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April: Letter From Palm Beach: Our Town

Danielle Moore

Our Town
Lisa and John Cregan
#1 Ranked Team at Sotheby’s Palm Beach

It Might be a Stretch to Compare a Town with 54 Billionaires to Grover’s Corners, but there are days when Palm Beach is every bit the same small American village Thornton Wilder imagined.
One of those days rolls around every April when the Palm Beach Civic Association hosts its annual meeting at the Flagler Museum. Following the pledge of allegiance, commendations to hero cops and shout-outs to local school kids, the meeting gets down to the main event– the Mayor’s State of the Town address. Current mayor, Danielle “Dani” Moore (above), herself the daughter of a former mayor, launched into the long list of items on her plate. Everything from parks and pickleball to wonky zoning issues to tricky negotiations with our mainland neighbors over water. Her audience, sprinkled with Fortune 500 CEOs, sat entranced.
For 80 years, the Civic Association has played the role of Our Town’s Stage Manager, explicating, educating, prodding the town to make decisions that will “Protect and Improve the Quality of Life in Palm Beach’ (line item #1 in its mission statement). This letter’s co-author, John Cregan, has been a Director for nearly a dozen years but during that time has known only one Civic Association chair– Palm Beach’s own GE exec turned media mogul, Bob Wright. In a prime example of the over-the-top talent accessible to the town, our little civic affairs organization has been run by the former head of NBC.
As you’d guess, Bob pushed the association to enhance it’s communication with the citizenry through offerings like PBTV, but he also provided strong leadership and Civic Association funding for studies of serious subjects like a threatened expansion of the port in nearby Riviera Beach, the under-grounding of the island’s utility lines and the ever-fraught topic of Worth Avenue parking. At this year’s April meeting Bob stepped down as Chairman and CEO after 13 years at the helm.
He’s going to be dearly missed.

Market Color: Condo, Condo, Condo, Condo

Tax Time Seems Like the Perfect Time to Discuss What’s
going on with the Palm Beach area condo market. As evidenced in the “Closed Sales” metric above and Pending Sales below, we’ve been experiencing a very busy Spring in the condo market.
We think there are two clear drivers behind the most recent activity. One is the urgency of buyers from high tax states to find a Florida home in time to declare residency. The other is more mundane, but no less urgent– the rising cost of local hotel rooms. In a classic case of supply and demand, on-island room rates have skyrocketed over the last few years. Multiply that rate by 2x or even 3x for a family, take an extended stay of a week or two, and a condo of your own suddenly seems downright practical!

Our Current Listings

*Our Newest Listing* 168 Kings Road
Classic Palm Beach Regency Style

168 Kings Road

168 Kings Road, Palm Beach

$14,900,000

5
Bedrooms
7
Bathrooms
4,874
Sq Ft.
Classic Palm Beach Regency home, designed in 1959 by Henry Harding, on a very generous 16,500+ sqft estate section lot. Meticulously renovated and maintained with full impact glass, a new two car garage and wine storage topped by a guest/staff quarters apartment. The home features 11-12′ ceilings, multiple spaces for entertaining and guests, and as many as 5 bedrooms with en suite baths depending on a buyer’s needs. First floor primary bedroom features his/her baths and closets. And the oversized lot allows room for a gracious auto forecourt, large pool and airy backyard.
Request A Private Showing

*Our Listing* The Beachy North End Lifestyle
Wrapped in a Pristine Renovation

255 El Pueblo Way

255 El Pueblo Way, Palm Beach

$13,900,000

4
Bedrooms
4
Bathrooms
3,408
Sq Ft.
This EXCEPTIONAL 1939 home has just been dazzlingly updated by architect Pat Segraves. Natural light pours in from tall windows and a mature tropical landscape anchored by an amazing mango tree comes into view the moment you open the door. Sited on a prime North End block with a neighborhood beach terrace at one end and Lake Trail access at the other, this 4BR/4BA Bermuda style house is casual family beach living at its best! Airy vaulted beamed ceilings, sliding glass doors that open on to a 25′ pool, a brand new eat-in kitchen off of a lovely breakfast garden and a new cypress-paneled family room that could easily be converted to a downstairs primary bedroom suite, complete with its own terrace shaded by a louvered pergola. 12,600 sqft lot. The thorough renovation includes new roof, impact windows, air conditioning and electrical systems while preserving the home’s charming original details.
Request A Private Showing

