The days of Bob\u2019s News and Books may be numbered. But not because fewer people are reading newspapers.<\/p>\n
One of the country\u2019s last newsstands, Bob\u2019s News has been a fixture in downtown Fort Lauderdale for more than five decades. Over the years, it\u2019s been the go-to place to pick up everything from out-of-town news to lottery tickets and adult magazines.<\/p>\n
But the business happens to operate out of a building that\u2019s among 12 properties being looked at by Broward Health for acquisition, to make way for the hospital district\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n
Erin Steinberg, who owns the business but not the building, got the news after another property owner on the block sent an email alerting him about the plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just found out last week,\u201d Steinberg said from behind the counter. \u201cIt\u2019s my life. It\u2019s my business. Once D-Day comes, I don\u2019t know what I\u2019ll do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Broward Health, like any other government entity, has the legal right to seize private property for public use, provided it pays fair market value.<\/p>\n
Broward Health does not yet have a specific plan for the properties, but acquiring the land will help make way for growth that\u2019s coming, hospital spokesperson Jennifer Smith told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re acquiring property all over the county,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThere\u2019s a very aggressive strategy for land acquisition. We\u2019re trying to set up not just for the short term, but for the long term.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Board of Commissioners of the North Broward Hospital District approved the plan to acquire the properties through eminent domain back in September. But the hospital\u2019s legal representatives have not yet reached out to the property owners to begin negotiations, Smith said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt could be within the next year,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThey try and privately negotiate first.\u201d<\/p>\n
If that doesn\u2019t work, the hospital district can file an eminent domain lawsuit to seize the properties.<\/p>\n
The properties include five businesses, six residential properties and one warehouse. All in all, they add up to 2.7 acres.<\/p>\n
The five businesses and warehouse are all on the same block right across from Broward Health Medical Center.<\/p>\n
The six residential properties are a few blocks away on Southeast 14th Court and Southeast 14th Street.<\/p>\n
Some people had no idea their properties were on the list until getting a call from the Sun Sentinel.<\/p>\n
Chris Kapakos, who owns three buildings on the list that are on the same block as Bob\u2019s News, was taken aback when a reporter contacted him Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait a minute,\u201d he said. \u201cI heard about Bob\u2019s News two days ago. I didn\u2019t know they wanted any of my properties. I just thought they wanted Bob\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kapakos owns the building that houses Big C\u2019s Downtown Pizzeria at 1509 S. Andrews Ave.<\/a> and the florist shop next door at 1507 S. Andrews Ave.<\/a> He also owns a warehouse on the same block at 1506 SW First Ave.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI need to do some research on what eminent domain entails,\u201d Kapakos said. \u201cThe pizzeria is a good business, and it pays rent. They can\u2019t just take my properties without compensating me. And they can\u2019t lowball me either.\u201d<\/p>\n This won\u2019t be the first time Broward Health scoops up nearby properties.<\/p>\n A new eight-story medical office building and seven-story parking garage is going up at 1611 S. Andrews Ave.<\/a>, just south of Bob\u2019s newsstand. The building is set to open<\/a> in 2027 on land acquired from private property owners.<\/p>\n The hospital district managed to buy the land without having to resort to eminent domain, Smith said.<\/p>\n What is now a construction site was once home to the Copper Kettle Restaurant, an acupuncture\/holistic medicine business and one other private business, Smith said.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of those original businesses that were there were privately negotiated deals with the sellers being paid above fair market value,\u201d Smith said. \u201cIn some instances, people approach us because the properties are getting older or it\u2019s a business that\u2019s no longer profitable.\u201d<\/p>\n Chris Campbell, owner of the Next Level gym whose building is one of the takeover targets, told the Sun Sentinel his business is doing just fine.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been here for about eight years now,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to leave. We like the location. We\u2019re a hub in the community. To pick up and leave is, to say the least, inconvenient. We understand there\u2019s growth and development, but we seem to be on the short end of that stick.\u201d<\/p>\n Steinberg, owner of Bob\u2019s News, can relate.<\/p>\n Historic newsstands have closed around the country as print-news consumption has nosedived.<\/p>\n