Lake Worth Beach officials are proposing a 33,000 square-foot museum and mixed-use art campus to be located downtown — with a price tag at around $19 million.
But residents of the local advocacy group "Lake Worth for All" argue community input has been limited as the deal nears final approval.
The growing opposition of the Weiner Museum of Decorative Arts or WMODA is led by former Commissioner Kim Stokes.
She’s among critics who say the plan could erode Lake Worth’s historic, low-rise downtown, drive up costs, and push out small businesses and residents.
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"Our city shouldn't be giving away millions in public land and tax dollars as favors to wealthy businesses, developers, or waterfront homeowners," said Stokes in a statement. "This city agenda is the perfect picture of how not to run a local government."
“The City Commission majority is planning to give away valuable downtown property to WMODA, including the demolition of historic public buildings for the development and downtown alleys," she said. "These are not leases, they are outright giveaways that should require a public vote under our City Charter."
The project also includes a $7.5 million parking garage.
The Lake Worth for All group demonstrated outside the the commission meeting on Tuesday.
