• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
MENUMENU
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • FlaglerLive Board of Directors
    • Comment Policy
    • Mission Statement
    • Our Values
  • Live Calendar
  • Submit Obituary
  • Submit an Event
  • Support FlaglerLive
  • Advertise on FlaglerLive (386) 503-3808
  • Search Results

FlaglerLive

No Bull, no Fluff, No Smudges

MENUMENU
  • Flagler
    • Flagler County Commission
    • Beverly Beach
    • Economic Development Council
    • Flagler History
    • Mondex/Daytona North
    • The Hammock
    • Tourist Development Council
  • Palm Coast
    • Palm Coast City Council
    • Palm Coast Crime
  • Bunnell
    • Bunnell City Commission
    • Bunnell Crime
  • Flagler Beach
    • Flagler Beach City Commission
    • Flagler Beach Crime
  • Cops/Courts
    • Circuit & County Court
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • Federal Courts
    • Flagler 911
    • Fire House
    • Flagler County Sheriff
    • Flagler Jail Bookings
    • Traffic Accidents
  • Rights & Liberties
    • Fourth Amendment
    • First Amendment
    • Privacy
    • Second Amendment
    • Seventh Amendment
    • Sixth Amendment
    • Sunshine Law
    • Third Amendment
    • Religion & Beliefs
    • Human Rights
    • Immigration
    • Labor Rights
    • 14th Amendment
    • Civil Rights
  • Schools
    • Adult Education
    • Belle Terre Elementary
    • Buddy Taylor Middle
    • Bunnell Elementary
    • Charter Schools
    • Daytona State College
    • Flagler County School Board
    • Flagler Palm Coast High School
    • Higher Education
    • Imagine School
    • Indian Trails Middle
    • Matanzas High School
    • Old Kings Elementary
    • Rymfire Elementary
    • Stetson University
    • Wadsworth Elementary
    • University of Florida/Florida State
  • Economy
    • Jobs & Unemployment
    • Business & Economy
    • Development & Sprawl
    • Leisure & Tourism
    • Local Business
    • Local Media
    • Real Estate & Development
    • Taxes
  • Commentary
    • The Conversation
    • Pierre Tristam
    • Diane Roberts
    • Guest Columns
    • Byblos
    • Editor's Blog
  • Culture
    • African American Cultural Society
    • Arts in Palm Coast & Flagler
    • Books
    • City Repertory Theatre
    • Flagler Auditorium
    • Flagler Playhouse
    • Flagler Youth Orchestra
    • Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
    • Palm Coast Arts Foundation
    • Special Events
  • Elections 2022
    • Amendments and Referendums
    • Presidential Election
    • Campaign Finance
    • City Elections
    • Congressional
    • Constitutionals
    • Courts
    • Governor
    • Polls
    • Voting Rights
  • Florida
    • Federal Politics
    • Florida History
    • Florida Legislature
    • Florida Legislature
    • Ron DeSantis
  • Health & Society
    • Flagler County Health Department
    • Ask the Doctor Column
    • Health Care
    • Health Care Business
    • Covid-19
    • Children and Families
    • Medicaid and Medicare
    • Mental Health
    • Poverty
    • Violence
  • All Else
    • Daily Briefing
    • Americana
    • Obituaries
    • News Briefs
    • Weather and Climate
    • Wildlife

A1A Pride Votes 7-3 to Reject Salamander Plan for 198-Room Hotel at Hammock Beach

October 9, 2014 | FlaglerLive | 7 Comments

Salamander's rendering of the 198-room hotel fronting the beach and 16th Road in the Hammock. Click on the image for larger view.
Salamander’s rendering of the 198-room hotel fronting the beach and 16th Road in the Hammock. Click on the image for larger view.

The Scenic A1A Pride Committee this afternoon voted 7-3 to reject a plan by Salamander Hotels and Resorts to build a 198-room oceanfront hotel to replace the slimmer existing facility at Hammock Beach Resort.

The vote is a setback for Salamander, which has stressed transparency and been holding a series of meetings with community groups–and club members, in April–to win over the Hammock community before the plan begins its trek through county government. Salamander President Prem Devadas was present at one such meeting, before the Hammock Conservation Coalition Tuesday evening, where the group’s membership was broadly inquisitive but just as broadly skeptical of the plan despite assurances that it is radically different from an earlier attempt to build up the property there.


