By Mary Thurwachter
As work at the luxury condo project at 3550 S. Ocean Blvd. reaches its finishing stages, construction hours have been extended. The South Palm Beach Town Council agreed to the added hours during a special town meeting on Feb. 14 and a workshop meeting.
“Kast Construction is requesting to extend hours of operation to help achieve the projected schedule — Sundays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Monday through Saturdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.,” Hector Gomez, construction manager, told the council. Previously, work hours were from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
“All we’re doing is trying to get this project done as soon as possible,” he said.
Not everyone was onboard with extra hours at the site of the old Hawaiian Inn hotel.
“We have a town rule and that should be our priority,” said Councilwoman Stella Gaddy Jordan. “We should stand as is. I don’t think we need to keep on accommodating issues such as this.”
Jordan said she was concerned about noise from electric saws and other machinery.
“We are conscious of the neighbors and would limit this work during extended hours to the interior of the units only,” Gomez said. “We are at the finishing stage of the project, so this work will be limited to quieter activities such as painting, grouting, trim out, appliances, cleaning, etc.; in other words, activities that would not affect the neighbors in any way.
“We do not anticipate having to do this every day or every week, but when we do work outside of standard hours, we would only limit the work to these types of activities and would not work outside of the condo units.”
Mayor Bonnie Fischer said she and interim Town Manager Bob Kellogg had recently visited the project and were impressed with the soundproofing.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a noise issue,” Fischer said. “They have much better windows and doors than any building in town.”
Council member Bill LeRoy said the project needed to be finished.
“I want it to be done. I want everybody to be happy. … Let’s get this done, be over it and talk about something else.”
Vice Mayor Robert Gottlieb agreed.
“The sooner we can collect taxes the better the town is,” he said. “We would encourage you to finish sooner.” With condo units selling for up to $5 million each, the town’s tax base could rise significantly.
Gomez said everybody working on that project “would like to finish earlier and as soon as possible.”
Extended work hours are good through May 1.
Jordan also objected to work being done on Sundays, saying residents, especially those who live in buildings on either side of 3550 S. Ocean Blvd., should have one noise-free day.
Developed by Manhattan-based DDG real estate investment group, the 30-unit condo building is expected to open this summer.
In other business:
• The council approved unanimously a contract with Kellogg, whose nine-month probation as interim town manager will end on Sept. 30. Kellogg’s $95,000 annual salary will jump to $100,000 in October, assuming he receives a favorable evaluation. He will not get the $300 monthly car allowance he requested. If terminated without cause after the probationary period, Kellogg is eligible to receive 20 weeks of severance pay.
• By a 4-1 vote, the council approved Police Chief Mark Garrison’s request for a reclassification of a second sergeant position to lieutenant. “The person chosen will have the experience and knowledge to act on the chief’s behalf in his absence,” Garrison said.
This move won’t increase the budget and is only a title change. He said the position has been posted to receive applications.
Jordan cast the dissenting vote.
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