*New For Lease* 316 Seabreeze Avenue
Recent Construction in the
Heart of the Sea Streets

316 Seabreeze Avenue

316 Seabreeze Avenue, Palm Beach

$40,000 Per Month Annual/$60,000 Seasonal

3
Bedrooms
4
Bathrooms
2,470
Sq Ft.

Available June 1st for annual or seasonal lease. 2019 construction in the heart of the Sea Streets, Beautiful kitchen and baths with every feature you could wish for. Two large bedrooms with ensuite baths in main house, California king in master and queen bed in guest room. Guest House/Pool Cabana out back with its own beautiful new bath and living room furnished with a queen sized bed, or can be furnished with a L-shaped sofa hiding a pullout queen bed.

Rental Terms:
Annual: $40,000 Per Month

Request A Private Showing

*Our Listing* Exquisite Recently Built Home
on the West Palm Beach Waterfront

2305 S Flagler Drive

2305 S Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach

$24,900,000

4
Bedrooms
6
Bathrooms
7,314
Sq Ft.
Heaven on the El Cid waterfront. Impeccable 2020 new construction with exquisite attention to detail, every modern luxury and unimpeded water views from 1st and 2nd floors. On an almost 19,000 foot corner lot-beautifully landscaped by Nievera Williams-the house is an elegant contemporary take on classic Palm Beach architecture with iron-look windows, handmade Mexican roof tiles and waxed plaster walls. Downstairs master bedroom with water views, generous closets and bath. Two upstairs bedrooms and baths with an inviting shared terrace can be reached by stair or elevator. In the front yard, a 52′, two lane lap pool sits off the electric screened terrace. To the rear is a guest house/gym/office with full bath. And the 3 bay garage fitted with 2 lifts can accommodate up to 5 cars. See Home Features in Documents. Literally too many to list. But for a few- 10′ ceilings, working marble fireplace, Wolf 5 burner gas stove and an induction cooktop, Miele double-ovens, 2 Miele dishwashers, side-by-side Sub Zero fridge with 4 freezer drawers, outdoor shower, full house gas generator, pool heater AND chiller, trunk storage room off elevator, gas fire pit off master bedroom, Lynx summer kitchen with gas grill and rotisserie, Smart Home controls throughout, motorized sun and blackout shades, 2nd laundry room in garage, electric vehicle charger. All that and a shared neighborhood day-dock between Valencia and Sunset. Virtual Tour available via Matterport – see 2nd photo in listing
Request A Private Showing

*Coming This Week – for Seasonal Lease*
455 Worth Ave #201
2 bed/2 bath 949 sqft – Pied-a-Terre
$13,000 per month

Our Recent Activity

*Leased Off-Market! – Our Landlord & Tenant* Major Alley #2 Too Chic for Words

Built in 1925. Over 1,500 sqft, 1 Bedroom/2.5 Baths and Private Courtyard
More charming than words or photos can convey, this is one of the six adjoining townhomes at Major Alley, Howard Major’s architectural gift to the town of Palm Beach.
Each home is unique in size and layout. #2 is a sprawling 1,500 sqft one bedroom unit consisting of a living room with soaring ceiling, a small den or office, his/her primary bath, powder room and private courtyard.
Major Alley is just steps to Worth Avenue restaurants and shopping.
Rental Terms: $22,000 Per Month Annual Lease/$32,000 Seasonal

*Pending – Our Buyer & Seller off-market* Winthrop House #516
Impossibly Scarce SE Corner Oceanfront

100 Worth Avenue #516
On the oceanfront at the foot of Worth Avenue, Winthrop House is counted among the most desirable condominium buildings in Palm Beach. And within Winthrop House, few locations are as coveted as units in the southeast corner with their season-long sunny exposures and stunning views out to sea and up and down the beach. Add in a high floor with panoramas of palm fronds and red-tiled roofs like some Floridian Malaga, Winthrop House’s incredible pool and it’s secret tunnel to the beach– and you’ve got yourself a little slice of Palm Beach heaven.
2 bedrooms/2 baths – 1,700 total sqft
Sold Off-Market, Price Not Disclosed.