In 2010, Lubert Adler, the real estate investment company that owns the property, planned to build a 541-apartment development on the site, re-routing 16th Road, which provides beach access to the Hammock community in accordance with the former Ginn development agreement that gave rise to the resort. Devadas Tuesday evening took pains to disassociate Salamander from that plan, which the county successfully fought and defeated in a administrative decision ultimately upheld by the Florida cabinet.

“It was a land grab and I would have ruled against it as well,” Devadas told the assembly Tuesday evening. Nevertheless, he defended the size of the new proposal, scaled down as it is, as the company’s business plan is predicated on a certain number of rooms and amenities, including a 5400 square feet ballroom that can seat up to 350 people. Middleburg, Va.-based Salamander Hotels and Resorts manages and builds high-end hotels and resorts. It took over management of Hammock Beach Resort in late October 2011.  The 198 rooms are what’s needed “to make it work,” Devadas said. 

Salamander President Prem Devadas at the Hammock Conservation Coalition meeting Tuesday, with a rendition of the proposed development, as seen from beach level. Click on the image for larger view. (© FlaglerLive)
Salamander President Prem Devadas at the Hammock Conservation Coalition meeting Tuesday, with a rendition of the proposed development, as seen from beach level. Click on the image for larger view. (© FlaglerLive)
“We do look for new development that has context-sensitive design,” Ann Wilson, who chairs the Scenic Pride committee, said. “It’s a buzz word, it basically means that whatever you build does fit in the location.” Forty-eight hours later, she was not convinced that Salamander’s plan fits, and was in the majority that voted to reject it. “If you are on the beach in the Hammock and you look up on the dunes, you see single family homes, you do not see a hotel or large development, and the lodge that’s there clearly fits in with the design and aspect of single family homes,” Wilson said today.

Today’s vote of the A1A committee is only advisory, as far as the county is concerned. But A1A’s membership represents a powerful constituency in the Hammock, as its previous displays of political muscle indicate. The Salamander plan is scheduled to go before the county’s planning board later this month (the plan has already gone before the county’s Technical Review Committee). The planning board will make a recommendation to the County Commission. Only at that level will the application for the Planned Unit Development, or PUD, see a vote that will decide the fate of the proposal.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
You and your neighbors collectively read our articles about 25,000 times each day (that's not a typo) with up to 65,000 daily reads during emergencies like hurricanes. Flagler County residents rely on FlaglerLive for essential, bold and analytical journalism that cannot be found anywhere else. But we depend on your support. Please join our December fund drive! If you donate the cost of a scoop of ice cream, you will be helping us continue to provide comprehensive local news and honest, serious journalism for our community. If you can donate more or become a monthly donor, even better. Donations are tax deductible since FlaglerLive is a 501(c)(3) non-profit news organization. Donate by clicking anywhere in this box. Think of it as buying a scoop, in every sense of the term!  
All donors' identities are kept confidential and anonymous.
   

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. confidential says

    October 9, 2014 at 9:09 pm

    Good vote! Otherwise will take away from the already existing Hammock Beach Hotel and other resort businesses. We don’t need any more resorts when Palm Coast Hotels are in foreclosure.
    Hope the FCBOCC sees the writing in the wall. Watch out these Planning Boards can cause more harm than good to the already existing hospitality businesses and residents!

    Reply
  2. T says

    October 10, 2014 at 1:59 pm

    Poor Decision. Previously Scenic A1A unanimously supported this project and now they reversed themselves….. Why? This is a good project with good planning and design and fits this location. And it would be a benefit to the community and the local economy. I hope the County ignores this reversal and proceeds with the previous vote by Scenic A1A.

    Reply
  3. property owner on 16th Rd. says

    October 10, 2014 at 5:35 pm

    Anyone who votes for it should have to own or buy property on 16th Road so they can ride the values down when the construction traffic is hauling debris and materials for the next 2 years. After that the construction of the CASINO will surely begin. Devadas’ group took over 3 years ago yet now they need…198 rooms to “make it work?” They didn’t know before they took it over they would need to take another run at the suckers in the Hammock, or, a couple commissioners? We (personally) fought against Ginn because we knew from his track record he would find the way to get through the County Commission. We (collectively) need to see that the greed and deception goes no further. If you have any doubts about this go to Atlantic City, speak to some of those that have had their streets strewn with garbage and the crime that goes with it. Presently, many of Atlantic City Casinos are in foreclosure and/or bankruptcy. Maybe they could use the Hammock a few other Florida locations to “MAKE IT WORK?” Vote (HELL) NO!!

