matt Brucker said no other residents have tested positive since the announcement.

"As far as I know, it's only one. We are confident all residents make us aware when there's a positive test," Brucker said.

In response to the positive test,SHP distributed a flyer asking residents to adhere to allCenters for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and practice good hygiene.

"Behave as if everyone is positive because we just don't know who may be positive," Brucker said.

At the time of the positive test, contractors weremaking electrical upgrades, installing new kitchen cabinets, and making general repairsto theconverted brick mill building. Brucker said those projectswould resume in about a week.

But James Steam Mill resident Clive Lee called for all nonessential work to cease until residentsare vaccinated.

"Its simple, it has always been simple. Why paint doors that dont need painting? The carpet is serviceable and presentable it can wait to be replaced. The kitchens are serviceable no need to upgrade them now," Lee said in an email. "We have a pandemic raging and they carry on regardless."

The first James Steam Mill resident tested positive in late May or early June while in the hospital. A similar flyer was distributed to residents but repairs to an inoperative elevator continued on schedule. Brucker said Thursday the project was completed "a couple months ago."

Word of the facility's first COVID-19 case comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve the firstvaccinenext week. Earlier this week, CDC officials voted to distribute the first batch of vaccines to nursing home residents, others in residential care facilities and health care workers.

Since the pandemic hit the U.S. in late February, those living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities have been among the hardest hit groups in the nation with tens of thousands of deaths recorded. To date, more than 270,000 people have died from the virus in the U.S.

Brucker said he has yet to hear fromU.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development officials as to whether James Steam Mill residentswould be among the first in line to receive vaccinations.

"We basically know what you know by watching the news," Bruckertold a Daily News reporter.

Staff writer Dave Rogers can be reached at drogers@newburyportnews.com. Follow him on Twitter@drogers41008.

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.

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Second James Steam Mill resident tests positive for COVID - The Daily News of Newburyport

In just 6.5 meters wide, the typical width of an Huelva-type macro tunnel, ten cultivation gutters are installed. This is done thanks to the new cultivation system of NGS, the Rotational NGS System. "This translates into 15,300 linear meters of cultivation gutter per hectare."

"We've designed this new cultivation system, specially for strawberries in macro tunnels of the Huelva type and see great potential also in Canada, US and UK," says Donald Gartland with NGS. "It is great for strawberry producers, who require more production and profitability from their facilities without having to expand facilities."

The system uses NGS's Multiband Duo, that has demonstrated excellent growing results for strawberries worldwide. "The Rotational System automatically positions the crop in the most suitable location to carry out photosynthesis, so at no time is the production capacity of each plant limited nor does it interfere in the recollection," Donald shows. "The novelty that this system is that, in just 6.5 meters wide, typical width of the Huelva-type macro tunnel, 10 cultivation lines are introduced, which translates into 15,300 linear meters of cultivation per ha. In other words, 153,000 pl/ha "20 cm spacing between plants" or 204,000 pl/ha "15 cm spacing between plants"."

Protoype of the installation. The commercial version, 2.0, is optimized to a smoother design and is currently being installed in Southern Spain and Portugal.

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"Double strawberry production without expanding the facilities" - hortidaily.com

The 19th Street construction started in 2018 and after a long two years, managers of the project are happy to see the end-product.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. After a long two years of construction along 19th Street in Virginia Beach, business owners along the roadway are happy to have open space again to welcome in customers.

The project's goal was to bring new life to the Virginia Beach street where local businesses thrive off of tourism and foot traffic. The city's Senior Planner and Urban Designer, Emily Archer, said they had a distinct image for what they wanted and are in love with the finished product.

19th Street was a four-lane street with small sidewalks, said Archer.

"It really needed to be friendly to pedestrians and aesthetically pleasing for the millions of tourists we get every year," she said.

Archer said it's not just what you see on the surface. A lot of work went underground in ensuring no future problems are to occur.

"It was really fun to layer in those artistic elements as we were developing the project, so we are really happy with how it turned out," said Archer.

For the past two years, business owners along the roadway have expressed their frustration over the construction confusion. While they understood it was a process that takes time for a better outcome, they had to deal with customers not being able to find routes to their businesses.

Now that the construction is complete, owners like Morgan Phipps from Beach Bully Barbecue, said it's a big relief.

"We're just happy there are no more road closures," said Phipps. "People can come all the way from the Oceanfront to the Convention Center. We would get calls probably two or three times a day at least with, 'how do we get to your parking lot? The road's blocked off!'"