*Pending – Our Buyer* The Southlake 2A
Views of Lake and Docks (and Dog-Friendly)

Prestigious Southlake Building, known for its 5-star services, in prime location on the Intracoastal, close to shops, restaurants and the beach. A beautiful and welcoming foyer opens to the formal dining room with high ceilings, adjoined to the grand formal living room with two spacious seating areas overlooking the gardens and Intracoastal.
Enjoy gorgeous quiet outdoor spaces around large pool with dining area and outdoor grill. Walk your dog in the beautiful park on the Intracoastal next door. Covered parking, pet friendly, 2 dogs, no size restrictions with board approval. Comes beautifully furnished for easy move in.
2 bedrooms/2 baths – 2,250 total sqft
Last Asking Price $3.59m

*New and Already Leased – Our Landlord* Trianon #1701
Overlooking Palm Beach, Literally Minutes Away

1200 S Flagler Drive, 1701

1200 S Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach

$14,000 Per Month

2
Bedrooms
2
Bathrooms
1,247
Sq Ft.
Renovated and beautifully furnished ’01’ line unit facing directly east across the yachts of the Palm Beach Town Docks to the rolling Atlantic Ocean.
Apartment is in impeccable condition with new in-unit washer/dryer and many new appliances. Plus you get the vaunted ’01’ line kitchen window!
The Trianon just completed a multi-year renewal with new balconies and impact glass throughout. All this just a quick stroll or drive across the Royal Palm Bridge to the Four Arts and Worth Avenue.
Available for annual or seasonal furnished rental.Rental Terms:
Annual: $14,000 Per Month

*Closed! – Our Buyer* Trianon 1606
Long Southern Views and Beautifully Renovated

The Trianon Intracoastal and Ocean Views

1200 S Flagler Dr Apt 1606, West Palm Beach

$1,050,000

2
Bedrooms
2
Bathrooms
1,200
Sq Ft.
Magnificent ocean and intracoastal views from every room in this fabulously renovated residence along S Flagler. Appointed on the southeast corner of building, this has endless ocean and intracoastal water-way views, even your kitchen has spectacular water views looking out to the iconic Bristol and Palm Beach Island. Renovated with stunning flooring, updated kitchen with custom cabinetry and newer appliances. Both bedrooms are ensuite with renovated bathrooms and balcony access to truly enjoy the views and South Florida experience. Pool sits on along the intracoastal with ample lounge areas. 24-hour front desk staff/ door attendant, club room and additional storage. Minutes to Palm Beach Island, Palm Beach International Airport, Worth Ave and downtown restaurants. Watch the mega yachts…
and boats sail by from sunrise to sunset!

*Closed! – Our Seller* Four Bedroom Townhouse
Steps to Beach, Restaurants and Shops

160 Sunset Avenue

160 Sunset Avenue 160, Palm Beach

$10,700,000

4
Bedrooms
6
Bathrooms
4,530
Sq Ft.
This elegant 5,000 sqft townhouse lives like a spacious seaside villa- one that’s literally steps to the beach! Built in 2004 and fastidiously maintained by the original owner, it’s perfect for a buyer who does not want the upkeep headaches of an older house or large yard. The ocean block of Sunset is a dead end street that terminates at the beach gate. An ideal location-quiet and private- but still walkable to the Breakers and Royal Poinciana Plaza and all their adjacent shops and restaurants. With over 4,500 sqft of living area, an elevator, 4 bedrooms, multiple office spaces and an air conditioned two car garage there’s plenty of room for family and guests. Given its modern kitchen and baths, outdoor gas grill and beautiful private pool, it’s completely ready for move-in for the 2022-23 season. 12′ ceilings on the 1st floor, 10’+ in the Master bedroom. The house has great entertaining spaces, including a large covered terrace overlooking the pool. Kitchen has a two-sided Subzero fridge, with four freezer drawers, Wolf gas range, 2 Miele dishwashers, built-in microwave and air fryer.

We’re Delighted to be Sponsoring the
African Wildlife Foundation at The Four Arts
Astounding Photographs of a World at Risk

It Might be a Stretch to Compare a Town with 54 Billionaires to Grover’s Corners, but there are days when Palm Beach is every bit the same small American village Thornton Wilder imagined.

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