NEW HISTORIC DISTRICT A TIME TO CELEBRATE - Reprinted from the Palm Beach Daily News (“Shiny Sheet”)

By ALEXANDER IVES, PRESIDENT OF THE PALM BEACH PRESERVATION FOUNDATION

It is a big time of celebration for historic preservation in Palm Beach. Palm Beach has its first new Landmark Historic District in 25 years!

 

On May 13, the Town Council unanimously ratified the recommendation of the Landmarks Preservation Commission to make Regents Park a historic district. Of the five properties that make up Regents Park, none (of the owners) submitted objection or opposition of the designation to the Town of Palm Beach.

This was the culmination of a process begun by the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach when, at the Sept. 17, 2014, Landmarks Preservation Commission, we requested the board review for consideration the Clarence Mack-designed Regents Park area as a historic district.

Regents Park is not only notable as the first historic district in 25 years for Palm Beach. It is also one of the few landmarks of the post-war area, its construction having been completed in 1959. As well, it is the work of Mack, whose work is under-represented among landmark properties. Mack lived in 400 Regents Park for over 20 years.

The last time a Landmark Historic District was created in Palm Beach was June 11, 1990. It was the Town Hall Square district and that too had been the result of efforts by the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach.

Regents Park becomes the seventh historic district in the Town of Palm Beach, the others being Phipps Plaza (landmarked on May 4, 1982), Via Mizner (landmarked on April 12, 1983), the Coral Cut (landmarked on April 2, 1987), the Flagler Bridge (landmarked on March 14, 1989), the Royal Park Bridge (landmarked on March 14, 1989), and as previously mentioned, Town Hall Square.

Historic districts are relatively rare as Palm Beach’s preservation policy has been generally to consider things individually and go property by property.All in all, this is a sign of great forward movement for historic preservation in the town.

I just returned last week from the annual Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Conference, which was held in Miami. Things do not go so well in other communities. We are truly lucky here to have the great works of architecture and design, to have and have had the talented designers and professionals, and to have the passion and support of the public for historic preservation and quality design.

The cause of preservation is not only about the past but also that place between the present moment and timelessness. We do not move backward. Rather we move forward, recognizing the potent opportunities preservation offers us for tomorrow.

Regents Park has just become one of those opportunities. What will tomorrow bring?

It is a big time of celebration for historic preservation in Palm Beach. Palm Beach has its first new Landmark Historic District in 25 years!

On May 13, the Town Council unanimously ratified the recommendation of the Landmarks Preservation Commission to make Regents Park a historic district. Of the five properties that make up Regents Park, none (of the owners) submitted objection or opposition of the designation to the Town of Palm Beach.

This was the culmination of a process begun by the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach when, at the Sept. 17, 2014, Landmarks Preservation Commission, we requested the board review for consideration the Clarence Mack-designed Regents Park area as a historic district.

Regents Park is not only notable as the first historic district in 25 years for Palm Beach. It is also one of the few landmarks of the post-war area, its construction having been completed in 1959. As well, it is the work of Mack, whose work is under-represented among landmark properties. Mack lived in 400 Regents Park for over 20 years.

The last time a Landmark Historic District was created in Palm Beach was June 11, 1990. It was the Town Hall Square district and that too had been the result of efforts by the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach.

Regents Park becomes the seventh historic district in the Town of Palm Beach, the others being Phipps Plaza (landmarked on May 4, 1982), Via Mizner (landmarked on April 12, 1983), the Coral Cut (landmarked on April 2, 1987), the Flagler Bridge (landmarked on March 14, 1989), the Royal Park Bridge (landmarked on March 14, 1989), and as previously mentioned, Town Hall Square.

Historic districts are relatively rare as Palm Beach’s preservation policy has been generally to consider things individually and go property by property.

All in all, this is a sign of great forward movement for historic preservation in the town.