VENICE: GLORIOUS ARCHITECTURE THEN, EVEN MORE GLAMOUROUS NOW

ALL seats spoken for at Preservation Foundation’s Venice evening.  “Summertime was shown but the real stars were the buildings, wall murals, exquisite tile work & statues. 

 
If you have been to Venice, or not, “Summertime” takes you there like it is. The first short showed the gondolas and ferries in fast motion, and made us wonder how there were no accidents on the Grand Canal.  The movie was most romantic and highly scenic.

 
The Foundation building at 311 Peruvian Avenue in downtown Palm Beach is a work of art itself, and worthy of your study.  The appropriateness of the movie for our crowd echoed the mission of the Foundation. 

 
Over 30 years, the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach has

• given millions of dollars for the preservation and restoration of historic properties
• worked advocating for over 290 landmark properties
• recognized numerous architects, owners, and properties with awards
• educated hundreds of thousands of children about the architectural, cultural and environmental legacy of Palm Beach
• saved thousands of archival documents in its library, among many other accomplishments.

It is awesome to preserve historical treasures for future study and enjoyment. 

GRAND OLE' GULFSTREAM HOTEL IN LAKE WORTH GETTING A NEW LIFE

A historic building on the National Register of Historic Places has been involved in a long-running foreclosure lawsuit.  Sitting at the west end of the Lake Worth Bridge, the hotel looks forlorn when you drive by, with memories of wonderful meals there. 

The 106-room hotel, built in 1923, reportedly defaulted on a loan for $16.7MM.This is the only remaining Grand Hotel of Palm Beach’s “Roaring 20’s” era.

New owners say that the historic façade will remain as is.  They are looking for a top-notch restauranteur and a brand to manage the hotel.  Rooms and the interior will be upgraded but no architect has been selected yet.  The deal included two vacant acres, and plans have not yet been made for what to build on that land.  How about a theatre on the style of the Kravis and Broward Centers?  Plenty of room for a parking garage.  That would make it a fine destination for weekend or week long visitors, and the dining room would overflow.

Intracoastal views are spectacular.  80% of it rooms face the water.  Other features include

• 7.5 miles to Palm Beach, FL
• 13 miles to Delray Beach, FL
• 5 minutes walking to Lake Worth Beach
• Private parking in the same building
• Roof top bar
  Looking forward to their reopening and this may just give Lake Worth a shot-in-the-arm for more cultural venues to buy into the area.  Good news indeed!

PROPERTY APPRAISERS OFFICE SAYS PROPERTY VALUES ARE UP AND GOING HIGHER

… early estimates show property-value increases enjoyed by the county’s cities ranged from 32.3 percent for Riviera Beach to 1.2 percent for the tiny town of Glen Ridge.  The average growth for all cities is 9.4 percent, and most of the large cities are close to that number: Jupiter, Boynton Beach and Wellington all above 9 percent; Palm Beach Gardens at 7.3 percent; Royal Palm Beach at 10.7 percent and West Palm Beach at 11.5 percent.

“The overwhelming majority of the increase in Riviera Beach was from the power plant,” the Property Appraiser said. “Factor out the power plant, and their increase is probably around 9 to 10 percent.”

The county is poised, in the next year or two, to regain all of the property value losses of the Great Recession.  “If things continue as they have the past two years, that would be true,” Nikolits (Property Appraiser) said, “and I’m not seeing anything to indicate a substantial slowdown in the next year or so.”

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/property-value-increase-is-palm-beach-countys-bigg/nmLwD/

MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT 7 PM MIZNER PARK, MAY 25th

 

Memorial Day concert "An American Tribute"

Monday, May 25th at 7:00pm

And a schedule of our Summer Series 2015
 Free music and movies under the stars

 

As part of the City of Boca Raton's Memorial Day observances

Monday, May 25th at 7:00 pm

"An American Tribute"

Full concert band of patriotic music

For information: 561.393.7995 or Click Here