Delray Newspaper | January 2017

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Long-awaited Uptown Project not heading to West Atlantic Ave. By: Marisa Gottesman Associate Editor

town Delray.”

Plans for a pivotal project for Delray’s West Atlantic neighborhood, recently rebranded “The Set,” are off the table.

The project planned to bring places to live, shops and restaurants to 6 acres on the south side of West Atlantic Ave. between Southwest Sixth and Ninth avenues. The development was intended to help pave the way for more development in a part of the city that has wanted action for years.

Last month, the Community Redevelopment Agency board voted not to extend a contract it had to sell land to developers Equity to build a project known as “Up-

But just before the agency was set to close on the property with the developer, a letter was sent by the developer John Flynn of Equity requesting an extension of 120 days. The board denied the request unanimously. Equity was selected to build its proposed project in 2013 and was scheduled to close on the purchase of the property. Agency board members said [CONT. PG 2]

Delray slapped with lawsuits amid open commission seat debacle By: Marisa Gottesman Associate Editor Delray Beach commissioners had two chances to find one person to fill open Seat 2 for a few months. Instead of compromise to make the commission whole until a scheduled election on March 14, three commission meetings were filled with stubbornness, accusations and arguments. The result, or lack of result, left the city with a commission split 2-2, two lawsuits challenging the commission’s actions to not plan a special election violates the city’s charter and disgruntled residents. In one corner Commissioners Mitch Katz and Shelly Petrolia stood steadfast behind candidate Dr. Josh Smith Jr. On the other side, Mayor Cary Glickstein and Vice Mayor Jordana Jarjura supported Yvonne Odom. For three straight meetings, residents wore yellow in support of Odom and spoke during public comment of their support for her. Even those who applied for the seat spoke on behalf of Odom. No one spoke on behalf of Smith. After deadlocking twice, residents didn’t give up and asked commissioners to try to appoint someone to the seat vacated by now State Rep. Al Jacquet during the next commission meeting and final one scheduled for 2016. Vice Mayor Jarjura and Mayor Glickstein supported try-

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ing to come up with a compromise to fill the seat, but Katz and Petrolia didn’t budge from their positions or their support for Smith. For Petrolia, the window of opportunity to fill the seat had passed and filling the seat after the second allowed attempt would be another charter violation. But Glickstein and Jarjura, who are lawyers, said the appointment would follow the intent of the charter, which is to avoid having to hold a special election. Glickstein chastised Katz and Petrolia and said they

should listen to what the community wants. “She isn’t my choice. She isn’t your choice. She is their choice,” he said of Odom and the community’s support of her. Katz said the residents can vote for who they want to see fill that seat for the next three years during the March election. He said there isn’t anything important coming before the commission until then, which caused [CONT. PG 2] Glickstein to scold him for dismissing


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