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Despite price cut to $12.9M, West Palm Beach mansion would set record

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The current price tag for the newly built estate would shatter the record price for a single-family home in West Palm Beach, which now stands at $5.02 million.

Even after a $600,000 price cut, a West Palm Beach mansion is on the market with a list price that would far surpass the city’s record sale.

The newly built estate at 2914 Washington Road went on the market in 2017 for $13.5 million, while it was still under construction. The mansion was completed in September, and in late March, the seller cut the price to $12.9 million.

If the house along the Intracoastal Waterway fetches anywhere near that amount, it will shatter the record price for a single-family home in West Palm Beach. The current high-water mark is $5.02 million, the sum paid in October for a house at 5615 S. Flagler Drive.

The 9,634-square-foot manse on Washington Road was developed by The Aquantis Group. It features six bedrooms, a two-story living room, a library, a wine vault, an elevator and, in something of a head scratcher, seven fireplaces.

The house is listed by Burt Minkoff and Ashley McIntosh of Douglas Elliman.

Palm Beach County’s luxury real estate market is sending mixed signals.

The condo market is shattering records. Last month, a full floor at The Bristol, the waterfront condo tower in West Palm Beach, sold for $42.6 million. That sale far eclipsed The Bristol’s previous high-water market of $17.6 million.

The Bristol’s total sales have reached $100 million. The 291-foot-tall tower boasts private elevators and other perks.

The VistaBlue condo on Singer Island in Riviera Beach also has sold well, attracting buyers such as billionaire Joe Mansueto, who founded Morningstar, Inc., and football coach Bret Bielema, who is currently a consultant with the New England Patriots.

However, many high-dollar mansions have been languishing. In one high-profile example, the Ziff estate in Manalapan has been for sale since 2015. It was first marketed off the multiple listing service, then went on the MLS for $195 million in early 2016. It’s now on the market for $137.5 million.

In Palm Beach, a never-lived in mansion at 1071 N. Ocean Blvd. has been for sale since 2015. It went on the market for $84 million. It’s now priced at $59.9 million.

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Cartoonistry: West Palm Beach finally ‘looking down’ on Palm Beach?

By David Willson / Special to the Daily News

In 1981, Palm Beach real estate developer Robert Armour began construction of the Plaza condominium on the waterfront of downtown West Palm Beach. Armour had a strong conviction that the area had grown enough to warrant a luxury high-rise condominium that would attract big money buyers from the island.

The twin 32-story towers were an ambitious project that, at the time, was the largest real estate development in West Palm Beach history. Unfortunately, despite a slick marketing campaign with the slogan, “The only address in Florida that gives you a reason to look down on Palm Beach,” Armour’s convictions proved wrong.

Construction of the first tower was interrupted when the bank stopped funding due to poor sales. Armour had to secure additional investors before the bank would agree to proceed further. But sales continued to lag and shortly after the Plaza condominium was opened in October 1985, the bank foreclosed.

Along came Donald Trump and Lee Iacocca a few months later and scooped up the unsold units at auction. After restructuring some apartments and amenities, the newly rebranded Trump Plaza had it grand opening in November 1986. Trump planned to sell the more than 200 remaining units within a year and a half. That didn’t happen either.

While Armour had counted on Palm Beach buyers, Trump probably looked to attract wealthy New York transplants. Local real estate agents were complaining that the units were overpriced at $275,000 to $960,000, but Trump planned to further increase prices 15 to 20 percent.

In mid-1990, the condominium remained only 50 percent occupied when Trump’s entire real estate empire came under fire from creditors. In an agreement with the bank, more than 120 unsold condos were unloaded in two separate auctions for roughly half their original price.

A couple of years later, the Trump Plaza sign was removed from the building. But condo owners feared further devaluation of their property, so they voted to restore it. While Trump no longer had an interest in the property, he graciously offered to pay for the reinstallation. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to poke a little fun at the whole thing with my Feb. 13, 1994 Palm Beach Daily News editorial cartoon.

Truth is, the Trump Plaza turned out to be a great building and is doing quite nicely now. It was just a building that was ahead of its time. And that time has apparently arrived.

The Bristol, a 69-unit ultra-luxury condominium adjacent to the Royal Park Bridge, is reportedly almost sold out as it nears completion. Its average unit is 4,500 sq. ft. and runs roughly $10 million. Palm Beacher Sydell Miller recently purchased the entire unfinished 24th floor for $42.56 million. Another 25-story, 83-unit luxury condo, La Clara, has just been announced nearby at 1515 S. Flagler Drive. Its 1,500 to more than 3,000 sq. ft. units will start at $2 million. It was quite a different story than 40 years ago!

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Carrfour Begins Work on Unique Supportive Housing Project in West Palm Beach

A rendering of the Dr. Alice Moore Apartments development in West Palm Beach.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL—Miami-based Carrfour Supportive Housing has broken ground here on what it says will be the state’s first supportive housing development with services designed specifically for formerly homeless residents impacted by mental illness.

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Miami Investor Acquires Palm Beach Post Building

The Palm Beach Post building is located at 2751 South Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach, FL.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL—Tricera Capital of Miami has acquired the Palm Beach Post mixed-use building here for $24 million, according to multiple published reports.

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Engel & Völkers Florida Moves Corporate Headquarters to Accommodate Growth

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Master Franchise Partner of Global Luxury Real Estate brand, Engel & Völkers Florida, Announces Headquarter Move to Accommodate Expansion

"This move represents an exciting development for Engel & Völkers Florida," said Oliver Tonn, Co-Owner of Engel & Völkers Florida. "Over the past year, we have expanded our brand’s presence in seven premium real estate markets across the state, grown our corporate team with incredibly talented professionals and are pleased that the new space can accommodate this growth."

Engel & Völkers first expanded into the North American market in 2007, with Florida as its flagship Master License Partner. Engel & Völkers Florida has since operated from its regional headquarters, located in Naples, and has consistently been the most successful region on the continent.

The new office space is approximately 2,404 sq. ft., which makes it nearly three times the size of the company’s previous space. This modern office features a training facility for the company’s signature STAT (System Tools Administrator Training), state-of-the-art conference room, relaxing lounge, branded lobby and private offices for the executive team.

"We designed this space to look sharp and showcase our brand as a tool to help attract new franchise partners," said Timo Khammash, Managing Partner of Engel & Völkers Florida. "Continued franchise expansion is a key focus for Engel & Völkers Florida in 2018 and we know this move was needed in order to meet our objectives and support our growing network."

About Engel & Völkers Florida

Engel & Völkers Florida continues to strengthen and expand its presence in premium real estate markets across the state. Currently, there are multiple locations across Florida, including: 30A Beaches, Belleair, Boca Raton, Bonita Springs-Estero, Cape Coral, Clermont, Delray Beach, Destin, Fort Lauderdale-Las Olas, Jacksonville Beach, Jupiter, Madeira Beach, Marathon, Marco Island, Melbourne, Miami-Coral Gables, Naples, Orlando-Winter Park, Palm Beach, South Tampa, Stuart, Sunny Isles Beach, Wellington, and Windermere.

If you would like to know more about the Engel & Völkers brand or being a part of its global network, which is known for demonstrating competence, exclusivity and passion, feel free to stop into any local shop or call our corporate office, located at 633 Tamiami Trl N, Naples, FL 34102 USA. Tel: +1 239-348-9000.

About Engel & Völkers

Since its beginning in 1977 as a specialty boutique providing exclusive, high-end real estate services in Hamburg, Germany, Engel & Völkers has become one of the world’s leading companies specializing in the sale and lease of premium residential and commercial property, yachts and private aviation. Engel & Völkers currently operates a global network of over 10,000 real estate advisors in more than 30 countries, offering both private and institutional clients a professionally tailored range of luxury services. Committed to exceptional service, Engel & Völkers supports its advisors with an array of premium quality business services; marketing programs and tools; multiple platforms for mobile, social and web; as well as access to its global network of real estate professionals, property listings and market data. Each brokerage is independently owned and operated.

