I-95 TRAFFIC RELIEF COMING TO BOCA AND OTHER COUNTY AREAS

Have you noticed changes along the road on I-95 in Boca Raton?

Construction begins on the long-awaited I-95 new interchange, fourteen years in the making, with exit and entrance ramps going on to Spanish River Boulevard just north of the overpass, and leading directly to Florida Atlantic University.  Nearby exits on Glades Road, the most congested roadway in the county, and Palmetto Park Road, will get some traffic relief.  The downside is that this $66.6MM project will take three years to complete.  On the upside, FDOT is extending the city’s El Rio biking/walking trail under Yamato Road.

The ramp network will connect I-95, Spanish River and Yamato Roads with additional lanes on I-95 between the Glades and Spanish River interchanges and between the Yamato and Congress Avenue interchange.  Spanish River Road will be widened west of Florida Atlantic Boulevard.  The new FAU stadium will be more accessible.  One recorded comment from a student/retiree who wants to avoid the ensuing congestion is that her “next class will be in three years”.

New turn lanes or wider ramps are coming at other I-95 interchanges, including this year, construction at Woolbright Road, 10th Avenue North, Hypoluxo Road and Donald Ross Road.  Future improvements will be made at Atlantic Avenue, Linton Boulevard, Blue Heron Boulevard and  PGA Boulevard.

Installation of noise walls along I-95 has begun with construction near San de Vance and homes on Yamato near the entrance ramp.  Two bridges will be built over the El Rio Canal as part of the entrance ramps to I-95 and Yamato from Spanish River.  With one lane of traffic remaining open at all times, other lane closures will occur between 9 am and 5  pm Sunday thru Thursday.  Gear up with magazines in your car to browse when traffic is at a standstill, DVDs or radio to play, and texting to do safely.

THESE SIGNS YOU WILL PROBABLY NOT SEE

  

   

 

LANDMARKS COMMISSION TO SPEAK ABOUT ADDISON MIZNER AT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The most singular name associated with this century’s Palm Beach history is that of architect Addison Mizner.  Immediate pictures come to mind upon mention of his name, of fabulous buildings he built in the area for the Palm Beach elite.  Mizner led a colorful personal life and became the prolific “go to man” for designing and decorating grand palaces in the 1920’s, some of which are visible as you drive along the famed coastline of Palm Beach and amidst its streets, though others have been torn down.

In keeping with their mission to collect, preserve and share the history of Palm Beach County, the non-profit Historical Society of Palm Beach County includes a program in their Distinguished Lecture Series about the world-famous, talented, colorful architect, whose influence over the appearance of Palm Beach was enormous, and continues to be imitated to this day.  

Members of the Historical Society (admitted for free) and non-members ($20 admission fee) are welcome at 7 pm on December 10^th at The Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum, 300 North Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach.  Head to the 3^rd Floor Courtroom inside the historic 1916 Palm Beach County Courthouse where the Museum is housed.  You can stay afterwards for the reception and book signing.  Free parking is available directly across the street of the north side of the Courthouse.  Entry is at the southeast corner of 4^th Street and Dixie, across from the WPB Fire Rescue Station, from 6 pm on.  For further information call 561-832-4164.

Author Richard Silvin, born in Switzerland, former health care corporate executive, began to write non-fiction books when he retired.  Silvin, who is a Landmarks Preservation Commission member, will give a lecture about “Villa Mizner, The House That Changed Palm Beach”, which was Mizner’s own house, and people of note in Palm Beach, in those times, mentioning others who lived in the house after Mizner passed away in 1933.  Other non-fiction books he wrote include, “Noblesse Oblige: The Duchess of Windsor as I Knew Her,” “I Survived Swiss Boarding Schools,” and “Walking the Rainbow.”

The Historical Society has archives with almost 2MM photographic images, maps, newspapers, journals, periodicals, architectural drawings and research files regarding events and people who shaped Palm Beach County.  They offer educational programs to schools about Palm Beach’s history which goes back 12,000 years.

ABOUT WEICHERT REALTY

·       Independent research ranks Weichert.com among the top five of all real estate broker websites

·       Site averages over 3MM visits monthly and 700,000 to mobile website

·       Average visit duration of 11+ minutes outpaces most major real estate companies and in some cases nearly doubles them

·       Our full-time internet marketing team ensures maximum exposure by bidding on over 1MM keywords on major search engines to lead to Weichert.com

·       Weichert.com listings gain additional exposure on an ever-growing list of sites like Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, Wall St Journal and New York Times

MARILYN FARBER JACOBS is licensed with WEICHERT-Heath & Joseph, Boynton Beach – 82 agents in our office who may come to a caravan of your property when Marilyn lists it, for an open house!  Keep in mind that MARILYN KNOWS THE COUNTRY CLUBS, THE WATERFRONT, ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITIES, HOMES IN A-RATED SCHOOL DISTRICTS and can list and quickly sell your property (even if it did not sell so far) and find you “the home of your dreams”!  Need an agent in another area?  No problem… ASK MARILYN!

