AT LAST: MIDTOWN DELRAY CONSTRUCTION BEGINS NEAR THE END OF THE YEAR

AT LAST: MIDTOWN DELRAY COMPLEX WILL SOON BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION  

The Real Deal confirms that construction of the mixed-use development called Midtown Delray Beach will start near the end of the year.  Included will be a mix of apartments, retail stores, office space and an underground parking garage.

Location is on Swinton Avenue south of Atlantic Avenue, covering two blocks in the Old Scool Square Historic District which recently got a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

2ND OLDEST HOME IN PALM BEACH BEING CONSIDERED BY LANDMARK COMMISSION FOR CHANGES

The second oldest home in Palm Beach, Duck’s Nest, has a proposal to demolish and rebuild it which is now postponed another month by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.  Location is 305 Maddock Way.  In February the commission ordered an independent review of the home by an engineer but none was done. Today an engineer will examine the property.

The proposal includes demolishing the 2-story home, enlarging the floor plan and adding a pool and 2-story garage. The decision has now been postponed for another month while the owners of the property, the Maddock Family, incur more expenses.

Midtown Delray Beach historic development close to approval with a few more changes

Version six of the plan for redeveloping two blocks of Swinton Avenue is close to fruition. Included in the plan are building an underground parking garage, offices, stores, restaurants, and apartments around the historic homes on the Swinton Avenue corridor.

Developer Hudson Holdings has redesigned and resubmitted the project multiple times over the course of two-and-a-half years based on feedback from residents, city leaders and historic preservationists — some of whom continue to fight the project. In six months developments will be reviewed.

Changes to the plan will include a maximum of four floors, aesthetics improved, and widths meeting city code. “I think there are a lot of elements of this plan that strike a balance between preservation and redevelopment,” Mayor Cary Glickstein said. Still some members of the city’s Historic Preservation Board want to reject the development, saying it is incompatible with the quaint historic corridor. Hudson Holdings will be hiring mostly local workers.

The Old School Square Historic District is under consideration for a position on the National Register of Historic Places. All homes on the southwest block of Atlantic and Swinton avenues will temporarily move while the underground parking garage is being constructed. The corridor will lose some of its mature trees and lush shrubbery, but many trees will be replanted in decorative pots above the concrete roof of the underground garage.

Progress does take time but improvements will make downtown Delray more attractive and updated.

This information was printed in the Palm Beach Post.

Courtesy of The Shiny Sheet

An Art Moderne architectural style Palm Beach apartment building, the first co-operative apartment building in Florida, was unanimously recommended by the Landmarks Preservation Commission to the Town Council for landmark protection.  This style was also called Streamline Moderne. Modern construction techniques and materials were used.  

It created a clear-cut distinction between old and new Palm Beach.

The four-story Lake Drive Apartments building was designed by midcentury architect Howard Chilton, a native Floridian, and is said to be his best and most effective building, and was completed in 1949. He built 15+ buildings and 700 single family houses in Palm Beach County. 

The style is a late type of Art Deco architecture sometimes emphasizing curving forms, long horizontal lines, low-relief stylized graphics, and nautical elements.  Nautical elements are featured in the balcony railings, porthole windows and sundeck design of this apartment building.  The building’s west façade directly overlooks the Lake Worth Lagoon and Town Docks. It is located at the corner of Lake Drive and Australian Avenue.

Constructed of concrete block surfaced with smooth stucco, it was built with two dozen apartments on three upper floors and a lobby, storage space and parking on the ground floor.

This style flourished in the 1930’s and 1940’s and was highlighted at the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago. Technology that arose after World War I was influential in this style developing.  Simple geometric forms and decorative details created a “less is more” standard.  A zoning law change in 1947 allowed hotels and apartments to be built in the Royal Park and Floral Park subdivisions. Previously only single family homes had been allowed.

One Commissioner said, “It just has a sort of rightness of place and time that I think is very appealing… a great deal of architectural integrity.  Another said, “To me, it’s perfection.”

One Royal Palm Way Condominiums was also built by Chilton and is pictured below.  His 300 South Ocean Boulevard apartment building is landmarked.  He participated in building the Palm Beach County Courthouse.

     Courtesy of newyorksocialdiary.com

HISTORIC AREA CHANGES ARE CHALLENGING!

We are watching these issues, with the knowledge that you cannot stop progress, though you can amend and change it somewhat.

Have you driven by the area and wished for changes?  Once a proposal to redevelop and build out the area has been confirmed, this will be the start of a renaissance in the area just east of I-95 and the areas to the west.  Delray Beach’s under-developed West Atlantic Avenue will see, sooner or later, many new projects. 

For the past four years, Hudson Holdings has proposed to redevelop and build out this important corner in Delray Beach that has aged.  The sixth revision to keep the residents who focus on historic preservation happy, has been proposed, was rejected by the Delray Beach city commission, and is under appeal.

