West Palm Beach Development News [Archive]

smiley

December 24th, 2003, 07:44 PM

Developers contract condo fever
By STEPHANIE MURPHY, Daily News Business and Real Estate Writer
More than 2,000 new condominium units in West Palm Beach linked to lifestyle of Palm Beach.

Sunday, Oct. 12, 2003 — Palm Beach isn't getting any bigger, but there is a growing dimension to its "fringe population" — those who live just on the other side of the bridges and occasionally visitf+tsf-t the island to shop, dine and sightsee.

Based on new residential construction in downtown West Palm Beach and buyer interest in more than 2,000 new condominium units, year-round islanders won't be alone in the queue for restaurant seats and parking spaces.

Over the next few seasons, thousands of young professionals and empty nesters will move into the Metropolitan, 610 Clematis, The Whitney, One CityPlaza, The Slade and Clarkes Hotel. All are new projects in the early stages of development, arriving on the heels of One Watermark Place, Esplanade Grande, Flagler Pointe and The Residences at CityPlace.

Still to come are CityPlaza II; a 38-unit villa loft project near The Slade; and 180 condo units on the top floor of the proposed hotel at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

Just this week, The Related Group sent out notices to tenants of the 12-story Tower at CityPlace that it is converting 128 rental apartments to condos. Another relatively new rental building, The Strand, hasn't ruled out a future conversion, and the loft apartments at Waterfront Clematis were built for that eventuality.

With the exception of the multimillion-dollar units at One Watermark Place, most of the new buildings are in the midpriced luxury range of under $500,000 — in some cases, way under. With rooftop swimming pools setting the standard, they bring a variety of styles and amenities to an area that hasn't seen new multifamily construction since the days when washer/dryer units were an upgrade.

Island lifestyle for less — Jim Clarke, developer of the Clarkes Hotel condo-inn — where preconstruction prices are under $200,000 — said the volume of newcomers will have "an enormous impact on Palm Beach, with thousands of additional people in the restaurants and shops three years from now. People will be buying the Palm Beach lifestyle for less."

Developer Bill Meyer of Palm Beach said the growth "will certainly make it more active here during the summer, and that's a good thing."

Meyer said the convention center proposal was an inducement for the tower and others to convert now instead of later. "This means The Related Group will be in the marketplace earlier and will be competition for the presales of those 180 condo units in the hotel," he said.

Nancy Graham, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority and the city's former mayor, said the effect on Palm Beach should be very positive, because the new condos are in good price ranges, and the buyers will support restaurants and retail on both sides of the bridge — "particularly during the off-season, when the challenges for businesses over there are the same as they are over here."

Profits from resales — Palm Beach residents, including some real estate agents, are among the buyers and investors who already have profited from resales of West Palm Beach units.

Buyers at The Slade include Pedro Morrison, Albert Beriro and James Tigani. Mark Bennett, an associate with McCann, Coyner Clarke who has two homes in the North End, bought a southeast corner unit on the eighth floor at The Slade, where site work began during the summer.

He said he was "so excited" about the project, he found buyers for five other units in the building and won an award for selling the most units of anyone outside The Related Group.

"The revitalization of West Palm Beach is truly exciting," Bennett said. "We're watching a whole new skyline bloom right before our eyes, at an amazing rate, while experiencing the inception of a new urban and cultural lifestyle." He said the city's waterfront is taking on a new persona, "and there's so much more to come."

The Metropolitan is scheduled for groundbreaking during the first quarter of next year, with occupancy in late summer 2005. Metropolitan Development Group LLC, an affiliate of Kenco Communities, recently opened a sales office at CityPlace. The eight-story building at Sapodilla Avenue and Fern Street will be built on a ridge 35 feet above sea level and feature a rooftop swimming pool. The 149 condo units have preconstruction prices from the $170,000s to the mid-$400,000s.

Metropolitan offers "attainable luxury living" within walking distance of the city's premier attractions, said Dean Borg, senior vice president of Kenco. The project will feature gated access, a 24-hour doorman and two levels of underground parking.

Courting developers — "The City of West Palm Beach worked long and hard to attract quality residential developers to the downtown district," said Cary O'Donnell, a spokeswoman for CityPlace and the Metropolitan. "This is going to add the energy ... the 24/7 life we wanted downtown to support retail, restaurants and supporting services." The next challenge is to attract more corporations to provide the jobs to sustain the demand for an urban lifestyle, she said.

Real estate developers Andrew Aiken and David Frisbie, who are Palm Beach residents and principals of Renaissance Partners, have been part of that evolution. At Waterfront Clematis, their joint venture with Bruce Rendina, they created a mixed-use development of loft-style residential apartments and Class-A office space for tenants such as Edwards & Angell and Florida Crystals Corp.

"A decade ago, downtown was void of residential life, and the city took the initiative to encourage new urban development — to bring a variety of uses into close proximity. And it's all happening: residential, commercial, entertainment and cultural stuff," Aiken said.

"For those of us who already live here, it will make Palm Beach that much more desirable. Instead of being surrounded by an economically depressed and crime-ridden city, we’re surrounded by a city that’s generating more tax revenues. Now, it’s a wonderful place to be and wonderful to have a good community next door," Aiken said.

More groundbreaking ahead — Groundbreaking for The Whitney, at Quadrille Boulevard and Evernia Street, also is expected in the first quarter of next year. The developer is Evernia Properties LLC, a venture with Boston Partners and Work Leader Corp. of Miami.

Enrique Dillon, a principal in Boston Partners and CEO of the eight-story Whitney, said the partnership acquired the site from BAP, the firm developing rival project 610 Clematis.

"We saw the area having a lot of potential. All the indicators are that West Palm Beach is the next area to show a lot of growth. It's the right time, and it's thef+b f-bplace to be, I guess," Dillon said. The staff is taking reservations for contracts on its 210 units, and the city has approved the site plan. Prices are from the $170,000s to the $500,000s.

BAP Development will have a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 22 for 610 Clematis, its eight-story project at Clematis Street and Rosemary Avenue.f+t

f-t The building will have 246 units with one-, two- and three-bedroom flats, two-story lofts and one- and two-bedroom ground floor walk-up units. The units still available start at $215,000, and completion is estimated for December 2004.

Clarke, of Palm Beach Hospitality Group Inc., said sales are going very well for units at Clarkes Hotel, a 56-unit boutique condominium hotel to be built at 314 Fern St. Ten units are available from $175,000, with refundable deposits of $5,000 — the same amount that prices have increased since early summer. The former owner of the Bradley House expects a January groundbreaking for the five-story building and about 10 months of construction.f+t

f-tPrice of progress — Barbara Salk, vice president of development for The Related Group and project director at The Slade, said just 20 units are left out of 183 in the North Flagler Drive project.f+t

f-t Buyers include out-of-towners who want a pied-a-terre near downtown; second-home buyers from Miami who want a weekend retreat; and Palm Beachers who want a "guest house" for visiting friends or grown children.

Broker Rodney Dillard of Illustrated Properties Real Estate Inc. sees the volume of development as a double-edged sword — "good for the shops and restaurants but it creates a lot of traffic. All of a sudden, we're on the edge of a big city."

Graham downplayed traffic concerns and instead predicted a two-way street, saying, "The more successful West Palm becomes, the more people we have from Palm Beach who come over here. So maybe we'll trade the traffic trips."
http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/biz/newsfd/auto/feed/business/2003/10/12/1065934293.19830.0104.5814.html;COXnetJSessionID=1pQT1Vy1QKA08hxnVNQfNUwCNoGTp9S2igssEWZigEyjQBIY8YHF!-687676621?urac=n&urvf=10722878279200.11904735637951647

Sunstorm

December 24th, 2003, 09:15 PM

Glad to see WPB's downtown buzzing along so nicely.:cool:

WPB_FL_NTV

December 25th, 2003, 07:35 PM

It's hard to come by many pics of West Palm on the net. Once I return home (I'm away for XMas), I'll take some nice pics.

Currently, I've noticed two residential highrises taking shape both around 15 stories or higher. There are also plans for a 20+ story hotel and some sort of new library to start construction in a few years.

Our tallest are the Trump Plaza (twin towers), 1515 Flagler, Northbridge Center, Experante (white building with green pyramid on top), Phillips Point, and the Palm Beach County Courthouse. Like I said, I'll post up better pics with more detailed info on what's going on.

Style™

April 14th, 2004, 12:55 AM

This revitalization plan for the 700 acre area of downtown West Palm Beach includes DPZ as architects and town planners, Jonathan Barnett as urban planning consultant, Walter Kulash of Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin Lopez Rinehart as transportation consultant, and Gibbs Planning Group as retail consultants.

Twenty-two improvement initiatives were underway in the City of West Palm Beach before the April 1993 charrette began. The goal of this effort was to provide a coherent context for West Palm Beach’s disparate projects.

The resulting Master Plan reinforces the unique character of each of the Downtown neighborhoods, districts, and corridors, supports the improvements underway, describes additional improvements required to fight deterioration, and provides strategies to re-inspire confidence in a healthy urban fixture. Each of the actions proposed by the Plan is related to these six strategies, which the planning process produced:· reinforce the identity of each neighborhood, district and corridor · balance vehicular and pedestrian comfort on Downtown streets · focus retail growth by area and type · provide a regulatory framework for physical predictability · encourage housing Downtown · identify sites for future civic buildings

The new Code is simple and succinct. It accommodates and promotes small-scale incremental growth. The coding of buildings is not an abstract floor area ratio but an actual building type. In conjunction with the Regulating Plan, this will result in the physical predictability of the environment. The height and physical configuration of a building is described in advance, and the investor is free to build within its envelope. The Code and Master Plan have been adopted and are in the process of implementation.

Immediate success have been the rebirth of Clematis Street and the development of City Place. Both projects hinged on zoning ordinance changes introduced by the Master Plan. New projects based on the Master Plan include a performing art center and a library.

Style™

April 14th, 2004, 12:57 AM

http://www.dpz.com/images/popop_page/9233-MasterPlan2_z.jpg

http://www.dpz.com/images/popop_page/CITYPLACE_3_16_COURTYARD_z.jpg

http://www.dpz.com/images/popop_page/CHURCH_AND_PLAZA_2_z.jpg

http://www.dpz.com/images/popop_page/FOUNTAIN_FROM_LOGGIA_z.jpg

http://www.dpz.com/images/popop_page/PLAZA_BROAD_z.jpg

:)

Dale

April 14th, 2004, 05:17 AM

www.twocityplaza.com

Style™

April 14th, 2004, 05:08 PM

Well, no rendings that can be posted here. Until then:

http://www.twocityplaza.com/images/top.jpg

http://www.onecityplaza.com/images/overview.jpg

http://www.onecityplaza.com/images/map.gif

http://www.onecityplaza.com/images/area.jpg

:cheers:

renner01

August 11th, 2004, 04:23 PM

Deal on Opera Place height said close

Pat Beall
Thursday, July 29, 2004

WEST PALM BEACH -- Developers of the ultra-high-rise Opera Place, city planners and Mayor Lois Frankel appear to have found middle ground on building height.

"We had a very good meeting," said Willy Bermello, president and CEO of BAP Development Inc., developer of the proposed 31-story project. "I think we will have a compromise this month that everyone will be happy with."

But he stopped short of offering details of the deal.

The property is bounded by Okeechobee Boulevard to the south, Quadrille Boulevard to the west, Dixie Highway to the east and Iris Street to the north.

Bermello is so pleased with the progress of the talks that his firm is considering buying the adjacent city-owned property -- dubbed the tent site -- once it comes to market.

The properties have been described as "premier locations" by Frankel, who first broached the idea of piercing the widely accepted 20-story height limit in that area.

A loophole exempts both sites from a 10-year-old master plan clamping a lid on building height. Still, the city's planning department rejected a 31-story design, as did the planning board.

Plans for the soaring building drew raves for artistry, but its height was more than twice that of surrounding structures.

"It was a very, very good-looking project and innovative as well," said attorney Ken Spillias, chairman of the city's planning board.

A 20-story version generated less enthusiasm. "It was clearly not as attractive," Spillias said.

Bermello said plans continue to include a stage and related space for Florida Stage, the Manalapan-based theater troupe. In one design the building rises to 25 stories, with another building on the north side rising to eight stories, sources close to the project say.

Even going back to the drawing board a third time, Bermello said, the project remains on track for timely completion. That news should be welcomed by early fans of the yet-to-be-designed condominium tower: Sixty condos have been sold already.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/auto/epaper/editions/thursday/local_news_1480769445bde19b00d8.html

Dale

August 11th, 2004, 08:18 PM

Woo-hoo !

MIAballinboi

August 11th, 2004, 11:31 PM

2 quick pics i took from 95 of west palm

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/BallinBoi316/trip/trip+053.jpg http://mywebpage.netscape.com/BallinBoi316/trip/trip+054.jpg

Hopefully west palm will get a 30 story tower! :)

Jasonhouse

August 12th, 2004, 01:20 AM

In a vague kind of way, it reminds me of DT Long beach, CA a bit.

I also don't understand why Clearwater can't attain even this moderate level of development success.

Dale

August 12th, 2004, 03:39 AM

I think that WPB had the political will, for one thing, to move heaven and earth, hence the radical progress, which I consider damned impressive.

Dale

August 12th, 2004, 03:40 AM

Jasonhouse -

Where in Tampa do you live ? I thought you said out west. I thought about you as I was driving back from Tarpon Springs through Oldsmar.

Jasonhouse

August 12th, 2004, 04:23 AM

Through Oldsmar on Tampa Road? If you stayed on what becomes Hillsborough Ave, you probably drove within 1/8 mile of my townhouse. I live very near the Dale Mabry/Hillsborough interchange, just north of the stadium.

[/hijack]

smiley

August 12th, 2004, 05:22 AM

Clearwater is not even close to having anywhere near the money of WPB, nor is it the main city in its county nor does it have interstate connections. . . should I continue?

streetscapeer

August 12th, 2004, 05:53 AM

I must be the only one getting "red x" for all of MIAballinboi's stuff??

streetscapeer

August 12th, 2004, 06:39 AM

never mind, they work now

renner01

August 27th, 2004, 10:46 PM

LATEST NEWS
7:40 PM EDT Thursday
West Palm Beach names City Center team
Brian Bandell

West Palm Beach Commissioners on Thursday chose a team led by Republic Property Corp. to build its $50 million City Center project downtown.

Commissioners voted 5-1 in favor of Washington, D.C.-based Republic, which partnered with architects Michael Graves & Associates of New York, Song + Associates of West Palm Beach, Catalfumo Construction of Palm Beach Gardens and the law firm of Greenberg Traurig.

The group is to build West Palm Beach's new city hall and library on a 2.6-acre site east of Quadrille Boulevard, between Clematis Street and Banyan Boulevard.

The site will also include a photo museum and could feature private development such residential, retail, office space or a hotel.

The city will enter negotiations with Republic soon, said West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel, and should finalize the deal within a month.

Commissioners said they hope to have the City Center project completed in 2007.

Republic beat out a team led by KUD International of New York, which worked with architects Robert AM Stern Architects of New York and STH Architectural Group of West Palm Beach, construction firm Weitz Co., Boca Raton developer Kenco Communities and the law firm of Carlton Fields.
ttp://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2004/08/23/daily52.html?f=et81

renner01

September 27th, 2004, 03:23 PM

From the September 24, 2004 print edition of the South Florida Business Journal
From the print edition
A king-size deal
$350 million project has transit twist
Ed Duggan

A former jai alai fronton site near West Palm Beach is the proposed site for a $350 million, mixed-use project where condo owners would pay $15 a month to Tri-Rail.

The $23 million, 55-acre Mangonia Park property is under contract from boxing promoter Don King to Boca Raton-based E.B. Developers, with closing scheduled for Nov. 24.

At the initial presentation to the public and the Mangonia Park Town Council on Sept. 21, the 1,300- to 1,600-unit project drew objections from Palm Beach County Commissioner Addie Green and some town residents as being too dense.

The council is expected to have its first vote on the project Oct. 5.

If approved by council, the project is expected to take two years to clear other regulatory approvals and permits for groundbreaking. It will include up to 180,000 square feet of grocery, retail and bank space.

"Condominium owners in the community will each pay a $15 monthly assessment to Tri-Rail by way of their homeowners association dues and, in return, each will get 'employee discount' Tri-Rail fares and be eligible for special home financing rates," E.B. Devel-opers Senior VP John Markey said.

The acronym behind the plan is TAD, which stands for Transit Assessment Development - "a public/private partnership, the very first of what may become a model

for Tri-Rail station development," Markey said.

TAD, which Markey says he came up with, attempts to overcome worries about additional traffic having the Tri-Rail tie-in. That's also the leverage for the higher unit density per acre.

"It's a great idea for Tri-Rail to encourage transit usage with a very cutting-edge plan," Mangonia Park Town Manager Frank Spence said.
Strategic location

The former fronton property has an existing Tri-Rail stop, currently the northern end of the tri-county line, but it could develop into a significant transit hub.

Growth on the existing Tri-Rail track, which bends to the northwest in Mangonia Park, could expand to serve the Pratt & Whitney complex and the proposed biotech village on the Vavrus property. Some political leaders have already started the push.

State Sen. Ron Klein, D-Delray Beach, sees the project as an opportunity to combine development of the property with an existing transportation backbone.

"It supports the community and should help maintain and upgrade property values," he said. "It also provides an opportunity for young college graduates to return to the area where they grew up and purchase homes at workforce pricing."

The assessment plan is carefully crafted not to turn anyone off the project.

"If residents ride Tri-Rail, they'll save more than the monthly assessment," Markey said. "If they don't ride Tri-Rail, they'll still save because of the special financing savings.

"The Mangonia Park project is the size and type to jump-start revitalization in the Mangonia Park and Riviera Beach communities," he said. "This will be a major factor in revitalizing its water and sewer infrastructure, as well."

Bank financing for the acquisition and design phase will be announced shortly, Markey said.

In order to be properly zoned and accommodate the new project, the Mangonia Park Town Council will need to accept the project, then the existing DRI (development of regional impact) will have to be amended and the town will need to rewrite its building code and comprehensive development plan to accommodate the project.

Markey estimates that it should take less than a year to get the initial approvals if everyone signs on to the plan. West Palm Beach-based Schwab, Twitty & Hanser is the project architect.

"It's a very cutting-edge development, situated around a central lake," said Mike Rossin, principal at Schwab, Twitty & Hanser. "It has a nice balance as a mixed-use residential/retail community."

"It will be our country version of West Palm's CityPlace," Markey said.
Lake as a focal point

Eight 10-story mid-rises will arch around a new seven-acre foot-shaped lake with fountains. The lower three floors of each building are for parking, topped by seven floors of residences.

Three additional 10-story buildings will house ground-floor retail, three floors of parking and six floors of residences. Each building will have its own recreation deck with swimming pool and amenities.

One-, two- and three-bedroom condominiums are expected to initially sell for $125,000 to $300,000, with some upper-floor apartments with Intracoastal, ocean or Lake Mangonia views.

The developer estimates approvals, construction and sellout should be complete in seven years.

There is something for everyone in the TAD project.

The town of Mangonia Park will see its ad valorem real estate taxes jump from $62,700 to $2.4 million a year on the site upon completion. It will also pick up additional revenue from sales, gas, franchise, utility and occupational license taxes.

"We currently collect $1.2 million in total ad valorem real estate taxes and our budget is $4.95 million next year," Spence said.
Three acres for Tri-Rail retail

Tri-Rail gets three acres for associated retail development, a steady $75,000-plus-a-month income stream for operations and improvements, and a major pocket of riders.

Residents get affordable housing within walking distance of the on-site Tri-rail station, plus interest rate concessions on mortgages, and discounted Tri-Rail rates.

E.B. Developers has 13 current residential projects planned or under way - with a sellout of more than $1 billion - in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie counties and the Orlando area.

It's not just a money game.

"We have our choice of any number of interesting, profitable projects," Markey said. "We are to the point in the life of the company where we want to make a solid difference in the lives of people by developing communities that improve their lives and make their neighborhoods and communities richer. The Mangonia Park project will do all those things.
http://www.bizjournals.com/industries/real_estate/residential/2004/09/27/southflorida_story1.html

renner01

October 15th, 2004, 07:38 PM

CRT, Related Team for $90M Office Tower
By Melissa Bogdany
Last updated: Friday, October 15, 2004 11:00am

WEST PALM BEACH-CRT Properties of Boca Raton and the Related Cos. of New York in a joint venture are planning to develop a $90-million, 20-story, class A office tower in Downtown.

The 335,000-sf building, called CityPlace Tower set to rise at the southern end of CityPlace, will be the first major new office building Downtown in 15 years. CityPlace is a $600-million, 72-acre, urban mixed-use project that the Related Cos. developed. The site of the planned tower is opposite the new Palm Beach County Convention Center.

The project, scheduled to be completed in 2007, is part of CRT Properties’ commitment to Palm Beach County, according to company CEO Thomas J. Crocker. “South Florida is a key market for our company,” Crocker says in a statement. “We are excited about our long-term commitment to West Palm Beach, which we view as a major center of growth in Florida during the next decade.” Crocker adds the building will fulfill a need for class A office space in the area.

Elkus/Manfredi Architects of Boston, the firm that designed CityPlace, is also designing the office tower, which will have hurricane-resistant construction and systems, among other high-end features. Other amenities include a fitness club on an entire floor with a pool, a banquet facility above the penthouse and a helipad.

The first phase of CityPlace opened in October 2000. The entertainment-retail-residential project features 80 retailers, about 20 restaurants, a 20-screen movie theater, condominiums, townhomes, live-work lofts and a cultural center.

Publicly traded CRT Properties owns or has interests in more than 134 office buildings consisting of more than 10.8 million sf in major US markets, such as South Florida, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and suburban Washington, DC. The company has more than 4.5 million sf in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Orlando and St. Petersburg and is a joint venture partner with New York-based Investcorp Properties Ltd. in Broward Financial Centre, a 24-story, 325,000-sf, class A office building in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.

The Related Cos. has a portfolio with more than $8 billion in developments. Currently, the company oversees more than 21,000 apartments and 350,000 sf of commercial and retail space within 125 properties in nine states.

Dale

October 15th, 2004, 07:41 PM

Wow ! I wonder if this could be WPB's tallest ?

