Welcome to The Dirt! I’m real estate, weather and critter reporter Kimberly Miller with the latest developments in the sizzling market.
In a normal world, the northern reaches of Palm Beach County typically remain above the fray that would bring them to the attention of The Dirt. But, let’s face it, we haven’t seen normal since we all gave at least a 20% chance to the idea that we were going to blow up like the Death Star during the Y2K scare, which now seems quite quaint as far as scares go.
But here we are, and Juno Beach has entered Real Housewives territory in a fracas about development at Plaza La Mer. The controversy led to a newsletter war, a motion to fire the city manager even though no one could agree on what he did wrong, allegations of someone shouting at someone, and a protest that triggered President Trump to call in the National Guard. (There was a protest. There was no National Guard.) In the end, it sounds like information may have gotten twisted and that can cause people to form opinions not based on facts, which, maybe is kind of the new normal, sometimes, it seems like that anyway. I’m looking at you TikTok.
In other real estate-related news, a mystery buyer paid a whopping $28.25 million for a condominium in West Palm Beach, and it wasn’t at The Bristol, a CityPlace store is facing eviction, West Palm Beach ignores its own city planners, and a casino mogul runs afoul of Palm Beach’s architectural commission.
Forté on Flagler penthouse sells for $28.2 million
There was a time when a multi-million-dollar condominium sale in West Palm Beach was stop the presses, above-the-fold, front page news. Now, we don’t have presses because Joseph’s Classic Market is there, but also, yawn. If it doesn’t break $20 mill, snoozefest. Am I right? So, when a deed for $28.2 million was filed it piqued the interest of the entire newsroom (or just me, really.) Unfortunately, we couldn’t find out a lot about the buyer, but I will tell you that other folks who have bought in Forté on Flagler include a beer distributor and a Fox News contributor.
Two Roads Development is very happy about the sale of the lower penthouse property and would like me to tell you that the upper penthouse, which has two stories and a private rooftop pool, is still available for $47.5 million. Don’t everyone start calling at once.
CityPlace could evict longtime tenant Natuzzi Italia
Natuzzi Italia owes CityPlace $384,032 in back rent according to a lawsuit filed in Palm Beach County Court and the store, known for its high-end contemporary designs, could get the old heave-ho if it doesn’t pay up. Natuzzi has been a tenant of CityPlace in West Palm Beach since 2017 so you’d think it would know the rules; don’t put nails in the walls, rent is due each month, etc., etc., etc.
The rent kerfuffle comes as CityPlace is adding home-furnishing stores because someone has to sell luxury home goods to the guy who bought the $28.25 million lower penthouse at Forté on Flagler. Oh, and all the other new residents who are increasingly making Palm Beach County home year-round.
360-foot tower gets preliminary approval in West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach city planners said a 31-story condominium proposed on North Flagler Drive is too tall, but, pish posh, what do they know? City commissioners gushed, yes, gushed, over the building’s architecture and landscaping and beauty. Sure, they just approved new zoning rules that limit waterfront development to 300 feet, but the 360-foot building is grandfathered in and, besides, the neighborhood association is OK with it. No, really. The tower is a project of Toronto-based Great Gulf.
Remember when everyone was freaking out about The Bristol being too tall at 25-stories?
Casino mogul’s beach cabana likened to a ‘double-wide with French doors’
I have to think billionaires don’t hear the word “no” a lot so when the powerful Architectural Commission in Palm Beach says not just no, but heck no, it’s probably a bit of a new sensation. Casino-and-resort mogul Steve Wynn wants to build a private beach cabana across from his $43 million South Ocean Boulevard mansion, but the problem is, well, the design is “an eyesore”, “has no character,” and “looks like a double-wide with French doors.” Oof. What do you really think?
One commissioner softened his stance saying that the design was “very unsuccessful.” The commission voted unanimously for the architect to go directly to jail, to not cross go and to not collect $200.
Live lightly.
Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate, weather, and the 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.
