The Landmarks Preservation Commission safeguards the Town of Palm Beach’s historic and cultural resources through its landmarked structures and historic districts.
In 1979, in order to preserve the Town of Palm Beach’s historic resources, a Historic Preservation Ordinance was adopted to study and protect Palm Beach’s most significant architectural achievements to ensure that Palm Beach’s heritage would not be lost for future generations. The ordinance has been amended several times to clarify the purpose of the ordinance and its requirements. Currently, there are 284 landmark properties, sites and vistas.
The Town Council has, in the past, budgeted for research by preservation consultants at $50,000, which allowed them to complete about 10 designation reports per season. That figure has now risen to $100,000 to allow more reports to be done.
There are four criteria used to justify designating a property as a town landmark. This season the Landmarks board will study seven properties
Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach Executive Director, Alexander Ives, asked the board to study the Clarence Mack-designed Regency-style homes in Regent Park, south of the Bath & Tennis Club, and Parc Monceau, in the south end. The board is considering designating the two groups of houses as historic districts. The designation season is from November through April and along with the list below two properties researched last season will be considered. They are 177 Clarendon Avenue and 1545 North Ocean Way.
Noting that a landmarked home at 105 Clarendon Avenue had project managers who allowed sections of the home to be demolished without permission, the advisory board is considering policy changes that would better protect landmarked properties.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission will review these properties this season:
A circa-1919 Mission-style building at 255 Royal Poinciana Way
A circa-1923 Neo-Classical style building at 211 Royal Poinciana Way
A 1927 John Volk-designed Mediterranean-Revival at 233 Clarke Ave.
A 1919 Dutch Colonial (architect unknown) at 133 Seaspray Ave.
A 1928 Tudor-style building designed by Clark J. Lawrence at 311 S. County Road
A 1934 Treanor and Fatio-designed British Colonial at 17 Middle Road,
A 1924 Mediterranean-Revival at 189 Bradley Place.
To check out the Landmark Manual go to http://townofpalmbeach.com/DocumentCenter/View/1010
It includes
- Registers of Historic Places
- Important dates in the Town’s History
- Architectural History and Styles
- Standards of Preservation, Rehabilitation, Restoration and Reconstruction
