Developer Pays Town $500,000 to Settle Condo Height Fight

DAYTONA BEACH, FL-A developer’s $500,000 check to the fishing town of Ponce Inlet, FL was enough to re-start construction next week on the eight-building, seven-story Links condominium project, 60 miles northeast of Downtown Orlando. The estimated $75 million venture by Atlanta-based American Safety Insurance Services Inc. had been shut down since April 2 over a building height dispute.

Daytona Beach hospitality industry brokers following the controversy tell GlobeSt.com, on condition of anonymity, that everybody involved in the settlement was careful not to call the half-million-dollar check a payoff to the town, but a settlement of the dispute. However, the town council, which still has to approve the deal, asked for the money to settle the fight, brokers tell GlobeSt.com, a view not contradicted by Ponce Inlet elected officials.

State Circuit Judge J. David Walsh ruled April 11 the seven-story, 378-unit Links condos, which have an estimated 70-foot height, could resume construction, even though it exceeded the town’s 35-foot height limit. All future new commercial, industrial or residential construction in Ponce Inlet, however, can’t be taller than 35 feet, the judge ruled.