    Reply
  4. DoubleGator says

    October 10, 2014 at 11:04 pm

    Great decision. Interesting to look at their newest development concept. I see “Old Salt Park” becomes the service road exit for the hotel. Wouldn’t want those trucks interfering with the “guests” experiences now would we. Nice move. Trashes the public use and make the “park” the back alley for the hotel. Smooth move.

    Reply
  5. yosh says

    October 11, 2014 at 12:50 am

    I’m thinking: How many “good” jobs in Flagler does Salamander provide? Answer is: THE MOST!!….Let’s employ more, don’t you think?

    Reply
  6. Brad says

    October 11, 2014 at 10:35 am

    The truth is that this is one of those times where our Commissioners need to step up and say, “Thank you for your opinion, but we are going to do the right thing for the entire County and approve this.”

    This is a good opportunity for the community. We are seeing increasing tourism opportunities that are going t continue to grow. The Ginn Resort has been at 100% capacity as well as all of the other hotels in the area on several occasions this year. We should be capitalizing on the increased sporting activities that bring in visitors and our reputation as a vacation spot that continues to grow. Tourism is a good thing. Salamander runs great resorts and brings in higher end clientele who spend. And this adds jobs. It would be very very irresponsible to reject this opportunity for the County because a few people are speculating they will lose property value. They will gain value if anything in the long run.

    Reply
  7. Hammock Resident says

    October 11, 2014 at 5:03 pm

    Hubby and I were born and raised in South Florida, and moved here to get away from what happened to it. Oh yeah, developers are always doing the best thing for the area, right? The ocean side property looks like a monstrosity, a looming giant over the otherwise beautiful maritime hammock. A maritime hammock with its own micro-climate. Look what happened on the ICW, across the street. Tons of oaks wiped out. Just throw in a buzzword like “jobs,” and paradise is gone.

    Face it, developers only want to line their pockets and try to convince us it is so much better for the economy, jobs and so on. We’ve seen it before down south. Want to really do us a favor? Leave the Hammock alone!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Advertisers

  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents
  • WNZF Creekside Festival

Recent Comments

  • Richard on No Plans Yet for Florida Health Departments to Offer New Covid Vaccine Even as It Rolls Out in Other States
  • Pat on No Plans Yet for Florida Health Departments to Offer New Covid Vaccine Even as It Rolls Out in Other States
  • PeachesMcGee on Taylor Manjarres, 20, Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Her Role in Shooting Death of Zaire Roberts
  • jeffery c. seib on ‘No Smoke and Mirrors’: New Baler Helps Flagler Beach Recycle 4 Tons of Cardboard a Week
  • What Else Is New on Moms for Liberty: Joyful Warriors or Anti-Government Conspiracists?
  • Steve on Taylor Manjarres, 20, Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Her Role in Shooting Death of Zaire Roberts
  • Joy Cook on Rezoning Enabling Up to 850 Homes in Seminole Woods Causes Sharp Debate Before Palm Coast Approval
  • Marion on Taylor Manjarres, 20, Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Her Role in Shooting Death of Zaire Roberts
  • Atbp on Time to Stop Using Individuality-Obliterating Acronyms Like BIPOC
  • Laurel on Michael Benkert, on the Run for 19 Days Since Flagler Beach Trailer Park Manhunt, Is Arrested
  • Laurel on At Root of Palm Coast’s Affordable Housing Crisis: We Got Our Own. Screw the Rest. 
  • Bill on At Root of Palm Coast’s Affordable Housing Crisis: We Got Our Own. Screw the Rest. 
  • Say no to Facists on How Biases Against Black-Sounding First Names Lead to Job Discrimination
  • Laurel on DeSantis Will Debate Gavin Newsom in Georgia in November
  • Foresee on Time to Stop Using Individuality-Obliterating Acronyms Like BIPOC
  • Gene on Montessori School Owner Kerri Huckabee, 54, Arrested on 3 Felonies in Dispute with Flagler Beach Neighbors

Log in