Wes Blackman continues in his 26th year career as a professional urban planner. Mr. Blackman grew up in Michigan. While there he specialized in economic development and historic preservation projects in both the public and private sectors. Upon moving to Florida in 1989, he adapted to the new environment by specializing in growth management and infrastructure, while maintaining a passion for historic preservation. He advocated for preservation of important historic structures threatened by growth or economic obsolescence. In 1993, he began a ten year adventure working for Donald Trump, owner of the former Marjorie Merriweather Post estate "Mar-a-Lago" in Palm Beach. There he directed restoration efforts and the intricate work necessary to convert the property from a private residence to a private club. Mr. Blackman worked closely with the Town of Palm Beach, the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the National Trust for Historic Preservation in gaining approval for amenities and projects necessary for the operation of a successful private club. In 1998, the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation awarded Mr. Blackman for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Historic Preservation/Rehabilitation for his efforts in the restoration of the estate and its conversion to a private club. During his time at Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Blackman guided many tours through the property and educated many groups on the rich history of the estate, its former and current owner and the history of the Town of Palm Beach.
Mr. Blackman continues in his own private planning practice in Lake Worth, Florida. He has been a board member of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County and is currently active in many community planning groups. For eight years he served on the Planning and Zoning Historic Resource Preservation Board of the City of Lake Worth, the last five years as its chairman. He is member of the American Planning Association and the American Institute of Certified Planners. He is currently Chairman of the Palm Beach County Land Development Regulation Board and member of the Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency.
Mr. Blackman's talk will explore Palm Beach "colony" life during the 1920s. Free from the shackles and burdens of World War I, high society came out to play in the exotic paradise known as Palm Beach, Florida. Arriving primarily by train, and as the decade progressed more and more by automobile, the "smart set" appeared in January and left by the end of March as an escape from the cold urban landscape of the north to the lush subtropical environment of Palm Beach. Mr. Blackman will reveal the many technological innovations of the decade that would prove revolutionary and lead to further development of Florida. In many ways, Palm Beach was very much on the "frontier" in the 1920s with behavior and attitudes following suit. He will also shine a spotlight on the grand estates, notable for their outlandish parties, that have since been removed from existence and discuss some of the key personalities that added life to the 1920s Palm Beach scene.
![Dr. W. H. Cotton’s ode: “Oh, My Lake Worth, Florida!” [circa 1920].](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUL75cv6zJQFjX15ojOIIz9AjnbqH4asHJTYSDhnGnYr7rJZRha1NcNTirj2xPcId158vkz5Hw-wXgOfrlztj8Zr8jLFFCfuEN6PyV44ZlpMRmJ68xbtFL9vzxNiG7xDs_HJvm/s1600/LakeWorthPioneers.JPG)