I think the Trump Towers are 333 feet.

renner01

October 25th, 2004, 01:11 PM

West Palm's opera home will include condos

by Robyn Friedman, Special to the Sun-Sentinel
Posted October 25 2004

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A Miami-based developer intends to build a two-tower condominium in downtown West Palm Beach that will become the new home of the Florida Stage, a nonprofit professional theater founded in 1985.

The project, called Opera Place, is slated for a 3-acre site at 419 Lakeview Ave., next door to CityPlace and across the street from the new convention center.

"This property was so attractive to us that when we heard about it, we put together our offer in less than a weekend," said Willy Bermello, president of BAP Development Inc., which is developing the project under the name Opera Place LLC. "We were at the right place at the right time."

According to county records, Opera Place LLC bought the land in August from Palm Beach Opera Inc. for $16 million.

Opera Place will include two 26-story towers with 556 condominium units, 36,000 square feet of retail space and a 40,000-square-foot space that will house the theater. According to Bermello, the theater will be owned by the city of West Palm Beach and then leased to Florida Stage. Florida Stage will spend about $8 million to complete the interior of the theater, which will have an entrance and parking separate from that of the condominium, he said.

There will be one, two- and three-bedroom units at Opera Place, as well as studios, lofts and penthouses. Units will range in size from 490 square feet to 2,177 square feet and in price from the $200,000s to more than $2 million.

The units at Opera Place will feature private balconies, European-style kitchens with marble countertops and stainless steel appliances. The building's amenities will include a fitness center with spinning and yoga rooms, infinity-edge pool, garden, library, theater, billiards room, and wireless Internet access throughout the property.

Mark Mueller, a retired builder and developer who now has homes in Vero Beach and California, purchased a three-story penthouse unit at Opera Place -- complete with its own private rooftop pool -- and plans to use it as his Florida home. "The moment I heard about Opera Place, I knew I had to have it," he said. "I was just captivated."

Mueller likes the project's location, near cultural offerings in West Palm Beach, and he also loves what the city has done in the downtown area. "It's like a brand new urban center," he said.

The developer has taken reservations for about 100 units since July, Bermello said, with the buyers a mix of locals and Northeasterners. He expects to break ground in the summer of 2005 and said that the first phase will take about two years to complete. The second phase will take another two years, Bermello said, but he added that he might end up building the entire project at one time.

There are numerous other condo projects in West Palm Beach, including 610 Clematis, another BAP development where 90 percent of the units have sold since sales began in January 2003. Remaining units there are priced between $352,000 and $519,000.

But at least one local real estate agent feels that despite the competition, Opera Place is unique and should do quite well.

"It's a very interesting project," said Linda Cullen, a broker-associate at Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate Inc. in West Palm Beach. "You can't beat the location, and even though it's close to some of the other projects, it's on the west side of Dixie Highway, which makes it exceedingly pedestrian-friendly to CityPlace."

Cullen also said that the prices at Opera Place "fill an interesting price point" right in the middle of some of the other projects currently selling units in West Palm Beach.

BAP Development is a partnership between Bermello, an architect, and engineer Luis Ajamil. The company specializes in mixed-use urban infill projects and has more than 2,000 apartment and condominium units either completed, under construction or planned in South Florida.

Robyn A. Friedman is a freelance writer. E-mail real estate items or tips to rafriedman@att.net.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/sfl-ybreal25xoct25,0,7878373.story

renner01

November 1st, 2004, 01:53 PM

Apartment developer plans West Palm condo

by Robyn Friedman, Special to the Sun-Sentinel
Posted November 1 2004

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A Georgia-based multi-family developer plans to build The Edge, a $123 million condominium development that will rise soon in West Palm Beach.

The Edge is slated for a 4.8-acre tract on Australian Avenue, one-quarter mile north of Okeechobee Boulevard. The project, designed by Miami Lakes-based Cohen, Freedman, Encinosa & Associates Architects PA, will consist of two 15-story towers in a "Deco Moderne" style with vintage details reminiscent of the Art Deco era.

The developer, Wood Partners, already owns several apartment complexes in South Florida. "A couple of years ago, we made the decision that the apartment business in South Florida was very difficult to be in because we were losing residents to home purchases and because land costs were starting to skyrocket," said Jay Jacobson, the company's director. He added that the "normal course of evolution" was moving into the condo business.

The Edge will feature 572 units, consisting of what the developer terms "soft loft" condominium units as well as two-story townhouses. A soft loft is a modified version of the traditional industrial loft, with architectural elements such as dropped ceilings and a small amount of exposed concrete and ductwork.

The one- and two-bedroom units will range from 725 to 1,750 square feet. The interiors will feature kitchens with polished wood cabinetry, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances; floor-to-ceiling glass doors; and balconies. Prices will range from the $170,000s to more than $500,000.

Most of the project's amenities will be on the sixth floor and will include a resort-style pool and spa, 12 cabanas, tennis, a grassy area for croquet or bocce and a 5,000-square-foot clubhouse complete with cybercafe, fitness center and social room. The amenities level will have wireless, high-speed Internet access. Also, a walking/jogging trail will wind its way through the property.

The site on which The Edge will be built is adjacent to Clear Lake, a 200-acre freshwater lake that borders the western edge of downtown West Palm Beach. "It will be a continuation of the revitalization of the entire CityPlace area of West Palm," Jacobson said. "We're calling it `The Edge' because it's on the edge of the last group of dense activity that's going on." The site is four blocks from CityPlace.

Although the site for The Edge is a bit off the beaten track compared with other condominiums, which have frontage on major roads such as Okeechobee Boulevard or Clematis Street, at least one local real estate expert feels that buyers will seek it out because of its prices. The project is near office buildings including one that houses WPTV Channel 5, said Linda Cullen, a broker-associate at Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate Inc. in West Palm Beach. "With prices starting at $170,000, perhaps it fills out more of the lower-end spectrum of the new condo market."

And Jacobson thinks that being outside the normal traffic pattern is a good thing. "We're close enough to all the action, but outside the backup and density that will occur when all the condos and apartments downtown are occupied," he said.

The sales office, now under construction, is scheduled to open Dec. 1. Construction of the first phase of the project, which will include a 15-story tower with 307 units, a parking garage and the amenities deck, is expected to begin in January and be completed in the fourth quarter of 2006. The second phase, which will include a second tower with 265 units, is expected to break ground in October 2005 and be completed in 2007.

The developer has not yet started sales, but is targeting the units to young professionals working in the West Palm area as well as second-home buyers and those seeking an urban lifestyle.

Wood Partners, based in Marietta, Ga., has a portfolio that includes garden apartments, condominiums, student housing and other residential projects throughout Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Arizona, Texas and the Washington, D.C., area. Locally, Wood owns five apartment projects in South Florida, four of which are being converted to condominiums, Jacobson said. Its South Florida office is located in Boca Raton.

Jacobson said Wood is planning to do more condominium development in South Florida. He has a site under contract in the Little Havana section of Miami and is exploring opportunities in the Brickell area of Miami.

Robyn A. Friedman is a freelance writer. E-mail real estate items or tips to rafriedman@att.net.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/sfl-ybreal01nov01,0,2861945.story

streetscapeer

November 9th, 2004, 08:16 PM

this project sounds interesting...we need someone to lists the projects that are already U/C in WPB and Boca!

renner01

November 23rd, 2004, 01:26 PM

New condos going up downtown

By Linda Rawls

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Monday, November 22, 2004

The place to be in downtown West Palm Beach could soon be The Place Via Clematis.

Yes, another condominium — and another construction site — is planned for the city with one of the worst downtown traffic jams on the planet (though "traffic" is probably the wrong word, since it implies some movement).
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But we digress.

The eight-story project on the northwest corner of Rosemary Avenue and Banyan Street will have 231 condominiums and 22 commercial lofts, according to developer Rodolfo Gonzalez, president of Coral Gables-based The Leap Group.

Even as the sales office (655-9171) was getting ready to open at 515 Clematis St. late last week, Gonzalez had already sold 153 of the "affordable luxury" units, as he calls them. "It's not really an oxymoron," he said with a chuckle.

He's quite serious, actually, with one-bedroom prices that started at $185,000. There are still some units remaining in the low $200,000s, he said. Two- and three-bedroom units are $300,000 to $400,000. The live/work lofts are $279,000 to $479,000.

"We didn't overload the project with fancy amenities," which helps keep the price down, Gonzalez said. That doesn't mean the building isn't competitive. Units have the requisite granite countertops and marble vanities, plus floor-to-ceiling, impact-resistant windows.

There's a "sky deck" with panoramic water views, a rooftop pool, hot tubs, a steam room and sauna; a lobby with 24-hour concierge, valet and security services; and a fitness center. The units range from 690 square feet to 1,400 square feet.

The early buyers are mostly European. Gonzalez marketed his project heavily in Ireland, France, England and South America.

The usual Northern snowbirds also are plopping down deposits. So have eight West Palm Beach police officers — the project is across the street from their "office" and near the courthouse and CityPlace, too.

With a $45 million construction loan in place, groundbreaking is set for early next year.

•

Miami-Dade County developers obviously are finding West Palm Beach an attractive investment. San Marino at Laguna Lakes, a 355-unit apartment complex at 4200 Military Trail, has just been sold for $39 million to a group of investors headed by Jose Boschetti, chief executive of BF Group of Miami.

The other principals are Martin Caparros, president of Prestige Builders Group of Miami Beach (BF and Prestige are affiliated companies); Arthur Falcone, chairman and chief executive of Coral Springs-based Transeastern Homes; and Neil Eisner, Transeastern's chief operating officer.

The 20-acre gated community is being converted to condominiums — Emerald Isle at Laguna Lakes (683-9660) — with prices ranging from $124,900 to $250,000. About 280 units have been sold.

San Marino's seller was Bear Lakes Associates Ltd., an entity of Coral Gables-based Cornerstone Group, the fifth-largest multifamily developer in the state.

"The timing was exceptional, as Cornerstone is benefiting from a lucrative seller's market," said Eric Weiner, Cornerstone's director of asset management.

San Marino's 17 three-story buildings, designed with Mediterranean architecture, won an award last year from the National Apartment Association for "Best Garden/Townhouse Community." The units, with rents ranging from $830 to $1,300 a month, were 92 percent occupied at the time of the sale.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/business/epaper/2004/11/22/c1bz_lindacol_1122.html

renner01

November 23rd, 2004, 01:30 PM

The Landmark at the Gardens in Palm Beach Gardens

Friday, November 19, 2004

Sales are soaring at The Landmark at the Gardens following the recent groundbreaking celebration for this condominium community in Palm Beach Gardens.

Buyers are impressed with the spacious floor plans, luxurious amenities and walk-to-everything location.

"The Landmark is an excellent opportunity for buyers," said Andrew Steinberg, chief operating officer of developer HomeDevco. "The residences are designed as homes, not condos.

"A buyer can now replace a house with a home in the sky and have all the conveniences of condominium living."

Rising up to 17 stories, The Landmark's Mediterranean-inspired condominium offers 166 residences, providing 1,870 to more than 5,000 square feet of air-conditioned living space, not including generous terraces.

Nine floor plans, including three penthouses, feature two to four bedrooms, 2 1/2 to 5 1/2 baths, a leisure room, morning room and a grand salon.

Prices range from the $500,000s to more than $3 million.

The one- and two-story penthouses feature floor-to-ceiling windows, spiral staircases and private elevators.

The Landmark was designed by Oliver Glidden Partners and Fine Decorators.

Residents and guests will be greeted by the private entry's cascading fountain. Stately palm trees canopy the brick-paver driveway leading to the Mediterranean-style porte-cochere.

Each residence features a stainless-steel appliance package in the kitchen, along with custom-built European wood cabinetry with task lighting and granite countertops with matching backsplash.

Master baths feature marble flooring, matching vanity tops and tub surround; custom-built European cabinetry; a Roman tub; clear-glass-enclosed frameless shower; and Kohler fixtures.

The Landmark's grand lobby, with Italian marble flooring and wood furnishings, will be attended 24 hours.

Other amenities will include a concierge; 24-hour valet parking; a covered parking garage; private foyers accessible via owner-activated high-speed elevators; a club room with a lounge, bar and catering kitchen; a resort-style recreation deck with heated pool and market; a fitness center with aerobics room; and a media room with theater seating and a large-screen television.

Landmark residents also will receive a membership to PGA National Golf & Sports Club.

The Landmark is merely a footbridge away from the Downtown at the Gardens, a 350,000-square-foot retail complex that will feature a 16-screen Cobb theater; Whole Foods Market; restaurants, including Max's Grill, The Strip House, The Original Bookbinders, The Yard House and The Cheesecake Factory; and specialty retailers and office space.

The Gardens mall, Interstate 95, Florida's Turnpike and beaches are just minutes away.

Directions to The Landmark's off-site sales center: Take Interstate 95 to PGA Boulevard. Go east about one mile to Fairchild Gardens Avenue and turn left. Proceed one block to Kyoto Gardens Drive and turn left. Take an immediate left into the Grand Bank parking lot. The sales center, in the Fidelity Investments building, 3501 PGA Blvd., Suite 200, features model vignettes of a kitchen and bath.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

For more information: Call (561) 799-7997.

Web site: www.landmarkatthegardens.com
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/weekend/epaper/2004/11/19/rew1_landmarkweb_1119.html

smiley

November 23rd, 2004, 06:40 PM

Well that Landmark this seems to be out in the middle of nowhere (urbanly speaking)
but the babe in the ad is ok though why she is messing with her show at a grand piano in the middle of a gymnasium basketball court is a mystery to me
http://www.landmarkatthegardens.com/images/home_feature.jpg

Dale

November 25th, 2004, 06:58 AM

streetscapeer

November 27th, 2004, 11:44 PM

^^reallyy!!...Dale?...that's great news!

streetscapeer

November 27th, 2004, 11:50 PM

Landmark at the Gardens

http://www.sarahmazor.com/communities/PBG/LKext.jpg

streetscapeer

November 27th, 2004, 11:52 PM

As the anchor of a "new downtown," The Landmark at the Gardens will be just a footbridge away from Menin Development's Downtown at the Gardens, the 350,000 square foot retail complex under construction. It will include a 16-screen state-of-the-art Cobb theatre, a Whole Foods Market and restaurants such as Max's Grille, The Cheesecake Factory, The Strip House from New York and the Yard House Restaurant from California. A 20-acre lake, surrounded by a meandering lake-walk, will separate the luxury condominiums from this development

streetscapeer

November 27th, 2004, 11:59 PM

this is Opera Place.... It looks great!

http://www.sarahmazor.com/communities/WPB/BAPOPWP1.jpg

streetscapeer

November 28th, 2004, 12:10 AM

Here are renderings of Downtown at the Gardens

http://www.trustedpartner.com/images/library/000066/763085546/main-valet-web.jpg

http://www.trustedpartner.com/images/library/000066/763178780/North-Entry--web.jpg

http://www.trustedpartner.com/images/library/000066/763296248/Piazza-Grande.jpg

http://www.trustedpartner.com/images/library/000066/763427511/Southeast-Entry.jpg

http://www.trustedpartner.com/images/library/000066/763974753/West-Valet.jpg

http://www.trustedpartner.com/images/library/000066/764096518/Whole-Foods-View.jpg

http://www.trustedpartner.com/images/library/000066/528574109/Aerial-Web.jpg

streetscapeer

November 28th, 2004, 12:19 AM

Nearby to Opera Place is 610 Clementis

http://www.610clematis.com/images/model/Clematis_FFF_03.gif

http://www.610clematis.com/images/model/ClematisFF_07.gif

http://www.610clematis.com/images/rend3.gif

smiley

November 28th, 2004, 05:37 AM

Well, the Opera town, that's cool. The other condos, that's cool. The big mall with huge parking lot in the middle of a developed area - that sucks.

Dale

November 28th, 2004, 06:25 AM

this is Opera Place.... It looks great!

http://www.sarahmazor.com/communities/WPB/BAPOPWP1.jpg

Thanks, Street. I lile the design, although it doesn't look to be a tallest. I believe the Trump towers are 341 ft. Maybe it's just because the building's mass.

streetscapeer

November 28th, 2004, 09:37 AM

Well, the Opera town, that's cool. The other condos, that's cool. The big mall with huge parking lot in the middle of a developed area - that sucks.

I wouldn't consider Palm Beach Gardens a developed area! it's in the far northwestern corner of Palm Beach County, basically at the edge of sprawl...I think Landmark at the Gardens, and Dowtown at the Gardens are pretty cool for a sprawly suburb community. Hopefully it fuels alot more urban development!

logybogy

December 4th, 2004, 03:28 AM

Bad News for Palm Beach.

There has been a lot of drama between Palm Beach County and Scripps over the Mecca site because of environmentalists.

It's very possible that Palm Beach might lose them to another county.

Already Hillsborough is making waves about jumping at the chance to get scripps.

http://news.tbo.com/news/MGB8H3CU92E.html

smiley

December 4th, 2004, 06:07 AM

It may be sprawling, but it sure looks developed in this view.
http://www.trustedpartner.com/images/library/000066/528574109/Aerial-Web.jpg

renner01

December 9th, 2004, 12:56 PM

Density kills project at jai alai site

By Jeff Ostrowski

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, December 08, 2004

MANGONIA PARK — A proposed $250 million redevelopment of the dilapidated jai alai fronton here has fallen apart, marking just the latest failed plan for the long-dormant property.

EB Developers of Boca Raton announced in September a deal to pay boxing promoter Don King $23 million for the 55-acre fronton.
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EB planned 1,500 condominiums and 150,000 square feet of retail space adjacent to a Tri-Rail station, and the commuter line supported the project as a model for mixed-use developments along its tracks throughout South Florida.

But the Mangonia Park Town Council rejected the plan because it feared that proposed 10-story condo towers would dwarf nearby neighborhoods, and because the project would have added traffic to gridlocked 45th Street.

"The density was just too great," Town Manager Frank Spence said Tuesday. "It just would not have flown."

Palm Beach County Commissioner Addie Greene, who lives near the fronton, loudly opposed the project.

"I don't want any more homes in Mangonia Park," Greene said. "We need something that's going to bring jobs."

Greene also questioned whether home buyers would pay $150,000 or more for condos near the train tracks and a flea market, and speculated that the project would have turned into "a crime-ridden slum."

She said Tuesday that King is negotiating a deal for MGM Studios to build a movie studio and hotel on the site, although Spence said he has yet to see any formal proposal for that project.

Meanwhile, Allen Harper, chairman of Tri-Rail's board, said he was "shocked" that the deal didn't happen. He viewed the project as a much-needed boost for Mangonia Park and a poster child for mixed-use developments near rail stations.

"I thought it was a home run for everybody," said Harper, a Miami real estate executive. "It would have been a great benchmark. I still believe it's an incredible project. I'm still hopeful that cool heads will prevail."

EB Developers, for its part, said it plans to sue King for breach of contract.

"It's a shame when the mechanics of business necessitate litigation, because I still respect Don King," said John Markey, senior vice president of EB Developers.

King publicist Robert Weneck countered that the flamboyant businessman did his part to push the project.

"It got clipped by Addie Greene, not by Don," Weneck said. "He wanted to make the profit."

King bought the jai alai property in 1999 for $6.25 million, with plans to build a "mini-Madison Square Garden" for boxing and other sporting events. But he never found a developer to work with him.

This year, King said he was willing to sell the property, which last hosted jai alai in 1993, for $30 million. The school district considered the site for a high school but decided to build the school in Riviera Beach.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/business/epaper/2004/12/08/a1d_kingsuit_1208.html

Giant Octopus

January 4th, 2005, 11:17 PM

The SO discovered this forum while supposed to be working. We've lived in West Palm Beach for the last 7 years. Right now in a rental, until our new Condo is completed. It's been mentioned here:
610 Clematis.
Their website has a CAM, so you can see the progress, or lack thereof! :bash:
610 Clematis Cam (http://68.157.81.251/view/view.shtml)
We can't wait to move in, and leave the car in the underground garage and walk everywhere like we were able to do when we lived in New York City!

Giant Octopus

January 4th, 2005, 11:20 PM

Same company that is doing 610 Clematis.
We walked to the location site. Didn't like where it is going to be at all. Right on Okeechobee Blvd. Across from the Kravis Center too. Too noisy!

streetscapeer

January 5th, 2005, 12:07 AM

Welcome to the forums Giant...we need more people from west palm on the forums:):)

Giant Octopus

January 5th, 2005, 01:33 AM

Thanks! http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/jossun.gif

MIAballinboi

January 5th, 2005, 01:45 AM

comeon west palm, we know your the next big boomtown,

those tall towers will come in! once miami-dade and broward are overbuilt, which isnt too far away, palm beach here we come lool

Giant Octopus

January 5th, 2005, 02:03 AM

We're Ex-New Yorkers.
We LOVE tall buildings!
Bring them on!!!!!!!!

The Condo we're moving into is 8 storeys tall.
Called "610 Clematis". We're on the 7th floor.

http://home.earthlink.net/~poge/construction.gif

Dale

January 5th, 2005, 07:38 AM

Anyone know how tall Opera Place is going to be ? An article I read said that it would be downtown's tallest, but it doesn't look to be taller than the Trump Towers.

Maybe it doesn't look that tall because it's a massive building ?

shelleyfish

January 5th, 2005, 08:22 PM

Hi Everyone! I'm the Giant Octopus' "better" half. :)

To quickly answer Dale about Opera Place, here is the website:

http://www.operaplacewpb.com/

Hope to pop in more often, but I am the working half of the duo. :okay: and have to keep a watch over my shoulder. :laugh:

streetscapeer

January 5th, 2005, 10:23 PM

great!, welcome shelleyfish!:)

dale, it's hard for me to see how Opera place would be the city's tallest too, but that's what all the sources are saying!!:)

Dale

January 5th, 2005, 10:29 PM

Who am I to argue against a new tallest ? :cheers:

Dale

January 5th, 2005, 10:53 PM

Giant Octopus

January 5th, 2005, 11:20 PM

It will be. City Place now is really nice. It really is "fun" to just be there. We can't wait to move for that reason.
BTW,
Dinner for two in any City Place restaurant = $100.00

streetscapeer

January 5th, 2005, 11:40 PM

^^and the "fun" will only increase in the next few years...dramatically too:)

shelleyfish

January 5th, 2005, 11:43 PM

Hopefully, Clematis Street, adjacent to CityPlace, will have a rebirth and revival and then the downtown area will really be hopping. Unfortunately, Clematis has lost some of its shine due to CityPlace and all the other construction. They should work together instead of in competition.