The proposal prepares the way for some historic structures being demolished and rehabilitated, a few being relocated but remaining on the same block, and condominiums, stores, and an underground garage being created.  The city’s Historic Preservation Board does support a resurgence but says the proposal is too grandiose for the subtle historic district. Some of the city’s oldest structures are tucked behind lush landscaping.  One board member stated that “It’s losing that whole ambiance of a historic neighborhood”.  Others are pushing for a “moderning up” [editor’s words] of the area.  Nearby are the Public Library and Tennis Center stadium.

City leaders say that this redevelopment could bring “the most important renaissance of the next ten years in Delray Beach”. Everyone agrees that changes are due.  Many refer to the area as “blighted”.

Big changes are hard to come by and sometimes it is not possible to please everyone 100%, but Hudson Holdings has made many changes to please the objectors.  

126-YEAR OLD “DUCK’S NEST” HOME SUFFERS FROM “OLD AGE”

Needing to be demolished and reconstructed, “Ducks Nest” is located at 305 Maddock Way in Palm Beach, between North LakeTrail and North Lake Way on the Intracoastal Waterway side of The Island. The house is owned by the Maddock family. They have lived there since 1891.

One can “go to school” with this property to watch the steps that must be taken for similar homes needing rebuilding and reconstruction.

The original modular house was shipped by Henry Maddock from Long Island, by barge and train, as two portable frame houses that formed a modest 1-story home. At that time it was among ponds, marches, pineapple fields and coconut trees. The property is adjacent to the Old Bethesda Church. The 15-room house is supported by rough-hewn joists and rafters numbered for placement.  Porches, terraces, and distinctive rooflines are featured, with rooflines trimmed with scalloped barge boards.

The wild ducks that gave the name to Palm Beach’s oldest residence have vanished, but the home endures, needing many changes to be livable and up to code.

As The Island of Palm Beach seeks to grow with the times, more than 500 homes have been demolished in the last twenty years. This Maddock Way home has problems that include weather intrusion, water damage and structural deficiencies and the windows do not meet wind-resistance requirements.  

With building code and life safety issues, the owner’s plan is to demolish the wood frame walls and replace them with concrete-block walls. The plans are focused on staying as true as possible to the original concept. 

The current asphalt shingle roof would be replaced with same material; shingles currently are a fish-scale pattern. Wind-load glass would be installed to protect stained-glass windows.  A pool and changing room would be added to replace the existing garage to meet setback rules. A new 2-story garage would be built on the south side of the property, within the setback. 2000 sq ft will be added bringing the total to 6,000 sq ft.  

Expansions were made several times including alterations designed by John Volk in 1954.  It appears that permission to demolish a landmarked house is being sought and is favored by some landmarks commissioners, with an eye to preserving the charm of the house. 

“I have never seen a house with more charm or whimsical nature than this one,” said one of the Commissioners, and he also said, “I have never seen a house with such poorly constructed materials…. But it is the charm and its story that is historical, not the materials.”

CHANGES THEY ARE A-COMIN'!

Members of the Delray Historic Preservation Trust are still challenging Developer Steve Michael of Hudson Holdings plans for the corner of Atlantic and Swinton Avenues.  The plan is to rehabilitate and buildout part of the historic downtown district.  It would be “Caddy Corner to the Old School Square and Cornell Museum.

Tuesday there will be another discussion before a city board with Hudson Holdings hoping to gain public approval. Steve Michael said that they did everything possible and appreciated the feedback so they could create a better project.  They are keeping many historic structures in place.

Some of Delray Beach’s oldest structures are in the area being discussed, on Swinton south of Atlantic Avenue.  Hudson Holdings would rehabilitate and renovate those homes, build a hotel, stores and underground parking facility.

Delray Beach is a popular and interesting area for tourists and vacation home seekers, with focus on Atlantic Avenue from I-95 east to the beach and ocean. There are many historic homes in the area and professionals have purchased homes and made them into offices, improving the appearance of these homes and upgrading the neighborhoods while staying true to the original buildings as much as possible. 

Slowly the area is “modernizing, upgrading” and moving the appearance of downtown Delray into today’s world. It is not easy to change the appearance of an area to make everybody happy, but it would seem to bring new business space and other amenities to the area, new income to the city, and new residents. Renovated historic homes will be much more desirable for purchase.

The picture herein is with the courtesy of Hudson Holdings, to show what the development will look like.  There will be office space on the second floor. 

WITH FLORIDA STARTING TO BE SETTLED IN THE 1920’S, DESIGN ISSUES COME UP IN MANY CITIES

Currently, Lake Worth has issues re hurricane protection for historic homes. Not a new issue for Lake Worth, the owners of designated historic homes have been complaining to city officials.  There are problems replacing doors, roofs and windows relating to application approvals taking a long time.

