In 1979, in an effort to save the Town of Palm Beach’s historic resources, the Town Council adopted a Historic Preservation Ordinance. (Palm Beach Code, Chapter 54, Historic Preservation, Section 54-36), to study and protect Palm Beach’s most significant architectural achievements, ensuring that the heritage of Palm Beach would not be lost for future generations.
The new owner of the 1960 house at 144 Wells Road wants to have the house demolished to make way for a British Colonial house. It was designed by acclaimed Mid-Century Modern architect Alfred Browning Parker, who was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. The demotion request was sent to the Architectural Review Commission and the Town Council, and brought outcries from preservationists who feel the property is an "architectural gem" as it is. The Commission is now considering giving the property a landmark designation, even though the Town Attorney has cautioned that i could leave the town open to a lawsuit. Parker has offered to renovate the property, but the owner indicated he is not interested.
The Commissioners are also studying the possibility of giving two other properties landmark designations. They are 958 North Lake Way, designed in the mid 1970's by Modernist architect Richard Meier, and 977 North Ocean Boulevard, a 1965 John Volk British Colonial.
The Historic Preservation Ordinance directs the appointment by the Town Council of a Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), comprised of seven members, six of whom must be Town of Palm Beach residents. The Commission meets monthly to identify significant structures, subject them to a set of objective criteria, and designate the most worthy as landmarks of the Town of Palm Beach. Properties are then proposed for designation. The staff studies the issue for later discussion at a public hearing. At the public hearing, the LPC votes on whether or not to recommend to the Town Council that the building under consideration be designated a Landmark of the Town of Palm Beach. The Landmarks Commission’s recommendation must then be ratified by the Town Council.
To be worthy of landmark status, a building must have an important historical association, or be an outstanding example of architectural design, or the significant work of a notable architect or master craftsman. The LPC also reviews changes and alterations to existing Landmark properties, issues Certificates of Appropriateness for work to be done, and oversees the Town’s Tax Abatement program. There are 246 properties, sites and vistas currently protected under the Historic preservation Ordinance of the Town of Palm Beach.
Undergoing renovations for the past three years, the building houses the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History museum and is filled with exhibits (some interactive) relating to the history of Palm Beach County. The restoration project, begun in January 2004, reused original materials including limestone, granite, exterior windows, marble wainscot, mosaic floor tiles, wood flooring, doors, trim and hardware. 67% of the original exterior bricks were used. 76 original windows were used and 37 impact windows were custom designed to match. All original columns & capitals were used; column weight including plinth block is 30,600 lbs and support the portico roof above them. Base is granite. 95% of mosaic floor tiling is original and 215 sq ft of matching mosaic tiles were salvaged and used. 28 sets of original doorknob hardware were salvaged and installed on original and new doors of courtroom and main restored corridors. 1000+ sq ft of original maple wood flooring was found In the courtroom, removed and reinstalled in the east end of the courtroom and refinished. Matching maple wood flooring was installed to complete restoration of the courtroom floor. Designated as a Palm Beach County historic site on September 27, 2005, the building is located at 300 North Dixie in West Palm Beach. In 1916, one year after Palm Beach County was formed from Dade County, its population was 5,577 and Broward County did not yet exist. A land sale boom period was in effect and real estate was sold at roadside offices and tents from Boca Raton to Ft. Pierce. Property values back then doubled and then tripled. Railroads and ships could not keep pace with the demand for building materials. Hotels began going up on the west side of the intracoastal waterway and the Palm Beach County market opened to middle income families who could not afford to stay in hotels on the island. The Grand Opening for the Restored Courthouse was held on March 15, 2008.
Did you know that income generated by Historic property is eligible for a 20% federal tax credit for rehabilitation costs and federal grants MAY be available, e.g. for a new roof or cracked foundation? Historic properties are known as “houses with character,” and renovations may be needed. “Places worthy of preservation” are listed among 78,000 homes, with 1500 new ones added each year to the National Register of Historic Places. If you own or purchase a home associated with historic trends, a historically significant person or type of construction or architecture, or in a neighborhood that is one of the oldest in your city, it may be considered a historic property, and thereby worth more than otherwise. Anyone can submit a nomination as long as the property’s owner consents, and once on the register, it is there to stay. The property’s history must be researched an included in the nomination and sent for review to your state’s historic preservation office. After state approval it is reviewed by an advisory committee and then sent to Washington, DC for review by the National Register. Check with your local government before making any exterior or interior changes. Costs can be higher and it can take more time to “stay true to the original period.” Doors and windows may need to be custom made, brick matched, and fixtures replicated. Some original period items you will want to do without such as drafty windows, sparse bathrooms and kitchens, lead paint and coal-guzzling furnaces!
