8/25/2013

HISTORIC WELL-TRAVELED CAMINO REAL BOCA RATON BRIDGE NEEDS HELP




Built in 1939, the Camino Real Bridge in Boca Raton is in need of repairs and/or replacement.  This double-leaf rolling lift bridge is a historic landmark, on the County Registry of Historic Places and eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

There are limits to what one can do.  It can be renovated, but not rebuilt.   No other county bridge has its historical designations.  It spans the intracoastal waterway west of the Boca Resort Beach Club and One Thousand Ocean, and east of the Bridge Hotel.  Maximum weight on the bridge has been lowered from 36 to 30 tons.  Its travel lanes and sidewalks need to be widened.  Guardrails are obsolete.  Bridge tender house needs to be replaced and moved from the south to the north side of the bridge.  

Many of these conditions cause the bridge to fail to meet current Florida Department of Transportation standards.  Any improvements need to pass local and state historical organizations.  A $6MM rehabilitation project may start in 2015.  The Flagler Bridge in West Palm Beach was built in 1938 and the state is replacing it now.  There are seven other similar older bridges in Florida.

8/24/2013

87 YEAR OLD NYC PENTHOUSE FOR SALE





Built in 1927, a 7-room 2-story duplex located in 133 East 64th Street, “between Park and Lex” in the Lenox Hill section, is on the market.  It features 11’ ceilings and 4000 living sq ft. There is a wrap-around terrace with lovely Central Park views from the 12th floor. Style is neo-classic.  The building is a “white glove cooperative.”


 The Chef’s kitchen has terra cotta tile floors, white cabinets, high end stainless steel appliances and counters, and a  walk-in pantry.  Staff quarters are adjacent.  Four elaborately carved marble fireplaces and a greenhouse extension add to the list of features.  The greenhouse extension is a breakfast room seating six, facing the east terrace. 





An elevator opens directly into the 14’x12’ foyer.  Off the foyer is a red granite powder room with a window.  The formal dining room has two pairs of French doors leading to a landscaped terrace.  The 27’x16’ living room with French doors opening to a 36’x15’ terrace with glimpses of Central Park.  Note the Palladian windows, hand carved moldings, herringbone wood floor and fireplace. 




Private living quarters on the 11th floor are reached by an elliptical staircase with undulating matchstick railing.





The master suite includes a fireplace, decorative silver-leaf ceilings, two his-and-hers walk-in closets, and “her” bathroom in white marble with Jacuzzi bath and glass shower in the corner plus “his” with black granite throughout.  There are two more bedrooms.



The wood-paneled library has custom millwork.





List price is $17.250MM.  The unit was purchased for $8MM in 2010 from the US government for compensation for victims as it was formerly owned by the Madoffs.


8/22/2013

NEW TAX BREAKS MAY SOON BE AVAILABLE FOR HISTORY BUFFS WILLING TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE


BOCA RATON city staff members are working on and ordinance with incentives for properties designated as historic.  If City Council approves, owners wouldn't have to pay city or country taxes for ten years on any value added improvements they do.

There is available $100,000 in federal money for Florida to help preserve historic homes and neighborhoods.


8/07/2013

A FRAME - HISTORIC HOME - MOVE IN READY!



Looking for an AFrame style house?  Let me show you one in a historic district in West Palm Beach, near all the downtown "go to's".  Shabby chic design.  List price: $379,000, no HOA, no restrictions.  

2179 living sq ft with 2 bedrooms, 1 bath PLUS separate building with bedroom and bath, 880 living sq ft.

Move right in - new a/c, new cabinets and counters, stainless steel appliances, new landscaping, fence, windows and French doors.  Built in 1935.  CHARMING!

Call Marilyn at 561-638-9818 to see the property.