This past week, the city commissioners unanimously passed an updated an ordinance relaxing the rules and making it easier to get hurricane protection but design guidelines will need to be put in place. The Historic Resources Preservation Board has expressed fears that these changes could jeopardize the city’s program and possibly its state certification. Rules are set by the state’s Department of Interior.

At the second reading a Commissioner stated, “I’m very excited about the design guidelines, but I’m also very concerned about the design guidelines.” “I’m concerned they’re not here. And why are we going out to get someone else to write our design guidelines? We have all this staff on board.” 

Yesterday The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach presented an interesting Historic Properties Workshop on, “Redevelopment in Historic Neighborhoods”. One Palm Beach resident, whose family owned a 1939 north end cottage for many years, went through the history of the property since it was built with 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, showing photos of various stages of development with additions and changes.

Examples of traditional and big box homes:

The Big Box designs vs traditional styles was discussed regarding St. Petersburg on Florida’s west coast. Photos were shown illustrating the traditional styles clashing with big box styles in predominately traditional neighborhoods, disturbing the homogeneous appearances. Some were next door to each other or across the street. 

The benefits of the historic tax credit were also discussed. Giving tax abatements for ten years when changes are approved, illustrates a reason a buyer might consider purchasing a historic home and doing renovations that are paid for by tax abatements.

Historic preservation is a subject dear to many residents’ hearts in various early-settled cities.

FLAGLER MUSEUM EXHIBIT “KNIGHTS OF THE AIR: AVIATOR HEROES OF WORLD WAR I”

The former home of railroad magnate Henry Flagler, “Whitehall,” America’s first museum, is a National Historic Landmark known as the Flagler Museum.  It was completed in 1902. Architectural style is Neoclassical and Beaux-Arts.

Take a guided tour and see the changing and special exhibits.  The Gilded Age Décor is elaborate and beautiful. Many original furnishings and art are in the building. It is located at One Whitehall Way in Palm Beach.

The exhibit depicting our WWI “swashbucklers in the skies” in the early days of aviation, runs through December 31, 2017.  This year is the 100^th anniversary of America’s 1917 entry into WWI.  Aviators were daring, patriotic, and adventurous.  Included will be works of art, artifacts, and printed materials, all on loan from the private collection of Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf.

Guided tours are available Wednesdays at 10:30 am and 3:30 pm. Museum admission is free to active duty, reserve, and retired US Military (with proper identification). Check out the illustrated lecture that will be presented to museum attendees on Saturday, November 11 at 11:30 and 2:30 pm. RSVP to 561-655-2833. The 1927 Hollywood film, “Wings,” tells the story. Enjoy the price fixed lunch ($22) at the Café des Beaux-Arts in the museum which reopens on Friday, November 24^th.

A series of lectures will cover WWI in more detail.  Take your children, especially teens, to learn about past history: “Learning about past history will help prevent making the same mistakes.”

For current brochure: https://www.flaglermuseum.us/. Museum Membership information can be found at https://www.flaglermuseum.us/membership/individual-membership and other memberships are available as well. For more information call 561-655-2833.  This is a popular site for weddings and special events.

UPDATE ON TESTA AREA GROWTH

We have to take the bad with the good.  The downtown Testa’s area will be a tough place to park for some time to come as the Frisbee group starts work on their forthcoming project.  Build-out is projected to be four years, with construction starting this coming October, and concerned folks want that reduced to two years. It was pointed out the Neiman Marcus' new building went up in two years.  New retail buildings will go up and condos, with an underground parking garage, and then life will be easier in the area, with new offerings, a favorite of many Palm Beachers.

Testa’s Restaurant opened in 1921 as a 13-seat soda fountain in the lobby of the old Garden Theater on Main Street, now Royal Poinciana Way and has grown and grown into a steady eaterie for Palm Beachers and visitors to the Island.

Parking and sidewalk access will present temporary problems. Other concerns are construction hours, lighting, security, pedestrian safety, traffic and other work-related issues. All agree it will be dusty and dirty for a while. Construction workers will park off the Island and be bused in.

Six buildings with retail on the ground floor will go up.  The second floor will have homes and there will be gardens, vias and courtyards.  A new restaurant is included and the underground parking garage. 

Once completed everybody will be/should be happy.

FAMOUS FATIO 1928 PALM BEACH ESTATE HOME GIVEN AWARDS

One of the most recognized properties along the ocean in Palm Beach is this 1928 residence, nicknamed “the ham and cheese house.” The Society Architect was Maurice Fatio.  It was the alternating horizontal bands of coral keystone and red brick on its facades that gave the property that nickname.

There are eight bedrooms and 16090 living sq ft.

The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach’s 2016 Ballinger Award for historically sensitive renovation was given to the property. Now The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation has bestowed a 2017 Meritorious Award on the property. It was given landmark protection in 1979.

