living - News - The Coastal Star2024-03-28T11:14:29Zhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/livingBoca Raton: Both sides declare victory in retirement home settlementhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/boca-raton-both-sides-declare-victory-in-retirement-home-settleme2018-11-28T16:30:00.000Z2018-11-28T16:30:00.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960827088,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960827088,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="7960827088?profile=original" /></a></strong></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Related story: Boca Raton, Delray cases put state’s <a href="https://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/along-the-coast-boca-raton-delray-cases-put-state-s-property-righ" target="_blank">property rights law</a> in spotlight</strong></p>
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<p><strong>By Mary Hladky</strong></p>
<p>Bowing to strong push-back by a developer who contended the Boca Raton City Council improperly rejected its proposed luxury adult living facility, council members have sharply reversed course and approved the downtown project.<br /> The council, sitting also as Community Redevelopment Agency commissioners, quickly approved settling a lawsuit filed by Group P6, and then immediately approved its Concierge project unanimously on Nov. 13.<br /> Group P6 gave up some ground in the settlement by reducing the number of living units from 110 to 88 and the number of parking spaces from 127 to 106. <br /> But the deal also required the council members to approve the Concierge if they wanted to settle the case.<br /> It also removed the threat posed to the city by project landowner Robert Buehl, who had announced that he would file a Bert Harris Act lawsuit against the city seeking as much as $100 million in damages. That suit now won’t be filed.<br /> The city did not admit that it had acted wrongly when it voted 3-1 to deny the Concierge on July 23. <br /> Two council members cast the settlement and project approval as the developer and landowner responding to council concerns rather than a hasty retreat from a decision that posed a financial risk to the city.<br /> “So take note any potential litigants to the city of Boca Raton,” said Mayor Scott Singer. “The path to victory is not the mere filing of litigation. Significant response to council concerns is what I think you are seeing here today.”<br /> After the meeting, Group P6 co-owner Ignacio Diaz said the reduction in living units will not hurt the project and will allow him to increase the size of some units.<br /> “This is the optimal mix [of units]. We think it will be more in line with what the market is,” Diaz said after the meeting. “It is a win-win for us and the city.”<br /> Buehl said in an email that he remains “extremely excited” about Concierge, which he said meets a social need in the city.<br /> “I am pleased that the city decided to do the right thing but find it unfortunate we had to force their hand,” he said.<br /> The developer and landowner will build the $75 million senior living facility at 22 SE Sixth St., and will have 26 assisted living and 42 independent living units as well as 20 memory care units. Construction is expected to begin at the end of next year.<br /> Amenities will include a rooftop pool, summer kitchen and lounge, yoga and music areas, wine bar and bistro, full-service restaurant, theater, salon, spa and gym.<br /> The council’s July rejection was unexpected because the project was not controversial. Group P6 has a reputation for following the city’s development rules, its previous condo projects were easily approved, city staff recommended approval of the Concierge, and the City Council unanimously supported a separate downtown luxury ALF last year.<br /> But some council members expressed concerns that the facility would overburden the city’s fire-rescue services and lacked adequate parking.<br /> Council members Andrea O’Rourke and Monica Mayotte questioned whether another ALF was a good fit for the downtown. Speaking of the city’s vision of a vibrant downtown, O’Rourke said she was not sure how much the Concierge’s residents would be engaged in the community since the Concierge would provide many services.<br /> “I’m not against ALFs in our city,” Mayotte said. “I’m just not sure that the downtown is the right location for them. Other places within our city limits are probably more applicable for these types of residents and I just wanted to make that clear.”<br /> Mayotte and O’Rourke suggested the city may need to create a way for ALF developers to pay for the increased cost of providing ambulance service. Group P6 said its ALF would not result in significantly more fire-rescue calls.<br /> City Attorney Diana Grub Frieser said there are legal impediments to levying a special assessment only for increased demand for a service.<br /> In his August announcement that he planned to file a lawsuit, Buehl highlighted council member comments about the elderly.<br /> “The statements made by elected officials regarding our city’s elderly residents were absolutely discriminatory and shameful,” Buehl said at the time.<br /> Group P6 echoed Buehl’s age discrimination claim in its August lawsuit that sought to have the court quash the city’s denial of the project.