For more information about Engel & Völkers Florida, please visit http://florida.evusa.com

For media inquiry, please contact: Linzee Werkmeister, Director of Public Relations & Franchise Support Tel: (239) 348-9000 Email: Linzee.Werkmeister(at)EVUSA(dot)com

©2017 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved.

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In Memoriam: 2017-2018 season in Palm Beach

Philip and Mary Huiltar posed for a photograph taken sometime before his death in 1992. The couple moved to Palm Beach in the 1960s. Photo courtesy Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

June 21, 2017

Longtime resident Mary Hulitar, known for her unassuming generosity, died at her home. She was 90.

+ Mary Hulitar

Mrs. Hulitar was a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y. She served on the boards of Hospice of Palm Beach County, whose Charles W. Gerstenberg Hospice Center in West Palm Beach is named for her father; the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Kalaheo, Hawaii; and The Society of the Four Arts. She joined the Garden Club of Palm Beach in 1978 and was an active member for the remainder of her life.

Her honors include the Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians and Jews’ John C. Randolph Award, the Hospice Foundation Hero Award and Town of Palm Beach Centennial Ambassador.

Mrs. Hulitar spent many hours volunteering for the Four Arts’ library.

Sept. 5

Myra Mann Morrison

Resident Myra Mann Morrison, who enjoyed careers in nursing and real estate, died at age 85.

+ Myra Mann Morrison

A native of Victoria, Australia, Mrs. Morrison completed her nursing training in Melbourne, Australia, in 1953 before

traveling to the United States to visit family in Palm Beach.

She lived in Atlanta, where she worked as a registered nurse. In 1967, she married the late Earl Mann, then owner of the Atlanta Crackers baseball team. They moved to Palm Beach in 1970. Mrs. Morrison worked as a registered nurse at Good Samaritan Medical Center. In the 1970s, she became certified in real estate and was a longtime Realtor with Brown Harris Stevens.

In 2008, she married John Morrison, a career officer in the U.S. Army whom she met at Royal Poinciana Chapel. He also was a licensed real estate broker.

Oct. 18

Dennis Wayne

Dancer and choreographer Dennis Wayne, dubbed the Bad Lad of Ballet for his good looks and rebellious attitude, died of respiratory failure at 72 in West Palm Beach.

+ Dennis Wayne

Born Dennis Wayne Wendelken in St. Petersburg, his career in ballet began in the 1960s with Harkness Ballet. He then became a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet and American Ballet Theater. He was a frequent visitor to Palm Beach and spent his later years in West Palm Beach.

He was still under contract to American Ballet Theater when he formed his own company, DANCERS, in 1975 and recruited six American Ballet Theater dancers to perform in it, The New York Times said. American Ballet Theater ordered him to disband his company or leave. He acquiesced for a year, then revived his company with financial backing from actress Joanne Woodward. DANCERS debuted in December 1976 at the Royal Poinciana Playhouse.

After suffering serious injuries in a car accident in 1980, he took up choreography and even returned to the stage in 1985 when he and his company performed at the Royal Poinciana Playhouse for the Palm Beach Festival. Wayne danced several times in the 1990s at the Flagler Museum with small freelance troupes he organized. In 1996, he choreographed a fashion show benefit for the Palm Beach Zoo. He created dances for the 2005 Palm Beach Follies fundraiser at The Society of the Four Arts, which raised money for the hurricane-ravaged Four Arts’ gardens.

Nov. 6

Jane Dudley, a longtime winter resident and a stalwart of the island’s society and fashion sets, died at her home in West Nashville. She was 92.

+ Jane Dudley

She was the widow of Guilford Dudley Jr., a former U.S. ambassador to Denmark and longtime chairman of The Coconuts. At the time of his death in 2002, they had been married for 52 years.

A native of Nashville, she was the daughter of William and Nancy (Joseph) Anderson. Her father was the coach of Vanderbilt University’s track team. She was a graduate of the Parmer School; Ward Belmont Ladies Seminary and Vanderbilt University.

After college, she worked for the Nashville Tennessean newspaper. Later, she managed corporate accounts for Tiffany & Co. for more than two decades. After marrying, she traveled the world as an ambassador’s wife, acquiring the skills that would later make an invitation from her among the most coveted in Palm Beach, Nashville and New York.

Mrs. Dudley was active in charitable and cultural causes.

Nov. 6

John Bowden Dodge

Longtime resident, businessman and sportsman John Bowden Dodge died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He was 86.

+ John Dodge

A native of Boston, he was the son of Frank Schuyler Dodge and Mary (nee Bowden) Dodge. After serving with the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he graduated from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Management in 1957.

His love of the hospitality industry began when he worked at his family’s historic hotel, The Mountain View House in Whitefield. His career included management stints at American Airlines’ Sky Chef division and the Casa Blanca, both in Scottsdale, Ariz.; Charlie Farrell’s Racquet Club in Palm Springs; and the Townhouse in Rochester, N.Y. Later, he became a developer of golf course communities in the Virgin Islands, North Carolina, New Hampshire and Florida. His favorite project was Harbour Ridge, which he chose for its proximity to the St. Lucie River’s scenic North Fork.

An accomplished athlete, he was a diver and loved spending time on his boat, the Lorelei; he also was an avid skier, tennis player and hiker, especially in the White Mountains’ Presidential Range. He considered his greatest athletic accomplishment to be his ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro in 1986 at the age of 55.

Mr. Dodge was widely active in civic, charitable and cultural causes.

Nov. 14

Parker Ladd

Parker B. Ladd, a part-time resident, publishing executive and philanthropist, died at his home in New York.

+ Parker Ladd

Mr. Ladd was a graduate of the University of Vermont. After serving in the U.S. Army, he worked as a book seller in Sweden before eventually landing in New York. Mr. Ladd enjoyed a successful career at Charles Scribner’s Sons and was a director at the Association of American Publishers.

Following his retirement, Mr. Ladd served as a television producer for the A&E program, Open Book, an interview talk show featuring authors and their work. In Palm Beach, he developed an interview format breakfast series at The Brazilian Court called the Book and Author Breakfast.

Mr. Ladd, along with his husband — international fashion designer Arnold Scaasi — and their friend and journalist Liz Smith, was a founder of the nonprofit organization Literacy Partners Inc.

Nov. 18

Betty Marcus of Jupiter, formerly of Palm Beach, died at 94.

+ Betty Marcus

Mrs. Marcus was born in 1923, the year that her father, Leo Gerstenzang, invented the Q-tip. She grew up in New York City and spent one year at Northwestern University before marrying Robert (Bob) Marcus, in 1943. She finished her education at Parsons School of Design and became an interior decorator.

Residents of Scarsdale, N.Y., she and her husband bought a second home in Palm Beach in the 1970s that eventually became their full-time residence. Her husband, who died in 2001, was president of Q-tips from 1947 to 1959 and later president and owner of S&K Sales Corp.

Mrs. Marcus and her husband were members of the Palm Beach Country Club.

Nov. 18

North Palm Beach resident Irma Lee Anapol, an award-winning angler who was active in charitable causes in Palm Beach, died at 83.

+ Irma Anapol. Photo by Debbie Schatz

A native of New Bedford, Mass., she was married to Joel Anapol of Fall River, Mass., for 51 years. Mrs. Anapol was a member of the Chub Cay Club in the Bahamas and the Nantucket Anglers Club.

Among her charity works, the three-time breast cancer survivor committed herself to counseling other cancer patients. She partnered with Estee Lauder to provide cancer patients with cosmetics and guidance on fashionable ways to wear makeup, wigs and hats during treatment.

She also was active in “Our Kids Sake,” a national educational program against pesticides in food. A founding member and major supporter of the YWCA’s Harmony House, she received the group’s Grace Hoadley Dodge Award in 2013. She also supported the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation, Wheelchairs for Kids and The Angels of Charity.

Nov. 18

Longtime resident Alec Engelstein, a real estate developer and philanthropist, died at 87.

+ Alec Engelstein

Born in Romania, he survived the Holocaust and in 1948, with the help of the Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, moved to Montreal, where he met his future wife, Sheila. In 1968, the family moved to Florida, where Mr. Engelstein became a real estate developer. His Engel Homes became one of the largest home builders in the United States.