There are also plans to move the library and open up the waterfront with a park area where the old library now stands, hopefully in my lifetime. :|

Dale

January 5th, 2005, 11:47 PM

It was bound to happen.

That said, Clematis didn't look to bad last I was down there a couple of years ago. Have there been lots of closings since ?

shelleyfish

January 5th, 2005, 11:53 PM

It was bound to happen.

That said, Clematis didn't look to bad last I was down there a couple of years ago. Have there been lots of closings since ?

A LOT of closings, a few new places. Things come and go like lightening, it seems. The biggest loss just recently is Rooney's Pub where we liked to sit outside with drinks and people watch. They're moving a bit further west where there is also a big boon in construction.

Dale

January 5th, 2005, 11:55 PM

That's too bad. Maybe the new library will help to even things out.

streetscapeer

January 6th, 2005, 12:38 AM

yeah when I went to west palm a week ago clementis was ok there was a nice, quiet street scene going on there (it wasn't sparse), but when I walked to City place, that place was jam packed with people, I was there on Sunday throughout the day... maybe Clementis has a larger population at night, hopefully?

i'll be making a WPB thread in a few days, so keep your eyes peeled!:)

Dale

January 6th, 2005, 12:47 AM

I'm frankly amazed that Cityplace didn't suck Clematis up altogether, like a Blackhole.

Clematis must have some staying power.

Giant Octopus

January 6th, 2005, 02:33 AM

maybe Clementis has a larger population at night, hopefully?

Clematis Street is pretty dead at night these days.
Even most of the "kids" hangouts are gone...

Dale

January 6th, 2005, 02:39 AM

So are there concrete plans to reinvigorate the street ?

Much as I enjoyed City Place, Clematis had some real character.

Giant Octopus

January 6th, 2005, 02:49 AM

The Mayor says so, but nothing has happened yet!

One thing they are counting on is our new Condo.
They're hoping it will "link" Clematis Street to City Place...

Dale

January 6th, 2005, 04:08 AM

Giant Octopus and Shellyfish, it's good to have you two WPBeachers in here. Now we've got some boots on the ground there, so to speak.

MIAballinboi

January 6th, 2005, 04:42 AM

welcome men to the forum,

Dale

January 6th, 2005, 06:13 PM

Here it is !

www.cityplacetower.com

:cheers:

streetscapeer

January 6th, 2005, 06:19 PM

ooo nice...what's the status, is it u/c, approved? really nice office tower!

shelleyfish

January 6th, 2005, 06:26 PM

I'd read about it, but wasn't aware of all the details. I remember thinking that as much as I like my present job, maybe I would check into who may be renting office space there and then I could walk to work.

It looks like it will be a beautiful modern building but hope it doesn't detract from the "European" quaintness of CityPlace.

smiley

January 6th, 2005, 06:35 PM

http://www.crtproperties.com/graphics/home/feature_11_15_04.gif
HEre is a lame little picture, because the website is a flash site. IF someone can rip it, be my guest.

Nice monumentally, but they could actually put something on the bottom floor that would be of use and repeat the mistakes of all the other cities in Florida from the 1980-1990's

MIAballinboi

January 7th, 2005, 12:28 AM

great tower for wpb!

SkyDiveJunkee

January 7th, 2005, 06:03 AM

Between all the retail at Cityplace and Worth Ave, Clematis barely has a chance in that department. I think Clematis, with its character, should focus more on restaurants, bars, perhaps boutique style retail, things of that nature. All and all, it will revitalize when Cityplace construction moves closer and closer inward towards the intracoastal.

Not a big fan of the CityPlace tower.

renner01

January 7th, 2005, 01:35 PM

i was in wpb last week and city place 1 was completely topped off .opera place site is not far from that location. They just seem to clearing the site right now. Anyone know when cityplace 2 is supposed to go vertical?

renner01

January 7th, 2005, 02:22 PM

West Palm Tri-Rail station could be focus of village

By Pat Beall

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Friday, January 07, 2005

WEST PALM BEACH — The Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council has wrapped up its $180,000 study of a proposed downtown village keyed to mass transit. As envisioned, the project includes $250,000 condos, a 50,000-square-foot hotel, plenty of retail — and relatively little affordable housing, a component sought by local officials.

"This is just the first shot out of the box," Palm Beach County Commissioner Jeff Koons cautioned. "When it is finished, this will be the last piece that makes West Palm a great downtown."

The proposed "transit village" surrounding the Tri-Rail station on Tamarind Avenue would cover 20 to 30 acres.

It's the proximity to the Tri-Rail station that makes the property a prime candidate for redevelopment as a "transit-oriented development." Such mixed-use projects are designed to discourage car use in favor of walking and mass transit.

The Metropolitan Planning Organization already has allotted $2 million to upgrade the train station to better accommodate Palm Tran buses, the Greyhound bus line and bicyclists.

No one disputes the county could do with fewer cars on the road. According to the 2000 Census, drivers here spend an average of 26 minutes behind the wheel commuting.

There is evidence that transit developments pay big dividends. In Dallas, a similar project boosted rents by 39 percent. In Chicago, living within 500 feet of a mass transit station raises the cost of property by about $36,000.

Overall, according to the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, properties in transit villages cost 15 to 20 percent more than those in a general metro area.

The Staubach & Associates study commissioned by the planning council suggests 850 apartments with rents beginning at $1,000 and 850 units selling for $250,000. The lower prices in this scenario — $650 and $1,100 for rentals, $125,000 to $165,000 for sales — are limited to 350 units.

"That is not enough," West Palm Beach City Commissioner Bill Moss said. "This is a perfect site for attainable housing. It is right by mass transit. The train station will be there, the trolley stops will be there."

Getting a government buy-in is key. Palm Beach County owns a 6-acre parcel at the site. The federal courthouse and the state Regional Services Center both sit on land that would be needed.

If government land and infrastructure are donated, Moss said, "the prices need to come down. I am not interested in building more luxury rentals that in three years will be turned into condos."

Not every player in the project is as focused on housing. Marie Horenburger, a Palm Beach County representative on the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, said affordable housing "could" work as part of a mixed-use development.

The study outlines a broad array of feasible uses for the property: a 50,000-square-foot hotel; roughly a half-million square feet of office space; 50,000 to 57,000 square feet of small neighborhood retail such as dry cleaners, restaurants and coffee shops; and an aquatic and community center.

"I'm not worried" about the affordable housing component, said Koons, who ticked off several ways to keep housing costs low. "The city can transfer development rights, it can convert some of its incremental taxes; the county can leverage its 6 acres."

And nothing is written in stone, he emphasized.

The planning council will be soliciting ideas from the public at a daylong meeting Jan. 22 at the Kravis Center.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/local_news/epaper/2005/01/07/s6b_TOD_0107.html

streetscapeer

January 7th, 2005, 03:58 PM

I really like this idea....I hope it's implemented and the county gives up the 6 acres.

Every tri-rail stop should have this, IMO! But let's start with the bg cities:)

shelleyfish

January 7th, 2005, 04:11 PM

Renner, you beat me to it. I read that article in the PB Post this morning and thought about copying it here.

In your previous post about cityplace 1 and 2, are you possibly referring to City Plaza? We were considering buying a condo there, and then settled several months later on purchasing at 610 Clematis. The second City Plaza has been advertised for awhile now in the Real Estate section to sell the units. I'll keep my eyes peeled to see if any dates are listed for construction.

Here's a website: City Plaza (http://cityplazawpb.com) If you go to the "news" page, there are articles that refer to City Plaza Two.

EDIT Just reading back a few pages and noted that Dale already posted a website for the 2nd City Plaza which is simply Two City Plaza (http://twocityplaza.com)

shelleyfish

January 7th, 2005, 07:55 PM

Just opened the Real Estate section and discovered yet another new skyscraper building that will grace our area.

The Edge (http://www.theedgewestpalm.com/)

Website only has one page with image and a link to contact info. The newspaper says "3 blocks from cityplace" - sales center to open in February according to website.

streetscapeer

January 7th, 2005, 08:11 PM

oooo...I'm at "the edge" of my seat, is all I can say...wow west Palm is surely not being left behind in the South Florida boom:)

smiley

January 7th, 2005, 08:32 PM

Why be at the edge of your seat when you can just post the thing - silly as it is
http://www.theedgewestpalm.com/images/theedgewithmovie_03.jpg

renner01

January 7th, 2005, 08:40 PM

Apartment developer plans West Palm condo
--------------------

by Robyn Friedman, Special to the Sun-Sentinel

November 1, 2004

A Georgia-based multi-family developer plans to build The Edge, a $123 million condominium development that will rise soon in West Palm Beach.

The Edge is slated for a 4.8-acre tract on Australian Avenue, one-quarter mile north of Okeechobee Boulevard. The project, designed by Miami Lakes-based Cohen, Freedman, Encinosa & Associates Architects PA, will consist of two 15-story towers in a "Deco Moderne" style with vintage details reminiscent of the Art Deco era.

The developer, Wood Partners, already owns several apartment complexes in South Florida. "A couple of years ago, we made the decision that the apartment business in South Florida was very difficult to be in because we were losing residents to home purchases and because land costs were starting to skyrocket," said Jay Jacobson, the company''s director. He added that the "normal course of evolution" was moving into the condo business.

The Edge will feature 572 units, consisting of what the developer terms "soft loft" condominium units as well as two-story townhouses. A soft loft is a modified version of the traditional industrial loft, with architectural elements such as dropped ceilings and a small amount of exposed concrete and ductwork.

The one- and two-bedroom units will range from 725 to 1,750 square feet. The interiors will feature kitchens with polished wood cabinetry, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances; floor-to-ceiling glass doors; and balconies. Prices will range from the $170,000s to more than $500,000.

Most of the project''s amenities will be on the sixth floor and will include a resort-style pool and spa, 12 cabanas, tennis, a grassy area for croquet or bocce and a 5,000-square-foot clubhouse complete with cybercafe, fitness center and social room. The amenities level will have wireless, high-speed Internet access. Also, a walking/jogging trail will wind its way through the property.

The site on which The Edge will be built is adjacent to Clear Lake, a 200-acre freshwater lake that borders the western edge of downtown West Palm Beach. "It will be a continuation of the revitalization of the entire CityPlace area of West Palm," Jacobson said. "We''re calling it `The Edge'' because it''s on the edge of the last group of dense activity that''s going on." The site is four blocks from CityPlace.

Although the site for The Edge is a bit off the beaten track compared with other condominiums, which have frontage on major roads such as Okeechobee Boulevard or Clematis Street, at least one local real estate expert feels that buyers will seek it out because of its prices. The project is near office buildings including one that houses WPTV Channel 5, said Linda Cullen, a broker-associate at Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate Inc. in West Palm Beach. "With prices starting at $170,000, perhaps it fills out more of the lower-end spectrum of the new condo market."

And Jacobson thinks that being outside the normal traffic pattern is a good thing. "We''re close enough to all the action, but outside the backup and density that will occur when all the condos and apartments downtown are occupied," he said.

The sales office, now under construction, is scheduled to open Dec. 1. Construction of the first phase of the project, which will include a 15-story tower with 307 units, a parking garage and the amenities deck, is expected to begin in January and be completed in the fourth quarter of 2006. The second phase, which will include a second tower with 265 units, is expected to break ground in October 2005 and be completed in 2007.

The developer has not yet started sales, but is targeting the units to young professionals working in the West Palm area as well as second-home buyers and those seeking an urban lifestyle.

Wood Partners, based in Marietta, Ga., has a portfolio that includes garden apartments, condominiums, student housing and other residential projects throughout Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Arizona, Texas and the Washington, D.C., area. Locally, Wood owns five apartment projects in South Florida, four of which are being converted to condominiums, Jacobson said. Its South Florida office is located in Boca Raton.

Jacobson said Wood is planning to do more condominium development in South Florida. He has a site under contract in the Little Havana section of Miami and is exploring opportunities in the Brickell area of Miami.

Robyn A. Friedman is a freelance writer. E-mail real estate items or tips to rafriedman@att.net.

_______________________________________________
http://www.bizjournals.com/industries/real_estate/residential/2004/11/15/southflorida_story7.html

South Florida Business Journal

From the November 15, 2004 print edition
The Edge to feature "soft lofts," townhomes
Ed Duggan

The Edge, a 572-unit waterfront condominium on 4.8 acres at Australian Avenue, just north of Okeechobee Boulevard in West Palm Beach, is offering a different kind of condo product: soft lofts.

"It's a combination between the completely unfinished hard lofts with no interior walls, bare concrete floors, walls and ceilings, and the fully finished condominium," said Jay Jacobson, South Florida director of Wood Partners, developer of The Edge.

The soft loft has been adapted with wood or tile floors in the wet areas, kitchen and baths, along with delineated dry walls and partial wall exposure in the balance.

"It provides the space of a true loft with the comfort of a semi-finished condominium," he said.
$170 million sellout

There will also be a dozen townhomes at The Edge, at ground level and faced around the parking decks to give the buildings a finished look. Miami Lakes-based Cohen, Freedman, Encinosa & Associates is the project architect.

While the main product may be soft, the $170 million sellout guesstimate by Jacobson is firm. Pre-construction prices range from the $170,000s to the upper $500,000s per unit, depending on size and location.

New York-based Real Estate Capital Partners is an equity partner in The Edge for an undisclosed percentage.

"We've done a number of deals with them and have a close working relationship," Jacobson said.

Negotiations for construction financing are under way, with Detroit-based Corus Bank likely to get the nod.

Wood Partners is based in Atlanta, but has had a major presence in South Florida since 1998. The company has developed more than 3,000 rental units from Jupiter to Miami, and is now active in both condo conversions and new condo construction.
Product has proven popular

Wood Partners just completed its fifth Atlanta residential tower with a soft loft product that has proven popular.

"We plan to break ground in January for the first phase, the initial 15-story tower with 306 units," Jacobson said.

The second phase, a 15-story tower containing 266 units, is expected to follow within 10 months.

Miami-based Fortune International Realty is the exclusive sales and marketing agency for The Edge. Sales VP Thania Vernon said she expects to start sales on Dec. 1.

A teaser sales campaign runs through early December, according to Nicole Belkind, president of the Miami-based PR firm Belkind Leon & Associates.

"The Edge will also be participating in a West Palm Beach home show in early December as a sneak preview," she said.
_________________________________________________-

Bid Date: Est. Start Date:
December 7, 2004 January 2005

Description:
New construction and site work for a new residential complex in West Palm Beach. Completed working plans are calling for a 15-story tower to house 307 one- and two-bedroom condominiums and townhouses ranging from 725 to 1,750 square feet. The project will also include a resort-style pool and spa, a 5,000-square-foot clubhouse with a fitness center, and a parking structure. Subcontractor bids are due December 7, 2004. Construction on the first tower is expected to commence January 2005.

Dale

January 7th, 2005, 09:29 PM

GReat to see WPB breaking out of the Med REvival mode in a big way with Cityplace Tower, Opera Place and now The Edge !

EBOSS

January 9th, 2005, 01:24 AM

Hi folk I am new to these forums. Here is an image of a new 12 story tower at Villa Lofts. The Slade is the Building in the background. More WPB pics to come soon.

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/Villa1.JPG

EBOSS

January 9th, 2005, 01:47 AM

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/villaloft2

Giant Octopus

January 9th, 2005, 03:13 AM

EBOSS

January 11th, 2005, 04:00 AM

Villa Loft tower nearing top out. The roof is scheduled to pour this Friday(1/14) The extisting tower is in the foreground.http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/Villarooflevelweb.jpg

Here is a view from the southwest as it slowly climbs out of the shadow of the Slade.
http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/westelevationweb.jpg

The exterior of the Slade nears completion.
http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/TheSladeweb.jpg

renner01

January 11th, 2005, 01:43 PM

Anyone know if this is going vertical yet?

Group on edge about builder's park gift
Other park users like the idea of making it nicer

By Thomas R. Collins

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, January 11, 2005

WEST PALM BEACH — Tennis courts, a boat ramp and wide-open lawns right on the Intracoastal Waterway. How could Currie Park be any better?

For starters, one of the tennis nets droops in the middle. And those lawns are maybe a little too wide open because there aren't very many shade trees. And at night it can get dark and spooky because the lighting is scarce.

Libby Volgyes/The Post

enlarge

Eusebio Betancourt of the Children's Home Society pats Jordy Saintvil, 6, during Saturday soccer practice. Currie Park is the kids' second home, coach Ray Mirian says.

enlarge
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Homero Meruelo, a developer building a luxury condo across the street, has offered $1.5 million to the city to revamp the public park, a gift called the city's largest ever for a park. The designs will be paid for with $250,000 set aside by the city.

But plans for the overhaul have a nearby social-service group worried. The group runs children's programs and uses the park frequently for after-school playtime, adoption visitation and sports teams. The group wonders whether there will be room for the children after the changes are made.

Meruelo's Miami Beach-based Merco Group of the Palm Beaches is building Palladio Terrace, a $300 million project where it will cost up to $3 million for a condo. Merco has picked a landscape architect, Sanchez and Maddux, a group based in Palm Beach. That firm will create a master plan for the park, and no changes will be made until city commissioners approve the plan. But Merco will have the right to withhold its money if it doesn't agree with the changes, a customary arrangement with such grants.

Representatives of the builder emphasized the generosity of the gift and say there is no need to worry because the community will provide the ideas for changes to the park. Several public meetings will be held to discuss the plans.

"That's a public process that requires the city to gather input from all the stakeholders, residents, neighborhoods," said Harvey Oyer, an attorney for Merco. "So that's not really for Merco to decide."

Workers with the Children's Home Society, located next to Currie Park, have their doubts. They work with families, many who are from foreign countries and don't speak English well, to develop literacy and parenting skills and provide help with food, clothing, and shelter.

The children at the society's Family Resource Center day-care program use the park daily, said Nikki Monack, who handles public relations for the group. A soccer team organized by the society practices in Currie Park four days a week.

If Currie Park were rearranged in a way that the children wouldn't have easy access, it would be hard to adjust, Monack said. "They'd have to stay inside and the Family Resource Center is very small so they'd be very limited where they could go out," she said. "I think they're very fearful of any changes being made to it."

"This is the only thing that keeps them off the streets," she added. "It's really important that they have something to look forward to."

Children's Place at Home Safe, a haven for abused and neglected children, also uses the park regularly for children's programs.

"I use it when the kids need to run off steam," said Linda Wyckoff, chief operating officer for the group. "We can just walk across the street." The kids also fish occasionally at the park. The group plans to move to another location by December 2005, but the move date has already been pushed back several times.

She said she's not concerned yet about the changes to the park. "It really would depend a lot on what they have planned."

Others using the park last week said they liked the idea of sprucing it up. Lonnie Brown, 36, has been coming to the park since 1986. He now lives in Belle Glade but is sure to stop at the park when he visits family in West Palm Beach. He said it could use some more shade for the kids' play areas.

Brian Johnson, 43, said more lighting would be nice.

"I've come down here in the evening and I've seen people buck naked out here," he said.

Oyer said no specifics on the park's new design have been settled. But landscaping and lighting are obvious changes that would draw more people, he said.

Andrew Adler of Merco said there would be a veto of park plans only if something "hugely objectionable" such as a roller-coaster were suggested.

"We see that the park is not attractive enough," he said. "We have no objection to any specific uses to the park providing that they're attractively positioned."

Carl Flick, president of the nonprofit north-end economic development group Northwood Renaissance, said he hopes the community has an important voice in how the park gets developed. A detailed zoning plan Flick helped develop with two years of community input includes Currie Park as a centerpiece.

He said changing the character of the park could change the character of the community.

"A lot of people drive by and they see the soccer players and they feel a sense of pride that that's what Northwood is," Flick said. "It's a diverse community, and it's being played out right there on the soccer fields."

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/news/epaper/2005/01/11/c1b_currie_0107.html

Giant Octopus

January 11th, 2005, 09:41 PM

Our future Home
Corner of Clematis and Rosemary
Today.

The pictures are from front and back, out of the view of the Webcam (http://68.157.81.251/view/view.shtml)

The building is U shaped.
The inside of the U , at the back, will be the swimming pool and Zen Gardens.

EBOSS

January 11th, 2005, 09:45 PM

Giant Octopus which unit did you buy? Ill make sure my guys do an extra special job installing the ac in that one. :) What move in date is BAP giving you?

Giant Octopus

January 11th, 2005, 09:53 PM

First 11/2004.
Then 4/2005.
Now, 7/2005.

Giant Octopus

January 11th, 2005, 09:54 PM

http://home.earthlink.net/~poge/610front.jpg

Giant Octopus

January 11th, 2005, 09:55 PM

http://home.earthlink.net/~poge/610back.jpg

Giant Octopus

January 11th, 2005, 09:56 PM

The parking lot is the US Post Office.
We're right next door to it.
And right across the street from the Police Station.

shelleyfish

January 11th, 2005, 10:05 PM

EBOSS, I see that the Giant Octopus already posted that BAP just moved us back to July (he's much quicker on the keys than me and I'm in my office pretending to work), and he also added some photos.

Have your ac guys talk to the jacuzzi guys and make sure a second one is installed. :laugh:

EBOSS

January 12th, 2005, 03:22 AM

Thats pretty aggressive considering where the building is today. The general contractor is cracking the whip pretty hard so maybe late July.

Jasonhouse

January 12th, 2005, 03:01 PM

Cool pics. It's nice to see some forumers from PBC here.

streetscapeer

January 12th, 2005, 07:53 PM

damn...I had a plethora of awesome pictures of the vibrancy and diversity of DT west Palm, but they are inaccessable because my external hard drive (where I keep my pics) is faulty...anyone know of anyplace I could go to get it fixed

EBOSS

January 13th, 2005, 02:55 AM

Looking Northeast.

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/northeast%20view.jpg

Off to the North. Singer Island is in the background.

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/singer%20island.jpg

Southeast view

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/southeast%20view.jpg

One City Plaza while I was driving by.

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/Onecityplaza.jpg

MIAballinboi

January 13th, 2005, 05:36 AM

great great pics eboss,

west palm is growing look @ all those hi rises!

