Blackstone LXR Rahn proposal to develop Fort Lauderdale's Bahia Mar 44 acre, 250 slip mega-yacht marina in Fort Lauderdale, Florida raises more questions than it answers as this thoughtful and visionary short film reveals.
Here's just one great idea that would brand Fort Lauderdale on the world stage, and help build its marine, tourism and Latin America gateway industries says bestselling author (SPIKED - SIZZLE- SIXTEEN STORIES, NO PETS -) brand builder and CBA co-founder C.J. Beck.
C.J. Beck has helped build 5 of the world's *top 100 brands including Microsoft, Apple, American Express, Johnson & Johnson and Shell with a combined intangible added brand value of $94.26 billion. Now he turns his sights on cities like Fort Lauderdale.
*(Interbrand 2009 Top 100)
After years of benign neglect, the Blackstone initiative is welcomed by some for their desire to improve the Bahia Mar despite the ten years of disruption it will create to the fragile infrastructure of the narrowest part of the barrier island known as Fort Lauderdale Beach.
However, the film questions whether the impact on traffic, parking, and infrastructure and the resulting cost burden will be offset by the $ 1 million per annum increase in income/relief taxpayers will receive.
The film suggests that If there must be ten years of disruption, why not build an iconic commerical or public space linked to the Hall of Fame Swimming Complex, to brand and add value to all of Fort Lauderdale and for all its people, rather than create a potential project to flip or short term return for Blackstone shareholders? Make it it a win-win for everyone.
The hotel/co-op business is questioned as "yesterday's business model" and unfeasible with so many unsold new condos already on the beach. Great buildings that brand cities in Berlin, Bilbao, Dubai, Sydney and London and around the world are featured.
Part of the attraction of Fort Lauderdale say CBAFtl members, is the mix of large-scale high-end condo and hotels and small boutique hotels and single family residences such as are found on Idlewyld which this project would overshadow. Part of the appeal of Bahia Mar today is its position as a boutique yachting center. The Fort Lauderdale City Commission, its leasee Blackstone and perhaps another partner need to come up with a far better idea before imposing ten years of disruption on the people of Fort Lauderdale for miserly extra rent of $1 million - a fraction of what beach restaurants pay for comparable square footage. Blackstone have now reined in their business model to adapt to the downturn in the condo market and has withdrawn the two condo towers. The low $ 2 million rent and lack of benefit to the city remains to be resolved.
The film closes with a rare recording of the fabulous Connie Francis singing "God Bless America" where she calls Fort Lauderdale ( or maybe it's America) 'the most wonderful place in the world".
Novelist and independent filmmaker C.J. Beck invites world visionaries
like محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم to investigate the potential of this site and Fort Lauderdale for development and emulating the magnificent marina and building projects under his aegis that are admired across the world.
Visit http://myfortlauderdale.blogspot.com/ and write myfortlauderdale@gmail.com
Download Beck's latest novel for your KINDLE - now in the top 2% of all AMAZON's 8 million titles- SIXTEEN STORIES, NO PETS
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