For more than 40 years, Mr. Engelstein was pivotal in expanding Jewish life in Palm Beach County with support of organizations including the Friedman Commission for Jewish Education, MorseLife Health System and Temple Emanu-El.

During his four-year tenure as its board chairman, the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County established Partnership2Gether, providing a lifesaving link between the Palm Beaches and Israel’s TZAHAR region. He was a member of the Prime Ministers Council, the most generous donors to the federation’s annual campaign.

Nov. 27

Frederic Alan Sharf of Palm Beach, a businessman, philanthropist, scholar and avid collector of forgotten treasures, died in West Palm Beach after a long illness. He was 83.

+ Fred Sharf

Mr. Sharf, a Boston native, turned down a job teaching history at Harvard University to go into the family business, channeling his love of history into collecting. He sought things that were overlooked by other collectors, including Spanish-American War illustrations, architectural drawings, automotive design drawings, Japanese Meiji period woodblock prints, fashion illustrations, 1940s British women’s wear and, most recently, cartoons. Through his scholarship and initiative, he elevated his collectibles into museum-worthy objects. He curated exhibitions from his collections, wrote or edited more than 40 books and donated collections to museums.

He was a trustee of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; The Essex Institute, and The Wolfsonian-FIU in Miami Beach, as well as Beth Israel Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. In 2016, Mr. Sharf and his wife, Jean, donated $1 million to MorseLife in West Palm Beach for the senior care facility’s welcome center.

Mr. Sharf built the family business, M. Sharf & Co., into a sports marketing and management company offering services to professional ice hockey and tennis athletes.

Nov. 28

Irving Luntz

Longtime Worth Avenue art dealer Irving Luntz, regarded by many as the Avenue’s canniest and most colorful businessman, died at 88 at his island home.

+ Irving Luntz. Photo by Lannis Waters

A native of Milwaukee, Mr. Luntz opened Irving Galleries in 1974 in Palm Beach, focusing on top-quality modern master and contemporary art. He retired in 2011, when he turned over 332 Worth Ave. to his son, photography dealer Holden Luntz.

As a young man, Mr. Luntz played clarinet and saxophone in jazz bands. After he married, he worked for his father-in-law’s business leasing heavy equipment for commercial developments in Milwaukee.

When he and his wife divorced in the early 1960s, Mr. Luntz went into the art business. He taught himself the trade. He opened his first gallery in 1959 in Milwaukee.

Dec. 5

Leandro Rizzuto of Palm Beach, the co-founder and board chairman of Conair Corp., died after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

With his parents, Mr. Rizzuto founded the company in 1959. Forbes reported that Mr. Rizzuto, who was worth $3.4 billion, left St. John’s University to help set up Conair in the basement of the family’s home in Brooklyn. He was tied for No. 212 on the 2017 Forbes 400 list, and No. 367 on Forbes’ list of world billionaires.

Mr. Rizzuto owned a $2.3 million condominium in Winthrop House, according to county records. He also owned a single-family home in Highland Beach and condominiums in Sheridan, Wyo.

Jan. 4, 2018

Bruce Halle

Discount Tire chairman Bruce Halle, a seasonal resident who grew the retail chain he founded into a business empire, died in his sleep at age 87.

+ Bruce Halle. Photo courtesy of Discount Tire

Mr. Halle, who served in the Korean War as a Marine, opened his first Discount Tire store in 1960 in Ann Arbor, Mich. Today, the company is the world’s largest tire and wheel retailer and is expected to have more than 1,000 stores this year in 34 states. In October, Forbes.com’s annual Forbes 400 list estimated his net worth at $4.6 billion and ranked him in 144th place. Mr. Halle and his wife Diane shared a house on North Ocean Boulevard they had bought in 2012.

The Halles were active in civic and charitable causes as well as the arts. The Bruce T. Halle Library on his alma mater campus at Eastern Michigan University is named after him. Mr. Halle and wife established The Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation to fund a range of charitable endeavors. He also created programs to help his employees in need, including the Bruce T. Halle Assistance Fund and a scholarship program for employees’ college-bound children.

In town over the past two seasons, the Halles attended charitable functions that included events supporting the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, the Navy SEALs and The Lord’s Place. The Halles also were significant art collectors, with a collection that concentrated on Latin American art and contemporary sculpture.

Jan. 14

Norbert Goldner, chef and owner Café L’Europe, one of the island’s most beloved restaurants, died at age 77.

Mr. Goldner was born in Berlin and managed the New York City restaurant The Sign of the Dove before opening the first Cafe L’Europe in Sarasota in 1972.

+ Norbert Goldner

In 1980, Cafe L’Europe opened in Palm Beach, where, in the weeks that followed, it was so popular that there often was a line out the door before dinner hours. Cafe L’Europe became an island staple, and Mr. Goldner became known as an outstanding chef.

Customers remember Mr. Goldner for his warm personality, his love of walking around the restaurant and talking to customers, and his meticulous attention to detail in operation of the restaurant.

Jan. 22

William P. Rayner

Water-colorist and travel writer William P. Rayner died in New York City at age 88.

+ Billy Rayner

Mr. Rayner was born in Washington, D.C. He was educated at the Taft School in Watertown, Conn., and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He was introduced to art at an early age. His mother, Emily Rayner, was a director of the Worth Avenue Gallery, a Palm Beach fixture from the 1940s to the 1960s.

His aunt was the celebrated New York art dealer Betty Parsons, with whom he spent many summers on Long Island. Through her, he met artists such as Barnett Newman, Ad Reinhardt, Mark Rothko, Clyfford Still and Jackson Pollock.

Rayner was the editorial business manager for Conde Nast for 30 years. His job provided him with a passport to exotic locales and vehicles for publishing the writing and paintings inspired by his many trips with his wife, Kathy, the daughter of Anne Cox Chambers of Cox Enterprises, the former parent company of the Palm Beach Daily News.

Feb. 11

Vic Damone, longtime resident whom Frank Sinatra once described as “having the best pipes in the business,” died from respiratory failure at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. He was 89.

+ Vic Damone

Born Vito Farinola in Brooklyn’s Bensonhurst neighborhood, he was the son of Italian immigrants from the Adriatic seaside city of Bari. His father, Rocco Farinola, was an electrician; his mother, Mamie Damone Farinola, was a homemaker and piano teacher. Mr. Damone was a 14-year-old dropout working as an usher at New York’s legendary Paramount Theater when he found himself in an elevator with the evening’s headliner, Perry Como. He told Como he was taking voice lessons and began singing, then asked Como if he should continue his voice lessons. Como — who would also, later in life, become a Palm Beach County resident — said “Keep singing!”

He served in the Army from 1951-53. After his military service, he took his mother’s maiden name professionally and carved out a career that encompassed film, television, concerts and more than 2,500 recordings. He received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame and has a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. He moved to Palm Beach, where he met and married his fifth wife, Rena Rowan, and moved into a home on Via Bellaria and lived the life of a retiree.

He was active in many causes, including Palm Beach Island Cats, Vita Nova, the Renaissance Learning Center for Autism, St. Edward Church, and the Society for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook, founded by Old Port Cove resident Dick Robinson. Mr. Damone was the first recipient of the organization’s Legend Award.

March 10

Hubert de Givenchy

French couturier Hubert de Givenchy, 91, who popularized the little black dress, died at his home outside Paris.

+ Hubert De Givenchy

Some of his best-known pieces include the Bettina blouse inspired by model Bettina Graziani and Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Mr. Givenchy was known for making everlasting friendships with his clients.

Born in Beauvais, France, he was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents from a young age after his father, a business executive and amateur pilot, died.

Mr. Givenchy developed an eye for art and aesthetics from his grandfather, an administrator of a tapestry workshop in Beauvais. In Paris, couturier Jacques Fath took Mr. Givenchy under his wing for two years, where he learned sketching, cutting and fitting haute couture styles. After working for the house of Piguet and Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli, he founded his own design house in 1952, which proved to be an instant success.