Phipps said even heading into the winter months and the coronavirus pandemic, she is hopeful more foot traffic will be coming through her restaurant's door.

"It's a prettier place to walk through and now that we have all the murals done on the buildings as well, we're getting a lot of foot traffic of people just checking out the individual murals without having to route themselves around the construction," explained Phipps.

Archer said this is just one of many steps the city plans to take in fully revitalizing the area. She says they have plans to work on both the 17th and 18th streets as well.

For a closer look at the changes on 19th Street, click here.

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Virginia Beach business owners thrilled to see long-time construction project finished - 13newsnow.com WVEC

The TOPHOTELPROJECTS construction database shows that hotel giant IHG will add 94,226 rooms to its global portfolio in the years ahead, with a strong focus on the APAC region.

IHG will open 430 new hotels with 94,226 rooms in the coming years. We take a closer look at this companys impressive pipeline.

In the last few weeks of 2020, IHG will launch 50 hotels with 8,989 rooms. 36 of these properties are already in the pre-opening phase.

In 2021, things will be busy once again 153 launches are planned, encompassing 32,563 keys in total. The pace will slow down slightly in 2022, however, with 96 properties and 20,805 rooms slated to open. For 2023 and beyond, another 131 projects with 31,869 keys are already in the pipeline.

Of these 430 new hotels, 280 will be in the four-star segment. The remaining 150 will fall into the five-star luxury category.

The APAC region will see the most growth by far; here, 225 hotels with 52,604 rooms will open in the near future. By way of comparison, North America is a long way back in second, with 81 planned launches and 11,996 rooms.

Europe takes third place with 71 openings and 13,173 keys, while the Middle East will see 38 hotels and 13,712 rooms go live. The fact that the Middle East has a similar room count to Europe but far fewer properties overall shows that hotels in the former will on average be much larger than the latter.

IHG also plans to grow its presence in South America and Africa by nine and six hotels respectively.

Unsurprisingly, the worlds largest country China takes the lead here with 124 new hotels and 29,120 rooms on the cards. The US comes a distant second with 71 planned launches and 10,605 keys, whereas Australia will get 20 new IHG properties with a total of 4,153 rooms.

The group also plans to significantly grow its presence in India (19 extra hotels and 2,450 rooms) and Saudi Arabia (14 planned openings and 7,953 keys).

Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts will expand its portfolio faster than any other IHG brand it has 86 projects and 22,590 rooms in the pipeline. Hotel Indigo follows with 69 new hotels and 11,362 keys.

Luxury flag InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, meanwhile, will grow its global presence by 61 properties and 14,745 rooms. Last but not least, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts will get 53 new hotels with 14,733 keys, and Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants will add 31 properties and 5,831 keys to its offering.

Wherever you look, IHG seems to be opening impressive properties right now. Lets dip into the database to pick out a few that you wont want to miss.

Crowne Plaza Kota Kinabalu Waterfront will be part of a mixed-use development at a prime waterfront location in downtown Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia when it opens in Q3 2021. The 367-room hotel will deliver eight versatile meeting spaces, including a large ballroom holding up to 600 people, while the rooftop bar and restaurant will be the first offering of its kind in Kota Kinabalu. Overlooking a waterfront promenade, they promise to provide unparalleled sunset views. An outdoor pool, spa and fully equipped 24-hour fitness centre will also ensure guests stay energised and at the top of their game throughout their stay.

Over in Laos, the 400-room InterContinental Vientiane will be part of the new World Trade Centre Complex due to be completed in late 2021. Strategically located a short drive away from Wattay International Airport and adjacent to Lan Cang Avenue, Vietnam Street and French Street, InterContinental Vientiane will be close to the prime ministers office, international embassies and major convention centres. Guests will also be able to easily access landmark tourist attractions such as the Lao National Museum and the Morning Market.

Elsewhere, the stunning Yarra Valley in Australia will be home to the fancy Voco Yarra Valley from early 2023. This 216-room hotel will boast distinctive features like an onsite gin distillery, lavender farm, mirrored maze, amphitheatre cut from natural ground and provedore serving and selling local produce. Itll also feature large conference and meeting facilities, a gym, bars, a family restaurant and kids entertainment facilities making it perfect for weekday MICE travellers, weekend leisure guests and families.

And finally, a 1950s state-run guesthouse in the Chinese metropolis of Wuhan is being transformed into the 349-key HUALUXE Wuhan Wuchang. With a variety of meeting facilities, a large ballroom, a signature Chinese restaurant and tea houses, the hotel appears well-suited to meeting the citys growing need for corporate and leisure accommodation. After a complete renovation and modernisation, the property will launch in Q4 2021.