EBOSS

January 13th, 2005, 02:07 PM

Thanks MIA, Ill be going up to Villa Lofts today. I will try and get some more pics during my lunch hour and post them tonight.

renner01

January 13th, 2005, 07:36 PM

eboss can you take some pics of the palladio terrace site?
2211 N. Flagler Drive
West palm beach

Dale

January 13th, 2005, 07:55 PM

Has Two City Plaza started yet ?

renner01

January 13th, 2005, 10:04 PM

sales office said starting foundation/I believe in april/may they might start vertically

EBOSS

January 14th, 2005, 02:04 AM

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/cityplaza.jpg

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/cityplaza3.jpg

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/framed.jpg

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/trump.jpg

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/trump2.jpg

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/metro.jpg

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/roofdeck.jpg

EBOSS

January 14th, 2005, 02:07 AM

Renner I will try and get by there and check it out. What is the name of the place? Is there a website?

EBOSS

January 14th, 2005, 02:30 AM

Has Two City Plaza started yet ?

I dont think it has Dale.

renner01

January 14th, 2005, 02:43 AM

PALLADIO TERRACE and I can't find website for it nor the developer merco group of miami beach

EBOSS

January 14th, 2005, 03:21 AM

I will check it out and get some pics

SkyDiveJunkee

January 14th, 2005, 06:25 AM

Talk about a contrast with the smaller buildings. You think they could have designed this building so there wasn't a big blank wall...is this only temporary?

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/cityplaza.jpg

smiley

January 14th, 2005, 06:53 AM

That looks permanent - a little oversight in the design please Palm Beach.

Dale

January 14th, 2005, 07:12 AM

Makes me wonder whether there's a plan to raze the small buildings.

renner01

January 14th, 2005, 12:14 PM

The Landmark at the Gardens in Palm Beach Gardens

Friday, January 14, 2005

Sales activity is heavy at The Landmark at the Gardens condominium following the recent groundbreaking at this Palm Beach Gardens community.

Buyers appreciate the spacious floor plans, luxurious amenities and walk-to-everything location.

"The Landmark is an excellent opportunity for buyers," said Andrew Steinberg, chief operating officer of HomeDevco, developer of The Landmark at the Gardens. "The residences are designed as homes, not as condos. A buyer can now replace a house with a 'home in the sky' yet have all the conveniences of condominium living."

Rising to up to 17 stories, this Mediterranean-inspired condominium offers residences with 1,870 to more than 5,000 square feet of air-conditioned living space, not including terraces.

Nine floor plans, including three penthouses, provide two to four bedrooms, 2 1/2 to 5 1/2 baths, a leisure room, morning room and a grand salon. Prices range from the $500,000s to more than $3 million.

Richard Swartz, chief executive officer of HomeDevco, said, "Our penthouses are extraordinary, with grand spiral staircases and private elevators."

At The Landmark, you can live in a one- or two-story penthouse with an open layout and floor-to-ceiling windows that provide panoramic views of South Florida's skyline.

The Landmark was conceived by an ensemble of architects, Oliver Glidden Partners, and the design firm Fine Decorators. Distinguished in design, this architectural masterpiece will house 166 luxury residences.

Residents and guests will enjoy a sense of arrival when greeted by the entry's cascading fountain. Stately palm trees canopy the brick-paver driveway leading to the Mediterranean-style porte-cochere.

Each residence will feature superior craftsmanship.

Kitchens will have a built-in stainless-steel appliance package, custom-built European wood cabinetry with task lighting, and granite countertops with matching backsplash.

Master baths will feature marble flooring, matching vanity tops and tub surround; custom-built European cabinetry; a Roman tub; clear-glass-enclosed frameless showers; and premium Kohler fixtures.

The Landmark will offer a lifestyle of extravagant proportions. The grand lobby, with Italian marble flooring and wood furnishings, will be attended 24 hours.

Residents also will enjoy a concierge, who will provide them with convenient service; 24-hour valet parking and a covered parking garage; and private foyers, accessible only via owner-activated high-speed elevators.

The Landmark will provide a wide range of amenities, including a club room with a lounge, bar and catering kitchen; resort-style recreation deck with a heated pool and a poolside market; separate fitness center with aerobics room; and a media room with theater seating and a large-screen television.

Residents also will receive a membership to PGA National Golf & Sports Club. Members can enjoy great play on five championship courses, three driving ranges and six putting greens, as well as five croquet courses and 19 clay tennis courts.

Prepare to live the high life in this location. Simply cross over a convenient footbridge, and you are within walking distance of the under-construction Downtown at the Gardens, Menin Development's 350,000-square-foot retail and restaurant complex. The Landmark is also just minutes from The Gardens mall, Interstate 95, Florida's Turnpike, the Intracoastal Waterway and white-sand beaches.

Nestled amid a 20-acre lake and a lakeside sculpture park, Downtown at the Gardens will also feature a 3,200-seat, 16-screen Cobb Theater; a Whole Foods Market; and nationally known restaurants, such as the Strip House Restaurant (New York City), Yard House (Southern California), The Grape (Atlanta), Sur la Table (Seattle), along with local favorites like City Kitchen, Casablanca, Max's Grille and Sloan's Ice Cream.

Directions to The Landmark's off-site sales center: Take Interstate 95 to PGA Boulevard. Go east about one-half-mile to Fairchild Gardens Avenue and turn left. Proceed one block to Kyoto Gardens Drive and turn left. Take an immediate left into the Grand Bank parking lot. The sales center — in the Fidelity Investments building, at 3501 PGA Blvd., Suite 200 — includes model vignettes of a kitchen and bath.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

For more information: Call (561) 799-7997.

Web site: www.landmarkatthegardens.com
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/weekend/epaper/2005/01/14/rew33_landmarkweb_0114.html

EBOSS

January 14th, 2005, 08:00 PM

Talking about that blank wall on One City Plaza, the developer took some heat after ppl said is was an eyesore driving down Okeechobee blvd. I think they were going to put some huge painting on that side of the builidng. Could be wrong though. With not one window on the west side of the building there must be plans to raze those small buildings and build another tower next to it. Why else would they not give ppl the view?

shelleyfish

January 14th, 2005, 08:12 PM

renner01 - did you see the article in today's Real Estate section of the Palm Beach Post about Palladio Terrace (p 33)? Gives website simply as Palladio Terrace (www.palladioterrace.com) . Only seems to be one "cover" webpage for now indicating a sales office number. At the end of the article there's a note that an information center will open in late January at the address that you listed in your post. The picture in the newspaper is stunning, sounds like it will be a very grand building.

renner01

January 15th, 2005, 01:57 AM

great thanks. They must have just started that website because i've tried many times that address past couple of months.

ISG

January 15th, 2005, 04:13 AM

come on guys this shouldn't be in miami sub forum. and stickied a the top. shoot.

MIAballinboi

January 15th, 2005, 06:15 AM

its ok its in the miami metro forum,

MIAballinboi

January 15th, 2005, 06:16 AM

great pics eboss again, good to see these views not seen alot of wpb

renner01

January 19th, 2005, 12:44 PM

Luxury hotel planned for West Palm

By Alexandra Clough

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

WEST PALM BEACH Ñ — An investor group confirmed Tuesday that it plans to build a luxury hotel on the site of the former Tinson's Antiques building.

Sisemen Holdings LLC has inked a deal to bring an Intercontinental Group hotel to the property, according to Tom Marsh, a consultant for the group. The property is on Dixie Highway, just north of Lakeview Avenue.
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Marsh said the 20-story hotel, tentatively titled Hotel Beluga, will consist of about 225 hotel rooms, and up to a dozen penthouse condo suites for sale.

The deal is unique because Sisemen is not buying the property; instead it is leasing it from owner Burt Handelsman for 200 years.

Marsh said the hotel is being built to accommodate the city's growing condo and office markets.

Handelsman had originally leased the land to businessman Irwin Peters, who envisioned the Y nightclub on the site. But Handelsman late last year struck the deal with Sisemen, a group consisting of three European and three U.S. investors.

Plans are to break ground during the summer, with a hotel opening set for late 2006.

When completed, the hotel will be the city's only five-star property, Marsh said.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/content/business/epaper/2005/01/19/a7d_hotel_0119.html

streetscapeer

January 19th, 2005, 07:22 PM

damn...nothings gonna stop palm beach...2008/9 will be a great year for South Florida!...who knows what else is on the horizon!

Dale

January 19th, 2005, 08:08 PM

damn...nothings gonna stop palm beach...2008/9 will be a great year for South Florida!...who knows what else is on the horizon!

Beats me. No Scripps ? :wink2:

Giant Octopus

January 19th, 2005, 09:31 PM

Because we bought a unit in their sister building, BAP just sent us an invitation to the "Grand Opening" party.
2-3-05 6:00-10:00

This proposed rendition was included:

http://home.earthlink.net/~poge/operaplace.jpg

streetscapeer

January 19th, 2005, 10:31 PM

Great rendition!

WPB Better get Scripps or I will be SUper Duper Pisssed!!!

MIAballinboi

January 19th, 2005, 11:26 PM

great news, the wpb boom is comin...........

MIAballinboi

January 19th, 2005, 11:28 PM

wow nice rendering giant octopus!

renner01

January 20th, 2005, 01:22 PM

Developers fill the room as Riviera outlines billion-dollar project

By Tanya Wragg

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Thursday, January 20, 2005

RIVIERA BEACH — The future of Riviera Beach's proposed billion-dollar redevelopment plan could have been somewhere among the standing-room only crowd in the Community Redevelopment Agency's office Wednesday.

More than 40 people — some from as far north as Washington — gathered there to attend a required conference for developers seeking to transform the city's 858-acre redevelopment area into a $1 billion mixed-use waterfront community.
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The project, which city officials estimate will take 10 years to complete, will include a town center, waterfront restaurants, parks, community centers, 3,233 residential units and 660,000 square feet of retail and office space with an emphasis on the city's marine businesses.

"I'm pleased both with the turnout and what I detect is enthusiasm for the projects," said CRA director Floyd Johnson outside the Crowne Plaza Hotel, where the developers gathered for an outdoor lunch and question-and-answer session.

Developers must respond to the request for qualifications, the document that solicits a master developer, by Feb. 9. Johnson will then appoint an evaluation committee to sift through the responses and select one or more developers who qualify by Feb. 23.

At its Feb. 26 meeting, the CRA board will review the responses and soon after select the developer.

Among the developers interested are:

• Riviera Beach Partners LLC, a combination of developers including Ray Graziotto of Juno Beach-based Seven Kings Holdings, Richard Swerdlow, and Otis Pitts of Affordable Community Developers. Seven Kings Holdings manages the construction of the Marina Grande, a 351-unit condo, the first major redevelopment project on the mainland.

• Cypress Realty of Florida, the master developer of Abacoa in Jupiter.

• Resource Advisory Group, a firm based in Arlington, Va., that has had its eye on the redevelopment project for four years since former CRA director James Baugh encouraged the group to check out the project.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/local_news/epaper/2005/01/20/s5b_rbmaster_0120.html

smiley

January 20th, 2005, 08:52 PM

Hope your unit is not facing that dark, cavernous gap between the buildings.

shelleyfish

January 20th, 2005, 09:11 PM

We didn't buy a unit in Opera Place, which has not yet broken ground.

We bought at 610 Clematis, which is the first construction project that brought BAP into Palm Beach County. "610" has been topped off, they are moving to the interior, and have notified us that it should now be completed in July. Promises, promises, as they've already pushed back the completion date a couple of times.

SkyDiveJunkee

January 21st, 2005, 01:17 AM

wow that Opera Place rendering is awesome. It has a very old world Chicago flare with a modern twist thing going on. I love it. Where exactly is this?

MIAballinboi

January 21st, 2005, 02:28 AM

woow a billion dollar plan great,

shelleyfish

January 21st, 2005, 03:40 PM

Here is a link to an article about Opera Place.

Opera Place (http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/real/content/realestate/RES_011405_Opera_Place.html)

And its actual website

www.operaplacewpb.com

streetscapeer

January 22nd, 2005, 12:49 AM

from UrbanLegend @ Urbanplanet

Opera Place

http://www.operaplacewpb.com/imgs/imgs_gallery/01popup.jpg

CityPlace

http://cityplacetower.com/images/renderings/OkeechobeeEast_sm.jpghttp://cityplacetower.com/images/renderings/PlazaView_sm.jpg

Dale

January 22nd, 2005, 06:29 AM

Much as we like to crow about FTL, I think WPB is beating up on it in terms of quality architecture - JMO.

SkyDiveJunkee

January 22nd, 2005, 05:32 PM

^I think in general the architectural history of WPB/Palm Beach gives it a clear advantage as well.

streetscapeer

January 22nd, 2005, 07:16 PM

I agree, skydive!

renner01

January 27th, 2005, 12:15 PM

Click here!
Singer Island tug of war continues

By Tanya Wragg

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Thursday, January 27, 2005

RIVIERA BEACH — For almost a decade, city officials have talked about redeveloping the Ocean Mall on Singer Island.

The talks continued Wednesday and will carry on for at least for another couple of weeks.
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After seven months of negotiations, the Community Redevelopment Agency board voted to continue to negotiate with Marriott Vacation Club, which wants to build 250 hotel rooms and 250 timeshare units on the city-owned property.

The 4-1 vote, with board Chairman David Schnyer dissenting, came after Vice Chairwoman Ann Iles said she felt the board hadn't been specific enough with Marriott on what the city would allow.

"I'm being asked not to negotiate in good faith," she said.

A slew of residents said they oppose the project because it is too big and would not provide enough public parking or beach access.

On Wednesday, the company returned with modifications: Marriott reduced retail space from 126,888 square feet to 44,000 square feet and eliminated some parking. It also added an additional public access area and a road on the south side of the project.

Only two residents spoke in favor of the project.

Among opponents were representatives of Catalfumo Construction & Development, who have been lobbying city officials with Dan Catalfumo's own project for the Ocean Mall. If city officials decide not to go with Marriott Vacation Club, they will move on to negotiate with Catalfumo.

During public comments, local developer Fred Villari said Catalfumo "orchestrated this whole play to say negative things about this project."

Catalfumo said he was "instructed by the city council" to bring residents to the meeting so they can tell the board what they want.

"First time I've heard of it," Schnyer said of the council's asking Catalfumo to bring residents to the meeting.

Catalfumo said he opposes the Marriott project not because he is against Marriott but because he wants to protect the public beach.

"I gave up building Marriott to fight for the beach and for the goodness of Riviera Beach and the kids," he said.

Catalfumo's proposal includes a one-story structure with shops, boutiques and restaurants, similar to the existing Ocean Mall. It also includes public parking along the beachfront, and three 16- to 20-story structures: a 250-unit hotel with shops, restaurants and a conference room and two 125-unit condo/hotels, with one housing a post office, a police substation and a 2,500-square-foot meeting room for the community.

He said he would pay the city an upfront lump sum of $25 million for the lease, which the city could use to pay off its debt, and establish a $12 million endowment fund to provide job training, after-school care, tutoring, scholarships and more for city residents, if the board selects him to redevelop the mall.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/local_news/epaper/2005/01/27/c2b_rbCra_0127.html

EBOSS

January 28th, 2005, 04:40 AM

Some pics of the skyline from Palm Beach, near the Flagler Bridge.

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/palmbeach1.jpg

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/palmbeach2.jpg

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/palmbeach4.jpg

EBOSS

January 28th, 2005, 04:42 AM

eboss can you take some pics of the palladio terrace site?
2211 N. Flagler Drive
West palm beach

renner01 is that address across the street from Curry Park?

streetscapeer

January 28th, 2005, 06:39 AM

great pics..EBoss!! just lovely!!

shelleyfish

January 28th, 2005, 07:58 PM

In the Palm Beach Post Real Estate Section:

The Harrick Condo Hotel

The Harrick Website (http://www.theharrick.com)

A rendering in Adobe format (go to page 15 if it doesn't go directly to that page)

The Harrick (http://www.cityofwpb.com/state/Presentation.pdf)

They're just sprouting up all over the place...

Montecito (www.montecitopalmbeach.com)

streetscapeer

January 28th, 2005, 09:00 PM

WOw...great..that was a good pdf showcasing various projects I'd never heard of before....are all of those in "the works" for Palm Beach!

I wish I knew how to extract pictures from pdf files cause that one aerial of West Palm Beach, loooking west is spectacular!!:)

thanks for sharing shelly!!

shelleyfish

January 28th, 2005, 09:07 PM

about some of these projects! I didn't even go through the whole Adobe presentation until you mentioned it. Yes, they're all going up in my neighborhood!!

streetscapeer

January 29th, 2005, 03:35 AM

This was posted by UrbanLegend @UrbanPlanet

http://www.cityofwpb.com/around/img/train%20station.jpg

By Stephen Deere
Staff Writer
Posted January 28 2005

West Palm Beach · The vision for the 30-plus acres of land near the historic downtown train station includes a new hotel, a paseo along Sapodilla Avenue, a dry cleaner, a newsstand and a new look for an old downtown thoroughfare.

All week long, city planners; engineers; transportation experts; county, city and state employees; and the city's hoi polloi have been brainstorming ideas for a transit village, a place where residents -- even those with modest paychecks -- can live, work and travel without having to navigate traffic-clogged roads and highways.

Officials from the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council will present the themes of their public planning charrette at the Kravis Center for Performing Arts at 7 p.m. tonight. What happens after that is a question of policy to be determined by multiple levels of government and by private developers. "It becomes a series of political decisions," said Kim DeLaney, growth management coordinator for the planning council.

West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel called the locale -- Banyan Boulevard, north of Fern Street, west of Sapodilla Avenue and east of Clearwater Drive -- blighted, but also stressed its potential. "This is a tremendous opportunity," Frankel said. "This area is like a beautiful canvas waiting to be painted."

The charrette concept in urban design is becoming more common, emerging as the public demands input into the developments affecting them, planning council Executive Director Michael Busha said. "It is no longer enough to say `Trust me. We are going to build something beautiful,'" Busha said.

The village will have five different modes of transportation: Tri-Rail, which connects West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami; Amtrak; Greyhound bus service; Palm Tran; the county's bus service; and the city's trolley system, which soon will have three routes instead of one, thanks to a federal grant.

This week's event brought 150 people to the Kravis Center on Saturday. They sat in groups of 15, sketching their ideal villages on transparent paper lying atop maps. During the week, about 200 members of the public stopped by a storefront office off Clematis Street to listen to and participate in discussions, DeLaney said.

Among the concepts most frequently agreed upon were the need to connect the village to CityPlace and Clematis Street, the improvement of Tamarind Avenue with a landscaped median, and the addition of parking garages.

But of chief concern was what Frankel called a looming crisis for the city's working residents. The soaring cost of housing in and around downtown has kept work force members from living close to their jobs, forcing long commutes. "You've got a lot of people driving from the north and west, from Port St. Lucie," Frankel said.

Charrette participants defined work force members as professionals, such as police officers, firefighters, nurses and teachers, who make between $30,000 and $70,000 a year. Recommendations from the charrette include 2,500 new residences at the village, and call for each housing development to make about 20 percent of its units affordable to the work force.

Another charrette recommendation was for the village to have a small elementary school.

The state, county and federal governments own the land where the proposed village would sit, with the county possessing the bulk of it.

One of the key issues for constructing the village is what price the county would charge private developers for the land. "There is a lot of development interest," DeLaney said.

No one has a clear time frame for when construction on the transit village could begin. DeLaney said that under the best-case scenario, construction on the project could begin in 2006.

http://www.cityofwpb.com/around/images/mapAll.gif

streetscapeer

January 29th, 2005, 03:37 AM

This was also posted by UrbanLegend @UrbanPlanet

The Harrick
Click Here (http://www.theharrick.com) for more info
http://www.theharrick.com/rendering.jpg

MIAballinboi

January 29th, 2005, 03:57 AM

awesome renderings, great finds streeet

Dale

January 29th, 2005, 04:00 AM

awesome renderings, great finds streeet

Wow ! Took me a while to notice the big green "H".

renner01

January 29th, 2005, 12:53 PM

Proposed blueprint for West Palm transit village unveiled

By Pat Beall

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Saturday, January 29, 2005

WEST PALM BEACH — To the road-weary road warriors of I-95, Jeff Koons suggests this alternative: Why not take an elevator to work?

"This thing is very doable," the Palm Beach County commissioner said after seeing the first design of The Village, a proposed cluster of homes, apartments and office buildings next to the Tri-Rail station on South Tamarind.

The blueprint, unveiled to a crowd of more than 100 Friday night, is based on brainstormingthat began last Saturday among students, retirees, business people and others sketching their visions of what has been dubbed a transit village.

The 36-acre downtown project would be bounded by Clear Lake, Banyan Boulevard, Fern Street and Sapodilla Avenue.

Designers this week penciled in state office buildings, a 100-room hotel, the new federal courthouse and homes for about 2,000 families.

Twenty percent of those families would rent or buy at below-market rates. All would be living within walking distance of an enhanced transit station.

Retail would be kept to a minimum: "dry cleaners, the corner grocery, a coffee shop, things people will walk a block for," said Bob Gibbs, a Michigan economist who helped refine the plans.

The area could support four times that much commercial activity, but not without siphoning business from Clematis Street and CityPlace, he said.

On the other hand, capping retail would likely generate ripples across the neighboring commercial landscape.

"Clematis retail could grow by about 10-12 percent" once the residential units fill up, Gibbs said. "CityPlace will also get a big boost."

That's not just optimism. Fiscal planners spent the past week poring over the designs alongside architects and transportation engineers.

"The plans were tested over and over and over again with the economists," said Dana Little, an urban designer with the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, a co-manager of the project.

The result is a blend of architecture that helps the dollars make sense.

For example, the state already plans to build 180,000 square feet of office space and a two-story parking garage in the area.

If the state sells rights to build five stories of condos on top of its new parking garage to a private developer, the developer's costs are cut because the land has already been paid for.

That discount allows the developer to sell some units at below-market rates.

But there are hurdles.

For one thing, land prices could hyperinflate. The project plan spans five to 10 years. Assuming the $80-per-square-foot price for downtown dirt shoots up, the economics of the project would crumble.

And state, federal and city officials all have to work together on a common design.

That's why, even if the transit village plan does seem to have something for everyone, not everyone thinks it's a sure thing.

Said one observer: "I'll believe when I look out the window and see the bulldozers coming."