<br /> The developer also noted that it is the city’s obligation, not the property owner’s, to provide fire-rescue services.<br /> The American Seniors Housing Association filed an amicus brief in support of Group P6 in October, saying the project denial “represents an unlawful discriminatory bias against seniors with disabilities and the providers of care and services that seek to meet their needs.”<br /> Other lawsuits remain<br /> The city has another contentious development-related legal headache.<br /> Developer and landowner Crocker Partners sued the city in May, seeking to have a judge compel the city to write land development regulations for the Midtown area and to rule that the City Council’s January delay in adopting them, and instead voting to develop a “small area plan” for Midtown, are illegal. <br /> Crocker Partners filed a Bert Harris Act lawsuit against the city in October, seeking $137.6 million in damages on grounds that the city has failed to adopt the regulations.<br /> Cypress Realty of Florida, a landowner that partnered with Crocker Partners on Midtown planning, also went to court in October, saying in its lawsuit that the city has been “stonewalling” its efforts to develop 10.2 acres.<br /> Crocker Partners and other landowners originally wanted to redevelop 300 acres east of the Town Center mall. But without land development regulations, that plan has died.<br /> In the Concierge case, neither side admitted fault or liability, and each will pay its own attorney’s fees and costs.</p></div>Trio of Delray Beach Senior Living Communities Compete in Weight Loss Challengehttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/trio-of-delray-beach-senior-living-communities-compete-in-weight2016-03-30T14:57:58.000Z2016-03-30T14:57:58.000ZChelsea Marchhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/ChelseaMarch<div><p><font face="Proxima Nova Rg" size="3"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960639493,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960639493,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="7960639493?profile=original" /></a>Three Delray Beach senior living communities joined forces to shed the pounds this year in a friendly biggest loser competition. Sixty-five residents, from</font> <a href="http://www.lifespacecommunities.com/senior-living-delray-beach/ad/"><font color="#0563C1" face="Proxima Nova Rg" size="3">Abbey Delray</font></a><font face="Proxima Nova Rg" size="3">,</font> <a href="http://www.lifespacecommunities.com/senior-living-delray-beach/ads/"><font color="#0563C1" face="Proxima Nova Rg" size="3">Abbey Delray South</font></a> <font face="Proxima Nova Rg" size="3">and</font> <a href="http://www.lifespacecommunities.com/senior-living-delray-beach/he/"><font color="#0563C1" face="Proxima Nova Rg" size="3">Harbour’s Edge</font></a><font face="Proxima Nova Rg"><font size="3"><u>,</u> participated in the fitness program, proving that you’re never too old to take on a new challenge.</font></font></p><p><font face="Proxima Nova Rg" size="3"> </font></p><p><font face="Proxima Nova Rg" size="3">Mike Schmidt, Abbey Delray South fitness director, launched the weight loss challenge last year as a new way to help seniors get fit at the community. After great reviews, and more than 150 total pounds lost, Abbey Delray and Harbour’s Edge decided they wanted a piece of the weight loss challenge. The participants even took on team names: The Castaweighs, Slim Jims and Skinny Hips.</font></p><p><font face="Proxima Nova Rg" size="3"> </font></p><p><font face="Proxima Nova Rg" size="3">After 10 weeks of exercising, learning healthy eating and cutting the calories, the teams lost over 300 pounds. Experience proved beneficial for the Abbey Delray South team, as they took the crown as the biggest losers.</font></p><p></p><p></p></div>Delray Beach Senior Living Community Raises $7,110 for Alzheimer's Associationhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/delray-beach-senior-living-community-raises-7-110-for-alzheimer-s2015-10-13T19:30:00.000Z2015-10-13T19:30:00.000ZChelsea Marchhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/ChelseaMarch<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960602486,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960602486,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="7960602486?profile=original" /></a>Harbour's Edge raised more than $7,000 at this year's Boca Raton Walk to End Alzheimer's on September 27. Twenty-two residents and staff members of the senior living community participated. Team Captain, Judy Stauffer, raised more than $2,055 for the Alzheimer's Association. She walked in memory of her mother, who recently passed away. The residents donated more than $5,000 in her memory to the team efforts. They came in 7th place out of more than 200 teams. The community offers care and support for those with Alzheimer's and other dementias at its Health Center.