March 15

Marie D. Schwartz

Marie D. Schwartz, of Greenwich, Conn., and formerly of Palm Beach, died at Greenwich Hospital. She was 97.

A native of Atlanta, she attended the University of Georgia. She held an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Long Island University College of Pharmacy.

She was a staff writer for The Washington Post from 1954 to 1970, covering the White House. She served as president of the American Newspaper Women’s Club. She also wrote a number of books, including Entertaining in the White House, The President’s Lady: An Intimate Biography of Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson and White House Brides.

In 1970, she married New York City oil company executive Arnold Schwartz, and left Washington and the newspaper world behind. The couple served as benefactors for the Arnold and Marie Schwartz Kidney Dialysis Center at St. Mary’s Medical Center and the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach. She was a board member of St. Mary’s and the Norton.

March 15

John Weller “Jack” Hanley

John Weller Hanley, a former Palm Beacher, died at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. He was 96. Mr. Hanley was a resident of Winston-Salem and Roaring Gap, N.C.

+ Jack Hanley

Born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, he was a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering and the Harvard University’s School of Business with an MBA. Following graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy serving primarily in the Pacific Theater.

After the war, Mr. Hanley graduated from the Harvard Business School and began a career with Procter & Gamble. After serving as executive vice president of P&G, he was served as president, and CEO of the Monsanto Company in St. Louis, Missouri. He served there from 1972 to 1983 before retiring from business to concentrate on his private passion preventing and treating substance use disorder. Recognizing his contributions on the national scene, he was awarded honorary law degrees from the University of Missouri, Maryville College, Notre Dame University, University of the Pacific, Washington University in St. Louis, and Webster College.

The post-retirement activity that occupied much of his time was built around his family’s interest in helping people suffering from alcoholism and drug dependency. In Palm Beach County, he and his wife co-founded the Hanley Center in West Palm Beach and Gate Lodge in Vero Beach as well as the research laboratory at Penn State.

March 20

Marvin Kamin

Marvin Kamin, a member of the Pittsburgh and Palm Beach communities, died at age 90.

+ Hannah and Marvin Kamin. Daily News file photo

He was a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering. He had a long career in real estate development with the National Development Corp., which is based in Pittsburgh with offices in Boston, Washington, D.C., and Florida.

He served on the boards and a supporter of The United Jewish Federation, the Red Cross, United Way, Palm Beach International Society and The Round Table. He also was an original member of The Mar-a-Lago Club.

March 23

Rhoda L. Kleid, wife of Richard Kleid, who retired in March from the Town Council, died unexpectedly. She was 80.

The Kleids, who celebrated 59 years of marriage in November, celebrated his 13 years as a member and president of the council at a party on March 22. at Club Colette. She died while asleep at home the next day.

+ Rhoda L. Kleid

Mrs. Kleid attended every council meeting, as well as meetings of other town boards, including the Planning and Zoning Commission, on which her husband served before joining the council.

A native of Philadelphia, Mrs. Kleid was a graduate of Columbia University’s Barnard College. She enjoyed a long career as a residential real estate agent, in Pittsburgh and Palm Beach, most recently with The Fite Group. She volunteered for the Junior League of Pittsburgh and the United Way Allocation Committee in Palm Beach, and she worked to register voters in Palm Beach County. Mrs. Kleid was a docent at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach.

March 24

Artist Stewart Colwell Broberg, a resident, died at age 92.

She was born in Chicago and raised in Urbana, Ohio. She was an avid horse lover in her youth and attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri.

+ Stewart Colwell Broberg

She married Gustave T. Broberg Jr. in 1946 and moved to Palm Beach in 1950. Through the years she was involved with Opportunity Inc., the United Way and The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea bookshop. She was an active artist; one of her works depicting Chief Justice John Marshall is on display at the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond. She also was a member of the Coral Beach Club and the Sailfish Club.

March 24

Denise S. Meyer, a resident, died after a battle with cancer. She was 67.

She was the wife of William A. Meyer, former board chairman of the Kravis Center, former vice chairman of JFK Medical Center and chairman of Meyer Jabara Hotels.

+ Denise Meyer

She designed and oversaw the construction of Temple Judea in Palm Beach Gardens; designed two spec homes in Palm Beach; designed and rebuilt her 1938 landmarked home; worked on the 1860 carriage house of her son and daughter-in-law, Andrew (AJ) and Jess, in Cambridge, Mass.; and worked on the design of the Arthur I. Meyer Jewish Academy.

A resident of Palm Beach County for 42 years and the town for 25 years, Mrs. Meyer grew up in East Lansing, Mich. She was a travel agent and then worked in the Michigan legislature. Upon moving to Palm Beach County in 1976, she became assistant to John Sansbury, the then-county administrator. She later ran the office of lunar astronaut Ed Mitchell and subsequently started her own advertising specialties company, The Specialty Shoppe.

April 7

Hannah Honig Kamin, of Pittsburgh and Palm Beach, died 18 days after the death of her husband of 59 years, Marvin Kamin.

She was a graduate of Chatham University. With her husband, she was well-known in her communities as well as nationally as a leader, fundraiser and philanthropist.

In Palm Beach, her board and leadership positions included the American Lung Association, Ballet Florida, Jewish National Fund, Jewish Guild for the Blind and UJA Women’s Executive Committee.

Nationally, Mrs. Kamin was a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Millennium Committee to Save American’s Treasures and the Women’s Leadership Forum of the Democratic National Committee. She also was active with the National Council of Jewish Women.

April 14

Peter Pulitzer

Peter Pulitzer, businessman, sportsman and scion of two prominent American families, died at home, surrounded by his children. He was 88.

+ Peter Pulitzer. (Karen T. Borchers/The Palm Beach Post)

Born Herbert Peter Pulitzer, he was the son of Herbert Pulitzer and Gladys Munn. His maternal grandparents were Charles and Carrie Louise (nee Gurnee) Munn. His paternal grandparents were newspaperman Joseph and Katherine (nee Davidson) Pulitzer. He attended St. Mark’s in Southborough, Mass., a feeder school for the Ivy League.

He went to college but soon become bored and dropped out, using a half-million dollars of his family’s money to seed a business career that began with a liquor store and bowling alley and grew to include citrus groves, cattle ranches, a popular Palm Beach restaurant, wide real estate holdings, and hotels.

Along the way, he gained a reputation as a ladies man and married three times. The first was to Lillian “Lilly” McKim who went on to achieve fame as a fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer. He married Roxanne Dixon in 1976 and their acrimonious divorce in 1982 became tabloid fodder. His marriage to Hilary King in 1986 was his longest, 32 years.

April 28

Judith Leiber

Handbag designer Judith Leiber, 97, known for her ornate shiny bags, died within hours of the passing of her husband, abstract painter Gerson Leiber, in their Springs, N.Y., home. They had been married for 72 years.

+ Judith Leiber

Mrs. Leiber was born in Hungary in 1921. She hid in a crammed apartment to survive the Holocaust during World War II. She met her husband, an American GI, during the war and moved to the United States. In 1963, she created her brand, which is best known for its bejeweled bags in whimsical designs. Her bags were popular on the island.

By 1973, Mrs. Leiber was the first woman in her field and first accessories designer to win a Coty award, according to Harper’s, and 20 years later she was the first handbag designer to win the lifetime achievement award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. She sold her company in 1993 but continued to design for the brand for nearly five years.

April 29

Jean-Pierre Leverrier

Jean-Pierre Leverrier, chef and owner of Chez Jean-Pierre, died at age 62.

+ Jean-Pierre Leverrier

Mr. Leverrier’s restaurant was known for its classical northern French cuisine, family-owned atmosphere and freshly baked bread. Mr. Leverrier himself was best known for his charm, his warmth, his love for teaching cooking techniques to his children and grandchildren, and his thoughtful and carefully crafted dishes.

A native of Normandy, he opened Chez Jean-Pierre in November 1991, quickly gaining attention and loyal customers. Mr. Leverrier’s legacy will continue with his sons, Guillaume and David, who are now running the restaurant.

