March 2012
Serving Coastal Boca Raton and Highland Beach
Volume 5 Issue 3
Boca Raton
10 story apartment complex approved for East Palmetto
By Steve Plunkett A 10-story apartment complex is the newest addition to Palmetto Park Road between the Intracoastal Waterway and Federal Highway. The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency approved a slightly downsized 378-unit Archstone Palmetto Park project Feb. 27, after a contentious five-hour meeting Feb. 13. The agency postponed its vote to give the developer and Golden Triangle neighbors
Archstone, a 10-story, 378-unit complex, is planned for East Palmetto Park Road. Drawing provided time to work out differences. The neighbors were not wholly satisfied. “I think there’s more work to be done regarding Archstone, but it is what it is,” said George
O’Rourke, representing the Golden Triangle Neighborhood Association. Deputy City Manager George Brown said the developer made concessions
after hearing Golden Triangle’s concerns, reducing the total units from 389 to 378, agreeing to pay $40,000 for a traffic study and $2,000 to restripe a right-turn lane from
Highland Beach
Going, going,
GONE!
Signs remind cyclists, drivers of laws
Brothers’ collection of memorabilia sells for $40 million
By Steve Plunkett
By Emily J. Minor For years they’ve been coming here, often dressed in their finest, to ogle and gawk at this collection of everything from cars and pipe organs to funhouse mirrors and a retired toy soldier — from FAO Schwarz, of course. Indeed, looking back, this magical place was perhaps one of Boca Raton’s best secrets, except maybe with the charity crowd. The Milhous Museum was never open to the public, but it was popular for nonprofit events and collectible conventions. Through the years, Boca Raton brothers Paul and Bob Milhous amassed a collection that was nothing short of historically fascinating: old cars, rare organs, tractors, furniture, artwork, carnival banners, turn-of-the-century firearms, Tiffany lamps, porcelain signs — and a whole ode to the American automobile in an exhibit they called “Gasoline Alley.” Paul Milhous said collecting the finds was “an extraordinary journey.” But after four decades of compiling a curious collection, the brothers — distant cousins
Inside Fashion Star
A coastal designer goes on NBC reality show. Page 16
southbound Fifth Avenue onto Palmetto, and eliminating proposed parallel parking spaces along East Boca Raton Road. See ARCHSTONE on page 9
Potential bidders check out the ‘Gasoline Alley’ part of the Milhous Collection during the auction preview Saturday in Boca Raton. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star of President Richard Milhous Nixon — decided it was time to sell. And so recently, on two, warm back-to-back Florida afternoons, the public came to buy at a sale held by two prominent auction houses, RM Auctions and Sotheby’s. “Now it’s time for others to enjoy these wonderful pieces,” said Paul Milhous, 73, a native of Indianapolis who with his brother ran successful manufacturing and printing businesses. Their prosperous livelihood supported a shared love for what they call “mechanical musical instruments, motorcars and See AUCTION on page 12
Sea turtle nests increase
In 2011, the reptiles dug 19,552 nests in Palm Beach County. That’s an increase of 31 nests. Page 8
ABOVE: This merry-goround sold for nearly $1.5 million.
Meet Your Neighbor
Charlie Siemon is cofounder of Festival of the Arts Boca, set for March 7-18. Page 13 Coastal Star Marge Lanthier heads the Friends of the Highland Beach Library. Page 2
Signs from Boca Raton to Manalapan cautioning motorists and bicyclists to share State Road A1A are a success, claims zMotion, the cycling group that paid for them. The bicyclists recently submitted research to the Florida Department of Transportation showing the 16 signs are effective, said Mike Schweiger, zMotion’s cofounder. His group’s report indicates the signs, one saying “Motorist — Shall Give 3 Foot Clearance” and another saying “Bicyclist — No More Than Two Abreast,” increased awareness of those state laws by both groups, Schweiger said. The positioning of the signs has Highland Beach residents clamoring for even more. “There are bike signs all over Delray saying no more than two bike riders may ride abreast, bicycle path, et cetera, et cetera,” Town Commission candidate George Kelvin said. “So we now have a situation where to the north of us Delray has bike signs, to the south of us Boca Raton has bike signs, and we are still waiting to do something.” In fact Highland Beach has See BICYCLE on page 5
Raise a glass
Stephanie Miskew is general chair of Boca Bacchanal, set for March 23-25. Page 20