EBOSS

January 31st, 2005, 11:35 PM

Here is the site you were asking about. I took the pictures last week but was not sure if it was the right place. I drove by it this morning and there was a big sign there today. Nothing going on there now but im sure that is going to change soon.

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/site2.jpg

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/site1.jpg

renner01

February 1st, 2005, 02:17 AM

Yeah thanks eboss. I guess well have to wait a whiLe ....

renner01

February 1st, 2005, 12:17 PM

Another piece of the past to be buried under condos
Kitschy inn saw its share of partying

By Emily Minor

Palm Beach Post Columnist

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Here's what happens when you move some place on a youthful whim and end up staying 21 years.

You fall in love with certain things, and then your heart gets broken.

Courtesy the Rutledge Inn

enlarge

A photo in the lobby of the Rutledge Inn shows a freighter that came ashore near the hotel in 1965 during Hurricane Betsy.

Greg Lovett/The Post

enlarge

Ira 'Rutty' Crouse sits Monday with his father, Ira 'Rutt' Crouse, outside the family's 1964 hotel, the Rutledge Inn. The hotel will be demolished and condos will go up.
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Gone: H.F. Davis, my favorite five-and-dime store that sold every color of grosgrain ribbon by the yard. Mr. Arthur Roberts' barbershop down on Dixie Highway. The remake of the original Hut.

And now, the Rutledge Inn.

In April, they'll demolish the place that Ira Crouse built 41 years ago, the place that over the years has offered a reasonably priced respite for so many of us and our out-of-town guests.

The Rutledge Inn, the quintessential 1960s hotel with the faded pink stucco walls, horseshoe design and rarely quiet bar and swimming pool in center court, is closing.

No more spring training shenanigans. No more beach bonfires. No more bringing your own can of Bacardi mixers and handing it to the bartender so she can make you a killer daiquiri.

Coming soon: condos.

What else?

"It was an offer that we couldn't refuse," says Ira "Rutty" Crouse, Ira's 43-year-old grandson, who now runs the place with his father, Rutt.

Rutty's father, also named Ira after the man they all called "Daddy Ira," will retire. But Rutty says he needs to "find something to do."

It is, it seems, the last of the mom-and-pop places out on booming Singer Island, a little something Riviera Beach Mayor Michael Brown doesn't even pretend to be sad about.

"How much of anything from the '60s is still around?" Brown says. "A lot of the things from the '60s aren't around anymore, thank goodness."

That's the trouble with nostalgia. Warm and fuzzy feelings don't pay for the greater good. When developer Taylor Woodrow finishes building "Mirasol," it'll add money to the city's tax rolls that Brown says will help to "build housing for our citizens."

Come April, it's all history

Rutty, who was 3 years old when his grandfather built the inn, essentially grew up there — at one point living across the street. Still, he's businesslike about what's happening. A good chunk of change will do that to you.

"It all started last season," Rutty said Monday. "People were coming in from various companies giving us offers."

Finally, they signed for an amount less than $20 million, he said.

All told on Singer Island, Brown says, there are about 650 condo units being built — all of them pricey. If you're a fan of the Crab Pot restaurant under the Blue Heron Bridge, Brown says that's also going to be condos.

Who's buying these places?

"Wealthy people who want to live in the best place in Palm Beach County," says Brown, unable to resist the PR.

When Mirasol's done — all 18 stories and 58 units — Brown says the city "will get almost $2 million from the taxes on that property."

Daddy Ira, now dead, opened the two-story Rutledge Inn in 1964 with money from his New Jersey business. In those days, it was glitz and glamor, but through the years it became more mainstream. The Rutledge has been the breeding ground for many a hangover. And the Crouse family has always been laid-back about letting nonguests use their parking lot, pool and beach access.

"As long as you spend money at the bar," Rutty says.

But come April, that's history — just like my favorite dime store and the barbershop where my son got his first haircut many years ago.

"All that nostalgia stacks up to money," Brown said Monday.

All that nostalgia makes this place home.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/local_news/epaper/2005/02/01/c1b_minor_0201.html

shelleyfish

February 1st, 2005, 04:25 PM

Several hotels/inns in the county are either turning into condos/rentals/timeshares or being torn down to make way for the bulldozers and construction crews.

I've been to the Hilton for functions and stayed at the Crowne Plaza (when it was a Sheraton), both on Singer Island near the Rutledge Inn, and the towering condos just keep surrounding them. Another area going through a huge re-development.

This is what's being razed to make way for condos:

Rutledge Inn (http://www.rutledgeinn.com)

renner01

February 2nd, 2005, 11:55 PM

http://www.cityplacetower.com/images/renderings/OkeechobeeEast.jpg
http://www.cityplacetower.com/images/renderings/OkeechobeeWest-300dpi.jpg
http://www.cityplacetower.com/images/renderings/PlazaView.jpg
http://www.cityplacetower.com/images/renderings/view-2.jpg

CRT plans CityPlace office tower

Published: October 14, 2004
------------------------------------------------------------
Boca Raton-based CRT Properties (NYSE: CRO) said it plans a $90 million,
20-story, 335,000-square-foot Class A office tower in West Palm Beach.

CRT said its joint venture with The Related Cos. of New York would be
downtown West Palm Beach''s first major new office building in 15 years.

As anticipated

, the project, CityPlace Tower, is to be within CityPlace, a 72-acre
project developed by The Related Cos. The tower would anchor the
southern end of the four-year-old, mixed-use development, just opposite
the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

The office tower owner said its plans call for it to complete CityPlace
Tower by 2007.

Thomas J. Crocker, CRT chief executive officer, said South Florida is a
key market for his company.

"We are excited about our long-term commitment to West Palm Beach, which
we view as a major center of growth in Florida during the next decade,"
he said.

Crocker said CityPlace Tower will fulfill a growing need in the market
for a new generation of Class A office space.

Designed by Elkus/Manfredi Architects of Boston, the same firm that
designed CityPlace, the office tower is to include technology
infrastructure and hurricane-resistant construction and systems designed
to allow tenants to operate continuously during the most severe
conditions.

Planned features also include a full-floor fitness club with a swimming
pool, a banquet facility above the penthouse and a helipad.

Shares closed down a penny to $21.54. The 52-week high was $24.46 on
March 5. The 52-week low was $19.15 on Oct. 27.

Copyright(c) American City Business Journals Inc. All rights reserved.

You can view this article on the web at: http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2004/10/11/daily46.html

Bid Date: Est. Start Date:
February 2005 March 2005

Description:
New construction and site work for a new office tower in West Palm Beach. Schematic plans are calling for a 20-story, 335,000-square-foot built structure built to resist hurricanes. THe project will also include a full-floor fitness club with a swimming pool, a banquet facility, and a helipad. Construction is expected to commence in early 2005. Interested parties should direct inquiries to the architect.

Dale

February 3rd, 2005, 12:34 AM

This tower, Opera Place and the Edge constitute a very classy new wave of architecture for downtown WPB.

streetscapeer

February 3rd, 2005, 01:59 AM

^^Yup...I'm really, really lovin the stuff that's comin out of West Palm these days...Spectacular!!

renner01

February 4th, 2005, 12:53 PM

Amrit

Friday, February 04, 2005

Amrit Resort & Residences, by developer Creative Choice, is among the high-rises soon to grace the Atlantic Ocean's shores along Singer Island in Riviera Beach.

Visit soon to take advantage of preconstruction pricing from the $800,000s to more than $3 million.

If water is the elixir of life, then Amrit is its essence. As soothing and tranquil as its name implies, these condominium residences provide nirvana by combining a variety of amenities with luxurious oceanfront living.

Prepare to be pampered by services that are comparable to those at five-star resorts. Residents and guests will be greeted in grand style by a white-glove experience that includes a valet, bellhops, a concierge and housekeeping, in addition to pool deck and beach services.

Situated on nearly 7 oceanfront acres, Amrit's three towers will house 178 condominiums providing 1,750 to 4,200 square feet of air-conditioned living space. Amrit also will offer a private hotel and condo suites.

The path to serenity begins at Amrit. From brilliant bougainvilleas and exotic bamboo to the ebb and flow of the tides, residents will experience nature's splendor.

Outside, towering palms fringe miles of white sand beach.

Inside, each spacious floor plan features floor-to-ceiling glass walls and expansive windows to take advantage of the spectacular ocean and city views.

These residences also have advanced Home Smart technology. This broadband fiber-optic and wireless infrastructure features a touch-screen central control panel and a remote that allows you to manage your home and life, right from your fingertips.

Imagine being able to create the exact home environment you want, at any moment: manage your security system, temperature settings, lights, appliances; access your wireless Internet service; and contact the concierge.

Amrit will provide the perfect balance of comfort, beauty and convenience, allowing you to live in optimum harmony.

The heated oceanfront pool, world-class health spa and the fully equipped fitness center will help to nourish your well-being. A fabulous club room, lounge and theater are the perfect complements to the relaxing whirlpool, oversize sun deck and beachside recreation.

With the Atlantic to the east and the Intracoastal to the west, Amrit will soar above Singer Island and surround you with the best of the Palm Beaches. Only minutes away are a variety of restaurants, cafes, golf, galleries, theaters, yachting — and, of course, shopping on Worth Avenue, at CityPlace and at The Gardens mall.

For more information, call (561) 848-5823. Or, visit the Web site at www.amrit.com

Directions to Amrit: Take Interstate 95 to PGA Boulevard. Go east past U.S. 1 onto North Ocean Drive. Proceed about four miles to Amrit, on the left, at 3100 N. Ocean Drive.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

For more information: Call (561) 848-5823 or (877) AMRIT-11.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/weekend/epaper/2005/02/04/rew9_amritweb_0204.html

Web site: www.amrit.com
http://www.amrit.com/images/Singer_main.jpg

renner01

February 4th, 2005, 12:55 PM

The Harrick in West Palm Beach

Friday, February 04, 2005

An all-glass sales center for The Harrick has opened at Esperante. In addition, plans for the luxury condominium units in downtown West Palm Beach were unveiled and reservations were accepted.

The Harrick, a condominium hotel, will be at the corner of Lakeview Avenue and Dixie Highway.

It will rise more than 20 stories and feature 140 one- and two-bedroom suites ranging from 630 to more than 1,200 square feet of air-conditioned living space.

The penthouses will provide sweeping views of the city, Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean.

Prices begin at $320,000.

The concept of condominium hotels is already popular throughout the country.

An owner can offer his or her condo to the managing hotel company, which can, in turn, rent out the unit.

In a recent Forbes article, a real estate brokerage executive was quoted as saying, "The hotel-condo lifestyle is now considered to be up there with the G-5... it's the private jet of living."

The Harrick's architecture is elegant and distinctive.

Each residence will be fully furnished with high-end designer decor and luxury features, including Poggenpohl kitchens and Sub-Zero appliances.

A rooftop pool will offer serenity and breathtaking views.

Top-flight amenities include concierge, maid and room services; a fitness center; communications and security systems; flat-screen TVs; and valet parking.

Less than two blocks from CityPlace, the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and the Palm Beach County Convention Center — not to mention Palm Beach — The Harrick will offer convenience and value.

For more information, call (561) 837-6600 or (877) 355-6600.

Directions to The Harrick's off-site sales center: The sales center is at 222 Lakeview Avenue, Suite 101, in the Esperante Building.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information: Call (561) 837-6600 or (877) 355-6600.

Web site: www.theharrick.com
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/weekend/epaper/2005/02/04/rew25_harrickweb_0204.html

renner01

February 4th, 2005, 01:00 PM

People on the Inside: Project manager has Palladio Terrace set to rise along waterfront

By CHRIS DeSTEFANO, Real Estate Weekend Writer

HASH(0xe67bb8)

Friday, February 04, 2005

Andrew Adler had to convince his boss that the 4.65 acres of land across from Currie Park in downtown West Palm Beach was worth a hefty investment.

Adler must have been very persuasive, because Homero Meruelo, principal of Miami Beach-based Merco Group, paid $30 million for the land.

"He came up to see the site and said to me, 'What do you think of it?' " said Adler, project manager for Palladio Terrace and project development director for Merco. "I said it was a great choice, so he said, 'Go to town.' "

And Adler has, overseeing the massive $300 million waterfront condominium project for Palladio Terrace that is expected to be completed in early 2007.

"This sat here vacant for nine years, undeveloped, before Merco came in and put their money at risk," said Adler, who lives in Palm Beach and joined Merco one year ago, specifically to oversee the construction of Palladio Terrace.

Adler was born in Boston and graduated from Tufts University with a degree in civil engineering. He moved to Texas for several years and, in 1999, was named Home Builder of the Year in Dallas. Plaques and awards fill his office at the Palladio Terrace sales center, which opened for preconstruction sales in late January.

Adler soon moved back to the Northeast, but he said that visiting his parents in Jupiter (his father David also is a civil engineer) persuaded him to move to South Florida.

"I've always been intrigued with the potential of West Palm Beach as an urban marketplace," said Adler, 46. "You have Palm Beach on one side, and then when retail companies went in at CityPlace, the residential potential seemed extraordinary. I don't think there's a better place to live anywhere else on the East Coast right now."

Palladio Terrace will help to make it an even better place. The twin 18-story towers will house 338 residences, from lofts and one-bedroom condominiums to four-bedroom penthouses. These homes will provide 1,000 to 4,000 square feet of air-conditioned living space. Prices range from the $300,000s to $3 million.

Meruelo also recently offered $1.5 million to the city to revamp Currie Park across the street.

Palladio Terrace is named after Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio and will feature a contemporary curved design facing Flagler Drive. Virtually the entire facade will be glass.

"I wanted to bring an elegant museum-style yet contemporary feel to the Palm Beaches," Adler said. "I also wanted a European, Renaissance flair."

Another distinctive aspect of Palladio Terrace is that some condominiums will feature "through floor plans," allowing residents to enjoy sunrise and sunset views from their unit.

Adler said that about 80 percent of the units will face the Intracoastal Waterway and overlook Palm Beach, with an unobstructed view of the island's estate homes.

"Unlike the south end, the northern end of Palm Beach has no condos or tall buildings — they are all estates," he said. "So from the top floor, you will have a clear view of the ocean.

"This is going to be an amazing place."

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Palladio Terrace is a 338-unit, 18-story twin towers featuring lofts and one-bedroom condominiums to four-bedroom penthouses across from Currie Park along the Intracoastal Waterway in downtown West Palm Beach. Palladio Terrace is expected to be completed in early 2007.

Prices: From the $300,000s to $3 million.

Community amenities: Resort-style pool, full-service spa, fitness center, meditation gardens, private cabanas, concierge service, wine conservatory with private wine lockers, and 24-hour valet.

To visit: The on-site sales center is at 2211 N. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach.

Telephone: (561) 296-8600.

Web site: www.palladioterrace.com

renner01

February 4th, 2005, 01:06 PM

News & notes: IDA of Nashville to decorate interiors at Luxuria condo

Friday, February 04, 2005

Boca Ocean Development LLC, a subsidiary of The Trump Group, has commissioned Interior Design Associates (IDA) of Nashville to create the interiors for the sales pavilion and public spaces at Luxuria, an oceanfront condominium community in Boca Raton.

The gated, 10-story Luxuria will feature 24 residences ranging from 4,500 to 25,000 square feet of air-conditioned living space, priced from more than $4 million to more than $20 million.

Now under construction, the sales pavilion is slated for completion in late February. The facility will showcase a kitchen, master bath and a family room that represent the features and finishes that will be offered at Luxuria.

IDA was established 24 years ago by designer Bonnie Manson. The company has extensive experience in the design of public spaces for luxury condominiums as well as for golf and country clubs.

"Situated on the Luxuria site, the sales pavilion will foreshadow the drama of the main building," said Missy Gentry, IDA's senior project designer for Luxuria. "Visitors will be greeted by the Luxuria logo, carved into a gleaming wall of glass. Floors of polished marble and walls of handmade wallpaper will be the background for striking custom furniture, upholstered with imported velvets and silks."

There will also be an outdoor, canopied deck overlooking the ocean.

Luxuria also will include private outdoor spas, cabana baths and summer kitchens. Five of the homes will have two stories. Four estate residences will have private swimming pools in addition to spas.

The 2 1/2 -acre site, at 2500 S. Ocean Blvd., is just south of Camino Real. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer.

The Trump Group, whose principals are brothers Jules and Eddie Trump, have developed, built and sold more than 1,700 luxury mid- and high-rise residences.

Pre-opening opportunities are offered. For more information, call (561) 391-1330, or visit www.luxuriaontheocean.com
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/weekend/epaper/2005/02/04/rew12_nnluxuriaweb_0204.html
http://www.luxuriaontheocean.com/images/building_render1.jpg

renner01

February 5th, 2005, 01:47 AM

Luxuria selects IDA of Nashville
for sales pavilion and public space interiors

Boca Ocean Development, LLC, a subsidiary of The Trump Group, has commissioned Interior Design Associates (IDA) of Nashville to create the interiors for the sales pavilion and public spaces at Luxuria on the ocean in Boca Raton. The sales pavilion is under construction.

Touted as the most luxurious oceanfront estate residences in a vertical environment ever to be introduced in South Florida, the gated, 10-story Luxuria enclave will feature 24 exclusive residences ranging from 4,500 to up to 25,000 square feet of air-conditioned living space. Prices are from over $4 million to over $25 million.

Of the total residences, two will be customized, two-story, single-family estate homes, and three will be lavish two-story penthouses.

According to Michael Goldstein of The Trump Group, the multi-million-dollar sales facility will showcase a kitchen, master bath and family room that represent the breadth of upscale features and exquisite finishes that will be found at Luxuria.

"We named IDA for the interiors because the firm will make an exciting design statement that is exclusive and unique to Luxuria," Goldstein noted. IDA was established 24 years ago by designer Bonnie Manson, ASID, IIDA, who has been creating award-winning interiors for a high-profile national clientele ever since that time.

"Situated on the spectacular site in Boca Raton, the sales pavilion will foreshadow the drama of the Luxuria main building," said Missy Gentry, IDA's senior project designer for Luxuria. "Visitors will be greeted by the Luxuria logo carved into a gleaming wall of glass. Floors of polished marble and walls of handmade wallpaper will be the background for striking custom furniture upholstered with imported velvets and silks."

Through the graceful stone arches, visitors will find the model display area and, beyond that, the model "resident unit" showcasing a kitchen with designer European cabinets and Haifa stone countertops. A master bath vignette will have gently glowing onyx countertops (achieved by under lighting them) and Dornbracht plumbing fixtures with steam components in each shower.

Additionally, the model gallery will feature a family room appointed with Donghia fabrics, grass cloth wall covering and a plasma television. There will also be a large, outdoor, canopied deck overlooking the ocean, so that visitors can see the incredible beach, which is the deepest expanse in the area.

"The magnificent interiors at Luxuria will be singular, elegant, unique and vibrant, matched only by the stunning architecture of Vander Ploeg & Associates, Inc. of Boca Raton," Goldstein said, adding that the architectural design is "inspired by the grand cities of Europe and masterfully blends Old World elegance with modern innovation. We feel that Luxuria will set a new standard for oceanfront living in South Florida."

The 2.5-acre site, at 2500 South Ocean Boulevard, is just south of Camino Real in Boca Raton and north of Hillsboro Boulevard in Deerfield Beach.
The Trump Group, whose principals are brothers Jules and Eddie Trump, developed, built and sold more than 1,700 also sold out the 51-story Acqualina in Sunny Isles Beach, which will open this year.

Pre-opening opportunities at Luxuria are offered. Call John McLennan at 561-391-1330 for a private appointment. Or visit www.luxuriaontheocean.com

renner01

February 9th, 2005, 12:19 PM

WPB, Palm Beach County face off in court for control of convention center land

By Tom Stieghorst
Business Writer
Posted February 8 2005

E-mail story
Print story

Click here to subscribe Subscribe today to the Sun-Sentinel and find out how to get one week extra! Click here or call 1-877-READ-SUN.

A long-awaited civil trial scheduled to start today could help decide the viability of Palm Beach County's struggling convention center.

It pits CityPlace Partners and its development ally, the city of West Palm Beach, against the county in a battle for control of the land next to the $84 million convention center.

The three have been locked in an increasingly contentious stalemate over the land, which is the proposed site of a 400-room hotel to be built by Ocean Properties Ltd. Progress on the hotel has been stalled for months.

"We need to take possession of the land to build the hotel," said County Administrator Bob Weisman.

A key problem is that no one is sure what it is worth. CityPlace Partners has an appraisal that says $11.5 million. The county has one for $6 million. A development agreement calls for a third appraisal to be binding, but it was never made.

A lawsuit filed by the county alleges that CityPlace Partners improperly balked at arranging the definitive appraisal, hoping to further its bid to be the developer of the lucrative hotel planned for the site.

The county also contends that CityPlace is trying to make it acquire the site before the county even knows what it might have to pay.

Joseph Ianno Jr., an attorney at Carlton Fields, P.A., which represents CityPlace Partners, said that is what is called for in the development contract. He said other governments have that kind of agreement, where a valuation process only begins once an option is exercised.

"They do that all the time," he said.

But Weisman said it would be irresponsible for a public entity to buy something without knowing the price. The county has a 30-month option to acquire the land, which started in April 2004. The option arose because CityPlace Partners didn't develop the property by that date.

The land was originally restricted to hotel use, but the Ocean Properties plan calls for 104 condominiums as well.

That is expected to be an issue in the trial. The agreement originally called for appraisals to reflect only the hotel use and to set Nov. 30, 2000 as the date for valuation. Today both Ocean Properties and CityPlace Partners propose a condo element for the property.

The dynamics of the suit are also complicated by the presence of a Community Redevelopment Agency created by the city to revitalize the area that eventually became the CityPlace mixed-use project.

Improvements to the area are funded by taxes within the authority's development boundary. But the county would own the convention center hotel proposed by Ocean Properties, removing it from the county tax rolls.

The city has strenuously fought that aspect of the proposal. The county contends the addition of the condos to the project, which would not be tax-exempt, makes the development a wash for the city in terms of taxes.

A second suit filed by CityPlace Partners alleges the county acted improperly in choosing Ocean Properties as the developer, but that suit has yet to be tried.

Without the hotel, the convention center's 100,000 square feet of exhibit space have mostly been used for consumer shows that don't draw overnight guests who stay in hotels and bring money from outside the area.