Dubbed “the most original and earliest remaining residential work of Palm Beach’s signature architect” by Historian Augustus C. Mayhew, this well-preserved 1919 Addison Mizner oceanfront Mediterranean villa on the island’s North End, recently came on the market for $30-MM. The multi-story 13,500 sq ft residence sits on a 1.5 acre tract with 150 feet of beach frontage. There are 10 bedrooms, 5 full and two half-baths, four fireplaces, a guest house, cabana, swimming pool, tennis court and three-car garage along with extensive gardens. Stairs and windows frame new spaces at each corner and there are beautiful ocean views. There are pecky cypress ceilings, original blue octagonal tile floors and walls in the upstairs master bedroom, and a “Scheherazade” stairway. Smaller in scale than some built during the mid-1920’s, it was landmarked in 1980, it is one of the less than 30 Mizner houses still standing on the island. The house has been owned for more than 50 years by descendants of Marie Louise Wanamaker Munn.
Villa des Cygnes – “House of Swans” – built in 1922, has been restored by Walter and Cathleen McFarlane Ross. The residence is stunning and significant. The view from across Lake Worth shows it’s prominent façade rising right from the water that laps at its foundation. Brick paved walkways and beautiful colorful tropical plantings abound. The formal living room features a fireplace with elaborately carved mantle and French-style chairs. Cathleen and her late husband, Norris McFarlane, bought the house in 1986 when it was in disrepair due to misguided renovations and neglect. There were 5 kitchens and 11 bathrooms. She hired Jeffrey W. Smith, AIA, who had studied Mizner’s work. Mizner was already acclaimed for his first Palm Beach commission, The Everglades Club’s building down the avenue, and then built this home and also the Venetian-style Casa de Leone, nearby. Catherine saw that walls were carefully taken down and fireplaces and skylights restored or replaced. Only one original Mizner room remains completely intact, a guest bathroom. During construction, a staircase that had been walled in during a previous renovation was discovered, and restored. The house has pecky-cypress paneling, Austrian paneling, French Doors, and many other Mizner-like features. History has been elegantly revived and magically transformed!
Built in British Colonial style in 1938, this elegant Pelican Lane home fell into disrepair when found by Drs. Daniel and Judith Doctor back in 2000. Judith Doctor appreciated the repeated arched doorways with views of the ICW, louvered shutters, fanlight above the front door, and stepped chimney, all typical of Volk’s work. Working with builder John Mitchell, the house became what Judith calls, “a graceful beauty.” Volk had designed the house for Chester Kroger on a lakefront site a few blocks south of Worth Avenue. Judith added metal openwork gates to the courtyard and a fountain. She reinterpreted the bricks behind the fountain with the art deco influence that Volk incorporated into the chimney. Faux painting in a creamy color decorates the foyer walls. Original random-width oak planks are throughout, on the floors. The fanlight repeats above the living room door. French doors abound, some are arched on top. There are dentil moldings in the living room and columns separating formal living space from the loggia. Floors are limestone. Judith designed a recessed mahogany china cabinet for the dining room. The kitchen features wood wainscoting, white oak floors, oak cabinetry and a central island with black-granite countertops. The kitchen has a cathedral wood ceiling which Judith says, “reminds me of a boat.” There is a large rectangular pool over looking the intracoastal waterway. There are 5 bedrooms and 5 baths, 5685 sq ft. The house is currently listed for sale for $17.95MM.
Located in the heart of historic downtown Delray Beach, and one mile from the fabulous beach at the end of Atlantic Avenue, the Sundy House is a boutique inn listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This secluded retreat is nestled within an acre of stunning tropical gardens. The Victorian inn’s 11 luxurious guest accommodations feature sumptuous décor and modern amenities. Sundy House hides within an acre overflowing with 500 tropical plant species. In every corner, you'll discover unique details: a bed suspended in air, a sunset painted on the ceiling, red-cork wallpaper, and blue suede walls. Swim with turtles and angelfish in the naturally filtered swimming pond. Venturing away from this self-contained wonderland only brings more pleasures, like snorkeling or windsurfing in the southern Atlantic, minutes away. Stay for Sundy's Sunday brunch, a lavish affair with everything from eggs Benedict made with Florida lobster to raspberry ham with mango cole slaw. Doubles from $175; 561-272-5678 Experience the award-winning Sundy House Restaurant, the elegant Roux Bamboux Lounge. Just 20 minutes from Palm Beach International Airport and one hour north of Miami, our superb location is easy to reach whether for business or pleasure. The Sundy House is mere steps from shopping, dining and cultural events, in a serene setting in which art, history and culture merge. Complimentary transportation to beach/downtown where life is GOOD and ACTIVE. Other awards include: The New York Post – “Florida’s Top 50 Hotels and Resorts;” Travel + Leisure – “Top 30 Inns in the U.S;” Palm Beach Post – “Best Brunch and Most Romantic Restaurant;” South Florida Parenting – “Best Romantic Getaway.”
