Survey: Demolitions rise, home sizes growing | www.palmbeachdailynews.com

From the Shiny Sheet's Aleese Kopf, click title for link, we have this news about the high number of demolition requests in the Town of Palm Beach. It is a different world there, where people owning property to literally create any structure to suit their current needs. And the number of demolitions would correlate positively to an upturn in the economy. It is too bad to see so many mid-century homes meet this fate, but they were built for a different time and requirements. Many of the new structures being built are for permanent, not seasonal, residents. From the article:

In the past four months, the Architectural Commission has approved eight demolition requests north of Royal Poinciana Way — two more than the total approved in 2009. And North End demolitions have increased each year since then, jumping to eight in 2010, 10 in 2011, 13 in 2012 and 21 in 2013, according to data compiled by the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach.

[and later in article]

“We have to realize that a lot of the older housing stock simply was not up to code, below the correct grade elevation and thus subject to flooding, or in poor condition in many cases,” Vila wrote via email shortly after the study was released this fall.
“Many of these houses were also quite small, just big enough for the snowbirds of the era who never stayed in them more than three months. Now we have an influx of folks making their North End homes permanent domiciles.”
All eight of the North End demolition requests the commission received at its August through November meetings were for 1950s or 1960s houses. All were unanimously approved except for one because vice chairman Ann Vanneck said the architect did not provide a complete landscaping plan. Members must approve requests unless the house is landmarked or under consideration for landmarking.