</p></div>Delray Beach Seniors Participate in Taekwondo Belt Ceremonyhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/delray-beach-seniors-participate-in-taekwondo-belt-ceremony2015-10-08T20:30:00.000Z2015-10-08T20:30:00.000ZChelsea Marchhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/ChelseaMarch<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960602254,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960602254,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="7960602254?profile=original" /></a>A new Taekwondo program is turning heads at a senior living community in Delray Beach. Abbey Delray launched the new martial arts and fitness program in September 2015, and is seeing an impact on the lives of residents.</p><p>Carmine Scandura, director of fitness and developer of the program, says this Taekwondo class is a spin-off of Tai Chi, which promote better balance.</p><p>With every block, kick and punch, the residents learn the importance of staying fit and maintaining an active lifestyle. On average, around 17 residents attend the class, ranging in age from their 80s to the mid-90s!</p><p>Scandura attributes the popularity of the class to the quicker movements, the use of equipment and team exercises, and the challenge to the mind and balance of each resident. At the end of each month, Abbey Delray residents have the opportunity to pass a challenge to receive their white belt.</p><p>On October 1st, 12 residents at the community received the first belts of the Taekwondo Class.</p></div>Delray Beach Couple Takes Birding to New Heightshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/delray-beach-couple-takes-birding-to-new-heights2015-08-05T14:01:44.000Z2015-08-05T14:01:44.000ZChelsea Marchhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/ChelseaMarch<div><p><font size="3"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960590256,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" height="562" class="align-left" style="width:724px;height:468px;" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960590256,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="7960590256?profile=original" /></a>Birdwatching is taking off in the U.S., climbing on the list of most popular outdoor activities, according to the USDA’s Forest Service. It ranks just below beach bumming and bicycling. The pastime’s rising popularity is thanks in part to the Internet, mobile devices and prominence of digital cameras. </font></p><p><font size="3">People of all ages are birding, but maybe no one more uniquely than Dave and Sue Hagan, residents at</font> <a href="http://www.lifespacecommunities.com/senior-living-delray-beach/he/"><font color="#0000FF" size="3">Harbour’s Edge</font></a><font size="3">, a senior living community in Delray Beach. They’ve become expert birders over the last 15 years. And while a recent eye ailment is limiting Dave’s eye to the sky, he’s taken his hobby to new heights – birding with his ears. He’s turned to his trusty iPad and apps loaded with information about more than 900 birds, including their calls and songs.</font></p><p><font size="3">Much of Dave’s avian knowledge is from the couple’s travels to see some of the most exotic and rarest birds. Trips through Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, down the Danube River, and recently through Greece and Turkey have kept this couple quite busy.</font></p><p><font size="3">One of the most unusual birds they’ve seen is the Hoopoe, which they spotted on a tour through Israel. Dave and Sue keep a list of all the birds they’ve seen and where they spotted them. With Harbour’s Edge overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, they’ve added quite a few to the list, just from birdwatching on their own patio.</font></p><p><font size="3">Dave has made several presentations to share his knowledge and experience with various groups. He notes, “Birding is a fun hobby that provides good exercise. All you really need is a good pair of shoes and binoculars.”</font></p><p></p></div>Harbour's Edge Nurse Wins National Awardhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/harbour-s-edge-nurse-wins-national-award2015-06-22T15:30:00.000Z2015-06-22T15:30:00.000ZChelsea Marchhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/ChelseaMarch<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960583889,original{{/staticFileLink}}"></a><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960583889,original{{/staticFileLink}}"></a><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960583889,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" style="width:327px;height:278px;" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960583889,original{{/staticFileLink}}" height="800" width="598" alt="7960583889?profile=original" /></a>It's a beautiful thing when you can mix a career with your passion. That rings true for Harbour's Edge nurse LaRet Harvey. Last year, LaRet beat out dozens of other nurses to win a national award, and now holds the title as Nurse of the Year.</p><p>LaRet comes from a long line of nurse, including her mother, who she says brought her up to show love and compassion for others. It was a trait she learned at a young age. Another family member who wasn't a registered nurse - her aunt - was also a big inspiration.</p><p>Around six years ago, LaRet found herself as a single mother of four children. She was on the brink of losing her aunt, whom she loved dearly. Before her aunt died, she made a promise to return to school and better her life, and she stuck with that promise.