- April 23, 2024
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The Beachside Redevelopment Committee is not asking for "too much," said committee member Maryam Ghyabi at the final meeting on Monday, April 16 at the Daytona Beach International Airport before the group presents their recommendations to the County Council in May.
"It's really easy," Ghyabi said. "We just need to push forward, have an agenda, have the public and private work together and push the city, the county — that's all it takes."
She said the problem is they don't see themselves as what they should be. The discussion was triggered by a comment by fellow committee member Charles Lichtigman who said the committee should throw in a couple of achievable "low-hanging fruit" projects to get redevelopment started in the beachside from Ormond Beach all the way down to Daytona Beach Shores.
"Until we feel we are special, nobody is going to treat us as such," Ghyabi said.
Committee member Frank Molnar agreed with Lichtigman and suggested they add a recommendation to create an arts district between East International Speedway Boulevard to Seabreeze Boulevard complete with restaurants, galleries and breweries.
"If we don't have anything down there for people to do, this area will never change," Molnar said.
Chairman Tony Grippa agreed with both Ghyabi, saying they have to hold their legislative delegation responsible and expect more from them. At the same time, he was on board with Molnar's idea, and suggested they add the art district idea to their recommendations since the committee has discussed a mix of infrastructure, redevelopment and zoning projects.
Ghyabi said it was a good idea, but that they have to push for what they want, rather than just talk about it.
The committee also finalized the list of infrastructure improvements per road in the beachside, and will be presented to the County in a prioritized order, with East ISB as its top priority. Main Street and the Ocean Center were listed as second. Code enforcement in the Daytona Beach core area was also reiterated as a policy top priority.
"I’m very, very hopeful that something will come out of this,” said Ruth Trager, Zone 1 Daytona Beach City Commissioner.
The Beachside Redevelopment Committee will present its recommendations to the County Council on May 15.
