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City reports hotel debris removal underway as care center relocation stalls
Summary
The executive director said downtown construction and hotel debris removal are progressing, but a planned relocation for a care center thrift store encountered a problem; staff set a meeting with the thrift-store executive director to decide next steps.
The City of Lake Wales executive director told the Community Redevelopment Agency that downtown construction and removal of debris from the city hotel are progressing, but that a planned sale-and-purchase tied to the care center’s thrift store had become problematic and needed further negotiation.
“I wish I had more to report. The construction projects downtown are going swimmingly, and that includes the debris removal of the hotel,” the executive director said, adding that a proposed relocation site for the care center had “become problematic.” He said he had scheduled a meeting with the thrift store’s executive director, Mr. Quam, next Tuesday to determine options.
Asked about the chance of losing the proposed destination, the executive director said, “As of right now, I think the chances are high that that destination is lost.” Board members discussed whether to proceed with closing if doing so would give the care center time to find a new location; staff said the care center board plans a special meeting to consider the issue.
Commissioner Thompson praised visible progress at the hotel and said officials should be deliberate: “I am willing to be in a very patient hurry with this hotel process,” he said, urging the board to get the project right. The chair noted the CRA is the title holder for the hotel property and said the city manager capped a related contract at $100,000 to limit risk.
The chair also pointed to a Lake Wales News video showing interior conditions and a mayor/city-manager podcast as useful public-information tools. Staff said crews had cleared the hotel’s 10th floor and were working on the 9th floor, with about 10 large dumpsters staged to remove debris.
The executive director said attorneys had agreed on a structure last week for the restoration effort tied to St. Louis but that the restoration group introduced a change that required a call with the tax attorney at 3 p.m. to clarify next steps. The board did not take formal action on these items during the meeting.
