NO SURPRISE: BRADLEY PARK IN PALM BEACH WINS STATE AWARD FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Everyone is invited to come by and see this beautifully recreated park space on the intracoastal waterway in Palm Beach.  It is serene and peaceful.

Back in 1946, Col. E.R. Bradley donated his beach club and home on the Intracoastal Waterway in Palm Beach to the town. The Gilded Age buildings were razed but the tea house and Artemus Fountain were left, elements from the past.  The Garden Club and the town worked together on new designs for a public park in this 4.4-acre area.  

According to Amanda Skier, executive director of the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, the comprehensive landscape plan was 71 years in the making.  Spearheaded by the Foundation, this effort is already enjoyed by many who walk through the Park daily.

The Park has become a gathering place and source of community pride at the northernmost entrance to Palm Beach. Five educational panels at the Tea House tell visitors about the beautification, those who worked on and contributed to it, and the town’s prehistoric legacy.  The panels were authored and curated by the Preservation Foundation, Historical Society of Palm Beach County, Flagler Museum and the Archaeological and Historical Conservancy. 

The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, a non-profit dedicated to protecting the state’s heritage and history, founded in 1978, is a partner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  It has now given the Preservation Foundation its award for meritorious achievement in the field of infill design, acknowledging construction or reconstruction that appropriately fills a gap in a streetscape.  

The beautification project is ongoing.  They note that the Bradley Park beautification is a great example of a revamped outdoor space that the public can enjoy.  This is a statewide honor.

Those who are familiar with local Palm Beach interests know that preservation is a much honored tradition here.

Retained historical elements include the Fountain and Tea House including a 200-year old massive green Buttonwood Tree donated by local homeowner Stephen Levin.  It is 35’ high and 50’ across.  When planted in Bradley Park, the tree was positioned with soil made especially for it, with the same alignment toward the sun that it had in its initial location.  There are orchids growing thruout the branches.  The day after the move, a variety of birds were already hosted by the tree.

The Park’s redesign is being paid for by the Preservation Foundation.  They are covering the cost of construction with donations, which are still being accepted.  To contribute and become part of this effort, call 561-832-0731.

GREAT IDEA!

Traditional wallpaper has a bad reputation for being difficult to apply and even harder to remove. That’s why many houses look dated; they still have stubborn wallpaper from the ’80s that won’t budge! In response, the temporary wallpaper trend has taken off. It gives renters and homeowners the ability to experiment with different styles but not be tied down to one look. In many cases, temporary wallpaper is also reusable.

If you are a renter, temporary wallpaper allows you to cover those bland, white walls with something more personal and homey. And you won’t get fined for changing the walls when you move, because the wallpaper comes off easily. 

Temporary wallpaper is also a great option if you don’t plan on staying in your home forever. If you plan to sell your home down the road, choose temporary wallpaper so that when it comes time to put your home on the market, you can strip it away to create a more basic look that will appeal to more people. 

Other uses of temporary wallpaper include in vacation homes (you could decorate your walls with a seashell design), nurseries, guest rooms or even a dorm room. 

You have many options when it comes to choosing where to purchase temporary wallpaper. Various companies offer a range of designs to fit your individual style. Check out these six great sources. 

Swag Paper

Swag Paper has a great selection of temporary wallpaper, from vintage maps to classic ikat patterns. Check out their inspiration gallery of photos from real users of Swag Paper to get ideas for your own home.

Wayfair

Wayfair, known for their array of affordable home goods and furniture, has an equally extensive selection of temporary wallpaper at great prices. Check out designs such as birch trees, bricks, arrowheads, peony flowers and more. 

The Wall Sticker Company    

This site allows you to upload your own images to create custom temporary wallpaper. Or browse their many categories, such as teens, nursery, maps and more. 

Spoonflower

Spoonflower offers various tools to help you create custom wallpaper designs. You can upload your own images and make use of their color map and guide or test out their products with a sample pack of creative wallpaper swatches. 

