The Timeshare Beat: City Commissioner to field ideas for Boardwalk redevelopment

City Commissioner to field ideas for Boardwalk redevelopment

By JOHN BOZZO
Staff Writer Daytona Beach News-Journal

April 10, 2000
DAYTONA BEACH - Commissioner Mike Shallow wants to listen to ideas for redevelopment of the Boardwalk and is likely to get an earful from property owners and operators of businesses at the oceanfront amusement area.

The listening session is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Peninsula Women's Club.

"I want to get the merchants and owners of the Boardwalk involved early on in what I consider an exciting future down there," Shallow said.

With $200 million in beachside redevelopment in various stages of completion nearby, Shallow considers the Boardwalk the next logical step for progress. He'd like to see the City Commission seek proposals for redeveloping the Boardwalk this year.

But including the Boardwalk in a request for redevelopment proposals would likely prompt opposition.

"We'll fight Mike Shallow if he wants to include the Boardwalk," said Dino Paspalakis, co-owner of Joyland Amusement Center and spokesman for the Boardwalk Property Owners Association. "The property to the west of us is an empty dirt parking lot: That's what should be developed."

Paspalakis said Boardwalk officials have held off on improvement plans to work with whatever project goes into the adjacent vacant lot.

Shallow said he hopes the redevelopment area would be south of the Adam's Mark resort up to, and possibly including, Main Street. "I'm leaving it open," said Shallow, who added that the final proposal would be subject to City Commission approval.

Owners and managers of Boardwalk businesses have been invited to discuss a future vision for the oceanfront attraction at the public forum Tuesday.

Shallow and Paspalakis said they will both attend with open minds, despite the potential for disagreement.

Invitations to Tuesday's forum were mailed to owners of Boardwalk properties and partners in the businesses, Shallow said.

He said most of the beachside will be redeveloped eventually because many properties, especially smaller hotels, have outlived their usefulness.

But Paspalakis said the Boardwalk is part of the solution, not part of the problem.

"We have all the latest rides," Paspalakis said. "Interior-wise, we are what the Boardwalk should be. We're fixing up. We're looking good; we're clean."

Janet Sledge, a facilitator from Daytona Beach Community College, is scheduled to conduct the meeting. Shallow said he plans to listen to ideas with an open mind.

"We have the opportunity to create something that is a real magnet," Shallow said. "Something enjoyable to all the people we're expecting with this new construction."

New construction nearby includes plans by the Adam's Mark Resort to add 306 rooms and about 20,000 square feet of convention space to the 437-room Adam's Mark Hotel, 100 N. Atlantic Ave.

Construction has already begun on the Ocean Walk project, which includes twin condominium/timeshare/hotel towers and a retail promenade. Also on the beachside, the city has begun a project to restore and stabilize the Bandshell.

Volusia County recently completed construction of a 1,500-vehicle parking garage across Atlantic Avenue. The county also plans to expand exhibition space at the Ocean Center. Another recent development is the Adventure Landing water amusement center, operating since October 1998.

"It will take a lot of work just to get the proposal out and it's important to get input from the Boardwalk," Shallow said. The commissioner said he's not excluding any option, including using the city's eminent domain powers to condemn and take over property.

"We need a lot of discussion and planning before we can even make that judgment," Shallow said.

Darrell Hunter, who lost to Shallow in last November's City Commission election and operates Capt. Darrell's Oyster Bar and Restaurant on the Boardwalk, said he fears that some city officials want the entire Boardwalk area developed by one person, perhaps as another new large hotel. Hunter defends efforts of the Boardwalk businesses and notes they are making money.

"I think every businessman down there, including myself, would do and is doing whatever they can to enhance business," Hunter said. "I don't think you need to fix something unless it's broke. You can make something fancy and beautiful and it would go broke. When the public quits going to it, then it's time to change."

But Hunter also plans to participate Tuesday and said the city should develop a clear vision for the Boardwalk and perhaps make low-interest loans available to the current property owners.