April 30

Lory A. Volk, 60, a resident and passionate preservationist, died after a long illness.

She was a graduate of Forest Hill High School and the University of Florida.

+ Lory Volk

Mrs. Volk was an outspoken advocate for preserving the history and archives of her late father-in-law, noted Palm Beach architect John L. Volk. She co-authored the book John L. Volk, Palm Beach Architect with her late mother-in-law Jane Volk and was chairwoman of the John L. Volk Foundation.

For more than 30 years, Mrs. Volk was a weekly volunteer at the Lourdes-Noreen McKeen residence for geriatric care in West Palm Beach.

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EXCLUSIVE: McKinlay: Palm Beach County, on front line, is taking action

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Melissa McKinlay

This week, the city of West Palm Beach is hosting the 32nd Annual Governor’s Hurricane Conference, which focuses on hurricane planning, preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.

On Sunday, there was an editorial in The Palm Beach Post (“Editorial: The missing threat on the gov’s hurricane conference agenda,” May 13) indicating the conference program does not mention climate change or sea level rise mitigation. Although tide hazards are relatively new, and some of the short and long-term effects are not fully apparent, Palm Beach County and its municipalities have taken critical steps to help protect their communities.

+ The Invading Sea is a collaboration of the editorial boards of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Miami Herald and Palm Beach

Sign up for The Palm Beach Post weekly Opinion newsletter: Pbpo.st/opinionsignup

Climate change effects of rising sea levels will lead to increased high-tide flooding commonly referred to as “king tides” and stronger, more frequent hurricanes.

Fortunately, the county and its municipalities are proactively managing their response to sea level rise and adapting their planning processes to build a more resilient community.

Palm Beach County is a member of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, a collaborative effort along with Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe Counties to work on mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Through the Compact’s Regional Climate Change Action Plan, the Compact helps municipalities implement best practices in risk reduction and emergency management to extreme weather events like hurricanes and flooding. In addition, the Compact developed the Unified Sea Level Rise Projection, which Palm Beach County adopted in 2015, so that the region can use consistent data to better coordinate local planning.

Additionally, much of the county’s disaster response and recovery is intrinsically linked to our regional water management system. The Herbert Hoover Dike is a fragile barrier between Lake Okeechobee and the Glades communities whose farms, businesses, homes, and livelihoods depend upon on the aged infrastructure that is in desperate need of repair. During Hurricane Irma, Palm Beach County had to implement elements of our evacuation plan to ensure the safety of our Glades communities’ residents.

This recent reality underscores the need for critical infrastructure funding so that the basic service of security can be reliably delivered to our citizens. Recently passed federal budget items included full funding to expedite these dike repairs. We are grateful to senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio for securing funds.

Furthermore, Palm Beach County municipalities are working to increase capacities of existing water management infrastructure and beach re-nourishment projects to minimize the effects of sea-level rise and king tides by aggregating funding sources at all government levels. Currently, the county has submitted nine projects to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reduce the effects of sea-level rise and king tides in Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Lake Worth and West Palm Beach.

In the absence of national or international policy direction, Palm Beach County is at the front line of adaptation and mitigation efforts to solve our own problems.

We continue to work with federal and state officials to actively monitor effects of these hazards, while implementing strategies that enhance resiliency and reduce vulnerability to changes in climate.

MELISSA MCKINLAY, WEST PALM BEACH

Editor’s note: Melissa McKinlay is the mayor of Palm Beach County.

The Invading Sea is a collaboration of the editorial boards of the Palm Beach Post, South Florida Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald, with reporting and community engagement assistance from WLRN Public Media. For more information, go to TheInvadingSea.com.

The county and its municipalities are proactively managing their response to sea-level rise and adapting their planning processes to build a more resilient community.

Source Article

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Rabid raccoon bites worker near West Palm Beach

The Florida Department of Health warns wildlife can transmit rabies to pets and people. (iStockPhoto)

A worker at the Breakers West Country Club has tested positive for rabies after a raccoon bite.

According to the Florida Department of Health, on May 4 a raccoon was acting aggressively when it scratched and bit the employee at 1550 Flagler Parkway, outside West Palm Beach.

The health department said a local trapper captured the raccoon and took it to Animal Care and Control for testing. The Breakers West employee is in the process of receiving a five shot series of preventive vaccines.

People are being asked to avoid wildlife at Breakers West.

The is the fourth rabid animal in Palm Beach County this year.

Rabies is a fatal nervous system disease, with the only treatment being a specific immunization.

The Florida Department of Health advises to:

• Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all pets.

• Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately.

• Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood.

• Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.

• Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter.

• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.

• Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.

• Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas where they might come in contact with people and pets.

For further information on rabies, go to the Florida Department of Health website or contact the Florida Health Palm Beach County, at 561-840-4500. Animals showing signs of sickness and aggressive behavior should be reported to Animal Control at 561-233-1200.

WPEC-CBS12 is the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s news partner.

6-year-old boy dies of rabies contracted from a bat

Bat found in dog’s mouth in Palm Beach Gardens tests positive for rabies

Health officials warn of rabid raccoon found near West Palm

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Jewish events in central, north Palm Beach County: May 2-8

green red blue pins on calendar grid User Upload Caption: events calendar photo fpg – Original Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto – Original Source: iStockphoto (masterSergeant / Courtesy)

This calendar includes events taking place in central and northern Palm Beach County between May 2-8.

To submit your event, click here.

WEDNESDAY 2

Pickleball Open Gym – ongoing

Member: Free; Guest: $28./month. 12-2 p.m. Mandel JCC, 8500 Jog Road, Boynton Beach . 561-740-9000. jcconline.com.

Mah Jongg & Canasta Open Play Sessions – ongoing

12:30-3:30 p.m. Member: Free; Guest: $4. Mandel JCC, 8500 Jog Road, Boynton Beach. 561-740-9000. jcconline.com.

THURSDAY 3

Mandel JCC to present – TEN DOLLARS TO HATE

About the Ku Klux Klan in Texas in the 1920s with Author Patricia Bernstein. Mandel JCC in Boynton Beach at 10 a.m. JCC in Palm Beach Gardens at 7 p.m. 8500 Jog Road, Boynton Beach. 5221 Hood Road, Palm Beach Gardens. Visit jcconline.com for pricing.

Bereavement Group

Led by Jordana Singer, LCSW. Free. 1 p.m. Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach, 190 North County Road, Palm Beach. (561) 832-0804. officesec@tepb.org.

Caring for the Caregiver

Temple Emanu-El offers this support group for the community as well as its congregants. It will be led by trained and certified professionals. All are welcome. No charge. 10 a.m. 190 North County Road, Palm Beach. (561) 832-0804. officesec@tepb.org.

Bereavement Group

Help for those that have suffered from the loss of a loved one. Led by: Jordana Singer, LCSW. Free. 1 p.m. Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach, 190 North County Road, Palm Beach. 561-832-0804, officesec@tepb.org or tepb.org.

Minyan Thursdays

Services for if you are observing a Yahrzeit, saying Kaddish for a loved one, or simply wish to begin your day on a spiritual note. Free. 8:15-9 a.m. Temple Emanu-El Palm Beach, 190 North County Road, Palm Beach. 561-832-0804, officesec@tepb.org or tepb.org.

Current Events Discussion

A weekly forum for the exchange of views on various world and local events topics. 9:30-11:30 a.m. Member: Free; Guest: $7. Mandel JCC, 8500 Jog Road, Boynton Beach. 561-740-9000. jcconline.com.

Hebrew across America

Weekly Beginner’s class or advanced speakers looking to brush up on their Hebrew. Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. Congregation L’Dor Va-Dor, Village Square at Golf Center, 3475 W. Woolbright Rd., Suite #19, Boynton Beach. 561-968-0688, ldorvador.org.

Weekly 65+ Singles Rap Session

2:30 – 4 p.m. Temple Shaarei Shalom, 9085 Hagen Ranch Road, Boynton Beach. 561-479-0104.

