The biggest historic preservation news of the season — aside from voters’ approval of Bradley Park as a new home for Henry Flagler’s Sea Gull Cottage — was the Town Council’s decision to cast off a longtime policy of rejecting landmark designation for properties when owners object to the protective, historic status. In April, the Town Council voted 5-0 to reverse the informal policy. The Landmarks Preservation Commission recommends properties for landmark designation; the Town Council approves or rejects those recommendations. Preservation consultant Jane Day told the council Palm Beach has forever lost to demolition houses and other buildings that might have been worthy of preservation but weren’t considered for landmark protection because their owners did not volunteer them.

Other Florida towns, including Coral Gables, Miami and Tampa, designate properties as landmarks without owner consent, Day said. Landmarks Preservation Commission Chairman Gene Pandula said high real estate values are putting existing houses at risk of being torn down to make way for larger ones. “The value of property in Palm Beach poses a threat that wasn’t there just a few years ago,” Pandula said.

For more information on this and other real estate matters, your first source for Palm Beach real estate should be licensed agent and long-time resident Caesar Parisi.

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