Helipad at Mar-a-Lago demolished
The town's sole helipad at The Mar-a-Lago Club was demolished today, nearly a month after former President Donald Trump left office.
Built four years ago on the club's west lawn, the concrete slab measuring 50 feet long and 8 inches deep allowed the then-president to fly on Marine One to and from Palm Beach International Airport to Mar-a-Lago without causing traffic jams along Southern Boulevard.
But during many of his visits, the president often opted to drive to his private club along a route where fans and foes would gather to greet him.
The town does not allow helicopters or helipads but it made an exception for Mar-a-Lago on the conditions that it be used only for business related to the executive office and that it must be removed when Trump left office. The town's Landmarks Preservation Commission also approved the helipad, despite some concerns from residents who worried about noise and down draft from the helicopters.
Helipad at Mar-a-Lago demolished
Jodie Wagner
Palm Beach Daily News
Crews demolish the helipad a Mar-a-Lago Club on Tuesday. The pad was installed after Trump became president under the condition it be removed when he left office.
The town's sole helipad at The Mar-a-Lago Club was demolished today, nearly a month after former President Donald Trump left office.
Built four years ago on the club's west lawn, the concrete slab measuring 50 feet long and 8 inches deep allowed the then-president to fly on Marine One to and from Palm Beach International Airport to Mar-a-Lago without causing traffic jams along Southern Boulevard.
But during many of his visits, the president often opted to drive to his private club along a route where fans and foes would gather to greet him.
More:Can former president Donald Trump call Mar-a-Lago home? Presentations could help decide that
The town does not allow helicopters or helipads but it made an exception for Mar-a-Lago on the conditions that it be used only for business related to the executive office and that it must be removed when Trump left office. The town's Landmarks Preservation Commission also approved the helipad, despite some concerns from residents who worried about noise and down draft from the helicopters.
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"The council gave permission for the helipad as an added safety measure when Mr. Trump became president," Town Council President Maggie Zeidman said Tuesday. "Former President Trump agreed to remove the helipad once out of office, and that is what he is doing.''
A permit was pulled Feb. 2 for demolition.
There was never a question that the helipad would remain in place after Trump's presidency ended, Town Manager Kirk Blouin said earlier this month. He noted that representatives for the club had inquired about permits in January.
“It seems to have been more controversial in media reports than it is in actual practice,” Blouin said. “They never made a request to keep it.”
Lake Park-based contractor Pyramid Builders of Palm Beach was hired for the demolition job, according to the town building permit. The cost will run an estimated $15,000.
The helipad was completed in February 2017 and first used in April that year by a Trump Corporate helicopter.
https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/news/local/2021/02/16/helipad-mar-lago-demolished-tuesday/6768971002/