MANDATORY CHANGES COMING TO YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE

Homeland Security developed the federal REAL ID ACT OF 2005 for the issuance of state-issued drivers licenses and identification cards.  After 2016, those under age  50  will need the new star on your drivers license for access to federal buildings and commercial airline flights (though 2 forms of ID suffice for airlines).  For those over 50, the date is 2017.  The purposes of this change are to reduce fraud and to fight terrorism.

This process cannot be done online.  You must appear in person at a service center (https://www.pbctax.com/locations) and have with you proof of date of birth, social security number and residential address.

If you need copies of these documents, see https://www.pbctax.com/sites/default/files/pdf/ENG_checklist_envelope_2013-04-02.pdf

LOCAL "TASTE HISTORY CULTURAL TOURS OF HISTORIC PALM BEACH" PROVIDES HISTORY, ART, CULTURE AND TRAVEL INFO

This multi-cultural culinary tour is for history buffs and foodies.  The Culture Trip, an international news agency cited this tour among their Florida’s 10 Best Food Festivals and Fiestas.   TripBuzz ranked this tour as #7 out of 118 nearby activities.  South Beach Wine and Food Festival and the Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival recognize this tour.

Visit 3 to 4 restaurants for hearty food tastings and trips to historic districts, unique restaurants, historic buildings, art districts and art galleries.  

Areas toured include Northwood Village/West Palm Beach; Lake Worth and Lantana; Delray Beach and Boynton Beach and private tours can be arranged. These local tours are available year-round and go on, rain or shine.

These guide-narrated 4-hour tours are done by bus for 15-20 people.  In Delray Beach, it’s early history is described from its first Midwest founders, William Linton and David Swinton, to early landowners including Henry Flagler and William and Sara Gleason.

Some eating experiences are standing-only.  Dietary restrictions and substitutions cannot be provided.  Some eateries are cafes, restaurants, bakeries, pastry shops, markets, food stands, an urban farm, historic buildings, cultural centers and art galleries.  See their facebook page for pix.

Tours are held on 2^nd, 3^rd and4th Saturdays at 11 a.m.  There is about 4-6 blocks of walking.  Tours travel through historic districts and neighborhoods.  Each tour varies its stops. 

Pre-payment of $40 per person is required; children under 18 are free when accompanied by an adult, but you must call to verify that space is available.  After February 15, 2015, the new tour rate will be $45 per person for Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth and Lantana; $50 per person for West Palm Beach as bus rental and insurance fees have gone up. 

Tours board at Macy’s outside east entrance at the Boynton Beach Mall in Boynton Beach.  The tours are sponsored partly by Macy’s, famous for its culinary tools department, and discounts are given to trip participants.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY BECOMING A CONDO CONVERSION sez THE REAL DEAL

As a condo conversion, it would be hard to find the privacy, security and exclusivity plus the historic feeling and water views... and it is a landmark!

The article states that parking will be featured at the base of the statue along with high-end retail stores, a five star restaurants and maids quarters.  Affordable housing would be limited.  Applicants just have to pass the reasonable credit check.

See more including layout of condos and prices at: http://therealdeal.com/blog/2014/10/12/what-if-
the-statue-of-liberty-was-condo-conversion/#sthash.SFI2GuqF.dpuf

(THIS IS A SATIRE BUT CLICK THE LINK TO SEE THE 

IDEAS FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE STATUE) 

PALM BEACH CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS ARE FORGING AHEAD WITH NEW DEVELOPMENTS

The Dreher Park Zoo and Science Center are planning an ecotourism complex that is estimated to attract 2.2MM annual visitors, and to be the largest destination in the US focused on conservation and environment.  Cost slated to range between $93MM and $123MM, and result after 10 years, in an annual impact of $300MM. Joint venture agreement discussions to lay out roles and responsibilities are being held.  Plans call for a butterfly haven, rope canopy tour, IMAX theatre, outdoor Everglades exhibit, environment education center, and more.  Next February, completion is scheduled for the science center’s west wing, doubling its usable space over the past four years to 40,000 sq ft.  It’s last fiscal year ended with a $30,000 surplus.  By the end of the year, the zoo will have doubled the size of its Malayan tiger habitat.

 

 

The Norton Museum has begun rehabbing six historic houses it owns on Cranesnest Way and is planning an expansion to reorient the Dixie Highway entrance, and to add 15,000 sq ft of new or renovated gallery space.

Palm Beach Atlantic University’s 78-acre Marshall and Vera Lee Rinker Athletic Campus has raised more than $15MM to benefit the athletic campus, academic programs and scholarships.  The President of the College stated that the school’s economic impact on the community is $345MM.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR TO ATTEND “AN AFTERNOON WITH ANN ROMNEY”

A most accomplished woman who focuses on being a wife, mother and grandmother, she also works with community and faith-based organizations and served a First Lady of Massachusetts when husband Mitt was Governor.

In 1998 she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and volunteers time to raise awareness of this disease.