On Monday, Circuit Court Judge Kenneth Stern delayed the trial a day to gave Ianno time to review contract drafts that surfaced late last week. He said they could be important, and that the case is of "great public importance, particularly to the city of West Palm Beach, and to all of the county in terms of economic development."

The trial is expected to take two or three days.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/sfl-zhotel08feb08,0,4495743.story

renner01

February 10th, 2005, 01:55 AM

http://southfloridaceo.com/CURRENT-JANFEB05/Art/Highrise-Opera.jpg
Opera Place
LOCATION:
419 Lakeview Avenue
West Palm Beach

DEVELOPER:

BAP Development
Willy A Bermello, President
Luis Ajamil, Executive Vice President
2601 S Bayshore Drive, 10th Floor
Miami, FL 33133

DESCRIPTION:

The company that has dominated Miami as a leader in urban, mixed-use development has conquered yet another territory. BAP Development has forayed into the Palm Beach market, and consumers are singing its praises. Aptly named for its strategic location, Opera Place will rise on the site of the Palm Beach Opera. The elegant, two-tower condominium will be located on 3.13 acres on Okeechobee Boulevard, next door to CityPlace and across the street from the new convention center. Like its predecessor, 610 Clematis, and future BAP projects in Fort Myers and the Dominican Republic, Opera Place will enhance the luxury offerings available in this newly flourishing city. Opera Place alone will showcase an approximately 44,500-square-foot retail galleria, in addition to a cultural facility that seats 340 guests for performances by the Florida Stage Theater. Well-appointed one-, two- and three-bedroom units, studios, lofts, and two-story penthouses are priced from the $300s to the low $2 millions.

Amenities:
Eighth-floor recreation deck and sunset garden, complete with a heated, resort-style, infinity-edge pool and whirlpool alcove, and a poolside barbecue
State-of-the-art fitness center with personalized cardio-theater features on the cardiovascular machines
Steam, sauna and massage rooms
Library/reading room
Billiards room
Valet
Concierge service
Secured covered parking
Wireless access to Internet anywhere on property
Nine-foot ceilings in living and dining areas
Private balconies overlooking expansive views of the city
High-speed internet access, Cable, DirecTV satellite with 144 channels, video and audio services and Smart Box technology

CONTACT:

www.operaplacewpb.com / (561) 659-0555

NUMBER OF UNITS: 556 total | 270 per tower
SQUARE FOOTAGE: 490 - 2,177
PRICE RANGE: $300,000's to low $2 million
OPENING DATE: Sales Center to open in February
Construction Late Summer 2005
Completion: Late 2006
http://southfloridaceo.com/

shelleyfish

February 10th, 2005, 04:32 PM

www.operaplacewpb.com / (561) 659-0555

NUMBER OF UNITS: 556 total | 270 per tower
SQUARE FOOTAGE: 490 - 2,177
PRICE RANGE: $300,000's to low $2 million
OPENING DATE: Sales Center to open in February
Construction Late Summer 2005
Completion: Late 2006

I've learned to take all these numbers with a grain of salt (or maybe a few drinks :cheers: ). Especially since I'm living the experience while anxiously waiting for the completion of BAP's first foray into West Palm Beach, 610 Clematis which is half the size of what Opera Place will be. It broke ground in the Fall of 2003 and the completion date has already been moved twice.

In today's Local section of the Palm Beach Post, there is a front-page article about the noise and inconvenience of all the construction, even listing some new developments I wasn't aware of.

That being said, it is quite exciting to anticipate our move downtown with all its potential -- I just wish I could fast forward a few years.

renner01

February 10th, 2005, 04:53 PM

yeah I read the same article would suck to be across the street from that....

SkyDiveJunkee

February 11th, 2005, 05:54 AM

I LOVE the Opera Tower. It successfully incorporates the Cityplace style into the building while having an edgy yet reminiscent flair. Probably my favorite to come out of there right now.

renner01

February 11th, 2005, 06:01 PM

http://www.clarkeshotelpb.com/images/PAGE16.jpg
http://www.clarkeshotelpb.com/images/hotel.jpg
http://www.clarkeshotelpb.com/
I think it just started. Can anyone stop by the jobsite and see the progress?

streetscapeer

February 11th, 2005, 06:25 PM

ooo....nice aerial....and great infill, I might add!!:)

EBOSS

February 12th, 2005, 06:57 PM

Royal palms in front of the slade.

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/sladepalms.jpg http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/palladio%20sign.jpg

Dale

February 12th, 2005, 08:58 PM

Aren't there plans to spruce up the riverfront ?

shelleyfish

February 13th, 2005, 04:24 AM

Giant Octopus and I just returned from an evening walk downtown. First we drove by the site where Clarkes is supposed to be built and saw nothing but a parking lot. Figuring that we may have missed the location, we took a walk for a closer look, found a sign depicting the same image as renner01 and the website, but the projected jobsite is definitely a parking lot (in use) with no construction progress in site. We also walked on Olive to see if we could locate the sales office, but couldn't find that address as listed. So I don't know what to say about it. We did pass some of the buildings as seen in the aerial view.

I found these two listings when I googled Clarkes, but I can't see how anything can be completed this year, when construction has not yet begun.

Name: Clarkes Condominium Hotel
Location: 314 Fern Stree
Number of Units: 56
Building Block:
Stories: 5
Total Square Feet:
Ground Floor Square Feet:
Upper Floor Square Feet:
Assessed Value:
Completion Date: December
Parking:
Owner: Clarke Hospitality Group
James U. Clarke
219 S. Olive West
Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561)820-0034 fax(561)820-1411
wowclarke@aol.com

==========

CLARKES HOTEL
314 Fern Street
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 659-1660

Opening in the fall of 2005, Clarkes Hotel will be a unique boutique hotel in West Palm Beach featuring all of the amenities and features that you would expect from a luxury hotel. Guests will enjoy the rooftop garden with a heated swimming pool, whirlpool spa and rooftop lounge as well as the many 24-hour concierge services available. Clarkes Hotel features 56 units, all with a flat screen TV, DVD player, high speed Internet, designer kitchenettes and more. A restaurant and lounge will be on the ground floor of this 5-story hotel, and room service will be available for all guests.

--------------------------------

And Clematis is still dead (except for a few restaurants and teen hangouts), while CityPlace is hopping. I hope that all the condominiums currently in different stages of development will help rejuvenate and connect these two areas so downtown WPB will become the "vibrant" neighborhood our mayor keeps promising, which also includes the improvement of our waterfront. There's been a lot of talk and recommendations, but no action.

renner01

February 13th, 2005, 03:56 PM

thanks for the pic. Project could be hold....

StevenW

February 13th, 2005, 04:07 PM

This area has a lot of potential for future development on a grand scale, considering the money in the nearby area. :)

EBOSS

February 14th, 2005, 05:00 AM

thanks for the pic. Project could be hold....
Have you heard something new?

renner01

February 18th, 2005, 12:41 PM

Plan includes condos, shops

West Palm overhaul detailed

By Alexandra Navarro Clifton
Business Writer
Posted February 18 2005

E-mail story
Print story

Click here to subscribe Subscribe today to the Sun-Sentinel
and find out how to get one week extra!
Click here or call 1-877-READ-SUN.

Overhauling the Rybovich Spencer marina in West Palm Beach will transform the existing 12 acres into a $100 million project that will include condominiums, a parking garage, a restaurant and retail shops on a boardwalk overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.

The Huizenga family and Rybovich Spencer released details of the project Thursday, comparing it to the renovations of the Bahia Mar Marina in Fort Lauderdale two years ago.

The Rybovich Spencer project will not only attract more megayachts to the area, it will be the city's first waterfront development open to the public. Plans include two luxury condominium towers with 220 units and 22 ground-floor lofts, a two-story restaurant, a 300-space parking garage and retail space along a boardwalk promenade.

"It's something that doesn't exist now," said Jim Bronstien, president of Rybovich Spencer. "It's what I'd always hoped we would become."

The condominiums will be built on the southern end of the property. Rybovich Spencer's existing boat-building and boat-maintenance facilities will move to the northern end of the site. Renovations are expected to begin this summer and clearing of the southern end could begin by the end of the year.

The company submitted plans to the city this week and applied for permission with federal agencies to reconfigure the marina.

The company said it is negotiating with WCI Communities to be the builder on the residential units. The Huizenga family, which bought a controlling interest in Rybovich Spencer last year, will build, develop and operate the new marina and retail complex.

WCI spokesman Kyle Reinson said the two companies have been talking about the project.

"There have been discussions, but it's a little too early to talk about what might happen," said Reinson. "It looks like a good opportunity."

Rybovich Spencer will continue building sport-fishing yachts and provide service for megayachts, but those services will be consolidated into a smaller, more effective operation, said Bronstien.

Since the Huizenga family bought the marina, the company has undergone a $700,000 upgrade in equipment and technology.

Alex Clifton can be reached at anclifton@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6529.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/sfl-zpmarina18feb18,0,490060.story

renner01

February 19th, 2005, 12:56 PM

Neighborhood reaction mixed to $100 million Rybovich marina expansion

By Stephen Pounds

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Saturday, February 19, 2005

WEST PALM BEACH — Al Taylor has a vivid reminder of the dark days in the city's Northwood neighborhood.

A bullet hole in the window pane of his Triple-A Furniture store on 25th Street put there by a drive-by shooter wielding an Uzi is proof the area was as much a combat zone a decade ago as it was a business district.

"I've been here through good times and bad. But it's coming back. The worst is behind us. The days of the gunfights are over," Taylor said Friday.

Taylor is among those businesspeople who have watched the neighborhood improve and hope the planned $100 million expansion and renovation of the Rybovich Spencer boatyard announced this week will bring more businesses and customers to the north end of the city.

The project includes an expanded marina with public access, a two-story restaurant, retail shops and more than 200 waterfront condominiums and lofts by 2007.

On 25th Street, one of Northwood's business thoroughfares, Triple-A Furniture shares a business district with flower shops, small restaurants, furniture stores, hair salons and antique shops.

With more people from the condominiums planned for the south end of the Rybovich property as well as those already under construction, some of those new residents might drift west to shop for goods and services.

"People have basic needs of food and a place to sleep. It has to be a positive," Taylor said. "A grocery store might be enticed to come in here. It's all about numbers, and this is bringing in the numbers."

But there are other businesspeople who see the need for a neighborhood shopping center with an anchor supermarket, that might draw a dry cleaner and other services, as the critical component for Northwood's improvement. To them, Rybovich is a destination for outsiders.

"What we need is a safe, attractive, neighborhood retail center," said Terri Murray, executive director of Northwood Renaissance Inc., a group aimed at the area's redevelopment. "(Rybovich) won't really impact what we're doing in the business district."

The city came out with a draft plan in January to spend $20 million over five years to redevelop West Palm Beach's north end with new housing and shops plus a face-lift for the neighborhood. Since then, the draft has been the subject of debate by Northwood residents. Some question whether its focus should be on a proposed village with Bohemian flair rather than a new supermarket for the area.

Keith Miller, treasurer of the Broadway Reinvestment Coalition, another area business group, sees the expansion of Rybovich as attractive to small service businesses that are in short supply now: coffee shops, dry cleaners, dog-grooming shops.

There are existing Northwood businesses that could prosper from the Rybovich redevelopment. But for most, it will depend on whether they can take advantage of the swell of new neighbors on the upscale waterfront.

"The Hurricane Grill and the Sunset Bar & Grill, they'll definitely benefit," Miller said.

Still, Northwood needs to resolve its crime woes, its lack of affordable housing and the pockets of blighted housing before it will attract new residents to the streets west of Flagler Drive, she said.

"Those new condos being built are gorgeous," Deprez said. "But they are not for the normal person."
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/content/business/epaper/2005/02/19/a10b_northwood_0219.html

EBOSS

February 26th, 2005, 01:04 AM

WPB is anyone here????. Some pics of Villa Lofts. Topped out on Feb 11 2005.

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/topout.jpg

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/topout2.JPG

MIAballinboi

February 26th, 2005, 03:16 AM

great update eboss

streetscapeer

February 26th, 2005, 03:50 AM

I'm here Eboss...great pics!

renner01

March 4th, 2005, 02:32 PM

Palladio Terrace in West Palm Beach

Friday, March 04, 2005

Palm Beach elegance and lifestyle, blended with Italian minimalist architecture and luxury amenities, will make Palladio Terrace an enviable address in downtown West Palm Beach.

The Merco Group International is developing Palladio Terrace, a luxury condominium of 338 grand residences, built on a large site along the prized Flagler Drive waterfront.

The $300 million, 18-story towers will overlook the lake, Palm Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. The 4.65-acre site is adjacent to a beautiful lakefront park. The Merco Group is the developer of The Akoya, a waterfront tower in Miami.

The curvilinear building features an architectural design by Song and Associates of West Palm Beach that was inspired by the spiraling curves of the nautilus shell, one of nature's best examples of the "golden mean." The building is named for Venice's Renaissance architect, Palladio, the first to incorporate these spatial dimensions into the architectural arts.

Andrew Adler, project director for Merco Group, said, "The curvilinear architecture maximizes panoramic views from every residence. Palladio residents will live in a world blending Palm Beach elegance with timeless Italian minimalist aesthetics."

Extensive amenities will include fountains, spas, lap pools, botanical gardens and a limited number of poolside cabanas.

Lush hedges create shaded niches and quiet areas for reflection and relaxation. In addition to the heated pools and tanning decks, a stadium tennis court also will be available.

"A 1-acre-plus amenities deck will provide pools, a spa, cabanas, an outdoor caf, terraced gardens, stadium tennis, and a spa and fitness center," said developer Homero Meruelo.

Indoor recreational amenities will include a full-service spa and a fitness center. Residents will enjoy face and body therapies and have tensions melted away through rejuvenating massages.

Palladio owners and guests can work out with aerobic and cardiovascular training equipment while watching the sun rise over Palm Beach and the lake.

The pampering continues with 24-hour valet parking and a lobby featuring full-time front-desk management and a concierge to assist with reservations to fine dining, tickets to shows at the Kravis Center and Palladio spa arrangements.

Residents also will be able to entertain and toast new friendships in a waterfront club room, "Veneto," and a wine conservatory, "Noblesse," with private lockers for their finest bottles.

A European-style kitchen featuring detailed wood and glass cabinetry, granite countertops and polished-steel appliances are ideal for even the most discerning chef. Baths feature Italian cabinetry with leather inserts and glass-top vanities with twin stone washbasins.

The Flagler Drive location is near the Royal Poinciana bridge to Palm Beach and minutes from ocean beaches. Landmarks such as The Breakers resort and Flagler's former mansion, now the Whitehall Museum, also are nearby.

So is Worth Avenue, with its shops, boutiques and restaurants.

In addition, downtown West Palm Beach's Clematis Street provides a variety of nightspots; the Meyer Amphitheater hosts outdoor concerts; music and art festivals and celebrations are held along the Flagler Drive waterfront; and the Palm Beach Ballet, Palm Beach Opera and the Norton Gallery of Art are close by.

The downtown trolley travels to CityPlace, where restaurants, clubs and fashion boutiques abound. CityPlace also features the Harriet Himmel Theater and the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

Directions to Palladio Terrace: A sales center with a full kitchen and bath is open at 2211 N. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

For more information: Call (561) 296-8600.

Web site: www.palladioterrace.com
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/weekend/epaper/2005/03/04/rew17_palladioweb_0304.html

renner01

March 4th, 2005, 02:33 PM

The Landmark at the Gardens in Palm Beach Gardens

Friday, March 04, 2005

The Landmark at the Gardens condominium, in Palm Beach Gardens, has sold more than 60 percent of its units to buyers impressed with the spacious floor plans, luxurious amenities and walk-to-everything location.

"The Landmark is a rare opportunity," said Andrew Steinberg, chief operating officer of HomeDevco, its developer.

"These residences are designed as homes, not condos. A buyer can replace a house with a 'home in the sky' and have all the conveniences of condominium living."

Rising to 17 stories, this Mediterranean-inspired condominium offers residences with 1,870 to more than 5,000 square feet of air-conditioned living space, plus generous terraces.

Nine floor plans include three penthouses, with two to four bedrooms, 2 1/2 to 5 1/2 baths, a leisure room, morning room and a grand salon.

Prices range from the $600,000s to more than $3 million.

Richard Swartz, chief executive officer of HomeDevco, said, "Our penthouses are extraordinary, with grand spiral staircases and private elevators."

At The Landmark, you can live in a one- or two-story penthouse with an open layout. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide panoramic views of South Florida's skyline.

The Landmark was conceived by an ensemble of architects, Oliver Glidden Partners, and the design firm Fine Decorators.

This architectural masterpiece will house 166 luxury residences.

Residents and guests will enjoy a sense of arrival when greeted by the entry's cascading fountain.

Stately palm trees canopy the brick-paver driveway leading to the Mediterranean-style porte-cochere.

Kitchens will feature a built-in stainless-steel appliance package, custom-built European wood cabinetry with task lighting and granite countertops with matching backsplash.

Indulge in the privacy and comfort of the master baths, with marble flooring, matching vanity tops and tub surround; custom-built European cabinetry; a Roman tub; glass-enclosed frameless shower; and premium Kohler fixtures.

The grand entrance lobby, with Italian marble flooring and wood furnishings, will be attended 24 hours.

Expect a concierge, who will provide convenient service at every opportunity; 24-hour valet parking and a covered parking garage; and posh private foyers accessible only via owner-activated high-speed elevators.

The Landmark's amenity levels will include a club room with a lounge, bar and catering kitchen; a resort-style recreation deck with a heated pool and poolside market; a separate fitness center with aerobics room; and a media room with theater seating and a large-screen projection television.

In addition, residents will receive a membership to the PGA National Members Club. Members can play on five championship golf courses, three driving ranges and six putting greens; five croquet lawns; and 19 clay tennis courts.

Best of all, residents are only a footbridge stroll away from the soon-to-be Downtown at the Gardens, Menin Development's retail and restaurant complex, under construction.

Nestled amid a 20-acre lake and a lakeside sculpture park, Downtown at the Gardens will have a 3,200-seat, 16-screen Cobb Theater; Whole Foods Market; nationally known restaurants and specialty retailers, such as the Strip House Restaurant (New York City), Yard House (Southern California), The Grape (Atlanta), Sur La Table (Seattle); and local favorites like City Kitchen, Johnny Rockets, Casablanca, Max's Grille, Sloan's Ice Cream and Starbucks.

The Landmark also is minutes from The Gardens mall, Interstate 95, Florida's Turnpike, the Intracoastal Waterway and beaches.

Directions to The Landmark's off-site sales center: Take Interstate 95 to PGA Boulevard. Go east about one-half-mile to Fairchild Gardens Avenue and turn left. Proceed one block to Kyoto Gardens Drive and turn left. Take an immediate left into the Grand Bank parking lot. The sales center, in the Fidelity Investments building, 3501 PGA Blvd., Suite 200, has model vignettes of a kitchen and bath.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

For more information: Call (561) 799-7997.

Web site: www.landmarkatthegardens.com

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/weekend/epaper/2005/03/04/rew17_landmarkweb_0304.html

EBOSS

March 15th, 2005, 02:17 AM

Arrival

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/the%20sign.JPG

Villa Lofts with the Slade in the background.

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/villa314.JPG

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/villa3142.JPG

Palladio site

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/palladio%20fence.JPG

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/pallaio%20fence2.JPG

The Metropolitian

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/metro.JPG

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/metro2.JPG

610 Clematis

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/610.JPG

The Edge

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/the%20edge.JPG

http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/VillaLofts/the%20edge2.JPG

streetscapeer

March 15th, 2005, 02:47 AM

great updates...thanks alot:D:D

shelleyfish

March 18th, 2005, 03:41 PM

Great pics EBOSS. Looks vaguely familiar :yes: Especially the photo of 610 Clematis :okay: I may have even passed you on the street when I was downtown a few days ago (the date you posted these). Was walking on Flagler from Good Sam, and all the way up and down Clematis.

I may be mistaken, but when I was checking out my soon-to-be new home , I thought I saw a whole middle section painted some ugly yellow color. Am I mistaken, or was this some part of the construction process? Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me. :dunno:

In any case, the schedule calls for completion of "610" this summer (is this where I stick in "fat chance" :lol: ) and I'll be happily living among all this skyscraper activity :soon:

renner01

April 26th, 2005, 02:48 PM

Click here!
No room for doubt in West Palm

By Joel Engelhardt

Palm Beach Post Editorial Writer

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Developers are so hot to build a hotel in downtown West Palm Beach that they are willing to stack cars bunk-bed style and deliver them to the street like potato chips from a vending machine.

The Harrick, a 20-story condo-hotel to be operated by San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels, will rise on a piece of land so small that it would support just a single house in the suburbs.
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Ten years ago, West Palm Beach would have killed for a downtown hotel. A convention center hotel has been so hard to come by that the county is spending $10 million just for the land. Not two blocks away, amid rapidly rising apartment buildings, comes The Harrick. If the condo boom didn't convince you, The Harrick should: Downtown West Palm Beach has arrived.

Developer David Gostfrand is taking reservations for The Harrick, which is expected to open with 139 units in 2007. Even though investors can own individual rooms, The Harrick will operate as a hotel. Room owners who pay from $500,000 to $1 million for a furnished unit will split profits from hotel rentals with the developer.

Parking is so tight that elevators will hoist cars to third- and fourth-floor garages, where they will be stacked three high on moveable platforms. At the push of a button, a car will be maneuvered into position for the elevator ride down to a waiting valet. The parking system added $1 million to the project's $30 million cost, Mr. Gostfrand said. To get around one-way streets, valets will drive two blocks west and back again just to park the car. It's the urban prototype that has evaded downtown for years.

The hotel expects to attract lawyers in town for a trial, parents of students at nearby Palm Beach Atlantic University or tourists who want to be near CityPlace on one side and the ocean and Palm Beach on the other. "I know it's a small piece of land, but in New York it's a giant piece of land," said Mr. Gostfrand, a Boca Raton residential builder with 15 years' experience in New York City. "If you look at an urban setting, this is it."

