Development is surging in West Palm Beach | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

West Palm Beach's development future is laid out by Rick Greene. It is a rosy one. Some things you have to remember. West Palm Beach has roughly three times the population of Lake Worth. It is also the seat of County government, with offices, courtrooms and the notoriety that brings. One could make a strong argument that has held on to being the commercial center of Palm Beach County. It has also not been afraid of real, honest-to-God high-rise buildings of over ten stories. The combination of all these things eventually build on themselves so that momentum is perpetuated. Here is a representative list of projects "on the books" as of now:

Growing department
$843,000 increase in development services collections
10 positions added for current year
$366,000 planning division revenues - highest ever
7 days average wait for initial review of permits
West Palm Beach construction projects
Under construction
$118 million Palm Beach Outlets
$14 million Villas on Antique Row
$14 million Evernia Place
$2 million Walgreens at Dixie Highway and Southern Blvd.
Permitted
$30 million Ibis Country Club expansion
$20 million Jefferson at West Palm Beach
$50 million Mizner Lakes
$3.5 million 300 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. nurses housing
Approved and moving forward
$42 million Convention Center Hotel
$45 million PCC Resorts homes
$16 million Marriott Residence Inn
$69 million North Olive Place
$8.6 million Hanley Center
$15 million Hillcrest Manor

As President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches says, ""Success begets success in the development world." What if Lake Worth had just one-third of the development activity as our larger neighbor to the north? We recently approved a townhouse project that was already vested at 4th Avenue South and Federal Avenue and I hear that a Holiday Inn Express is looking at the property located at the southwest corner of Boutwell and 10th Avenue North. Click title for link to entire article.