It's time for residents to act before it's too late! Let's save our town! We, the undersigned residents of Lake Park, Florida strongly oppose the proposed high-rise development at 10th Street and Park Avenue and urge the City Commission to protect our community by changing the zoning to a maximum building height of six stories in the Downtown area of Lake Park.

Reasons for Opposition:
1. Loss of Privacy & Neighborhood Integrity:

• The proposed 16-story high-rise buildings will directly overlook single-family homes, creating a severe invasion of privacy for homeowners.
• A height limit of up to six stories would provide a more balanced development while maintaining privacy.

2. Decline in Property Values:

• Single-family homes will become less desirable due to high-rise congestion, reducing home values.
• High-rise developments reduce privacy, block sunlight, increase noise pollution, and create aesthetic mismatches, all of which lower property values.
• Studies show that single-family homes located near high-density apartment complexes appreciate slower and often lose 10-20% of their value compared to those in low-density neighborhoods.

3. Traffic Overload & Infrastructure Strain
The proposed high-rises with 595 units will generate between 3,570 and 5,950 additional vehicle trips per day, adding approximately 900 to 1,200 new cars to the area.
Severe congestion will occur on 10th Street and Park Avenue, leading to:

• Longer commute times and traffic bottlenecks.
  Increased cut-through traffic in single-family neighborhoods.
• Emergency response times (fire, police, and medical services) will be negatively impacted, potentially endangering lives.
• Road conditions will deteriorate faster, requiring costly repairs due to higher traffic loads.
• The existing infrastructure, including roads and public transit, is not equipped to handle the additional burden.

4. Parking Shortage and Neighborhood Overflow
The new development includes only 728 parking spaces for 595 units, which is insufficient.

• A well-planned development should provide 900-1,200 spaces to accommodate residents, visitors, and service vehicles.
  The shortage of 172-472 parking spaces will lead to:
• Residents parking in surrounding neighborhoods, blocking driveways, fire hydrants, and sidewalks.
• Increased traffic hazards, making our streets unsafe for pedestrians, cyclists, and children at play.
• Emergency vehicle access issues, endangering residents.
• Overflow from delivery vehicles, service workers, and visitors, further clogging nearby streets.
• Increased potential for crime, as poorly lit overflow parking areas attract vehicle break-ins and vandalism.

5. Destruction of the Town’s Historic Character & Decline in Family Appeal
Overly tall buildings will dominate the skyline, overshadowing the rich history and architectural heritage that defines our town and making it less attractive for families seeking a peaceful, close-knit community. Lake Park has long been celebrated for its historic character, small-town charm, and unique sense of place. The loss of this small-town feel may deter families from moving to the area, reducing long-term community investment and shifting the neighborhood demographic toward transient renters rather than long-term homeowners.

6. Potential for Neglect and Mismanagement

• The Forest Development group that is offering to build this project does not have the experience building and managing projects of this magnitude. They have never managed a property of almost 600 units, and they do not have any rental projects this big or even close in Florida. The lack of experience significantly raises the risk of future mismanagement.
• The addition of almost 600 rental units will alter the town’s demographic balance, increasing transient populations and reducing long-term homeownership. This shift could lead to a weakened sense of community, decreased investment in local businesses, and a potential rise in crime rates due to a lack of stable, vested residents.
• Many high-rises start as luxury apartments but decline over time if maintenance and funding issues arise.

Our Request to the City Commission:

1. We request the City Commission to amend zoning regulations to cap building heights at six stories (including the garage and commercial areas) in the Downtown of Lake Park.

This compromise allows for reasonable growth while protecting the community’s quality of life.

2. Reject the current proposal of Residence on 10th and Park Ave. unless it is modified to meet a six-story height limit.

3. Require a full traffic impact study before approving any large-scale development.

We call on the City Commission to listen to the voices of residents and take immediate action to protect our community.

Voice your opinion at the Community Workshop on April 26, at 10 am. in Town Hall. Just say NO!

Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/1787886481755619

Please contact our Commission at 561-881-3311 or write an email to ​townclerk@lakeparkflorida.gov​  or come to April 2nd  Commission Meeting.

To see renderings of the proposed buildings visit : https://tenthandpark.com

Katia Zhestkova, Homeowner at Lake Park Florida