Read more from the original source:
Group overview: IHG to grow by 95000 rooms worldwide [Construction Report] - TOPHOTELNEWS

Posted on December 4, 2020By EditorNeighborhood News, San Jose, San Marco, St. Nicholas

East San Marco, located at the corner of Atlantic Boulevard and Hendricks Avenue, is scheduled to break ground in January 2021.

The East San Marco Shopping Center will break ground in January 2021, and Publix is slated to be the anchor store, a representative from Regency Centers told a group of San Marco Merchants at their meeting Nov. 11.

During a hybrid Zoom and in-person meeting of the San Marco Merchants Association (SMMA) at Southside Baptist Church, the East San Marco project was one of several updates given on several San Marco construction projects, including Park Place at San Marco, and the San Marco One building in San Marco Square.

Speaking before the group were Patrick McKinley, vice president and market officer for Regency Centers, Park Place developer Bill Ware of Harbert Realty, and Paul Thomas, vice president of asset management of Sleiman Enterprises, which owns the historic San Marco One building.

Dustin Kaloostian of Beachside Buggies also spoke before the group. He talked of his companys progress in providing free transportation to San Marco and Southbank riders after it was forced to shut down completely due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

But most of the crowd was especially interested in learning about the status of East San Marco, and when the long-promised grocer, Publix, might be coming to the neighborhood.

We finally do have some light at the end of the tunnel, said McKinley. I know everyone has been hearing that for a long time. Many construction projects have been hampered by COVID-19 and East San Marco was one. Delays caused by the virus have delayed the permitting process pushing back the groundbreaking ceremony until January 2021, he said.

Regency has already submitted their site work permits to the city and they are ready to be picked up, McKinley said. He added that architectural plans also have been submitted, and he estimated they would be approved by the end of the year. Contractors are currently submitting bids and a general contractor will most likely be selected in December, he said.

In mid-November, Publix signed a lease with Regency and the new supermarket will anchor the small, long-anticipated shopping center that will be located at the corner of Atlantic Boulevard and Hendricks Avenue.

What is planned for the site is a courtyard-shaped shopping center with a 39,000-square-foot Publix on the second floor of a 50-foot-tall building located at the corner of Atlantic Boulevard and Mango Place. Underneath the store will be parking and a small Publix liquor store, McKinley said.

The Publix will not be a baby-sized grocery store like the 28,000 square-foot grocery in Riverside, but rather a custom-sized store that will be larger than Riversides grocery but smaller than the typical 54,000-square-foot Publix at University Boulevard. This is a unique urban site, and Publix is open to creating a custom store, he said. Its not going to feel small like the Riverside store. This one is going to have everything you are going to want. You wont feel under-merchandised, he told the crowd. It will serve the community well.

The 2.35-acre site will include a courtyard design with 62,000-square feet of retail outlets including two restaurants, bordering Atlantic Boulevard and Hendricks avenue. After three or four months of site work, vertical construction can begin, McKinley said, noting that Regency hopes to deliver Publix so the grocer can start fitting out the interior in the Summer of 2022. He also estimated that the centers retailers would open a few months later in late 2022 or early 2023. The challenges of COVID-19 and its impact on the restaurant industry have presented a challenge for Regency when it comes to signing on tenants for the centers restaurants, he said. Trying to get a marquee restaurant for that one space (on the corner of Atlantic Boulevard and Hendricks Avenue) has gotten a bit more challenging, he admitted.

Other than some minor details, the centers design plans have not really changed from what was presented to the community at its October 2019 town meeting, he said.

McKinley also noted that Regency is coordinating as much as it can with the developers of Park Place at San Marco, which is scheduled to be built on land that was formerly the campus of South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church. Although the two projects will be built simultaneously, he said there should be no real concern about traffic tie-ups while East San Marco is under construction.

We will have the staging of most of our work done on site, he said, noting that some site work regarding drainage was done in May, when one lane of Atlantic Boulevard was closed for four or five days. We choose to do it then because traffic was way down. They city wanted us to do it at that time instead of in the middle of 2021 when traffic might be back to normal.

Park Place at San Marco

Also speaking in the meeting was Ware, who joins Andy Allen and George Leone of Corner Lot Development Group in overseeing the development of Park Place at San Marco.

The new development, which will be built on land adjacent to Matthews Restaurant and behind South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church, will consist of a 133-unit, four-story, 49.5-foot tall residential complex and a two-story parking garage.

