So......what conclusions can you draw? Well, there are a number of suppositions, plus some new facts.
First, because of the inability to uncover any evidence of any survey conducted about Bayside before the July 26th public meeting, I can conclude that none was taken. Therefore, it is my opinion that the developer lied about the survey which supported their decision to delete the lagoon, fountain, and trolley from the development of Bayside. The question occurs to me that if the developer lied about the survey, what else did he lie about? It's my position that the credibility of the developer has been destroyed. I don't like lies. I do not like manipulation of any kind......on either side of the table.
However, I now have evidence that a survey of Bayside is now underway. That compounds the intrigue. Now it looks like, "Oops, I've been caught, and I'd better do some damage control." That reaction is almost juvenile in nature. The survey underway is completely amateurish in it's structure. Some questions have nothing to do with Bayside. For example, the survey asks for political affiliations, right or left. That question has no business in a survey about an amenity package of any real estate development. In addition, it asks by name your opinion of certain political leaders......not all. That has absolutely no business being in a survey about real estate development. REPEAT: The survey is very amateurish. That means the survey questions were developed by someone not good at it. Not professionals. Who? The developer? Or.....the owners? In any event, the survey is a tool of manipulation, not information gathering.
I have a very good idea of what questions are being asked. The Mayor, Tammy, sent me some paraphrased questions that was given to her by citizens. Larry Beckham's wife took a call. My wife received a call on her cell phone. My wife refused to answer some questions because they had nothing to do with Bayside. I have a smart wife.
I do not believe that a survey was ever taken prior to July 26. I think that the developer was telling city Staff that it had been taken, but I believe the developer was lying. I now have ample evidence that a survey is currently underway. However, it is being taken in response to a demand for the evidence made by this blog, and probably other doubters. I think it is being done for damage control. I also think the current survey is designed for gaining unwarranted political information, and manipulating information to support the developer's desire to eliminate the lagoon, fountain, and trolley from the Bayside development.
I am strongly on the side of taking action to fight the developers, no matter the action. This action can only be mitigated by the developer searching and finding their original integrity in a box somewhere, and making amends for their recent ill conceived actions.
I am angry. I want Bayside developed materially within it's original presentation. The fountain can be redesigned to become a less expensive maintenance issue, but all else stays. The balance of the development can be tweaked somewhat, but the amenity package stays. Period.
A couple of side notes:
First, what do you figure the odds are that Larry Beckham and my wife would be randomly chosen in the 200 citizens out of the estimated 30,000 voters in this city? We're probably the two who write most about Bayside. The odds are astronomical, and suggests there might be some back room shenanigans. Someone may be on the payroll that we don't know about. Is that beyond the integrity of the owners?
Second, what motivated the elimination of the amenity package? Folks, follow the money. How much is another 8 acres of waterfront land worth on the Bayside property? A price of $25/sq. ft. on 8 acres is $8.7 million. Plus, it saves development costs of the amenity package. It's worth more than that.