In 1997, West Palm Beach took what looked like a huge gamble. To build CityPlace, even though it would add more traffic than some downtown streets could handle, the city and the county cut a deal. The city would double the number of apartments downtown to 5,636 in five years. If the city fell short, it would not be allowed to add office buildings. If more people lived downtown, the thinking went, there would be fewer rush-hour commuters. A city official confided to me at the time that West Palm Beach never could meet such stringent standards; the standards would have to be "reconsidered" later.

Later has arrived and the standards have been achieved. Downtown has 4,800 residences, with 1,300 more under construction and another 2,800 proposed. That would be nearly 9,000 homes — far beyond 1990s ambitions.

What happened? The 1995 master plan brought investors. CityPlace attracted national retailers and, with them, a national buzz. City incentives drew apartment-builders. The decades-long trend toward the suburbs eased as Americans began to view urban living as a reasonable alternative to traffic jams. Interest rates hit rock bottom and stayed there.

Forgotten in the success is that few of these new residences are being sold to downtown workers. Prices are so high that the buyers are upscale, often retirees. As a result, the residential boom is doing little to ease traffic. The city has met the letter of the law but not the spirit.

In 1994, a year after the old Woolworth's store pulled out of Clematis — offering further proof of downtown's doom — West Palm Beach celebrated a lone pioneer. Developers received city subsidies and federal tax credits to build the 59-unit Ballet Villages, a modest apartment complex beside the railroad tracks amid boarded-up structures, weed-filled lots and razor-wire lined industrial buildings. Now those industrial buildings are selling, whole blocks are being leveled and massive upscale apartment buildings are rising.

Into this downtown comes The Harrick, a Manhattan-style hotel built subsidy-free by investors willing to pay extra for a car-parking contraption just to be downtown. Has downtown West Palm Beach arrived? There's no doubt.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/opinion/epaper/2005/04/26/w12a_engelhardtcol_0426.html

renner01

April 26th, 2005, 02:51 PM

West Palm Beach panel OKs Wilkes Hotel demolition

By Thomas R. Collins

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Thursday, April 14, 2005

WEST PALM BEACH — After an 80-year stay on the city's downtown waterfront, the Helen Wilkes Hotel might finally be checking out.

Though many developers have had big plans for the site of the hotel, which opened in 1923, nothing has ever been built in its place. But on Wednesday, a committee gave the hotel's owner, WCI Communities, permission to knock down the hotel. Environmental studies showed petroleum contamination in the ground, requiring a cleanup. WCI Communities plans to build 30 condominiums on the property. The demolition date is uncertain but could be within three to six months, a WCI spokesman said.
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The move toward demolition worsens a conflict between WCI and West Palm Beach officials. The city wants to include the hotel property in its $25 million waterfront redevelopment project, perhaps turning the Helen Wilkes land into an open public area or into a public building of some kind. The waterfront makeover is one of Mayor Lois Frankel's favored projects.

But WCI, which bought the hotel in August, has given signs that it has no intention of letting the city buy the land. In addition to the demolition request, it held a "kick-off event" for the condo building, to be called The Madison, earlier this month, which was a "big success" attended by "a lot of people interested in buying," WCI spokesman Kyle Reinson said.

"I wouldn't say that we're moving in any different direction other than to develop the property as we planned," he said.

The condos would sell from about $1.3 million to perhaps as much as $5 million, Reinson said.

Frankel has said the city will consider using its power of eminent domain to take the land before anything is built.

"I'm hoping at some point we will come to an amicable solution with WCI on whatever we do," she said.

Under city code, buildings cannot be demolished in the city unless a building permit for a replacement building has been issued. That is, unless there is a safety concern, which is the case with the Helen Wilkes. Once the hotel is torn down, WCI will have to complete certain steps to show they are moving toward building the condo project. "Obviously it's an important site," planner John Roach said. "We don't want just a big dirt mound or a big hole in the ground."

The building opened in 1923 as the 160-room El Verano Hotel at a cost of $1 million.

"El Verano" means "the summer" in Spanish.

It was built at a time when hotels were scarce and the West Palm Beach area was losing thousands of tourists each winter who were unable to find places to stay.

An abundance of hotels was built in response to the demand, but El Verano remained a standout.

"One of the finest and most modern of the hotels in West Palm Beach is El Verano, located on the lake front north of the city park," a 1924 newspaper said.

The guests at the hotel were so choosy the owners bought a farm so they could grow their own fresh produce so guests wouldn't have to eat food out of a can, according to one newspaper article.

The name was later changed to The Hotel George Washington, and finally between 1969 and 1974 to the Helen Wilkes Hotel, for the former West Palm Beach mayor who once owned the building. The Helen Wilkes has been vacant since 1999. Since, it's been envisioned as a spot for offices, restaurants and townhouses, but no project got off the ground.

The hotel was considered for the National Register of Historic Places, which might have protected it from destruction. But the first two floors were covered in a tan 1970s-era "river rock veneer," distorting the architecture. No one ever looked underneath it to see what remained of the original El Verano.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Bid Date: Est. Start Date:
March 2005 April 2005

Description:
New construction and site work for a condominium complex in West Palm Beach. Plans call for a 30-unit, multi-story building.

Construction is expected to begin April 1, 2005, and a general contractor has been awarded. Interested subcontractors may contact the developer.

renner01

April 26th, 2005, 02:54 PM

http://wci.wcicommunities.com/images/images/66/home_photo.jpg
http://wci.wcicommunities.com/default.asp?pageID=home&siteID=66&vid=1000

renner01

April 26th, 2005, 03:44 PM

North-end residents give developer's park gift cool reception

By Thomas R. Collins

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sunday, April 24, 2005

WEST PALM BEACH — To the city parks department short on cash, the $1.5 million for Currie Park is a gift it's thrilled to accept.

But some residents can't shake the feeling that the money is a gift intended to take something away.
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Merco Group is building a luxury condominium named Palladio Terrace across the street from Currie Park that will fatten the city's budget with new property tax money that will be used to redevelop the city's north end of town.

But residents say they fear the donation from Homero Meruelo of the Merco Group will be used only to spruce up the portion of the park directly across from the condos, which will sell at prices up to $3 million. They worry that the rest of the park, including a play area frequently used by Hispanic soccer players and underprivileged children at nearby social service groups, will be ignored.

"They're basically trying to make it a private park for the residents," said Terry Knight, a resident who is outspoken on many issues in the city's north end.

Other residents say they're worried that if they're not tactful, they may lose a valuable gift.

So far, residents are getting mixed signals about what the 12-acre park — which sits next to the Intracoastal Waterway at 23rd Street and has the best location of all the city's parks — eventually will look like. Any changes will have to be approved by city commissioners, but Meruelo reserves the right to withhold the money. Merco hopes to have plans approved by June.

Current plans include a new play area, where soccer and other activities could be held, north of the current play area, but it remains to be seen whether there'll be money to pay for it.

Andrew Adler, a real estate advisor for Merco Group, said the money will be used for features throughout the park but added it will be hard to make $1.5 million stretch very far.

"It's a limited amount of money, but I think it can go a long way to improving all these uses," Adler said.

The main area where the money will be spent is the open recreation area across from the future 15-story condominium because it needs the most work, he said.

In fact, a model of the project in Merco's sales office includes a miniature version of that area, where the field used for soccer now sits. In the model, the field has been replaced by a walking path winding through a tranquil area dotted with shade trees and benches. A wrought-iron fence sits atop the seawall; a fence doesn't exist now.

Adler said sales reps have told potential buyers that they hope to make changes to the park, but haven't told them that any changes are definite.

He said changes to the park aren't necessary to sell the condos; sales have been brisk without any changes so far.

Daryl McCann, a landscape architect with Sanchez and Maddux, who's designing the project for the city, said money is tight.

"Whenever you're dealing with a public space that's heavily utilized, you have a budget you have to be responsible with," he said.

City Parks and Recreation Director Laura Schuppert said the city is encouraging Meruelo and Merco to spread the money throughout the park as much as possible.

"I just want people to use it and enjoy it," she said.

The city is spending $250,000 on the park's redesign. It will also spend $100,000 from a voter-approved bond issue to refurbish the bathrooms. But the city has no other money to spend on the park.

So no one knows how to pay for things such as improvements to the boat ramp and a new open play area to replace the one now across from the condos. Merco plans to spend some money on the play area, but not enough to complete it.

Some e-mails to city hall about the Merco gift have been harsh. One person wrote that Merco wants "nothing but trees, plants, maybe a few paths for the rich and famous living across the street in the high rises."

Carl Flick, president of the nonprofit economic development group Northwood Renaissance, said residents should welcome the gift.

"I think everybody should be grateful that Merco is providing this grant," he said. "If we're not careful we're gonna lose that grant because how many ungrateful people do you have to get before they say, 'We don't need this?' "

What residents should begrudge is that the city hasn't put aside more of its own money for the park, he said.

"I think that's kind of sad."
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/local_news/epaper/2005/04/24/s3c_currie_0424.html

JEmanuel56

May 4th, 2005, 02:19 AM

i really dont know if you guys in WPB have heard but i was over by the prado sales center and found out about another realted group project named SOUTH TOWER at CITY PLACE. this project is slated to be about 24 stories and is directly across from the barnes and noble in city place and aside from the car dealrship. this is in city place on okeechobee. of course rcrs will do the sales and talks about realted buying the cardealership as well to establish another condo. a realted group hotel is in the planning stage as well in the parking lot across from opera place so congrats WPB on jorge perez running the west as he did miami

streetscapeer

May 4th, 2005, 04:44 AM

^ that's awesome:D

gost

May 31st, 2005, 07:16 PM

Do you know what are those 8-floores apartment buildings on the left from Two City Plaza and behind Trump Buildings? Their construction is in the progress and they can be seen on pictures posted on the forum.

shelleyfish

June 24th, 2005, 07:47 PM

Anybody home? Don't know if anyone is reading this section, but just to update our status...we have received official word that our closing for "610 Clematis" will take place at the end of August. We are supposed to have a walk-through at least a month previous to that. We've been visiting the site and it appears to us that the building still has some major construction before completion so :dunno: So we may be living in beautiful downtown WPB real soon, among all the newer construction, tiptoeing through the rubble. :old:

Gost, if you are reading this, and my memory doesn't conk out (fat chance!), I'll try to figure out which building you are referring to in your previous post.

In today's PB Post Real Estate Section, yet another new residence.

550Q (www.550q.com)

Not much of a website yet, just the cover page and a link to a form to submit for info. Interesting architecture if you go by the rendering. Will be situated just north of our courthouse on Quadrille. The sales office is located over the bridge in Palm Beach.

streetscapeer

July 1st, 2005, 02:56 AM

thanks shellyfish for the well-needed update...WPB keeps churning out projects and we keep loving them...I'm really excitied about the new (2nd) Opera project...be sure to tell us when they break ground. oh and 550Q looks like it'll be great! Yay for South Florida's awesomeness!:)

gost

July 25th, 2005, 07:02 PM

renner01

August 1st, 2005, 03:24 PM

Related Group plans condo tower in West Palm

By Alexandra Clough

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sunday, July 31, 2005

The Related Group, which helped build West Palm Beach's CityPlace, is about to bring its real estate magic to the city's sleepy north end.

The Miami development company plans to build a luxury high-rise condo on North Flagler Drive, just south of 45th Street in a section known as Northwood Shores. The still unnamed project will consist of a 20-story, 148-unit tower, four townhouses along Flagler and a 277-space parking garage, according to preliminary plans filed with the city.

Fueling Related's interest in the region is Rybovich Spencer's $100 million marina face-lift, located just south of the Related land, said Barbara Salk, Related senior vice president. Rybovich Spencer plans an upgraded marina with space for mega-yachts, waterfront condos and retail space. Also in the works: A public marina.

Partnering with Related in the project is Stephen Kornfeld, chairman of Nagelbush Mechanical, a plumbing, heating and air-conditioning company in Sunrise. Salk said Kornfeld is the one who found the Flagler Drive property, which now consists of vacant land and two homes.

Up until now, most of the condo action in West Palm Beach has been in and around its downtown. But as land disappears, developers are starting to look outside the city's core. For instance, T-Rex Capital also plans a luxury condo on North Flagler Drive, at 57th Street.

Related's Salk cautioned that plans for the company's project are still so preliminary she doesn't even have prices for the condos yet. And, to make sure the neighbors are on board with this tall tower project, Salk said Related plans to meet with neighborhood groups soon.

In the meantime, Related is busy wrapping up its other condos in West Palm Beach by closing sales.

By year's end, Salk calculates Related will be responsible for 938 condo sales closings in the city. "That's going to bring a huge influx of tax money to the city," Salk said.

In the works right now are closings at The Slade, one of the first condos announced during the start of West Palm Beach's condo craze. Already, some 100 of its 200 units have closed, Salk said.

Other Related closings have taken place at its condo conversions at The Tower Condominiums and The Courtyards at CityPlace. And coming in the fall: Sales closings at The Prado and Villa Lofts.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/business/epaper/2005/07/31/a1f_clough_col_0731.html

MIAballinboi

August 1st, 2005, 04:37 PM

^ now were talking..

Dale

August 1st, 2005, 06:40 PM

Has City Place Tower (Related's office project) broken ground yet ?

shelleyfish

August 2nd, 2005, 02:50 PM

Still a bit of controversy.....

Modern design OK'd in general
But commissioners keep the final say over the building's dimensions and appearance.
By Thomas R. Collins

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

WEST PALM BEACH — City commissioners on Monday night laid the groundwork for a glass-and-steel tower that would loom next to the Old World-style buildings of CityPlace.

But commissioners didn't sound crazy about the plans for a building with a modern look that would rise 16 stories. Current rules allow only Mediterranean style and only 10 stories with towers extending to 15.

The proposed CityPlace tower would be the first high-end office building built in West Palm Beach since the 1980s.

Because of their hesitation, commissioners voted unanimously to approve changes to those rules only in a way that gives them control over what is finally built in front of the main CityPlace parking garage on Okeechobee Boulevard. The developers will next present a plan after doing more work with the city's planning department.

But with that vote, commissioners signaled their willingness to depart from the traditional look of the 5-year-old shopping and entertainment complex that has come to define the city.

"Compatibility is a subjective term," Commissioner Bill Moss said.

Planner Eric Schneider told commissioners that the building proposed should be rejected. In renderings, it is a black and gray structure that looms over CityPlace.

"It is not harmonious with the existing CityPlace design," Schneider said. He has argued it would ruin the look of the gateway to downtown.

Even Tom Crocker of Boca Raton-based CRT Properties, who is working on the project for CityPlace developers, said, "We're making a radical departure here."

But he said a Mediterranean-style office building would never attract tenants.

"We can't build it and make money. That's the bottom line," he said. In the modern building as proposed, prospective tenants have already signed letters of intent to lease 200,000 square feet.

"We want to have a practical approach," Mayor Lois Frankel said.

Lynda Harris, the attorney for the CityPlace developers, reminded commissioners that this would be the first high-end office building constructed in the city since the 1980s.

Architect Howard Elkus of the Boston firm Elkus/Manfredi, which designed CityPlace, said CityPlace was never intended to be a city unto itself but "an integral part of West Palm Beach."

He presented examples of contrasting architecture that have worked well around the world, though Commissioner Ray Liberti noted that in almost all of his examples, the newer-style buildings were about the same height as existing ones, while the proposed office tower would be built eight times the height of some of its adjacent buildings.

But Elkus assured commissioners he wouldn't support anything that would harm CityPlace.

"I don't want to look at something that I'm not proud of nor are you proud of."

http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/00/15/67/image_1767150.jpg
-----------------------
In further UNrelated news, BAP has to complete ALL the units before being issued a temporary CO to allow walk-throughs, so my move to 610 Clematis has been delayed once again. :mad: I wonder if all the other residential buildings about to be completed will have their advertised closings delayed as well. It's starting to seem the norm. :fiddle:

Dale

August 2nd, 2005, 04:27 PM

Good timing, Shelleyfish ! Looks like they chopped it though. It was proposed at 20 stories. And I myself applaud efforts to get away from the stucco and med tile a bit.

shelleyfish

August 23rd, 2005, 08:21 PM

Plans in the works for condo/hotels (as taken from the Business Section - hope I'm allowed to copy and paste without repercussion :runaway: )
------------------

By Alexandra Clough
Palm Beach Post Columnist

Sunday, August 21, 2005

So the convention center hotel in West Palm Beach is moving along at a glacial pace. An update to county officials last week revealed construction might not start for at least 21 more months.

Not to worry. Plans are moving forward with three, possibly four, other hotels planned for downtown.

They're not convention center hotels, of course, but they'll have rooms with beds in them.

And at this point, that's better than nothing.

First up should be Clarkes Hotel, a five-story, 56-room boutique condo hotel on Fern Street between Olive Avenue and Dixie Highway.

This project was supposed to have been ready by May — of last year. Owner James Clarke blames delays with architects and general contractors. He's now on his third GC, Catalfumo Construction, and is confident construction will start soon.

Clarke started selling furnished units for the condo hotel two years ago for prices that seem like a dream now. Studios sold for $82,000 on up to $178,000 for one-bedrooms with two baths. "We were the best deal in town," Clarke said. All units come with kitchens, too.

Given the astonishing rise in construction costs, Clarke acknowledged the project will cost more than he expected when he first bought the land five years ago. But he said there's money to be made on the building's other features, such as the restaurant and parking lot.

Of considerably more size is The Herrick, another condo hotel. This one, at South Dixie Highway and Okeechobee Boulevard, will rise 20 stories and features 138 units. Units here also come fully furnished, with flat-screen TVs and Poggenpohl designer kitchens.

The Herrick will feature one of those trendy "edgeless" swimming pools. And it'll be the first building in West Palm Beach to use car elevators, which take your valet-parked car up and out of the way of others.

Condo prices are commensurate with the size of this project. Herrick developer David Gostfrand says the two dozen units still available are selling for between $600,000 and $1 million. Construction is expected to start in January.

Managing the hotel will be Kimpton Hotels, a San Francisco-based operator of boutique hotels. Kimpton is a popular brand out West but still is expanding its presence on the East Coast. Kimpton is known for high service with a personal, often whimsical touch: Some Kimpton hotels offer guests goldfish to stave off loneliness during their stays. With Kimpton running The Herrick, expect to pay around $400 a night to stay there, said Julianne Eubank, The Herrick's vice president of sales.

Also in the works, directly to The Herrick's north, is The Imperial. The proposed 20-story condo hotel is at the southeast corner of Trinity Place and Dixie Highway, site of the old Tinson's Antiques building. The project is unusual because developer Sisemen Holdings LLC doesn't own the property; instead it is leasing it from owner Burt Handelsman.

Plans recently filed with the city of West Palm Beach call for 161 condo hotel units, plus 20,176 square feet of commercial space. Larry Alexander, an attorney for Sisemen (nemesis spelled backward), said the project will be upscale, with little touches such as a cigar bar and spa.

And finally, West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel said there's talk of a possible hotel in the works for The Place Via Rosemary, a large residential project planned for Rosemary Avenue just north of Banyan Boulevard.

james_h

September 14th, 2005, 04:35 PM

Does some body have new pictures of CityPlaza One or Two? When are they going to finish City Plaza One building. May be some body got apartment there and can share his/her experiences....
Thanks Shelleyfish... I found name of the building which I asked for in my previous posting. this is Prado condo complex.

HI All.

I am an owner at One City Plaza, and happy to share my experiences so far.

I have a couple of photos to share - just can't seem to link them here...

james_h

September 14th, 2005, 08:04 PM

This was posted by UrbanLegend @UrbanPlanet

By Stephen Deere
Staff Writer
Posted January 28 2005

West Palm Beach · The vision for the 30-plus acres of land near the historic downtown train station includes a new hotel, a paseo along Sapodilla Avenue, a dry cleaner, a newsstand and a new look for an old downtown thoroughfare.

All week long, city planners; engineers; transportation experts; county, city and state employees; and the city's hoi polloi have been brainstorming ideas for a transit village, a place where residents -- even those with modest paychecks -- can live, work and travel without having to navigate traffic-clogged roads and highways.

My wife and I participated in this charette. It was truly a rewarding experience. I just hope that some of what we planned comes to fruition.

MIAballinboi

September 14th, 2005, 11:54 PM

^welcome to the forum, more wpb forumers, great!

hope u can get those pics up, first u have to host them, u can sign up www.photobucket.com upload ur pics and post the image links here,

james_h

September 15th, 2005, 10:42 PM

^welcome to the forum, more wpb forumers, great!

hope u can get those pics up, first u have to host them, u can sign up www.photobucket.com upload ur pics and post the image links here,

Cool! Thanks! I tried using my ISP's web space, but, I could not get that to work. I'll try photobucket.

In the mean time - I set up a small blog about 1CP a while ago - and I was able to post a photo to it, so, if you'd like to see the first of the shots I took this weekend, go to:

http://onecityplaza.blogspot.com/

I'll post again in a bit after I try out photobucket.

james_h

September 15th, 2005, 11:02 PM

Thanks for the photobucket referral...

Here are some photos from this past weekend.

Looking north - north - west from Flagler drive, just beyond Triannon.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a69/james_h/IMG_2576.jpg

Looking South on Olive from Hibiscus or thereabouts.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a69/james_h/1cp1.jpg

The East face - from the southeast corner of Olive and Lakeview facing south.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a69/james_h/1cp2.jpg

Up close and personal...

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a69/james_h/IMG_2581.jpg

james_h

October 4th, 2005, 02:32 PM

One City Plaza looks like it is finally finishing! Street level landscaping went in this past weekend. Totally changed the look of the place.

shelleyfish

October 8th, 2005, 06:59 PM

For those interested in the modern office tower planned for CityPlace, today's Post (October 8) has this updated article.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/pbccentral/content/local_news/epaper/2005/10/08/c1c_tower_1008.html

There was a rendering in the paper, but not on the website. Very slight differences from the original concept, including the color, but the rendering was in B&W so you couldn't tell much from it.

Dale

October 9th, 2005, 01:17 AM

Why has this been such an ordeal for WPB ?

shelleyfish

October 12th, 2005, 02:42 PM

The CityPlace tower is approved by officials.

www.palmbeachpost.com/pbccentral/content/local_news/epaper/2005/10/12/c2b_tower_1012.html

Dale

October 18th, 2005, 03:39 AM

james_h

October 20th, 2005, 01:36 PM

Drove through downtown yesterday...and WPB's busting out all over the place ! Even my wife was impressed. And she does not share my passion for highrises (though she does understand it).

