PALM BEACH DOUBLES NUMBER OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES IT COULD LANDMARK in 2014-2015

The Landmarks Preservation Commission safeguards the Town of Palm Beach’s historic and cultural resources through its landmarked structures and historic districts. 

In 1979, in order to preserve the Town of Palm Beach’s historic resources, a Historic Preservation Ordinance was adopted to study and protect Palm Beach’s most significant architectural achievements to ensure that Palm Beach’s heritage would not be lost for future generations.  The ordinance has been amended several times to clarify the purpose of the ordinance and its requirements.  Currently, there are 284 landmark properties, sites and vistas.

The Town Council has, in the past, budgeted for research by preservation consultants at $50,000, which allowed them to complete about 10 designation reports per season.  That figure has now risen to $100,000 to allow more reports to be done.

There are four criteria used to justify designating a property as a town landmark.  This season the Landmarks board will study seven properties

Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach Executive Director, Alexander Ives, asked the board to study the Clarence Mack-designed Regency-style homes in Regent Park, south of the Bath & Tennis Club, and Parc Monceau, in the south end.  The board is considering designating the two groups of houses as historic districts.  The designation season is from November through April and along with the list below two properties researched last season will be considered.  They are 177 Clarendon Avenue and 1545 North Ocean Way.

Noting that a landmarked home at 105 Clarendon Avenue had project managers who allowed sections of the home to be demolished without permission, the advisory board is considering policy changes that would better protect landmarked properties.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission will review these properties this season:

A circa-1919 Mission-style building at 255 Royal Poinciana Way

A circa-1923 Neo-Classical style building at 211 Royal Poinciana Way

A 1927 John Volk-designed Mediterranean-Revival at 233 Clarke Ave.

A 1919 Dutch Colonial (architect unknown) at 133 Seaspray Ave.

A 1928 Tudor-style building designed by Clark J. Lawrence at 311 S. County Road

A 1934 Treanor and Fatio-designed British Colonial at 17 Middle Road,

A 1924 Mediterranean-Revival at 189 Bradley Place.

To check out the Landmark Manual go to http://townofpalmbeach.com/DocumentCenter/View/1010
It includes

• Registers of Historic Places
• Important dates in the Town’s History
• Architectural History and Styles
• Standards of Preservation, Rehabilitation, Restoration and Reconstruction

LOCAL "TASTE HISTORY CULTURAL TOURS OF HISTORIC PALM BEACH" PROVIDES HISTORY, ART, CULTURE AND TRAVEL INFO

This multi-cultural culinary tour is for history buffs and foodies.  The Culture Trip, an international news agency cited this tour among their Florida’s 10 Best Food Festivals and Fiestas.   TripBuzz ranked this tour as #7 out of 118 nearby activities.  South Beach Wine and Food Festival and the Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival recognize this tour.

Visit 3 to 4 restaurants for hearty food tastings and trips to historic districts, unique restaurants, historic buildings, art districts and art galleries.  

Areas toured include Northwood Village/West Palm Beach; Lake Worth and Lantana; Delray Beach and Boynton Beach and private tours can be arranged. These local tours are available year-round and go on, rain or shine.

These guide-narrated 4-hour tours are done by bus for 15-20 people.  In Delray Beach, it’s early history is described from its first Midwest founders, William Linton and David Swinton, to early landowners including Henry Flagler and William and Sara Gleason.

Some eating experiences are standing-only.  Dietary restrictions and substitutions cannot be provided.  Some eateries are cafes, restaurants, bakeries, pastry shops, markets, food stands, an urban farm, historic buildings, cultural centers and art galleries.  See their facebook page for pix.

Tours are held on 2^nd, 3^rd and4th Saturdays at 11 a.m.  There is about 4-6 blocks of walking.  Tours travel through historic districts and neighborhoods.  Each tour varies its stops. 

Pre-payment of $40 per person is required; children under 18 are free when accompanied by an adult, but you must call to verify that space is available.  After February 15, 2015, the new tour rate will be $45 per person for Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth and Lantana; $50 per person for West Palm Beach as bus rental and insurance fees have gone up. 

Tours board at Macy’s outside east entrance at the Boynton Beach Mall in Boynton Beach.  The tours are sponsored partly by Macy’s, famous for its culinary tools department, and discounts are given to trip participants.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE LANDMARKED STATUE OF LIBERTY BECOMING A CONDO CONVERSION sez THE REAL DEAL

As a condo conversion, it would be hard to find the privacy, security and exclusivity plus the historic feeling and water views... and it is a landmark!

The article states that parking will be featured at the base of the statue along with high-end retail stores, a five star restaurants and maids quarters.  Affordable housing would be limited.  Applicants just have to pass the reasonable credit check.

See more including layout of condos and prices at: http://therealdeal.com/blog/2014/10/12/what-if-
the-statue-of-liberty-was-condo-conversion/#sthash.SFI2GuqF.dpuf

(THIS IS A SATIRE BUT CLICK THE LINK TO SEE THE 

IDEAS FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE STATUE) 

GREAT PLACES IN AMERICA NAMES WEST PALM BEACH’S HISTORIC CLEMATIS STREET IN TOP TEN BEST AMERICAN STREETS

Since the 1890’s, Clematis Street has been the commercial district for Palm Beach County.  Initial surveyors and engineers for Henry Flagler’s East Coast Railroad (1893) planned the area’s configuration.  Since 1990 it has been a two-way street.  The 500 block is listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1996.  A waterfront park and pavilion connects the waterfront to Clematis Street.  From the park you can walk the waterfront and admire the really big boats docked there. Since 2009, there is a new library and city hall complex.

Locals and visitors are drawn to the street with festivals, annual events and concerts.  Catch the trolley that connects CityPlace, train and bus stations, Palm Beach Atlantic University and downtown West Palm Beach.  Some call it, “Main Street,” and “the entertainment center of West Palm Beach”, a living room, where people relax, have fun, shop, dine and do business.  There are antique shops to browse, colorful boutiques to find that one-of-a-kind item, nightclubs, a movie plex and some upscale stores and restaurants nearby. Have a drink and dine at Bradleys across from the Intracoastal Waterway and enjoy crowd watching.  Architecture is authentic and eclectic, evolving over the last century, including every era and style. 

Historic buildings abound with shops and restaurants on the ground floors of historic buildings.  On higher floors you can find startups, small tech companies, and artists.  Residents’ non –traditional work schedules activate and energize the street, often in the later hours. Some retailers have been there for 100 years.  Drop in to Segway Tours, “the best way to see the area”, and voted # 1 by Trip Advisor of 24 West Palm Beach Activities.  Rent a self-balancing “Personal Transporter,” a motorized “scooter” that changes direction by leaning that way.  Modern dance clubs and health food emporiums are included.  “Clematis by Night” offers a fountain-side concert series, food art and children’s activities.  .  After browsing an art gallery, sit outside and have coffee or wine and cheese.  “SunFest,” the annual boat show and “Corvettes on Clematis” are well attended events with the area drawing about 80,000 visitors a week.

Nearby places to enjoy are The Kravis Center where top stars perform, the Convention Center with art, antiques and jewelry shows, and lots of interesting street browsing.  The area encompasses 5 blocks from Flagler Drive to Rosemary Avenue.

Next time you are looking to have fun, head over to Clematis Street!