</p><p>After earning a bachelor's degree in nursing, LaRet followed in her mother's footsteps to become a nurse at a senior living community. Harbour's Edge, in Delray Beach, welcomed her with open arms.</p><p>LaRet says there's a sense of love at a senior living community like Harbour's Edge that you can't find anywhere else. That loves spreads to her co-workers, who say her kindness and caring demeanor led them to vote her at Nurse of the Year at Harbour's Edge. The good news didn't stop there. Months later, she won the national Nurse of the Year award for Lifespace Communities. That's the community that owns Harbour's Edge and 11 other senior living communities around the country.</p><p>LaRet's ambitions continue, as she's now working on a master's degree, in hopes she'll be able to teach future nurses the compassion she learned from her own mother. So far, she's already inspired two of her own children to become nurses.</p><p></p></div>Harbour's Edge Announces $20 Million Expansion, Renovation Projecthttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/harbour-s-edge-announces-20-million-expansion-renovation-project2015-04-29T19:00:00.000Z2015-04-29T19:00:00.000ZChelsea Marchhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/ChelseaMarch<div><p><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960570464,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960570464,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="7960570464?profile=original" /></a>Delray Beach, Fla. –</b> <a href="http://www.lifespacecommunities.com/senior-living-delray-beach/he/"><font color="#0563C1">Harbour’s Edge</font></a> senior living community is breaking ground on a $20 million renovation project to enhance the community and best position it to serve the dynamic population of seniors in the area. The project will focus on building a new Lifelong Learning Center, which includes a media center, library and performing arts center. The project will also add a second dining venue, remodel the main restaurant, and make large-scale renovations to the fitness center and wellness areas, spa rooms, and a complete upgrade of the interior design throughout the main common area.</p><p>“This project will allow us to continue providing the atmosphere and amenities our residents have come to expect, while also bringing new ideas and creativity to the table,” said Steve Miller, executive director of Harbour’s Edge. “ We want to compete at the highest level when it comes to the restaurant and dining experience, hospitality, and providing seniors with engaging activities and opportunities to learn.”</p><p>This $20 million project is the second phase of the senior living community’s master plan for overall enhancements. The first phase of the renovation project was completed in 2013 with the enhancement of the community’s Health Center, which includes skilled nursing and short- and long-term rehabilitation services. That $5 million project included the expansion of its physical and occupational therapy room, state-of-the-art kitchen, dining room, and a complete upgrade of the interior design. Harbour’s Edge is a Life Care community providing residents with 266 independent living apartment homes, as well as a continuum of health care services.</p><p>“These renovations emphasize the modern options and variety today’s seniors expect at a senior living community,” said David Randazzo, regional operations director for Lifespace Communities, parent company of Harbour’s Edge. “The response by residents has been phenomenal, because we’ve kept the foundation of versatility within our community, while catering to new tastes and desires of the next generation of seniors.”</p><p>These designs are a reflection of Lifespace Communities’ and the Harbour’s Edge commitment to a lifestyle of vitality, quality services and first-rate amenities. Delray Beach Mayor Cary Glickstein joined leadership at the community and other dignitaries for the ceremonial groundbreaking.</p><p>Ohio-based CC Hodgson Architecture group has been selected as the designer for the project and Plaza Construction as the contractor. Construction and all phases of the project are scheduled to be complete by December 2016. </p><p></p></div>On the Water: Boynton Inlet drift boatshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/on-the-water-boynton-inlet-drift-boats2014-12-31T15:30:00.000Z2014-12-31T15:30:00.000ZChris Felkerhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/ChrisFelker<div><p style="text-align:center;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960549467,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960549467,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="538" alt="7960549467?profile=original" /></a>A mate throws a pair of small kingfish into the fish-sorting bin from the Lady K drift boat</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>at Lantana’s Sportsman’s Park. The 65-foot boat is one of three walk-on fishing boats</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>that reaches the ocean through Boynton Inlet.