Wrong to demolish Wellington building

The proposed plan to demolish the Lake Wellington Professional Center, which houses 134 tenants is preposterous. This is proposed to put in a sandy beach, parking and rowing facility. I live on the lake. I see two rowers seasonally. There is only 2 percent of available office space currently available in Wellington. We need these lawyers, doctors, psychologists and others who are in what has not been professionally evaluated as a building that needs demolishing.

In fact, I love to go to meetings at the wonderfully unique office building.

Just a stone’s throw away from the professional building numerous lakefront neighborhoods are heading in the direction of ghettos. Crime and drug dealing has risen. Residents do not feel safe and are looking for places to move to if Wellington, as these deteriorating neighborhoods, including Section 8 dwellings, are becoming unaffordable. Sadly, the drug dealers have the money to move here. The sections I am speaking of are between Forest Hill Boulevard and South Shore Boulevard to Forest Hill and Wellington Trace. We need street lights, lights around the waterfront, more money so the Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s Office can add staff to keep us safe, and the areas need monies to clean up areas that are looking like slums. I challenge all the council members to come visit me at Westhampton Circle, and I will show you the degeneration which is occurring.

We need safety.

ANN REILLY, WELLINGTON