Blik

Not only does Blik offer temporary wallpaper, but they also carry fun wall decals and stickers if you don’t want to commit to redoing the entire wall space. Check out their dry-erase notepad decal here!

Easywallz

Browse Easywallz for temporary wallpaper that fits your home or office. They have an extensive collection of murals, door murals and table wraps, or you can create your own collage. 

Temporary wallpaper is a great way to infuse your home with personal style and creativity. Contact us today for more easy ways to give your home a stylish upgrade.

The second oldest home in Palm Beach, Duck’s Nest, has a proposal to demolish and rebuild it which is now postponed another month by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.  Location is 305 Maddock Way.  In February the commission ordered an independent review of the home by an engineer but none was done. Today an engineer will examine the property.

The proposal includes demolishing the 2-story home, enlarging the floor plan and adding a pool and 2-story garage. The decision has now been postponed for another month while the owners of the property, the Maddock Family, incur more expenses.

FOR FRESH FOOD AND PRODUCE... HERE IS A MUST!

Facebook/City of West Palm Beach GreenMarket

This charming waterfront market has been named the best in Florida by Cooking Light Magazine. Stroll along the lovely waterfront and pick out a gift and some fresh produce, or just sit back and relax with a tasty breakfast or unlimited mimosas.

Saturdays 9 to 1, https://www.visitwpb.com/west-palm-beach-greenmarket/

WHERE TO SPEND A WONDERFUL EVENING

The Maltz Theater in Jupiter is featuring this favorite hit show

SOUTH PACIFIC, from Tuesday, March 6th thru Sunday, March 25th.

On an island in the South Pacific, a World War II nurse finds herself in the midst of love and war. Nellie Forbush has fallen deeply in love with Frenchman Emile De Becque, a widowed plantation owner who has lived on the island for many years. But their sweeping romance is tested by the complexities of politics and prejudices of their time. This beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein classic is sure to delight with memorable songs like “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” and “There is Nothing Like a Dame.”

SCHEDULE & TICKETS

for tickets and map:

http://events.palmbeachculture.com/event/950086/south-pacific

PALM BEACH ART MODERNE STYLE APARTMENT BUILDING MAY GET A HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION

An Art Moderne architectural style Palm Beach apartment building, the first co-operative apartment building in Florida, was unanimously recommended by the Landmarks Preservation Commission to the Town Council for landmark protection.  This style was also called Streamline Moderne. Modern construction techniques and materials were used.  

It created a clear-cut distinction between old and new Palm Beach.

The four-story Lake Drive Apartments building was designed by midcentury architect Howard Chilton, a native Floridian, and is said to be his best and most effective building, and was completed in 1949. He built 15+ buildings and 700 single family houses in Palm Beach County. 

The style is a late type of Art Deco architecture sometimes emphasizing curving forms, long horizontal lines, low-relief stylized graphics, and nautical elements.  Nautical elements are featured in the balcony railings, porthole windows and sundeck design of this apartment building.  The building’s west façade directly overlooks the Lake Worth Lagoon and Town Docks. It is located at the corner of Lake Drive and Australian Avenue.

Constructed of concrete block surfaced with smooth stucco, it was built with two dozen apartments on three upper floors and a lobby, storage space and parking on the ground floor.

This style flourished in the 1930’s and 1940’s and was highlighted at the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago. Technology that arose after World War I was influential in this style developing.  Simple geometric forms and decorative details created a “less is more” standard.  A zoning law change in 1947 allowed hotels and apartments to be built in the Royal Park and Floral Park subdivisions. Previously only single family homes had been allowed.

One Commissioner said, “It just has a sort of rightness of place and time that I think is very appealing… a great deal of architectural integrity.  Another said, “To me, it’s perfection.”

One Royal Palm Way Condominiums was also built by Chilton and is pictured below.  His 300 South Ocean Boulevard apartment building is landmarked.  He participated in building the Palm Beach County Courthouse.