Mrs. Romney is a beautiful woman in so many ways.  The Romneys just celebrated their 45^th wedding anniversary, have 5 sons and 5 daughters-in-law and 22 grandchildren.

As part of the Esther B. O ‘Keeffe Speaker Series, this presentation will be held at 3  pm on Tuesday, January 6, 2015, at The Four Arts’ Gubelmann Auditorium.    Show Membership Card (admits 2) at door; non-members pay$35 each and tickets are available one hour before the lecture (cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are all accepted).

BOCA RATON VOTED 7TH MOST EXCITING PLACE TO LIVE IN FLORIDA BY MOVOTO REAL ESTATE BLOG

Cities with at least 30,000 residents were considered, and 99 were found.  Boca Raton was the 4^th place active life and arts ranking with nightlife and music venues scoring high too.  Boca placed third in non-fast food restaurants.

GREAT PLACES IN AMERICA NAMES WEST PALM BEACH'S HISTORIC CLEMATIS STREET IN TOP 10 BEST STREETS IN AMERICA

Since the 1890’s, Clematis Street has been the commercial district for Palm Beach County.  Initial surveyors and engineers for Henry Flagler’s East Coast Railroad (1893) planned the area’s configuration.  Since 1990 it has been a two-way street.  The 500 block is listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1996.  A waterfront park and pavilion connects the waterfront to Clematis Street.  From the park you can walk the waterfront and admire the really big boats docked there. Since 2009, there is a new library and city hall complex.

Locals and visitors are drawn to the street with festivals, annual events and concerts.  Catch the trolley that connects CityPlace, train and bus stations, Palm Beach Atlantic University and downtown West Palm Beach.  Some call it, “Main Street,” and “the entertainment center of West Palm Beach”, a living room, where people relax, have fun, shop, dine and do business.  There are antique shops to browse, colorful boutiques to find that one-of-a-kind item, nightclubs, a movie plex and some upscale stores and restaurants nearby. Have a drink and dine at Bradleys across from the Intracoastal Waterway and enjoy crowd watching.  Architecture is authentic and eclectic, evolving over the last century, including every era and style. 

Historic buildings abound with shops and restaurants on the ground floors of historic buildings.  On higher floors you can find startups, small tech companies, and artists.  Residents’ non –traditional work schedules activate and energize the street, often in the later hours. Some retailers have been there for 100 years.  Drop in to Segway Tours, “the best way to see the area”, and voted # 1 by Trip Advisor of 24 West Palm Beach Activities.  Rent a self-balancing “Personal Transporter,” a motorized “scooter” that changes direction by leaning that way.  Modern dance clubs and health food emporiums are included.  “Clematis by Night” offers a fountain-side concert series, food art and children’s activities.  .  After browsing an art gallery, sit outside and have coffee or wine and cheese.  “SunFest,” the annual boat show and “Corvettes on Clematis” are well attended events with the area drawing about 80,000 visitors a week.

Nearby places to enjoy are The Kravis Center where top stars perform, the Convention Center with art, antiques and jewelry shows, and lots of interesting street browsing.  The area encompasses 5 blocks from Flagler Drive to Rosemary Avenue.

Next time you are looking to have fun, head over to Clematis Street!

PALM BEACH FOUR ARTS SOCIETY HAS NEW COLORFUL NATURE MURALS IN GUBELMANN AUDITORIUM

A 1930's building originally designed by Addison Mizner as The Embassy Club now houses the Four Arts Society, which includes the fabulous Gubelmann Auditorium.

Electrifying red colors that echo the Auditorium’s dominant color, and a newly exposed row of arches, add an illusion of looking through arched windows at a Florida sunset, according to the Palm Beach Daily News (“Shiny Sheet”). The previous “plain” look was said to be drab.  Budget surplus was used for these improvements.  The Auditorium seats 700 and features state-of-the-art electronics to ensure that the sound of a symphony playing in the Gubelmann Auditorium can be heard with great detail – even for those with severe hearing loss.

Included in the new arched murals are Florida-local birds and plants such as ibis, roseate spoonbill, hibiscus, magnolia, sea grape, palms and pines.  Mixed acrylic paint and casein were used to produce surface resonance for improved acoustics.

Presentations in the auditorium and within the complex include concerts, art exhibits, films, lecture series, library series, events in the botanical and sculpture gardens, classes on painting and art, and other cultural offerings.  There is a popular Children’s Library.  The Campus on the Lake offers cultural education lectures, workshops, classes and field trips exploring art, music, literature, drama and the art of living well.

The original 1930’s building was the Addison Mizner-designed Embassy Club. 

For more information: http://www.fourarts.org/

 

 

PALM BEACH "IN TOWN" INVESTMENT PROPERTY

PHIPPS PLAZA 3-story landmarked Mediterranean style home that can be single family, or have rental units and owner still live there.  Right now there are 3 long term renters in units.  One block to ocean.  fireplaces, high pecky cypress ceilings, frog fountain, courtyard with park view, master upstairs, no HOA.  Located in center of town, walk to shop, dine et al. 

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