The owner of the Miami Dolphins makes another big score in downtown West Palm Beach
Welcome to The Dirt! I’m real estate reporter Kimberly Miller with the latest developments in the sizzling market.
What if you ordered a vegan tofu wrap with extra bean sprouts and instead got a T-bone steak, with a side of green beans with bacon bits? That's about what West Palm Beach might get after a panel approved Related Cos. of New York to build a second convention center hotel that doesn't jibe with what the county ordered.
And, it will be another Hilton, so say goodbye to any hope of a Holiday Inn Express free breakfast bar with an automated pancake maker. Maybe Hilton has an automated crepe machine. La. Di. Da.
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In other Related news, the mega developer also is planning to build two more towers in downtown West Palm Beach on the Family Church site, which is EXACTLY what downtown needs — more frustrated commuters refusing to use their turn signals and honking the second the light turns green because you aren't flooring it like David Hasselhoff in Knight Rider.
Also, got $700,000 lying around, or the ability to borrow it? You'll need it to buy a median-priced home in Palm Beach County these days. Don't even ask what the average-priced home is. (Hint: It's still over seven figures).
Rare wooded area in Palm Beach on the market for $150 million. Does not include house
Architect Richard Sammons of Fairfax, Sammons and Partners envisions a seven-bedroom home with a family wing and square tower feature on a vacant lot selling for $150 million on the north side of Sloan's Curve in Palm Beach. The property, which does not include a house, but may have several families of feral cats and/or iguanas, hasn't changed hands in more than 50 years.
It's being marketed with the rendering and house plans, which would likely pass muster with the all-seeing, all-knowing Architectural Commission considering Sammons is the commission's vice chairman.
Mega-developers get blessing for blockbuster Family Church deal
Nearly 200 luxury condos are being planned in two towers in downtown West Palm Beach on the former First Baptist Church, which is now the Family Church. The Church will lease part of its sprawling parking lot to Related Cos. of New York in the deal, with the proceeds going to build a new school.
The historic church building won't be touched. The residential towers would be 32 stories and 28 stories. The towers would add to Related Group's dominion over waterfront downtown properties where it already has plans for Shorecrest and South Flagler House.
Palm Beach County single-family home prices climbing faster than Jack's beanstalk
You can literally hear the dream of homeownership for many young adults fizzling like a deflating balloon as prices continue to climb in Palm Beach County on single-family residences. Sure, sure, if you're coming from New York or California, Florida is like the outlet mall of homes with everything 60% off.
But for other folks, seeing the median sale price jump to $640,000 in March — another record high — has got to be causing some heartburn. To be sure, there are still some doable prices out there. You could live on the wrong side of Dixie Highway behind a liquor store and in between two short-term rentals, but, you know, that's just me.
There is no underground liberal conspiracy regarding State Road 7
In a story that ran this week, I mistakenly said that a PulteGroup housing project was south of State Road 7. Of course, that can't be true because State Road 7 runs north and south. I apologize. It was a mistake. They regrettably happen sometimes.
For the mistake, I have been called stupid, had my 30-year journalism career derided, and told that I was a purveyor of fake news. Let me be clear, there is no underground liberal media conspiracy to convince people that State Road 7 runs east and west. Are we all so full of anger and self-righteousness that what is mostly a benign error (although maybe State Road 7 will claim libel), could elicit such vitriol? It's only Tuesday for goodness sake. Let's all just take a deep breath and a round of pink starburst shots. Cheers!
Live lightly.
Kimberly Miller is a veteran journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate and how growth affects South Florida's environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Help support our local journalism, subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Related wins early bid to develop new convention center hotel