PALM BEACH & DELRAY BEACH BOTH HAVE CHALLENGES WITH REDEVELOPMENT OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES

Have you driven by the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Swinton and wished for changes?  Once a proposal to redevelop and build out the area has been confirmed, this will be the start of a renaissance in the area just east of I-95 and the areas to the west.  Delray Beach’s under-developed West Atlantic Avenue will see, sooner or later, many new projects. 

For the past four years, Hudson Holdings has proposed to redevelop and build out this important corner in Delray Beach that has aged.  The sixth revision to keep the residents who focus on historic preservation happy, has been proposed, was rejected by the Delray Beach city commission, and is under appeal.

The proposal prepares the way for some historic structures being demolished and rehabilitated, a few being relocated but remaining on the same block, and condominiums, stores, and an underground garage being created.  The city’s Historic Preservation Board does support a resurgence, but says the proposal is too grandiose for the subtle historic district. Some of the city’s oldest structures are tucked behind lush landscaping.  One board member stated that “It’s losing that whole ambiance of a historic neighborhood”.  Others are pushing for a “moderning up” [editor’s words] of the area.  Nearby are the Public Library and Tennis Center stadium.

City leaders say that this redevelopment could bring “the most important renaissance of the next ten years in Delray Beach”. Everyone agrees that changes are due.  Many refer to the area as “blighted”.

Big changes are hard to come by and sometimes it is not possible to please everyone 100%, but Hudson Holdings has made many changes to please the objectors.  

We are watching these issues re the redevelopment of the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Swinton in Delray Beach with the knowledge that you cannot stop progress, though you can amend and change it somewhat.

Garage Door Security Tips to Prevent Break-Ins

You have checked all the windows to make sure they are closed and locked, doubled-checked the doors, let the neighbors know you are going out of town, informed the mail so it does not pile up and activated all the passive security systems in your home. However, one area is often overlooked as you pull out of your garage and leave: The garage you just left.

A modern-day garage is a prime spot for thieves to gain access to your home. 

There are three basic types of garages that your home may have and each one requires its own safety measures. The first two are attached garages, and they can be divided into two categories: The front of the house garage that faces the street and the rear garage, which is out of view from the street.

The third type of garage is the detached garage. It is particularly dangerous if this type of garage is not secured properly because it offers a staging ground for thieves to enter the premises.

Here are a few pieces of advice that will help you protect your home:

Use Your Garage. Park your car in the garage when it is not being used or if you are leaving by other means. Many people leave their garage door remote in their car, and all it takes is something like a broken window in your car to give a thief access to your home. To combat this, you can also make sure to remove the remote if you leave your car outside of the garage.

Disable the Electric Motor. If you are leaving for an extended period of time, detach your electric garage door opener. This is usually a very simple thing to do. Most electric garage door openers have a rope or chain you pull down to disconnect the electric motor from the chain that operates the door. This protects you in two ways: First, if a thief used a frequency scanning device to obtain your code, it will be of no use since it is not operable. Second, it would require a thief to physically go to the door, which the neighbors could see.

Bolt It. Use a manual sliding bolt-style lock on the inside of your garage door that can only be opened from the inside.

Keep It In Good Condition. Make sure the garage door is properly functioning and that there is no damage to the panels through which a thief could access your home.

Keep It Contained. Do not leave important items in the garage and make sure to lock the door to your home. If thieves do break into the garage, you want to make sure that is all they can access. Place a deadbolt and anti-kick device on the door that leads to the garage.

The Same Goes for Detached Garages. For the detached garage, make sure you follow the same principles as if it was connected to your home. If the garage is out of view from the street where neighbors could spot a break-in, these rules become even more essential. Most importantly, do not keep valuables in your garage.

WHERE'S THE NEXT PARTY?

Penthouse with Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway views

in Palm Beach on-the-sand.  Sensational layout, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 

2145 living sq ft.  Spacious, great flow, top security.

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