December 2017
Serving Hypoluxo Island, South Palm Beach, Manalapan, Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes, Gulf Stream and Coastal Delray Beach
Along the Coast
Boca Boom
Downtown nears limits of city’s redevelopment plan
Volume 10 Issue 12
Ocean Ridge
Town, county agree on Inlet Park security plan By Dan Moffett
Ocean Ridge and Palm Beach County officials have reached an agreement on security changes that will allow the county to move forward with a planned $6 million renovation of Ocean Inlet Park Marina. Park officials told the Town Commission on Nov. 6 that the county is willing to provide overnight security at the Boynton Inlet on weekends and holidays to allay safety concerns that heightened after a recent drowning. Amantay Brown, 21, of Boynton Beach drowned in October while swimming in the inlet between 2 and 3 in the morning. Water in and near the inlet is known to be treacherous. Five people have drowned at the inlet in the past three years, including a 3-year-old who fell into the water on the park side west of A1A, according to county officials. See INLET on page 15
Manalapan 327 Royal Palm, a 100-foot-tall, 24-unit condo just south of East Palmetto Park Road, is among the smallest of the new buildings. Only about 17 percent of space available for downtown development remains. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
Projects underway viewed as last big wave By Mary Hladky When the fierce battle over the Mizner 200 luxury condominium ended in August, it was almost possible to hear downtown residents and people opposed to development breathe a sigh of relief. The 384-unit project became a flashpoint for many people upset by what they saw as aggressive developers pushing too many big buildings that were bringing more traffic and changing the character of the city. So the ultimately amicable resolution of the Mizner 200 fight — with downtown activists winning concessions on the project’s design and landscaping — felt like a coda to downtown redevelopment. But it’s not over yet, and that concerns
Downtowns
GROWING
Up
How urban development is changing the face and pace of our coastal cities n First of a three-part series
downtown activists like James Hendrey, who sees even more density in the city’s future. He points to the proposed redevelopment of Royal Palm Place. Plans call for nearly 300 luxury rental units, retail and restaurants, and that’s before
the landowner has unveiled plans for the remainder of the large property. “Are the roads any wider? No.” Hendrey said. His concerns include the need for new infrastructure, more open space and making downtown more walkable. What he’d love to hear city officials say to developers: “Until you do the infrastructure, we don’t even want you to come before us with a project.” The city started with 8 million square feet available for downtown development, but as of the end of last year, 1.4 million square feet, or about 17 percent, remained available for development. The city won’t update that number until next year, but officials predict the remainder will be exhausted within a few years. See DOWNTOWN on page 16
Inside House of the month
Mediterranean magnificence in Manapalan. Page H23
The art of giving
Our annual holiday shopping guide. Page H1
Expired contract could give town a lever against beach project By Dan Moffett Manalapan may have found a new bargaining chip to persuade Palm Beach County officials to forget about installing groins on beaches north of the town. It’s the sand transfer plant at the Boynton Beach Inlet. Town Attorney Keith Davis told Manalapan commissioners on Nov. 28 that the long-running contract between the town and the county to operate the plant expired earlier this year. “There are no agreements that bind the town at this point,” See MANALAPAN on page 14
Sanctuary founder retires Winston Churchill at Four Arts
An exhibition showcases the art of the statesman. Page AT9
Delray recovery homes to close.
Page 26
Obituaries Pages 22-23