Weekly Singles Rap Group for Men & Women Age 60+

Smile, talk, learn and mingle. Refreshments are included. $3. 3-4:30 p.m. Temple Shaarei Shalom, 9085 Hagen Ranch Road, Boynton Beach. 561-364-9054.

ACBL Sanctioned Duplicate Bridge

Desserts and coffee are included. $6. 7 p.m. Temple Shaarei Shalom, 9085 Hagen Ranch Road, Boynton Beach. 561-602-6976.

Temple Shaarei Shalom 12 Step Program

Open session. 7:30 p.m. Temple Shaarei Shalom, 9085 Hagen Ranch Rd., Boynton Beach. 561-364-9054 or 561-742-2694.

FRIDAY 4

Cultural Fridays

This series presented on alternating Fridays (with the movies series). Dance, opera, ballet and classical genres are highlighted. Member: Free; Guest $15. 12 p.m. Mandel JCC, 8500 Jog Road, Boynton Beach. 561-740-9000. jcconline.com.

Macular Disease Association of Boynton Beach

Support group meets at Bethesda Hospital East, 2815 S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach. 3 p.m. 561-740-7816, or 561-281-5077.

Support Group at Temple Beth Tikvah

Open support group dealing with grief issues and moving on after loss. 10-11 a.m. Fridays. Temple Beth Tikvah, 4550 Jog Road, Greenacres. 561-967-3600.

Mommy and Me Shabbat Program

For ages 1-5 years. 9:15 a.m. Jewish Camp of The Arts, 844 Prosperity Farms Road, North Palm Beach. RSVP: 561-624-7078.

Temple Emanu-El Palm Beach holds Shabbat Pasión every Friday

Experience Shabbat services infused with a Latin beat. 7 p.m.; every Friday.Temple Emanu-El Palm Beach, 190 N. County Road, Palm Beach. 561-832-0804. tepb.org.

Shabbat Services

Fridays at Anshei Emuna Congregation, 16189 Jog Rd., Delray Beach . 561-499-9229.

Fridays at Congregation Anshei Shalom, 5348 Grove St., West Palm Beach . 561-684-3212.

Fridays at Congregation L’Dor Va-Dor, 9804 S. Military Trail, #E2-4, Boynton Beach. 7:30 p.m. 561-968-0688. info@ldorvador.org.

Fridays at Delray Orthodox Synagogue, 7319 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561-637-6687.

Fridays at New Synagogue of Palm Beach, 235 Sunrise Ave., Palm Beach. 561-514-4064.

Fridays at Palm Beach Synagogue, 120 N. County Road, Palm Beach. 561-838-9002.

Fridays at Temple Anshei Shalom, 7099 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561-495-1300.

Fridays at Temple B’nai Jacob, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite #6, Wellington . 561-793-4347.

Fridays at Temple Beth Am, 2250 Central Blvd., Jupiter . 561-747-1109, Templebetham.com.

Fridays at Temple Beth David, 4657 Hood Road, Palm Beach Gardens. 561-694-2350.

Fridays at Temple Beth El, 2815 N. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach. 561-833-0339.

Fridays at Temple Beth Kodesh, 5901 NE 26th Ave., Boynton Beach. 561-586-9428.

Fridays at Temple Beth Tikvah, 4550 Jog Road, Greenacres. 561-967-3600.

Fridays at Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach, 190 N. County Road. 561-832-0804.

Fridays at Temple Israel, 1901 N. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach. 561-833-8421.

Fridays at Temple Judea, 4311 Hood Road, Palm Beach Gardens. 561-624-4633.

Fridays at Temple Shaarei Shalom, 9085 Hagen Ranch Road, Boynton Beach. 561-364-9054.

Fridays at Temple Sinai, 2475 West Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561-276-6161.

Fridays at Temple Torat Emet, 8600 Jog Road. 561-369-1112.

SATURDAY 5

Shabbat Services

Saturdays at Anshei Emuna Congregation, 16189 Jog Road, Delray Beach. 561-499-9229.

Saturdays at Congregation Anshei Shalom, 5348 Grove St., West Palm Beach. 561-684-3212.

Saturdays at Delray Orthodox Synagogue, 7319 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561-637-6687.

Saturdays at Golden Lakes Temple, 1470 Golden Lakes Blvd., West Palm Beach. 561-689-9430.

Saturdays at New Synagogue of Palm Beach, 235 Sunrise Ave., Palm Beach. 561-514-4064.

Saturdays at Palm Beach Synagogue, 120 N. County Road, Palm Beach. 561-838-9002.

Saturdays at Temple B’nai Jacob, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite #6, Wellington. 561-793-4347.

Saturdays at Temple Beth Am, 2250 Central Blvd, Jupiter. 561-747-1109, templebetham.com.

Saturdays at Temple Beth David, 4657 Hood Road, Palm Beach Gardens. 561-694-2350.

Saturdays at Temple Beth El, 2815 N. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach. 561-833-0339.

Saturdays at Temple Beth Kodesh, 5901 NE 26th Ave., Boynton Beach. 561-586-9428.

Saturdays at Temple Beth Tikvah, 4550 Jog Road, Greenacres. 561-967-3600.

Saturdays at Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach, 190 N. County Road. 561-832-0804.

Saturdays at Temple Israel, 1901 N. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach. 561-833-8421.

Saturdays at Temple Judea, 4311 Hood Road, Palm Beach Gardens. 561-624-4633.

Saturdays at Temple Shaarei Shalom, 9085 Hagen Ranch Road, Boynton Beach. 561-364-9054.

Saturdays at Temple Sinai, 2475 West Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561-276-6161.

Saturdays at Temple Torat Emet, 8600 Jog Road. 561-369-1112.

SUNDAY 6

Senior singles group 65+

Gloria Hausman will present a comedy routine about being a single senior. $3. 3-4:30 p.m. Mandel JCC, 8500 Jog Road, Boynton Beach. (561) 406-0030. gribensja@aol.com.

MONDAY 7

Minyan Mondays

Services for if you are observing a Yahrzeit, saying Kaddish for a loved one, or simply wish to begin your day on a spiritual note. Free. 8:15-9 a.m. Temple Emanu-El Palm Beach, 190 North County Road, Palm Beach. 561-832-0804, officesec@tepb.org or tepb.org.

Political Flashpoint

A weekly discussion group that focuses on domestic and international issues in the news. 10-11:30 a.m. Member: Free; Guest: $7. Mandel JCC, 8500 Jog Road, Boynton Beach, 561-740-9000. jcconline.com.

ACBL Sanctioned Duplicate Bridge

12:30 p.m. $11. Lunch is included. Temple Shaarei Shalom, 9085 Hagen Ranch Road, Boynton Beach. 561-602-6976.

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Another Florida newspaper parts with its real estate

The News-Press building (Credit: Casey Logan /The News-Press)

Another daily newspaper in Florida has parted with pricey urban real estate, this time in Fort Myers.

The News-Press reported that it got $4.75 million for property on a prime corner near downtown Fort Myers in an apparent sale-leaseback deal.

The newspaper will continue to run its newsroom at 2442 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, together with other operations: sales, marketing, accounting and distribution.

The new owner is New York City-based Twenty Lake Holdings, a specialist in acquiring over-sized and underutilized properties from newspapers as they shift from printing to digital publishing.

In March, Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises agreed to sell the Palm Beach Post, to Gatehouse Media but will retain the daily newspaper’s building at Belvedere Road and Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach.

In similar fashion, the Morris family of Augusta, Georgia, sold the Jacksonville Times-Union last year but kept the daily paper’s downtown property for future redevelopment. [News-Press] – Mike Seemuth

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Palm Beach County home prices hit post-crash high

The median price of a house sold in Palm Beach County rose to $348,000 in March.

Palm Beach County home prices hit a post-crash high in March.

The median price of a single-family house sold last month was $348,000, the Realtors of the Palm Beaches and Greater Fort Lauderdale said Monday. That’s up slightly from February’s median of $345,000, and a 7 percent increase from March 2017.

Sales were down slightly, and the number of new listings is scarcely keeping pace with demand. That combination is creating a market that’s frustrating for buyers but lucrative for sellers.

