Bradenton Condominium Developer Does the Right Thing
Florida waterfront developers usually insist they have the “right” to ruin our coast without giving anything in return. But there is no reason condominium builders can’t do good things for the towns where they plop their view-blockers, which would both help their reputations and add value to their building projects. One Bradenton developer seems to have figured this out — and deserves major kudos for its generosity.
I’m talking about The Promenade at Riverwalk. In almost every way, it’s a typical Florida greed-driven environmental disaster, complete with landscaping guaranteed to put harmful nutrients into the Manatee River. But the developers of this monstrosity are not entirely evil. They have donated — possibly as partial penance for their sins — an acre of land to the Manatee Players, an award-winning local theater group that has been looking for a new location where they could build a larger facility.
Yay, Promenade at Riverwalk!
Usually, when a Florida developer “gives” anyone anything, it’s because of legal action or because, in return, they get zoning variances for extra-tall buildings that will increase their already excessive (and barely taxed) profits. The Promenade at Riverwalk had already completed the usual political bribe/lawsuit process needed to get their view-blockers approved, so they easily could have done the typical condomizer thing and thumbed their noses at the town they were ruining with a big, “Ha! Ha! We got over on you because we’re rich and politically-connected, and you’re not.” But, instead, they chose to give a new home to a vital community arts resource.
So let’s say it again: Yay, Promenade at Riverwalk!
This may not have been pure altruism. In an increasingly competitive market for overpriced condominiums, it helps to offer some sort of unique amenity — like a community theater on the premises. And the community goodness thing also means that if an overmonied out-of-town person asks local friends to recommend a pretentious place to live, Bradenton’s Promenade at Riverwalk may be pointed out as a high-rise development that’s less evil than most. The phrase “doing well by doing good” suddenly comes to mind, doesn’t it?
Now we need to spread the idea of being at least a little bit non-evil to other developers. I suspect that if more waterfront despoilers added public amenities — like public (fee-charging) boat ramps, marinas, and mooring fields (with dinghy racks and parking) — to their projects, they’d get citizen support for their work, and could save some of the legal fees they now spend suing to get their plans approved.
But we can’t expect Florida developers to be good instead of evil unless we show them it’s in their own best interest. We need to praise all good things (no matter how small) our developer friends do if we want to teach them that being good neighbors (instead of totally evil profiteers) will win friends, influence people, and increase their profits.
So, once again let’s all say…
Yay, Promenade at Riverwalk!