A 350,000-sq-ft project rises by the Brightline station
Plus a city-approved land sale for Pine Crest's largest campus, a 22% jump in county home sales, and 700-plus speeding tickets.
A 350,000-square-foot development is taking shape near the Brightline station in downtown West Palm Beach, adding another large project to the blocks around the intercity train hub. The project is identified as Alida Residences and Tribute Portfolio, pairing new residences with a Tribute Portfolio hotel close to the rail line. At that size it would be one of the more substantial additions to the immediate area around the station, and it would reshape the skyline near the tracks. Specifics such as the number of residences, the building's height, and a completion date have not been detailed, and the developer behind the project was not named. What is clear is the scale — a project measured in the hundreds of thousands of square feet, landing steps from West Palm's downtown train stop. (What Now Miami)
State money is coming for Australian Avenue flood fixes
West Palm Beach has secured state funding to repair flooding along Australian Avenue, one of the city's most flood-prone roads. Drivers and residents there have dealt with rising water nearly every time it rains, and the money is aimed at easing that recurring problem after years of complaints. The relief has been a long time coming on a corridor where standing water regularly snarls traffic during storms. The funding is tied to repairs on the road, though the scope of the work and a construction schedule were not spelled out. (WPTV)
Palm Beach County home sales jumped 22% in June
Home sales across Palm Beach County jumped 22% in June, with luxury properties and all-cash deals leading the increase, according to a market survey. West Palm Beach sits at the center of that market as the county seat, so the countywide swing captures activity in and around the city. The heavy share of luxury and cash purchases points to strength at the top end of the market, and the double-digit jump marks a busy stretch for county housing heading into summer. The survey did not break out figures for individual cities or neighborhoods, so a West Palm-specific number was not available. (Palm Beach Post)
Free food and nutrition classes at Royal Palm Beach Library
Free groceries and nutrition classes are coming to the Royal Palm Beach branch of the Palm Beach County Library System, run in partnership with the Palm Beach County Food Bank. The program pairs food distribution with classes on nutrition, and a distribution schedule sets the dates and times. The branch sits west of West Palm Beach in the village of Royal Palm Beach, so it is a countywide-library offering rather than a downtown one, but it is open to residents willing to make the trip. Exact dates and grocery quantities were not listed. (Palm Beach Post)
West Palm approves land sale for Pine Crest's largest campus
West Palm Beach has approved a land sale that clears the way for Pine Crest School to build what would be its largest campus. The approval moves the private school a step closer to breaking ground in the city, transferring the land it needs for the project. The decision covers the land transaction itself; the campus size, construction plans, and a timeline were not detailed. As Pine Crest's largest campus, the West Palm project points to a sizable build once it advances, and it puts a major private school expansion on land the city agreed to sell. (Palm Beach Post)
700-plus drivers cited in a countywide speed crackdown
A weeklong speed-enforcement push on Palm Beach County's busiest roads ended with seven arrests and more than 700 citations from Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies. The campaign, called Operation Southern Slow Down, put deputies on high-traffic corridors to target speeding. The figures were released as the weeklong operation wrapped. For West Palm commuters, the tally is a reminder that a countywide crackdown just swept the same routes many of them drive daily, and because the effort ran across the county rather than in one city, the arrests and citations were spread over its busiest roads. (Palm Beach Post)
Killers of Kill Tony books an October date at the Kravis
Killers of Kill Tony takes the stage at the Alexander W. Dreyfoos Concert Hall on Saturday, October 3, at 7 p.m. The live comedy show is booked into the Kravis Center's downtown West Palm venue. It is well out on the calendar, but it is set on the fall schedule for anyone who likes to plan an evening out early. (Kravis Center)
Clematis By Night returns to the waterfront Thursday
Clematis By Night returns to the DowntownWPB Waterfront on Thursday, July 23, at 6 p.m., bringing live music back to the downtown waterfront lawn. The weekly outdoor concert series has been a West Palm tradition for more than three decades, and it plays again on Flagler this Thursday evening. (Downtown West Palm Beach events)