For instance, a house in the Riverwalk of the Palm Beaches development along Okeechobee Boulevard recently fetched $418,000 a new record for a four-bedroom house without a pool in that neighborhood, said Douglas Rill, owner of Century 21 America’s Choice.

While sellers are seeking ever-more ambitious prices, buyers are struggling with the combination of tight inventories and home values that are increasing more quickly than their paychecks.

"Buyers are still anxious to get on the boat before it leaves the station," Rill said. "I think they see we’re in a slow, steady crawl up, and they want to get on before things get any less affordable."

Meanwhile, mortgage rates are rising, creating what Rill calls “a double whammy” for buyers. The average rate for a 30-year mortgage rose to 4.47 percent last week, the highest level since January 2014, lending giant Freddie Mac said Thursday.

“It is very much still a seller’s market in Palm Beach County as the median sales price continues to increase and inventory tightens,” said Jeffrey Levine, a West Palm Beach broker and president-elect of the Realtors of the Palm Beaches and Greater Fort Lauderdale.

Houses priced at $250,000 to $300,000 occupy the hottest spot in Palm Beach County housing market. Properties in that price range found a buyer in a median of just 34 days. By contrast, mansions priced at $1 million or more needed 185 days to go to contract.

Trends were similar in the condo and townhouse market. The typical Palm Beach County condo that sold in March fetched $177,000, up 9 percent from a year ago. But the number of sales fell 2 percent from a year ago.

Nationally, the median price for all types of homes sold in March was $250,400, up 5.8 percent from March 2017, the National Association of Realtors said Monday.

In Florida, the median price rose to $250,800, also marking a post-crash high, the Florida Realtors said. March’s price increase marks the 75th straight month of year-over-year gains in Florida’s housing market.

Home prices still remain well below record levels. During the housing bubble, the county’s median resale price peaked at $421,500 in November 2005 (a sum, that if adjusted for inflation, equates to $532,323 in today’s dollars). Within a few years, the median price had crashed to less than $200,000.

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Pulte to build 36 affordable townhouses in West Palm Beach

A townhouse at Pulte’s Parkview at Hillcrest development in Hollywood

Pulte Homes will build 36 affordable townhouses in partnership with the West Palm Beach Housing Authority.

Prices will range from $140,000 to $180,000 for the townhouses, which would have an average of 1,300 square feet of interior space plus a garage.

Pulte will build the townhouses on land owned by the West Palm Beach Housing Authority at 1906 Merry Place in West Palm Beach. The location is just west of U.S. Highway 1 and approximately seven blocks north of Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard.

As a developer of a large-scale residential community in Palm Beach County, Pulte is required to build affordable homes or contribute to the county’s affordable housing fund.

Patrick Gonzalez, vice president of land development in the Southeast Florida division of Pulte, said the 36 townhouses will meet Pulte’s affordable housing requirement for building the Fields at Gulfstream, a 916-home development near Lake Worth.

Gonzalez also said the affordable townhouses will have the same quality as the market-rate townhouses that Pulte builds. [South Florida Business Journal] – Mike Seemuth

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Palm Beach couple doesn’t want to give up oceanfront living at Bellaria

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The condominium at Bellaria has 3,219 square feet of living space, inside and on its balconies. It is listed for $4.39 million. Photo by Tom Tracy, courtesy Linda R. Olsson Inc.

Peter Lukes and Silvia Kusnirova’s oceanfront condominium in Bellaria on the South End turned out to be the perfect fit for them. Because of their work, they live in Bratislava, Slovenia, and have spent only a couple months a year in Palm Beach.

Lukes bought the condo 10 years ago as a second home, a year before the two married, explains Kusnirova. And she has enjoyed the unit — No. 308S at 3000 S. Ocean Blvd. — as much as her husband, she says.

“Bellaria is the right place for us. Since we don’t live in a seaside country, it was necessary for us to have an oceanfront apartment here. … And when we head back to Europe, we just close our door, and management takes care of our home for us.”

PHOTOS: Oceanfront condominium in Bellaria, 3000 S. Ocean Blvd.

These days, however, their work schedule allows them more flexibility, and they plan to spend more time in Florida. For that reason, they have purchased a bigger condo. And although they are moving, they are also staying put.

“Bellaria doesn’t compare to other places,” she says. “We were really lucky. Our neighbors were selling an apartment, and we love Bellaria so much that we bought it, staying in the same building but on another floor.”

As such, their third-floor, three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath unit has been offered for sale furnished with Linda Olsson, broker of Linda R. Olsson Inc. She has set a price of $4.39 million for the apartment, which has 3,219 square feet of living space, inside and on its balconies.

The apartment is in the southernmost of Bellaria’s two buildings, and its front door is on the north side. A hallway leads to the living room, where an oceanfront terrace faces east. The dining room, kitchen and oceanfront breakfast room are south of the living room. At the west end of the unit are the guest bedroom suite and the master suite.

Lukes bought the condominium from its developer.

“It was new, very nice and ready to decorate — and we have wonderful marble floors and marble bathrooms,” his wife explains.

+ In the living room of No. 308S at 3000 S. Ocean Blvd., an oceanfront terrace faces east. Photo by Tom Tracy,

Other features include walls of glass offering sea views from the living room and breakfast room, a gas fireplace with a marble mantelpiece in the living room, carpeted floors in the bedrooms and plantation shutters on south-facing windows throughout. A terrace off the master bedroom provides views of the Intracoastal Waterway to the west.

Details in the island kitchen include walnut cabinetry, granite countertops, professional-grade appliances and a wine cooler.

“It’s an open-floor-plan kitchen connecting to a nice eating area,” Kusnirova says. “It’s oceanfront and makes a fabulous breakfast place. I love cooking and when I’m working in the kitchen, I have the brightest (workspace) and most picturesque view.”

+ “It’s oceanfront and makes a fabulous breakfast place,” Silvia Kusnirova says of the breakfast area with the view. Photo by Tom

… read more

With a Palm Beach address, Bellaria was completed in 2008 immediately south of the Lake Worth public beach, pier and casino complex. Both buildings have five residential floors and 18 units. The development was designed by the late Palm Beach architect Gene Lawrence for Gordon Deckelbaum and Mike Kempner of Premier Developers.

Bellaria’s amenities include direct beach access, a gym, a billiards room, a media room and a party space.

“Living here is like having a modern home proximate to the beach, with great amenities and an Olympic-size pool,” Kusnirova says. “With this unit on the third floor, there’s an immediate connection to the ocean. It feels almost like you are stepping into the water.

“When the sun reflects off the ocean’s surface, it makes an amazing ever-changing canvas. Our second-floor apartment does not have the (same feeling), and I’ll really miss that,” she says.

“We are passionate art collectors and we needed more walls. Otherwise, we would never have given up our apartment.”

+ The open-floor plan kitchen connects to an eating area. It “makes a fabulous breakfast place,” says Silvia Kusnirova. Photo by Tom

… read more

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West Palm Beach, FL Real Estate: Newly Listed Homes for Sale

The houses for sale in and around West Palm Beach are just a small portion of more than 4 million homes sold in Florida. and across the United States every year. We’re not just talking listed homes for sale, either. We’re talking about homes for sale — that sell.

Looking for a home to buy? Or do you just like looking at what homes are on the market? Either way, here are the latest homes for sale in and around West Palm Beach listed by our partners at realtor.com.

The houses for sale in and around West Palm Beach are just a small portion of more than 4 million homes sold in Florida. and across the United States every year. We’re not just talking listed homes for sale, either. We’re talking about homes for sale — that sell.

Looking for a home to buy? Or do you just like looking at what homes are on the market? Either way, here are the latest homes for sale in and around West Palm Beach listed by our partners at realtor.com.

The houses for sale in and around West Palm Beach are just a small portion of more than 4 million homes sold in Florida. and across the United States every year. We’re not just talking listed homes for sale, either. We’re talking about homes for sale — that sell.

Looking for a home to buy? Or do you just like looking at what homes are on the market? Either way, here are the latest homes for sale in and around West Palm Beach listed by our partners at realtor.com.