The development was slightly delayed due to a contentious lawsuit led by a San Marco neighborhood group, Right Size San Marco, which objected to the way the property was rezoned to allow a nearly 50-foot tall building to be built in the San Marco Overlay, which mandates buildings not be taller than 35 feet. The city and developers were able to move ahead when Right Size San Marco lost an appeal before the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH), and dropped a second appeal before it could be heard before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Ware said his development team includes EnVision+Engineering, led by Doug Skiles of San Marco, and Group 4 Design. Live Oak Contracting, a Jacksonville-based firm, will be the contractor.

Its been a long time coming. Im excited about it, said Ware, noting that the project has been a team effort from Day 1.

Ware said his team plans to break ground in the second quarter of 2021. We have our civil plans approved by the city and available for permit, he said, adding that the projects architectural plans are being wrapped up and should be completed by the end of November to be submitted to the city in early December.

Ware said he was working closely with McKinley so the two projects can dovetail nicely. We want our effort to complement one another on Alford Place so that the main corridor we are creating can be pedestrian friendly. I really believe it is going to add a huge positive dynamic to San Marco. We are attempting to make San Marco more pedestrian friendly, and I do believe once these two projects are up and operational, with all the infrastructure, sidewalks, road improvements, lights and so forth, that we will have the highest walkability factor in Jacksonville, he said.

San Marco One

Thomas also brought the SMMA group up to date on the renovations being made to San Marco One, a historic commercial building in the heart of San Marco Square. The exterior has been painted and preserved in such a way to keep it watertight, he said. William Jaycox, a San Marco architect, has helped Sleiman Enterprises preserve its historic nature. Jaycox has also suggested interior marketing layouts that will make the 8,000-square-foot interior space attractive to as many as three tenants. Thomas also said that he expects different tenants to lease space on the upper and lower floors.

Weve completed the exterior painting and added some wings to bring back the original architecture, Thomas said. It gives it more of a Mediterranean feel, and weve replaced two of the three roofs.

Thomas said he is not ready to make an announcement about what tenants might eventually fill the newly renovated space, however he said his team will be marketing to restaurants, although they might not fill the entire space as they did before. He expects tenants to move into the building at the beginning of 2022.

One leasing challenge facing Sleiman Enterprises is the necessity of opening up the first floor so tenants will feel they are visible from the street, Thomas said. To accomplish that goal, the company is proposing to remove some crepe myrtles along the front and incorporate a landscape island just west of the main entrance to the building. Thomas claimed the proposal, which will be considered by both SMMA and the San Marco Preservation Society, will enhance walkability in front of the building and assist making signage more visible for the first-floor tenant.

We would take up the maintenance of landscaping and pay for all the improvements, he said. We feel this will open up the building and allow people to walk by a little bit better. We are hoping everyone is open to the idea, and we welcome further discussion about it.

Beachside Buggies

The Beachside Buggies transport service that offers free rides throughout San Marco and the Southbank has resumed after a few months hiatus due to COVID-19. The service is now running for limited hours on weekends only, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday but plans to add service on Thursdays at the end of the November, said Kaloostian.

Understanding that people might be leery of riding in the small vans due to the pandemic, the company has made several safety modifications to its vehicles including offering hand sanitizer, and masks and separating riders so that fewer people are transported at the same time.

Our goal is still the same. We want to change the way people get around San Marco, Kaloostian said. We want to change the way people think about traveling the half mile from their condo our hotel. We want residents who may have done it one way for so many years to entertain a new possibility.

By Marcia HodgsonResident Community News

Read more here:
Publix is finally coming to East San Marco - The Resident Community News

The pandemic his hit a wide variety of sectors, from air travel to retail, and hiring figures to remain depressed until vaccines can be deployed widely enough. Here, a pilot at New York's LaGuardia Airport this past week. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

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The economy may not have shrank in November, despite the resurgence of the coronavirus and the continued unwinding of government support. But thats thin gruel to the roughly 12 million Americans who remain underemployed compared with February.

Employers reported 338,000 additional jobs last month, according to the Labor Departments latest nonfarm payrolls report, after excluding layoffs associated with the end of the census. A year ago, that would have been a strong number, but relative to the magnitude of the jobs gap it represents something close to stagnation. After all, the private sector added an average of 945,000 jobs each month from August through October.

Moreover, the underlying details of the data suggest the U.S. job market could easily turn negative in the months ahead, assuming it hasnt already. That risks inflicting hardship on tens of millions of people while we wait for the vaccine to be widely distributed.