Question: anything planned for the site directly south of Opera Place ?

The site just south of the Opera Place site is referred to as the "Tent Site". Apparently mayor Lois Frankel envisions that site as being developed into a signature building for the WPB skyline. I've heard talk of a 35 story project going in there. Financially, she wants to sell that site for as much as she can get as this will provideu a good portion of the funds she needs to re-develop the waterfront (which is one of her pet projects).

Since it's right around the corner from me - I just hope to hear something is finalized, soon, so that we will be able to see the end of living in the construction zone.

Dale

October 20th, 2005, 03:35 PM

james_h

October 20th, 2005, 10:13 PM

^ Thanks, james. Sounds exciting, the missing element, a signature tower to provide a focal point for the skyline.

Question: what would the mayor do about the height limit ? Does she envision making an exception in this case, since the proceeds will go to waterfront improvements ?

Yes, apparently, this site is not covered by the standard height restrictions dictated by the master plan for WPB's downtown. I've read the reasoning behind it before, but, I must admit I got lost...

I have not heard of any concrete negotiations with anyone yet for this project though.

Watching all of the late infighting over the new library and city hall project, I'm not so sure that being grandfathered around a height restriction is enough to ensure that a developer can build so tall a building on that site. We shall see.

Projects within a stones thow from me:

2 City Plaza,
The Prado,
The Harrington,
The Hotel condo going up next to the Harrington on Dixie,
Opera Plaza,
Cityplace Tower,
Cityplace South Tower,
The Convention Center Hotel,
And, whatever they build on the "tent site"

Man, that's a lot of concrete!

Dale

October 21st, 2005, 12:08 AM

One of the things that so impressed me about downtown WPB is that darn near everything being advertised is already under construction, or nearly so (like Opera Place).

A stark contrast from the drive south, on US1, between WPB and FTL, in which there are at least as many inactive construction sites as active ones.

JEmanuel56

October 21st, 2005, 05:01 AM

I DRIVE UP TO WPB LIKE 3 WEEKENDS A MONTH MY GRILFRIEND LIVES UP THERE I LIKE TO WATCH THE DEVELOPMENTS RISE.. NICE PROJECTS UP THERE

JEmanuel56

October 21st, 2005, 05:03 AM

DOUBLE POST

Giant Octopus

October 22nd, 2005, 08:58 PM

Right now, it is a three-storey medical office building. My eye doctor and dentist are there. They, and all other tenants, have been informed that they have to be out by 12-1-05. Reason:
The owner is going to have the little building torn down, and put up in its place, what else, a new high-rise CONDO!

Property on Flagler is too valuable it seems.

This new condo is going to be right next door to a vacant lot with a sign saying "Coming Soon, Luxury Condo", and THAT is right next door to ANOTHER vacant lot with a sign saying "Coming in MMVII, The Palladio, Luxury Condo".

streetscapeer

October 23rd, 2005, 01:16 AM

^^wow..go WPB:)

Dale

October 23rd, 2005, 05:46 AM

I thought Palladio had already broken ground.

Giant Octopus

October 23rd, 2005, 07:11 PM

OK, maybe I am misspelling the name on the sign?
There *is* a big hole on the lot, and a large pile of dirt.
So I guess ground *is* broken. :)

MIAballinboi

October 30th, 2005, 04:11 PM

an interesting thing, i never knew palm beach county had a 42 story tower, tiara, does anyone know the height, it should be the tallest in the county rite?

dave8721

November 3rd, 2005, 09:59 PM

How about this badboy. Luxuria, priced from $4 million to $20 million

http://www.sunnyislesrealestate.com/images/luxuria_1.jpg

dave8721

November 3rd, 2005, 10:03 PM

Ocean's Edge on Singer Island (starting at $1.6million)
http://www.sunnyislesrealestate.com/images/oceansedge_2.jpg

One Singer Island (starting at $2.9million)
http://www.sunnyislesrealestate.com/images/one_singer_isle_1.jpg

The Resort at Singer Island
http://www.sunnyislesrealestate.com/images/resort_singer_1.jpg
http://www.sunnyislesrealestate.com/images/resort_singer_2.jpg

Dale

November 3rd, 2005, 10:37 PM

I didn't see much in the way of cranes between WPB and FTL Beach recently. But Singer Island was a noticeable exception.

Giant Octopus

November 23rd, 2005, 10:04 PM

Well, it's now November, 2005, and the completion date when we bought our unit was said to be November, 2004!
:bash:

Dale

November 23rd, 2005, 10:22 PM

Well, it's now November, 2005, and the completion date when we bought our unit was said to be November, 2004!
:bash:

What's the holdup ? Miami's BAP developments seem to be moving along on schedule.

Giant Octopus

November 24th, 2005, 07:25 PM

What isn't the holdup?!?!
They blame:
All the hurricanes.
Cannot get workers.
Shortage of supplies.
Workers refuse to work overtime.
Etc. etc. etc.

dave8721

November 28th, 2005, 06:38 PM

Sales on the 18-story Domani are to begin in early December. Prices range from $2 to $9 million.

http://www.thedomani.com/

http://www.vacationhomesmag.com/For-Sale/Developments/asset_upload_file185_9291_midsize.jpg

EBOSS

December 10th, 2005, 02:04 AM

The company I work for is a subcontractor at 610 clematis. BAP/Whitting Turner were pushing for TCO of the first 4 floors for today. What floor is your unit on? It should be any day now for TCO. I can not believe that BAP gave last November as a completion date. That was a more than a little unrealistic. My company has been working alot of overtime to finish that project, btw.

shelleyfish

December 10th, 2005, 07:02 PM

EBOSS, I personally and sincerely thank you for all the work you and other sub-contractors have been doing on 610, despite all the delays.

We did pay a visit to the sales office and found out about the imminent receipt of their TCO, and that closings for the first four floors could begin as soon as this coming week. Owning a unit on the 7th floor, we were given a date in February. We've also had a tour of the building and our unit which still was far from complete and now we know why. But we hold out hope that this time is reality.

Thank you for posting your comments. It adds to our belief that this could be it! :)

dave8721

December 16th, 2005, 06:40 PM

Miami Herald ad for 80 Points West

http://newspaperads.miami.com/imagehandler/rop-ad/2352464

dave8721

January 30th, 2006, 04:17 PM

Construction on City Place Office Tower to begin:

http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2006/01/30/story4.html

Construction to begin on new tower

Darcie Lunsford

The $100 million CityPlace Office Tower, Palm Beach County's most ambitious and priciest office project, is poised to begin construction on Feb. 24, according to developer Tom Crocker.

The 290,000-square-foot, 18-story building is going up alongside West Palm Beach's CityPlace and is expected to be complete by January 2008.

The tower marks the first new venture for Crocker after last year's $1.8 billion sale of his publicly traded REIT to New York-based DRA Advisors.

CRT Properties (NYSE: CRO) was sold for $27.80 a share, a 15.4 percent premium over the stock's closing price. Its 11.7 million-square-foot office portfolio, included the upscale 350 and 450 Las Olas Boulevard buildings in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

The CityPlace project was not part of the sale and now Crocker is using the luxury high-rise to launch a new private equity fund.

The latest undertaking, called Crocker Partners, marks Crocker's fourth real estate venture.

"We are going to be building, buying and trading properties all over the Southeast and the Southwest," said Crocker, who received $35.3 million from stock, severance and other incentives from the sale to DRA.

Many of CRT's top management remained with Crocker to launch the new venture, which plans to aggressively seek more development opportunities in South Florida.

Crocker Partners is developing the CityPlace tower on a vacant site on Okeechobee Boulevard in partnership with Miami-based Related Group of Florida, which controls the land and co-developed the CityPlace mixed-used center.

A key selling point of the new tower is its hurricane readiness, Crocker said.

"Our building will be up and running after a hurricane," he said. "We will not be shut down." '

The office will be equipped with windows able to withstand 150 mph winds and a two-generator backup power system fed by natural gas lines.

With gross rents reaching $45 a square foot, the tower will be one of the most expensive in the city.

Attractive location, amenities
But the amenities and prime venue appear to be attracting lookers - and takers, according to Crocker.

A plethora of lease deals will be unveiled at the Feb. 24 groundbreaking, he said, but declined to elaborate.

Among the possible candidates, according to real estate sources, is Bank of America, which has about 41,585 square feet at 625 N. Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach. A bank spokesman could not provide any immediate information.

The law firm of Carlton Fields, which now occupies 16,000 square feet at the nearby Esperante, also has been cited in real estate circles as a possible taker.

The firm is looking to expand at CityPlace, but it doesn't have a deal, managing shareholder Thomas Hanson said.

"We haven't decided," he said. "We are still looking at all our options."

Crocker intends to raise as much as $300 million through his new private fund to bankroll development and acquisitions. With financing leverage, Crocker Partners could amass assets of more than a $1 billion.

Under terms of the DRA merger, Crocker can't hold an executive post at any public or private REIT with assets greater than $200 million. But Crocker Partners isn't a REIT.

Crocker's 15-employee office is now at Mizner Park in Boca Raton, which he also developed, but he said he plans to relocate to the new CityPlace tower once it is open.

E-mail Real Estate Editor Darcie Lunsford at dlunsford@bizjournals.com

dave8721

February 10th, 2006, 06:37 PM

Related keeps it up. Here is Icon Palm Beach (from todays Miami Hereald):

http://specialsections.miami.com/imagehandler/ss-ad/495139

MIAballinboi

February 13th, 2006, 01:19 AM

^nice looks like they got a nice icon family, brickell, ft laud, wpb

EBOSS

February 21st, 2006, 03:08 AM

1 City Plaza
http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/skyline/1city.jpg

The tower crane being assembled at 2 City Plaza
http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/skyline/1city1.jpg

1 City Plaza
http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/skyline/1city2.jpg

2 City Plaza tower crane going up.
http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/skyline/2city.jpg

1 City Plaza looking south. This view will soon be gone forever.
http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/skyline/2city1.jpg

second tower crane at The Edge going together.
http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/skyline/edge1.jpg

610 Clematis from Rosemary. Shellyfish did you move in yet?
http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/skyline/610.jpg

The newly completed Villa Lofts.
http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/skyline/Villa1.jpg

Vila Lago on the left, Villa Lofts on the right and The Slade in the background
http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/skyline/villa2.jpg

North Flagler Drive
http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/skyline/flagler1.jpg

Still the tallest in WPB.
http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/skyline/trump1.jpg

The Whittney
http://66.116.174.155/images/Buildings/skyline/evernia.jpg

Dale

February 21st, 2006, 04:28 AM

Good job, EBOSS !

By the way, I know I read somewhere that Opera Place would be a new tallest. What have you heard ?

Yes, it only has 26 stories to Trump's 33 ? I'm hoping for taller floor-to-ceiling heights.

renner01

February 22nd, 2006, 07:37 PM

Im pretty sure that is the whitney pictured above
http://www.thewhitneypb.com/home.htm
they have construction pics on the site also

shelleyfish

February 22nd, 2006, 08:23 PM

EBOSS, wonderful photos! Almost feels like I'm actually there....oh, wait, I am there quite a bit. I have only one minor complaint. ;)
Why did you take the picture of 610 from that angle? IMHO, it's one of the more unique condos architecturally downtown and I really like the photos I've seen of the front at the Clematis entrance. I'm waiting for that whole front area to be completed with its unique sculpture and fountain (so I've been told) and the ground level stores/businesses to open.

On a more serious note, no, I'm not moved in. There have been several false starts and delays in closing. Without going into much detail, there was a problem on my floor, and they didn't get their TCO which was due a couple of weeks ago. Now they are expecting it sometime this week and I hope to close and move next week. Fingers and toes crossed.

EBOSS

February 23rd, 2006, 01:46 AM

Yeah that is a pretty bad shot of 610. I was driving around and didnt stop and get out to get a good shot of the front of the building. I will be back down to WPB on Friday and I will get a better one and update my post. I hope you get to close next week like they said you would.

westpalmer

February 25th, 2006, 01:07 AM

Does anyone have any information on "The Avenue" project that was in front of West Palm's Planning and Review Committee in January? I believe it's a new project slated for the 501 block of South Dixie Hwy downtown. Thanks..............

ChuckScraperMiami#1

February 25th, 2006, 03:21 AM

Yes MIAballinboi, it is interesting building indeed, Built in the 80's, Never in the Book of Facts , 2006 World Almanac. This book has all the 400m feet plus towers , and all the 40 floors towers listed, But not the Tiara, its a beautiful tower there on Singer Island, Does anyone have a picture or a rendering of this lady tower .

shelleyfish

February 25th, 2006, 08:20 PM

You may be aware that the Tiara was severely damaged during Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004. There was a recent article in the PB Post about the continuing troubles of the building and its residents, but I can't find it so here is a website with an older article including a picture which shows the damage (picture can be enlarged).

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/local_news/epaper/2004/09/29/s1a_HIRISE_0929.html

Dale

February 25th, 2006, 09:08 PM

Any news on the 'tent site' ? I understand the mayor wanted to sell it, both to finance waterfront development, and to see an iconic tower built on the site.

renner01

March 21st, 2006, 04:58 PM

Here are some pics of development in wpb from last week
city palms u/c
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/jobImages/thumb_citypalms(2).jpg
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/constructionImages/thumb_citypalms(1).JPG
Harrick u/c
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/jobImages/thumb_harrick.jpg
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/constructionImages/thumb_harrick.JPG
cityplace u/c
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/jobImages/thumb_City_Plaza.jpg
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/constructionImages/thumb_cityplace.JPG The Imperial /hotel beluga - to be demolished soon i assume
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/constructionImages/thumb_hotelbeluga.JPG
OPERA PLACE - Somewhat u/c
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/jobImages/thumb_operalplace2.jpg
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/constructionImages/thumb_operaplace2.JPG
The Edge u/c - well underway no pics but up to 5th or 6th floor
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/jobImages/thumb_edge.jpg
palladio - nothing happening at the site just cornered off
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/jobImages/thumb_palladioterrace(1).jpg
barcelona square - nothing happening at the site
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/jobImages/thumb_barcelonasquare.jpg
CityPlace South Tower - has started site clearing
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/jobImages/thumb_cityplacesouthtower(1).jpg
city place office tower - has started site clearing
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/jobImages/thumb_PlazaView.jpg
few other jobs have their site cornered off with sales centers
eighty points
Icon palm beach - Rybovich Marina
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/jobImages/thumb_iconpalmbeaches.jpg
clarkes hotel - don't believe this will get out of ground - owner has gone through a couple of general contractors - the site is cleared but no action
http://www.guardianfire.com/tools/jobmanager/jobImages/thumb_clarkescondominium.jpg

Traveller0105

April 21st, 2006, 06:22 AM

On a more serious note, no, I'm not moved in. There have been several false starts and delays in closing. Without going into much detail, there was a problem on my floor, and they didn't get their TCO which was due a couple of weeks ago. Now they are expecting it sometime this week and I hope to close and move next week. Fingers and toes crossed.Have you moved in yet?

I am possibly interested in buying a condo in WPB, is this the proper forum/thread for getting information about condos in the area? I just discovered this website today :wave: and am a little confused about where to find information on West Palm Beach. Thanks!

ChuckScraperMiami#1

June 28th, 2006, 12:56 AM

SayHelloToMyLilFrein

July 12th, 2006, 08:22 PM

why doesent west palm beach get some taller buildings? :bash: no one thinks of palm beach as a poor area but the reality is have you seen the economy west of downtown? its a mess. very poor.There must be alot of haters there with alot of time on there hands stoping tall buildings from being built :bash: They are hurting the area not helping it. :bash: I think a more seroiuse and attractive downtown would help boost a much needed economy rise for west palm. :applause: look at the population of palm beach county its well over a million people.Whats up with such a small downtown. :bash: I mean there is bigger down towns in alaska :wtf: lol I mean come on its pretty rediculous to regulate the buildings to only 15 stories :bash: :dunno: :hahaha: .come on at least go to 40 stories.shoot whats wrong with 30 stories? lol

Kngkyle

August 2nd, 2006, 10:43 PM

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

The city issued an order for demolition of the 1515 Tower Tuesday after condo-owners failed to comply with a notice requiring them to repair long-standing hurricane damage.

The exterior walls of the waterfront high-rise at 1515 S. Flagler Drive are not securely attached, can't resist strong winds, and could endanger the entire area with flying debris, according to the unsafe building notice issued by the city's construction services department.

Unit-owners knew repairs were needed — they received a city notice saying so April 13 — but were holding out hope that Palm Beach businessman Thanos Papalexis would purchase the building and relieve them of responsibility. Papalexis ensured residents they didn't need to worry about the repairs, said Attorney William "Chip" Merlin, who is representing the owners' association in an insurance lawsuit.

But Friday marked the third time in a month that Papalexis failed to make good on his promise to come up with $56 million to buy all 119 units of the building that has been vacant since it was pounded by Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne two years ago.

"He said 'you don't need to do that, we'll take care of it," Merlin said. "That sale didn't go through and they were relying on it."

Unit-owners plan to submit an appeal to the city's construction board of adjustment and appeals, which will either grant an appeal or support demolition. They hired Slider Engineering Group and engineer Harold Sturm to prepare a plan that would bring the 30-story building up to the required safety level, Merlin said. That plan will be presented to the appeals board.

The cost of that work would be about $250,000 — money that will either be raised through a bridge loan, or if that fails, a special assessment fee for unit owners, said board president Hani Riad.

The cost of repairs would be added to an expensive list of debts already accrued by 1515: A $1.9 million payment was due to Colonial Bank on Monday but not paid, and another two payments — one for $2.8 million to a contractor and another for $1.9 million to Colonial — are due at the end of September, Riad said.

Daryl Cramer, an attorney who has been working for the condominium on the sales deal, has said he is negotiating a loan for about $8 million. It would allow the board to pay off its debts and avoid being forced to slap each unit owner with more than $60,000 in assessments.

Last week, he said he was hoping to get a 12-month loan with extensions. While negotiations could take a month, he said he was hopeful he can persuade Colonial not to begin foreclosure proceedings.

The loan would be repaid when the building is sold or when the board receives a settlement check from its insurance company.

Other condo lawyers are pursuing the condominium's $22 million lawsuit against QBE Insurance. Although experts say it will take $30 million to completely repair the building, QBE has refused to pay a dime toward repairs since 1515 was clobbered by hurricanes in 2004.

The demolition notice was just another blow to battle-weary owners who were already scared about their financial future. If the appeal is won, owners will still have to rely on a bridge loan, a sale of the property, or money from the QBE lawsuit to get them out of financial trouble. Barring those things, they would have to pay the costly special assessment.

"People are extremely distressed," Riad said. "We're talking about a lot of elderly people, basically fixed-income widows and widowers, and a $65,000 assessment after all they've been through will bankrupt a lot of people."

The condo has 15 days to file an appeal of the demolition decision.

"We are spiraling downwards, but we're still surviving," Riad said.

So now the 2nd tallest building in the city is set to be demolished!
Heres the only picture i could find of the building:
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/5805/f0001condo037fy2.jpg

brickell

October 13th, 2006, 09:55 PM

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-pwater13oct13,0,1962991.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

West Palm officials want to transform how people use downtown

By Sally Apgar
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted October 13 2006

Under West Palm Beach's new $22 million waterfront revitalization plan, the city library will be relocated, opening historic Clematis Street once again to Lake Worth and giving people access to a white sandy beach there for the first time since 1885.

City officials Thursday unveiled drawings of a project they hope, along with the nearby City Center, will make the downtown a draw to office workers by day and a new wave of condo dwellers and suburbanites by night and weekends.

"This is going to be a wonderful transformation, but it won't be a circus," said Mayor Lois Frankel, who has worked relentlessly to crown City Center and the revitalized waterfront as defining public monuments of her political reign.

The waterfront could be completed as early as 2009.

The City Center already is under construction several blocks west at Clematis and South Dixie Highway. It will house a new city hall, the relocated library and a photographic center.

The riverfront design, which has been reviewed by focus groups and some public meetings, won preliminary approval this week from city commissioners.

The waterfront plan will move the four lanes of Flagler Drive inland more than 135 yards to make space for bike and pedestrian paths and three piers with boat slips each jutting about 400 feet into the water.

"This isn't just a bunch of grass in a park. This is more and it will bring people," said Frankel's spokesman Chase Scott. The seawall, which is already being reinforced, will front a beach along the edge of Lake Worth.

Project manager Joan Goldberg, in presenting the plan, said the city is returning to Henry Flagler's idea of a "City Park."

Goldberg's laptop tour Thursday began with an area called "The Palm" that will border Centennial Park at the eastern end of Clematis on the site of the old library.

Envisioned as a 60-foot round stage edged with plants and waterfalls, the Palm will serve as a meeting place and also a theater in the round.

Facing the water, the "Great Lawn" will sprawl out before visitors with a crisscross of paths and grasses planted in wave formations in different colors and textures. The "Great Lawn" is seen as a place for people to walk and play Frisbee as well as a site for concerts and picnic dinners.

To the north of the Great Lawn lies the "North Clematis Arcade," an arm of tropical plantings that will include unusual water features, a visitors center that is intended to include a Ticketron outlet and some concession stands and pergolas in this instance a wooden trellis with a canvas cover that can be converted to booths for green markets or fairs.

To the south of the Great Lawn extends an arm of tropical plantings and patios called the "South Clematis Promenade," which, while more formal than the north Clematis side will have shaded terraces for sitting and pergolas.

The promenade will lead to the Lake Pavilion, a 3,000-square-foot structure designed with sweeping glass windows designed to be either an open-air or closed entertainment area to host corporate cocktail parties, weddings and even small, private bridge games.

Traffic signals will be installed along Flagler and speeds will be adjusted so that people can safely cross from the Grand Lawn to the waterfront.

Along the lake will be white sand beaches and a green area called "The Landing" that will be reserved for lawn games and a putting green. Bike and pedestrian paths will edge the lake in either direction.

Goldberg said that, to date, $15.5 million for the project will be paid through the Community Redevelopment Agency. Another $4.5 million is a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation.

Various phases of the project will go through an approval process with city commissioners over the next few months. The city already has approvals and permits to refortify the seawall and has the permits for dock spaces in hand.

Frankel said the designers of the waterfront project "really wanted to make it wow. But we took it down a few notches to keep it more natural."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/media/photo/2006-10/25882639.jpg