Daytona Boardwalk Shop Owner Says Mayor Double-Crossed Him
Posted: 4:56 pm EDT October 13, 2003Updated: 11:07 am EDT October 14, 2003
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The mayor made a promise according to one Daytona Beach business owner, one he didn't keep. And now several stores along the boardwalk will have to close up shop. It looks like a Daytona staple is out and upscale condos are in.Business owners along the boardwalk say they've been double-crossed. Despite promises they wouldn't have to close shop, city leaders now call their area along the north side of Main Street a blighted area.The owner of Joyland said he had the mayor's word that his business would have a place in the new boardwalk. He says that word was broken.They're a huge part of Daytona Beach, the boardwalk arcades. But they could soon be gone."The city has always tried to change Daytona into what it's not," says Joyland's Dino Paspalaki's.
According to the city, Joyland stands in the way of progress.Enter eminent domain, the legal loophole used to claim someone else's property. Nearly all of the businesses will go.But Mayor Bud Asher assured Dino there was place for his shop in the new designs."He went on record, on the radio station, saying a deal had been made," says Dino.Dino thought he had dodged a bullet, but he later found out the mayor's deal was no good and Dino's business it still a fair target."They basically fooled everybody, myself included," says Dino.But make no mistake, he intends to fight to the finish. "It's to their advantage not to work out a deal and to steal my property. I'm not going to let that happen."The mayor was unavailable for comment. On Wednesday, the city will have an eminent domain hearing. If they choose to move forward, it's off to court.
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