Big hiring numbers for delivery and warehouse serviceswhich together added about 120,000 jobsoffset outright declines in a wide range of sectors including retail, restaurants, schools, tech, publishing, banking, accounting, consulting, and nursing homes, which together lost almost 120,000 jobs. Meanwhile, there was almost no job growth in many other sectors, including construction, manufacturing, personal services, hospitals, and local governments excluding education.

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The hit to retail and restaurants can likely be explained by the resurgence of the virusand that hit will likely worsen in coming months due to the soaring number of new confirmed cases. The current jobs report, after all, is a snapshot of the week ended Nov. 14, when there were 993,000 new cases, up from 383,000 new confirmed cases in the corresponding October week. In the past seven days, there were more than 1.2 million new cases.

This is also confirmed by the high-frequency data. The number of seated diners at American restaurants fell noticeably between the middle of October and the middle of November, according to Open Table, with an even bigger drop over the past two weeks. The declines were biggest in the states with the worst outbreaks, such as Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Meanwhile, the number of Americans filing initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits in the states with the biggest third wave outbreak is up more than 40% since the end of September, even as that number drops in the rest of the country.

At least as concerning as the retail and restaurant hit is the continuing weakness in professional-services employment, which reflects the spread of the economic pain from directly affected sectors to the rest of society. In percentage terms, the monthly drop in employment at computer systems design and related services was twice as bad as the decline at restaurants and bars. As of November, employment across Americas total tech sectorwhich is predominantly computer systems design, but also includes software publishing, data processing and hosting, and internet publishing and web search portalswas down about 2.2% compared with February. Thats worse than the peak-to-trough decline in 2008-09.

Perhaps the biggest warning sign of a negative turn comes from the jobs reports separate survey of households, which implies that employment fell by about 450,000 after accounting for the sharp increase in the number of workers who were likely misclassified as employed with an unpaid absence. At 0.3%, the implied drop in November employment is comparable to whats happening in tech, restaurants, retail, and public schools.

The number of people counted as unemployed barely dropped, thanks to a downtick in people reporting they were on temporary layoffbut that was only because 400,000 Americans stopped actively looking for work due to a lack of jobs. As a result, there are still 12 million Americans who are either out of work or who are working part time but would prefer to have full-time jobs.

With multiple vaccines ready to be distributed, its likely that the economy will be able to rebound strongly before the end of next year. Its also likely that things will continue to get worse before they get better, and that the potential for permanent damage to workers and businesses will rise the longer Americans go without income support.

Write to Matthew C. Klein at matthew.klein@barrons.com

See the article here:
Covid Spike Hits the Labor Market, and Its Likely to Worsen - Barron's

You have a tent up for outdoor dining, but can it handle a snowfall? Are your outdoor heaters safe? What about portable cooking equipment? And then theres the matter of additional electric work.

Restaurants looking to continue outdoor dining in December and the rest of the winter will need to reapply for a number of permits with their local municipality to make sure their outdoor space is appropriate for winter, the Department of Community Affairs said last week.

In June, the Division of Codes and Standards within DCA provided guidance on the issuance of permits, and the use of tents, tensioned membrane structures and canopies, per the Uniform Fire Code and Uniform Construction Code. Due to the approaching winter weather conditions, establishments that want to maintain the use of tents past Nov. 30 are required to apply for a UCC permit from their local construction office, the DCA said.

Additionally, a permit for any electrical equipment, electrical wiring or mechanical equipment that would otherwise require a permit must also be filed. Municipalities are encouraged to waive permit fees for tents in use past the Nov. 30 deadline, provided that the tents meet the snow-bearing requirements or meet the guidance issued last week.

In addition to the UCC permit, operational items such as portable cooking equipment used around and/or under the tent should be maintained in accordance with the Uniform Fire Code and addressed by the local fire official.This would apply to the operation/usage of portable propane heaters and similar items.

Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, who serves as DCA commissioner, said the permits are meant to help, not hinder businesses, while keeping the public safe.

The guidance demonstrates the DCAs commitment to ensuring a safe outdoor dining experience while working with business owners to meet their needs, she said.

Oliver said municipalities should do so as well.

We urge all our municipalities to suspend permit fees for tents as much as possible to help our restaurants survive this winter season, she said.

Oliver said the Division of Fire Safety is constantly evaluating new products and alternative solutions to see if any are acceptable to meet the needs of outdoor dining. It is the intent of the division to ensure that outdoor dining is done safely, and in a code-compliant manner, while at the same time working with business owners to meet their needs, she said.