Homeowners Penny and Marion Hugh Antonini spent two years renovating and restoring. The Antoninis’ renovation preserved original Fatio elements such as elaborately carved stonework, beamed-and-coffered ceilings and Cuban-tile floors. The project also lightened up the interiors with a modern color scheme of cream paired with light pinks, blues and greens.

A new kitchen, manufactured to specifications in Italy, was shipped to Florida and assembled on site. The roof was replaced, impact-resistant windows installed, and work was done on the swimming pool and beachfront cabana, reached through a tunnel under the coastal road. The central courtyard around which the house was designed was completely reworked.

New glass was installed in the living room’s carved-stone arched windows. As a result of an installation system devised through trial and error, the glass seems to disappear entirely so that the arches resemble an open cloister framing views of the ocean.

It remains a monument to the architecture and glamour of the 1920’s.

BERMUDA-STYLE REFRESHING HOUSE WINS SCHULER AWARD FROM PRESERVATION FOUNDATION

We, too, congratulate the winners of the annual Schuler Award from the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach that recognizes new architecture which builds upon the historical character of Palm Beach.

A Foundation trustee, James Berwind, had fond memories of Bermuda vacations and worked with his good friend Architect Tom Kirchoff, a Foundation member to design this home with a look as if it has been in this spot forever and is true to Bermudian-style.

Details of the architecture include scalloped roof gables, tall chimneys with decorative caps, cut stone roofs, stepped ziggurats, dormer windows, coral keystone steps, wall niches, built-in bookcases and a gondola-style dock. Gardens are terraced, and a front pavilion offers a welcoming glow.  Exterior is white.

Berwind says he liked the fact that the Bermuda-style houses didn’t look intimidating. They weren’t trying to impress anyone. He said that they always looked like a kid drew them and the design stays true to that nature, as elegant as it is.

Amanda Skier, executive director of the Preservation Foundation, notes that “the rambling nature of the property … achieves the same feeling of organic development that (noted society architect) Addison Mizner strove for in each of his designs.”  They also built a detached 4-bedroom guest house that is separate from the main house.

The dramatic lakefront site has beautiful gardens too.  There are 9200 living sq ft and the covered loggia adds another 1600 living sq ft.

 Dedicated to animal-rights and pet-adoption causes, fundraisers can be held at the house for as many as 200 guests. It is truly a house to love, feel comfortable in, and enjoy.

MANHATTAN TOWNHOUSE ONCE OWNED BY PRESIDENT MARTIN VANBUREN ON MARKET-FIRST TIME IN 53 YEARS

·       4 STORIES, 20’WIDE, 3680 LIVING SQ FT;  60’ BACK FROM STREET

·   GROUND FLOOR: DINING ROOM WITH FIREPLACE AND BAY WINDOW, POWDERROOM, KITCHEN AND CIRCULAR STAIRCASE GOES TO PARLOR FLOOR

·       LIVING ROOM FACES FRONT OF HOUSE, HIGH CEILINGS, THREE LARGE WINDOWS, FIREPLACE

·       WOOD-PANELED LIBRARY FACES BACK OF HOUSE, HAS BAY WINDOW, FIREPLACE, COFFERED CELINGS

 ·       TWO BEDROOMS WITH ATTACHED BATHROOMS ON SECOND FLOOR

·       THIRD FLOOR HAS TWO MORE BEDROOMS CONNECTED BY AN OFFICE WITH FIREPLACE

·       LOCATION:  50 East 38^th Street in Murray  Hill

·       $4,100,000

“XANADU 2.0” IS AWESOME

·       Costing $60MM, it took seven years to build; Bill Gates also bought several surrounding houses for about $14.4MM.  The home has 24 bathrooms. Annual property tax is over $1MM.

·       Pool measures 60’x17’ and has a fossil-motif floor and underwater music system.  Locker room has 4 showers and 2 baths. Dive into the pool and you can come up by an outdoor terrace, going under a glass wall. Fitness gym is 2500 sq ft;  trampoline room has 20’ ceiling.   There is an elevator, but if you are into fitness, set your fitbit and head up or down the 84 steps from the entrance to the ground floor.

·       1000 sq ft dining room seats 24. 150 people can be fed dinner or 200 can be at a cocktail party in the 2300 sq ft reception hall.  Guests receive a pin that interacts with room sensors and can change to your preference the temperature, music and lighting.  This was built in 1995.

·      Guest house has 1 bedroom, 1 bath and is 1900 sq ft.

·       The grounds include an artificial stream and wetland estuary stocked with salmon and sea-run cutthroat trout. The sand on the lake bank is imported from warmer sandier climates, perhaps Hawaii.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS VALUABLE PROPERTY WILL BECOME A HISTORIC HOME IN DUE TIME