A public forum is being held tonight (August 13) to air views on allowing the development of the controversial iPic theater complex project to be located in downtown Delray Beach. (Boca Mag‘s Randy Schultz writes about the forum and parses the background and what’s at stake in the iPic Delray issue.). The Chamber of Commerce has called on people to show up tonight to support approval. Not all citizens who deeply object to the location of the iPic project will be able to make the forum. Below is a letter to the Mayor from one of them.

To the Mayor and the commission:

“Thanks for providing the community a forum to speak out regarding the iPic project.  Unfortunately I will not be able to attend the forum but would like to express my thoughts on the current proposal.

I can summarize my viewpoint in one quick blurb.  Right Project, Wrong Location.

This would be a great project if it were placed in a different location with better access to 95.  Put it along Atlantic Ave west of the Tennis center and I think you would not only get a lot of support from the community but it would bring people to Delray within walking distance to the other attractions along Atlantic Ave to the east without jamming up Atlantic x Federal.

But unfortunately the developer did not choose that location and is proposing the iPic in a location that is just a bad idea.  Movies mean cars, and lots of them, coming and going at the same time (when the movie starts and when it ends).  The only access to the currently proposed location for anyone coming from the west, north or south is via Atlantic Ave (from 95) or via Federal Hwy.  Also, lets not forget that we have other controversial large projects slated for the area around Atlantic x Federal where traffic is a concern and this project at its proposed location would only compound the problem.  Conversely, put the IPic closer to 95 along Atlantic and it would mean easy to access to the iPic from 95 and would still have all the benefits of being in a great proximity to downtown but without the added traffic around Atlantic x Federal.

Based on what I have seen on Facebook and other media you will undoubtedly get some people in support of the project.  People from Boca, Boynton, West Delray all seem to love the project but there viewpoint is likely more about having an iPic in the local area regardless of the specific location.  Ask them if they’d be in support of the IPic is it were between the Tennis Center and 95 and they will give you the same answer. Lets face it, if you only come to Delray once in a while to see a movie you’ll be less concerned about the specific location than just trying to get the iPic in the area.  Put the iPic closer to 95 and it would be a better solution for Delray residents as well as those coming from other towns.

Per my original statement the issue isn’t the project, its the location, and that’s what the discussion should be about, as opposed to do we or don’t we need an iPic in the downtown area of Delray.  I encourage you to uphold the decision made by the P&Z board and turn down the developer’s request as stated.

Respectfully,
Kevin
Delray Beach Resident