A few notes:

Those that already are erected may not meet the structural provisions of the UCC building subcode, including winter conditions and snow loads. Local construction offices may issue a variation to allow the tent to remain under the conditions set forth in UCC. Construction officials are strongly encouraged to work with businesses to determine an appropriate variation.When a variation is granted, a snow plan must be filed with the construction official that would take effect in the event of a forecasted weather event that would exceed the certified conditions of the variation.

In order to provide sufficient time for the processing of permit and variation applications, municipalities may grant establishments a two-week extension from the Nov. 30 deadline to remove the tent, provided that the establishment has filed a snow plan with the permit application that will be put into effect in the event of a forecasted weather event occurring within the time period of the extension.

This including bubbles, igloos, huts, etc. They are permitted for outdoor dining, subject to applicable restrictions.These structures, including pop-up covers, may be erected for use without a UCC permit when limited to less than 120 square feet in area.The dome should be able to be deconstructed on a daily basis, if needed, and should be secured, but not anchored, so that it can be readily lifted for emergency evacuation.

Domes that are 120 square feet or greater in area and used during Dec. 1 to March 31 would be subject to the UCC permit and variation provisions as noted above for tents. In either case, if temporary heating is provided (e.g. portable and/or cord and plug), the local fire official would oversee the heat source clearances.

As noted in the DCAs previous guidance, if barriers are erected around the newly created outdoor dining areas, they should provide for egress openings similar to those provided for assembly uses. Existing plumbing facilities should be maintained within the building for use by patrons; the restaurant or similar assembly space should establish a proper protocol for maintaining social distancing for the usage of facilities, such as restrooms.

In addition to the UCC, the International Code Councils Considerations for Converting Outdoor Spaces into Temporary Seating Spaces provides supplemental guidance and should be utilized. This guidance notes the applicable sections of the International Building and Fire Codes that would apply as adopted by the UCC. It can be accessed here.

Previous guidance for outdoor dining and UCC/UFC permit issuance can be found here.

Original post:
Restaurants need to reapply for permits (by Dec. 1) to continue outdoor dining this winter - ROI-NJ.com

The Cohen family loved the redevelopment of Carmels bustling Midtown area so much they decided to build a new home in the heart of it.

But only months after the home on 2nd St. SW was complete, The GOAT tavern opened next door, replacing what had been breakfast and lunch spot Bubs Cafe until its closure in October 2019. It soon became clear that the Cohens new neighbor wasnt at all like the previous one.

In addition to frequently finding trash strewn about their property and hearing noisy patrons until 3 a.m. and later, the familys security cameras captured customers urinating, vomiting, passing out and even hooking up on the side of their yard adjacent to The GOAT. On one weekend in October, the cameras caught approximately 60 separate incidents, they said.

But perhaps most frustrating to the Cohen family is the fact that The GOAT is operating in a residentially zoned area. A variance approved in 2007 for Bubs Cafe to operate a restaurant on the site expired when the use changed, a fact that city officials admit they overlooked when reviewing initial plans for The GOAT, which stands for Greatest of All Taverns. The Cohens and others who live nearby are trying to figure out how that happened.

Its obvious that (The GOAT) never shouldve been able to open, Alan Cohen said. We have been pounding and pounding and pounding the table with everybody that this is not right. Shut (The GOAT) down and make him do like any other business would do. File a petition requesting a new variance or new zoning and give us our rights and our opportunity as residents to come forward and remonstrate.

When a rezone or variance is requested, the law requires that neighbors be notified and given the opportunity to express their opinions on the change. That didnt happen with The GOAT, which opened as a much different establishment from what neighbors and many city officials were expecting.

Ive had nothing but complaints from the day it opened, said Carmel City Councilor Bruce Kimball, whose district includes The GOAT. Its just unbelievable. Theyve turned Midtown into Broad Ripple. From 1 oclock to 3 or 4 oclock in the morning theres all sorts of deviant behavior, urinating, defecation and even finding condoms on the sidewalks around The GOAT.

The situation has gotten so bad, Kimball said, that he is sponsoring an ordinance that will go before the city council on Dec. 7 prohibiting urinating and defecating in public.

Its a shame that we have to have an ordinance like this, Kimball said. It seems like its a common sense-type thing.

