Lucy the Elephant.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE Dispelling rumors that occasionally surface about the possibility of Lucy the Elephant moving to other locales, the Board of Commissioners agreed Thursday, June 20 that it would sign a new lease to keep Margate's beloved pachyderm right where she's been for the last 50 years.
Attorney Bill Subin, who is also a board member of the Save Lucy Committee, Inc., which is celebrating its 50th year as caretaker of the National Historic landmark, thanked Margate officials for working with the committee toward a new lease.
Subin arrived a little early for the June 20 Board of Commissioners meeting and stepped into the lobby of Historic City Hall to negotiate a few minor changes to the proposed lease with city Solicitor John Scott Abbott.
During the meeting, Abbott informed the commissioners that the suggested changes to the lease, which has been in development for several months, were extremely minor and that the commissioners would be able to vote to approve the lease at their next meeting on July 18, four days after the Save Lucy Committee votes to approve it.
Subin credited the work of Administrator Richard Deaney and Abbott for bringing the two boards close to finalization of what he called a long-term lease.
We look forward to a prompt final resolution so that we can continue what is an historical landmark that has stood for many years in this community as a beacon for education and history, Subin said. We hope to see Lucy the Elephant survive for many more years with your help and the help of the volunteers.
He asked for the commission's preliminary approval so the Save Lucy Committee can vote on it at their next meeting on July 14. All three commissioners said they were OK with the document.
We're all fine with it, Mayor Michael Becker said.
Abbott confirmed the length of the lease would be 20 years, with the parties convening every five years to renew for another five-year term.
The lease also clarifies ownership of the building and the park where she stands as belonging to Margate City, with the Save Lucy Committee responsible for operating the historic structure as a tourist attraction.
It can never be moved from the site without the permission of the Save Lucy Committee, Abbott said in a telephone interview Friday morning.
The roadside attraction faces the ocean and keeps an eye children and families splashing in the waves lapping the shoreline. Built in 1881 as a lure for real estate development, the building had fallen into disrepair at its prior location until 1970 when the newly formed Save Lucy Committee moved the iconic structure several blocks to its present location in Josephine Harron Park, named for the Save Lucy Committee's founder, at 9210 Atlantic Ave. The building was totally restored, and it opened to the public in 1974. Harron was able to get the structure designated a National Historic Landmark two years later.
Abbott also said the new lease states that the city will have the ability to appoint five members to the 15-member Save Lucy Committee's board of directors.
50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin.
Lucy will celebrate her 138th birthday and the 50th anniversary of the Save Lucy Committee with a day-long party, Saturday, July 20. A limited number of commemorative coins marking the committee's 50th anniversary are available for purchase at the Lucy gift shop.
For more information about Lucy the Elephant, see lucytheelephant.org.
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