1250 Redevelopment & Bikini Hostel Update

The City Commission approved the re-development of 1250 West Avenue at a special meeting held on June 27th.  We came out in support of the project after many compromises were made by the Developer including compelling and enhanced public benefits for our neighborhood. 

Over the last twelve months, we listened to many different opinions from the residents.  While we cared about all of these opinions, our main focus was on the residents who would be most affected by re-development, believing that some project would eventually emerge from the process.  Our perspective was one of collaboration and compromise throughout the process so we could protect the most vulnerable and affected residents and at the same time maximize the public benefits. 

We also trusted the wisdom of our Mayor and the Commission in deciding what was in everyone’s best interests. The height and scale of the proposed building was revised down a number of times. We supported the elimination of a long-standing nuisance in our community - the Bikini Hostel - with conveyance of the property to the City. And we supported funding by the Developer to complete the Baywalk.

In reality, there were no other practical solutions for the Bikini Hostel, whose operations have garnered complaints from residents for over a decade. There were no longer enough funds from the GO Bonds to finish the Baywalk.  These public benefits are a huge win for our neighborhood in the long-run.  Finally, it was through our efforts that we ensured that the Bikini Hostel would not be replaced by a new nuisance in the redevelopment, namely a night-club or large scale restaurant serving alcohol. 

Our quality of life in the SoBe West neighborhood was also a strong focus for us during the give and take that went on during the City’s process.  

This project was going to happen in one form or another. Throughout it all, SoBe West was the only Neighborhood Association that engaged in negotiations with the Developer and produced constructive results and benefits for our neighborhood.

In the end, none of this is perfect but through collaboration and compromise we believe the neighborhood’s interests were best served.