Kevin Paul, who owns The GOAT with his wife, Megan, acknowledges that the tavern got off to a rough start in its first few weeks, but he said hes done everything he can to be a good neighbor, including installing a fence, hiring security, modifying hours and more. He believes the crowds and clientele have been largely driven by pandemic restrictions in Marion County and that the atmosphere at The GOAT will be different in the long term.

What were experiencing right now is not what this business is going to be in June. Its a 100-percent COVID event, Paul said. Weve got a bunch of 20-somethings and early 30s who have nowhere to go. The place happens to be new and trendy and cool, and thats why theyre going there.

Photos captured on a security camera at the Cohen residence show patrons of The GOAT urinating, vomting and hooking up on the Cohens private property. (Submitted photo)

The Cohens, whose primary home is elsewhere in Carmel, arent the only nearby residents with complaints about The GOAT. Property management firm Barrett & Stokely opened The Railyard at Midtown apartments just south of the tavern in February, but as soon as The GOAT opened six months later, apartment management began hearing complaints about the noise.

As much as I want successful restaurants and businesses around here for our residents to visit, the noise concerns became apparent almost immediately and have not stopped since August, said Rachel Baldwin, property manager of The Railyard at Midtown. I have to be an advocate for our residents and try to find solutions to their problems, and this is a problem they continue to report to me, being woken up until 2 or 3 in the morning consistently on the weekends. Its not conducive to the lifestyle they were anticipating when they leased here.

Baldwin helped one resident who lived near The GOAT relocate to the other side of the building, and shes received frequent noise complaints from several others who live on the north side of the property. Shes encouraged residents to call the Carmel Police Dept.s nonemergency line to report problems as her attempts to work with The GOATs management and city officials to resolve the problem havent been successful.

Tom Willson moved into The Railyard in May but was at his home in Florida when The GOAT opened this summer. He was shocked by the changes when he returned in October.

Willsons unit is about halfway down the block from The GOAT, so noise directly from the tavern isnt his biggest problem. Rather, he is often disturbed by customers walking past his home after 3 a.m. when The GOAT closes.

There are people right outside our window. Theyre yelling and screaming, and theyre obviously drunk, he said. Theyre revving their engines and speeding up 2nd Avenue.

Willson doesnt necessarily want to see The GOAT shut down, but he would like to see modifications, such as reduced hours or alcohol stopped being served at midnight.

Paul, who said hes already taken a large revenue hit by making changes to address concerns, said he welcomes feedback from neighbors and that he expects the situation to continue improving.

All Im asking for is a little bit of time and patience and continued recommendations as to resolve and fix some problems, he said.

The GOAT co-owners Kevin and Megan Paul pause near the tavern in August. (Submitted photo)

When city councilor Jeff Worrell began hearing repeated complaints about The GOATs late-night crowd, he stopped by for a look. He had previously been a patron of The GOAT during dinner hours and was surprised by the change in clientele after midnight, both during the week and on weekends.

This is not a family friendly environment. This is not what I envisioned for Midtown, said Worrell, an at-large councilor. After 1 oclock, (the atmosphere) is totally different, and therefore I believe we need to take some action to protect the investment that the taxpayer has made, the investment of other businesses and certainly, ultimately, the residents around that area who did not bargain for a Broad Ripple-esque environment at 3 oclock in the morning.

Worrell and fellow at-large council member Kevin Woody Rider co-sponsored an amendment to the citys noise ordinance introduced at the Nov. 16 council meeting that prohibits machines that emit sounds, such as radios and loudspeakers, from being used between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. If approved, Worrell said its only one piece of what he sees as a multifaceted approach to addressing the problem.

Another proposed step is rezoning the property and through that process restricting the taverns operating hours. The Carmel Plan Commission is set to review a rezone request submitted by Carmels Dept. of Community Services at its Dec. 15 meeting that would convert The GOAT and the Carmel Clay Historical Societys property to the north from residential to mixed-use zoning. If the rezone request isnt approved, The GOAT likely will not be permitted to continue operating.

Cohen who considered pursuing variances for his own Midtown home before building it said he doesnt understand why the city is petitioning for the rezone rather than Paul. Willson said the situation doesnt make much sense to him, either.

Its disappointing that there would be any sort of effort to try to match the zoning to the way the restaurant is operating instead of forcing the restaurant to operate to the requirements of the zoning, Willson said. That is kind of head-scratching to me in this city where things are so well-run normally.

The Carmel City Council will have the final vote on whether or not a rezone is approved for The GOAT, but Kimball said he believes several councilors would vote with him against it.