Verification and Documentation explain the difference. Pre-Qualification is based on information provided by the buyer whereas Pre-Approval is given after receipt of copies of bank account statements, income proof (pay stubs) and income tax returns; other information may be requested as well. Neither are considered a mortgage commitment, but the more detailed Pre-Approval is preferred by sellers. Pre-Qualification requires the borrowers name, address, phone number, date of birth and social security number with permission to do a credit check. Questions may be asked about annual income and what down payment the borrower can make. A letter is issued with an estimate of the amount of a mortgage for which the borrower can be approved, based on documentation verification, which may be described in the letter. The letter will also include a disclaimer, e.g., “subject to verification of employment (2 years of work history) / assets / credit review / charge card statements / mortgage underwriting guidelines” and the prevailing interest rate, which can be “locked in.” This serves temporarily as confirmation to a seller that a buyer appears to be able to afford to purchase their property. Underwriting criteria may include credit scores, work history, verification of income, qualifying income ratios, verification of where down payment will come from (e.g., brokerage or bank account or gift), cash reserves after closing. There may be information that has a negative impact on mortgage approval, including a borrowed down payment, inconsistent work history, unreported “cash” income, not enough assets for closing costs, and other issues.
Ever wondered about the value of that pretty clock that has been in your shelf for years? Bring your antique clocks to the Cornell Museum, Old School Square, Delray Beach, between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. for an informal evaluation by NAWCC members who are participating in the exhibit, Timekeeping through the Ages. For more information go to www.oldschool.org and see special events.
One of the nation’s priciest residences, Harold Vanderbilt’s Villa di Venezia, the 1929 Italian Renaissance mansion at 1100 South Ocean Boulevard in Manalapan, went on the auction block and was bought by mortgage holder, New Stream Capital, on the steps of the courthouse, for $22-MM. New Stram will put the property back on the market to recoup its investment. The 20,000 sq ft Maurice Fatio home was sold to Randolph Hearst by Mel and Bren Simon for $29.87-MM in 2000, a record sale for Florida at that time. Hearst died 6 months later and his widow, Veronica, was left the house but did not have the money to maintain it. Veronica Hearts paid for property taxes, renovations, etc. by borrowing millions of dollars against the home’ value, selling 150 feet south of the property for $6.2MM.
Chief Economist for National Association of Realtors, Lawrence Yun, said the market appears to be stabilizing. He noted mortgage interest rates are near historic lows, decelerating price declines, and a modest reduction in the number of homes on the market. NAR President Richard Gaylord said that Congress should expand its efforts to provide affordable finances and suggested raising the limit on conforming loans to help credit-worthy buyers in hard-hit regions such as FL and CA by greatly increasing access to low-interest-rate mortgages. Perhaps now we begin to see a light at the end of the tunnel in the housing market. Editor’s note: Perhaps the best buys will be made between now and early summer, and then “only the pickings” will be left in market inventory. With a national election coming up, perhaps the economy WILL improve and right now the perception is that the economy depends on the rise and fall of home sales across the country.
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Recently, an antebellum plantation mansion, Bocage Plantation, in Darrow, LA, 60 miles west of New Orleans, was auctioned. List price was $5,500,000. 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 7400 sq ft on 110 acres. The architect was James Dakin, and it is an 1837 Greek Revival redesign of an 1801 house. Dakin designed the University of Louisiana in New Orleans, and added marble floors and 16-foot ceilings to the house. The parlor was used in a 1974 civil rights drama, “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. There is a 1350 sq ft caretaker’s house and equipment barn. The home is on the Mississippi River, which hugs the levee and is known for its “Old South” estates. Household goods, including antebellum armoires and crystal valued at about $750,000 were also up for sale.
Friends, Polly and Carl Terry, recently visited Natchez, Mississippi, and here are some of the photos they took of the magnificent Plantations that have stood the "test of time." These are The Rosalie (built 1820-1823), Stanton Hall (built in 1857), Melrose (built in the 1840's) and Auburn (built in 1812). You can see the architectural similarities... pillars, windows, triangular facades above the pillars, some with ornaments. While this blog is devoted to Historic Homes in Florida, these are so pretty that I'm including these stately antebellum homes for the readership to see.
