An incentive plan that would allow for the development of waterfront skyscrapers in downtown West Palm Beach was nixed on Thursday. Photo is of West Palm Beach (Credit: Andyxox).
West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio killed a proposed plan that would have allowed 30-story office towers in the city’s downtown waterfront – where only five stories are currently allowed. Its purpose was to encourage high-end office development, in turn attracting employers and their employees, the mayor said.
Office development has been limited in the area, and the plan would have incentivized historic churches to sell their development rights by changing the downtown master plan, according to the Palm Beach Post.
Residents who opposed the proposal said it would hurt new development away from the waterfront, like Jeff Greene’s One West Palm, create traffic and block water views.
Greene’s planned $250 million development, at 550 North Quadrille Boulevard, will take up an entire block and include two 30-floor towers that look like stacked blocks. One tower will have 200,000 square feet of Class A office space, and the other will include a five-star hotel with 209 guest suites and 84 luxury condo or rental units above that.
Greene said he wouldn’t move forward with the project, weeks away from laying its foundation, if the city approved the incentive plan, the Palm Beach Post reported.
West Palm’s Downtown Action Committee also opposed the proposal, which will now go back to the drawing board. [Palm Beach Post] – Katherine Kallergis
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