A number of my colleagues are not in favor of changing the zoning because of the bad behavior (at The GOAT), Kimball said. Jeff Worrell and I, earlier in the summer, had a long talk with the owner, who said he would control it, and he hasnt. All we got was lip service.

Cohen questions how the city could have overlooked the zoning requirements for The GOAT. His son, Nathan, emailed the Dept. of Community Services on May 22, asking if the new restaurant in the Bubs Cafe site would need any variances to operate. Four days later, a planning administrator wrote back stating that she did not know if variances would be required.

Carmel Director of Community Services Mike Hollibaugh said the citys planning department was not aware of the zoning mistake until then.

By the time the zoning issue was fully realized, the construction was near completion, Hollibaugh said. The initial response by DOCS was not to stop construction but rather to work with the owner on the zoning issue, believing it could be fixed over the coming months.

Construction continued, and whenThe GOAT opened, the Cohens were shocked at what was allowed to transpire without a rezone or variance of any kind.

Hollibaugh said that the zoning proposed for The GOAT and the Carmel Clay Historical Societys site to the north have been the intention for the area for years.

Regardless of the technical mistake made by city staff, the plan has always been for restaurants, housing, retail and office to coexist all along Monon Boulevard, Hollibaugh said. This rezone is to get the zoning into compliance with the plan not only for this particular parcel of land but a larger area along Monon Boulevard.

Cohen said he was prepared to live next to a vibrant urban center, but thats not what the experience has turned out to be, he said.

We were all here before The GOAT. The GOAT is the last thing thats been developed in this area, he said. We did not expect this to happen. Nobody couldve expected this to happen.

Complaints stemming from customers of The GOAT may have the most impact on the taverns immediate neighbors, but some believe the problem has ripple effects on the entire community because of the police resources being devoted to the area.

Carmel Police Dept. Lt. James Semester declined to provide details on arrests or calls generated by The GOAT. Current has filed a public information request to obtain this data.

There are instances when we bring in more officers to patrol the Midtown area. Generally, those are evenings/nights where we expect larger community attendance in that district, he said. On-duty officers are not being pulled off of regular responsibilities to keep an eye on The GOAT.

Carmel City Councilor Bruce Kimball said hes heard of several incidents stemming from The GOAT that led to police involvement and witnessed some of it firsthand when he visited the area at 3 a.m. on a weekend and saw four police cars nearby.

That takes resources away from other parts of the city, he said.

According to Kimball, many of the problems occur after other bars and restaurants in the area close.

They all come up to The GOAT, and theyre arriving drunk, Kimball said. Weve had numerous police calls. Weve had people injured getting out of their cars drunk to go to The GOAT. Weve spent hundreds of millions of dollars to create this great environment, and we dont want one establishment to ruin that.

In June 2019, the Carmel City Council voted to give one of four new alcohol permits it received from the state to a restaurant called Smoken Barrel proposed as a partnership between restaurateur Kevin Paul and the owners of Bubs Cafe on the site that now houses The GOAT.

According to documents filed with the city to obtain the alcohol permit, Smoken Barrel was to provide an open-air setting for small batch bourbons and spirits, artisanal cocktails, craft beers and smoked foods. It was to be in a beautiful newly renovated building and feature high-quality furnishings and decor with a beer garden.

The building and interior will reinforce the quality brand that Carmel residents have come to expect, the document states.

City councilor Jeff Worrell said when he voted in favor of approving the alcohol permit in 2019, his impression was the restaurant would be more in line with others in the area, such as Fork & Ale and Sun King. Both are closed by 1 a.m. at the latest.

I think most people felt like (The GOAT) was going to be like what was already there and doesnt bother anybody, Worrell said. I didnt anticipate that this could become something that it has, but Im prepared now to work to try to bring it in line with the vision for Midtown.

Kimball agreed that The GOAT has not turned out to be what he expected when voting in favor of the alcohol permit.

Many of the neighbors that I talked to, myself included, were given the impression this was going to be a quiet, bourbon and cigar bar, not a 3 oclock in the morning (establishment), he said. Theyre not leaving at 3. Theyre sometimes still around the firepit at 3:30, 4 in the morning. Drunks are pounding on residents doors. Its just a real mess.

Paul said he removed the cigar bar concept at the recommendation of city officials but that The GOAT is mostly in line with what was presented to the council in 2019.

I didnt spend half a million in renovations to have people come in and use (The GOAT) as a dive bar, said Kevin Paul, owner of The GOAT. That is absolutely not what this place is designed to be.

See the original post:
This is not right: Carmel taking action after neighbors complain of noise, public urination and worse - Current in Carmel