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><br /> <span class="font-size-3" style="font-family:georgia, palatino;"><strong>Lady K:</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Located at Sportsman’s Park, 314 E. Ocean Ave., Lantana. Trips leave at 8 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The fare is $37 for adults, $25 for ages 12 and under and $33 for seniors, members of the military, law enforcement officers and teachers. Call 588-7612 or go to <a href="http://www.barjackfishing.com">www.barjackfishing.com</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><br /> <span class="font-size-3" style="font-family:georgia, palatino;"><strong>Living on Island Time:</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Located at Palm Beach Yacht Center, 7848 S. Federal Highway, Hypoluxo. Trips leave at 8 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. The fare is $40 or $25 for ages 12 and under. Seniors, students and active military: $35. Call 585-4475 or go to <a href="http://www.fishingonislandtime.com">www.fishingonislandtime.com</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><br /> <span class="font-size-3" style="font-family:georgia, palatino;"><strong>Sea Mist III:</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Located at Boynton Harbor Marina, 700 Casa Loma Blvd., Boynton Beach. Trips leave at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Night trips (Friday and Saturday) leave at 6:30 p.m. The fare is $40 for adults, $25 for ages 12 and under and $35 for seniors. Call 732-9974 or go to <a href="http://www.seamist3.com">www.seamist3.com</a>.<br /> <br /> <span class="font-size-3" style="font-family:georgia, palatino;"><strong>Driftboat basics</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><br /> <strong>Basic rules:</strong> Drift boats allow customers to bring their own rods, but braided line is frowned upon or forbidden because it is harder to untangle than monofilament line and can cut through the lines of other anglers. <br /> <strong>Big-fish pools:</strong> Most drift boat crews allow anglers to chip in $5 in hopes of winning the pot of money for the largest fish. Most boats exclude bonito, sharks and some other fish from the big-fish pot. <br /> <strong>What to bring:</strong> Layers of clothing are recommended during the winter in case of cold or rain. Hats and sunglasses are a must because they protect eyes from hooks and sinkers. Drift boat anglers often bring snacks and drinks in a small cooler and their own fishing tackle.<br /> <strong>Weather:</strong> Check the marine weather section of the NOAA website (<a href="http://www.weather.gov">www.weather.gov</a>) and look for wave height before deciding when to fish. If you’re seasick because of rough seas, don’t expect the captain to take you back to the docks. You’ll be out there for four hours.<br /> <strong>Tips:</strong> Call ahead to check sea conditions and the types of fish being caught. Show up at the docks half an hour before the scheduled departure time if possible. Ask questions to learn from captains, mates and veteran angler.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><em>-- Willie Howard</em></p></div>Letter to the Editor: All neighborhoods need to stand up and fight facilitieshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/letter-to-the-editor-all-neighborhoods-need-to-stand-up-and-fight2013-01-02T17:56:05.000Z2013-01-02T17:56:05.000ZDeborah Hartz-Seeleyhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/DeborahHartzSeeley<div><p>About a year ago, TLC Recovery rented a 7,000-square-foot home on the Intracoastal Water in the Cove neighborhood in Deerfield Beach. At the same time, the Caron Foundation purchased two homes in Delray Beach of comparable value.</p>
<p>Delray residents were up in arms. They put up tiny protest signs through the neighborhood.</p>
<p>After reading about the uproar, Pat Jolivet went to look at the signs and spoke with the residents. He returned to the Cove and called a meeting of the Cove neighbors. Pat had similar signs printed and TLC continued forward.</p>
<p>He returned to discuss the Delray signs with residents, critiquing the signs as too small and worded so as to have no impact on Caron’s clients. The signs in fact had little effect and Caron is fully functional.</p>
<p>The Cove residents changed their tactics. New, larger signs were printed, attacking by name TLC Recovery and its business model. They were up for the duration with no thought on how the neighborhood looked.</p>
<p>Residents became activists to protect their neighborhoods. Cove residents spoke at the hearing for reasonable accommodations; neighbors installed video cameras and pictures were taken of people going in and out; articles were posted to dissuade potential clients.</p>
<p>TLC couldn’t get clients and was not operational within 90 days. It did not meet this reasonable accommodation and couldn’t make money. It left.<span><br /></span> How does this relate to the coast? California and Florida are becoming the rehabilitation and sober-living capitals of the U.S. More will be coming. The cities must work together and be strong as communities to fight the invasion. Many of the clients are court-ordered drug and sex offenders. Our children are in danger. Our house values and selling abilities will collapse.</p>
<p>Delray and Boca Raton need to learn from the Cove residents, or their neighborhoods will be filled with rehabilitation and sober-living facilities. The Cove’s strategies may not be popular; however, they worked!</p>
<p></p>
<p><i>Judy Giller</i></p>
<p><i>Deerfield Beach</i></p>
<p><i> </i></p></div>