The houses for sale in and around West Palm Beach are just a small portion of more than 4 million homes sold in Florida. and across the United States every year. We’re not just talking listed homes for sale, either. We’re talking about homes for sale — that sell.

Looking for a home to buy? Or do you just like looking at what homes are on the market? Either way, here are the latest homes for sale in and around West Palm Beach listed by our partners at realtor.com.

The houses for sale in and around West Palm Beach are just a small portion of more than 4 million homes sold in Florida. and across the United States every year. We’re not just talking listed homes for sale, either. We’re talking about homes for sale — that sell.

Looking for a home to buy? Or do you just like looking at what homes are on the market? Either way, here are the latest homes for sale in and around West Palm Beach listed by our partners at realtor.com.

The houses for sale in and around West Palm Beach are just a small portion of more than 4 million homes sold in Florida. and across the United States every year. We’re not just talking listed homes for sale, either. We’re talking about homes for sale — that sell.

Looking for a home to buy? Or do you just like looking at what homes are on the market? Either way, here are the latest homes for sale in and around West Palm Beach listed by our partners at realtor.com.

The houses for sale in and around West Palm Beach are just a small portion of more than 4 million homes sold in Florida. and across the United States every year. We’re not just talking listed homes for sale, either. We’re talking about homes for sale — that sell.

Looking for a home to buy? Or do you just like looking at what homes are on the market? Either way, here are the latest homes for sale in and around West Palm Beach listed by our partners at realtor.com.

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The post West Palm Beach, FL Real Estate: Newly Listed Homes for Sale appeared first on NICOLES BOOK MUSINGS.

More Info At: http://www.nicolesbookmusings.com/west-palm-beach-fl-real-estate-newly-listed-homes-for-sale/

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West Palm Beach, FL Real Estate: Foreclosures

Foreclosures listed for sale in and around West Palm Beach could provide opportunities to move into a home you couldn’t afford otherwise. Foreclosures for sale are still being listed regularly all across Florida, including in West Palm Beach.

So where can you find foreclosures in West Palm Beach? Here’s a look at the most recent listings from our partners at realtor.com.

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More Info At: http://www.nicolesbookmusings.com/west-palm-beach-fl-real-estate-foreclosures/

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Florida Realtor Brian Frederick Duffner Launches New Real Estate Website: IndianwoodGolfAndCountryClub.Online

"The Producer$" with Producers Realty of Florida are fully licensed Florida Team Realtors with over $350 million in closed sales.

JUPITER, Fla., March 13, 2018 (Newswire.com) – Brian Duffner and Jayne Carruthers with South Florida Mobile Home Sales, have launched a new business website at: IndianwoodGolfAndCountryClub.Online. The website highlights the community of Indianwood Golf and Country Club and their background and extensive sales experience as well as valuable information for real estate buyers and sellers.

Brian Duffner is a fully-licensed Florida realtor, who with his business partner Jayne Carruthers, known as "The Producer$" with Producers Realty of Florida, have more than $350 million in closed sales. The two fully licensed Florida Team Realtors are one of the top producing real estate teams with more than 70 years of combined experience, specializing in Florida residential and commercial real estate markets. With a 100 percent commissioned-based office, they offer confidential interviews. For more information, call Jayne Carruthers at 561-510-0079.

South Florida Mobile Home Sales came to be when more and more people were asking Duffner and Carruthers to sell their modular homes. They specialize is selling modular homes with and without a lot share. Even if the property is rented where the home is situated in a mobile home park, they can sell the home. In addition, South Florida Mobile Home Sales proudly sponsors Little Smiles, a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization that helps caring professionals bring joy to children in tough situations.

Jayne and I are excited by the launch of our these new websites where all the information about our background, our company, and the exceptional real estate services we offer can be found. We pride ourselves on the relationships we build with our community and with our clients, which has led to us being ranked in the top 100 producing teams in the area.

Brian Duffner is a former B-52 crewmember with the United States Air Force who has flown around the world and has worked with the City of Boca Raton Police Department. He is a member of the Mega Million Dollar Club, designated as a multi-million dollar producer, and a member of the Realtor Association of the Palm Beaches.

Brian Duffner has more than 40 years of sales experience working both as a collaborative team member and business owner. His confidence and high energy coupled with being detailed and result-oriented, have allowed Duffner to be a persuasive communicator with strong negotiating skills. He provides flawless execution and implementation of innovative strategies that accomplish his client’s real estate goals time after time.

Brian Duffner has Also Launched the Following New Web Sites:

"Jayne and I are excited by the launch of our these new websites where all the information about our background, our company, and the exceptional real estate services we offer can be found," says Brian Duffner. "We pride ourselves on the relationships we build with our community and with our clients, which has led to us being ranked in the top 100 producing teams in the area."

Brian Duffner offers his extensive real estate knowledge to both buyers and sellers and has full-statewide access to the MLS listing service. More information about him and Jayne and available properties can be found by visiting www.producers1.com & www.indianwoodgolfandcountryclub.online.

South Florida Mobile Home Sales

South Florida Mobile Home Sales is a top producing Real Estate Firm with sales in Martin County, Palm Beach County and St. Lucie County areas. They serve the Jupiter, Palm Beach, Indiantown, Hobe Sound, Stuart, Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Loxahatchee, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington areas. Brian Duffner and his partner Jayne Carruthers specialize in residential and commercial properties in these areas. Together they offer expert real estate services and knowledge and a friendly personalized service. Brian and Jayne have been selling and marketing homes in Palm Beach County for more than 30 years. For more information, visit: www.producers1.com & www.indianwoodgolfandcountryclub.online.

Media Contact Brian Duffner Office: 772-597-4812 Mobile: 561-352-0183 Email: BrianDuffner57@gmail.com Email: SouthFloridaMobileHomeSales@Gmail.com

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More Info At: http://www.nicolesbookmusings.com/florida-realtor-brian-frederick-duffner-launches-new-real-estate-website-indianwoodgolfandcountryclub-online/

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Job growth in Florida, Palm Beach County slows

Construction at The Bristol in West Palm Beach. (Allen Eyestone / The Palm Beach Post)

Florida’s labor market remains near full employment, but job creation has slowed markedly, according to state and federal reports released Monday.

Florida’s annual pace of job growth fell to 1.8 percent in January, down from 2.6 percent in December. The state routinely had ranked among the national leaders in job creation in recent years, but in January Florida fell to 10th place, trailing California, Texas and a number of smaller states.

Perhaps the cooling of Florida’s labor market was inevitable. Texas, for instance, long led the nation in job growth amid an energy boom, only to see its pace of job creation slow as oil prices plunged.

Gus Faucher, chief economist at PNC Financial Services, says Florida’s current pace looks “sustainable.”

“I would expect Florida will continue to see above-average job growth, just not as far ahead of the national average as it has been,” Faucher said. “You worry that if job growth is too strong, that’s going to overheat the labor market.”

Palm Beach County, for its part, turned in another tepid performance, with job growth of 1.3 percent, a bit below the national average of 1.5 percent.

Despite the slowdown in job creation, unemployment rates remain near historic lows. The statewide unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in January, unchanged from December and slightly below the national unemployment of 4.1 percent.

In Palm Beach County, the jobless rate rose to 3.9 percent in January from 3.5 percent in December. The county numbers aren’t seasonally adjusted, and employment peaks in December for the holiday shopping frenzy.

In his statement about the monthly jobs numbers, Gov. Rick Scott made no mention of the slowdown in job growth.

Construction remains a bright spot in Florida’s labor market. The construction sector was the fastest-growing industry, adding positions at a 5.8 percent clip over the past year.

In Palm Beach County, houses are under construction in the new city of Westlake and at Arden west of Lion Country Safari. The two projects mark a return to the large-scale homebuilding that fell dormant after the housing crash.

And construction workers have been building apartment complexes such as the Park-Line and Broadstone in downtown West Palm Beach, The Bristol condo tower on Flagler Drive and the new Southern Boulevard bridge between West Palm Beach and Palm Beach.

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