Christmas poem. Tropical Sun, 1891.

Click on newspaper clipping to enlarge.

Lotus Cove was a small settlement just to the north of what is now the Town of Lantana and later to become part of present-day City of Lake Worth.

“Round Hill Capital Invests in Workforce Housing Development in Lake Worth Beach, Florida”

Press release dated December 17th follows and is headlined, “Continues Round Hill Capital’s Expansion in U.S. Housing Market”:


LONDON & NEW YORK — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Round Hill Capital, a leading global real estate investment, development and asset management firm, today announces that it is investing in a workforce housing development project located in Lake Worth Beach, Florida.

The project, named “The MID”, represents the second in a series of investments under a joint venture between Round Hill Capital and Affiliated Development, a Fort Lauderdale-based real estate development firm. This investment forms part of Round Hill Capital’s Environmental Social and Governance (“ESG”) Strategy, demonstrating its commitment to targeting opportunities that bring about a positive social impact and helping to drive further sustainability and corporate responsibility within the firm.

The MID will consist of 230 rental units and cater to the growing workforce population by offering rental rates at a meaningful discount to the surrounding metro areas, while still allowing residents to maintain a high-quality of living. The MID will feature Class A amenities and facilities, including a resort-style pool deck, fitness room with yoga/cycling studio, community room, co-working facility, private dog park and full-time concierge. The building will also include 10 ground floor live-work spaces and gated private parking. Located a mile north of downtown Lake Worth Beach, an area that is currently being revitalized via public and private investment activities, The MID is situated in the middle of two fast growing markets, West Palm Beach and Boynton Beach/Delray Beach, and is expected to open in early 2021.

In partnership with the Lake Worth Beach Community Redevelopment Agency and the City of Lake Worth Beach, The MID development project received approximately $5.1 million in gap financing and tax rebates, helping to enable the joint venture partnership to offer high-quality apartments at an attainable rate.

In April 2019, Round Hill Capital closed on its first investment with Affiliated Development, The SIX13, a 142-unit attainably-priced development located in the Progresso Village district of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Rob Reiskin, Senior Managing Director, Head of Americas at Round Hill Capital, said:

“This investment is consistent with Round Hill Capital’s strategy of investing in and operating high-quality residential accommodation assets in the U.S. The need for reasonably-priced housing options in South Florida, an attractive region backed by strong demographics and a highly skilled workforce, is greater than ever. We are proud to be supporting the growing Lake Worth Beach community and further expanding our commitment to targeting opportunities that bring about a positive social impact, by providing South Florida residents with much-needed, high-quality residential options offered at a meaningful discount to the surrounding metro areas.

“Affiliated Development has been a tremendous partner to date, and we look forward to pursuing and developing a significant multifamily housing portfolio in underserved areas within South Florida through our joint venture.”

Michael Bickford, Founder and CEO of Round Hill Capital, commented:

“The U.S. residential market continues to be an important area of focus for Round Hill Capital. We have a strong team in place to identify acquisition opportunities backed by attractive investment fundamentals and robust future growth drivers and we are excited by the strength of our attractive pipeline of investment opportunities as we expand our U.S. presence.”

About Round Hill Capital Round Hill Capital is a leading global specialist real estate investment, development and asset management firm. Since inception in 2002, Round Hill Capital has acquired and repositioned for long-term institutional ownership over 110,000 residential units and student housing beds. Round Hill Capital is a responsible landlord of assets offering housing to a range of occupants, from students through to senior citizens.

Round Hill Capital has an established track record of generating high risk-adjusted returns and invests in and asset manages real estate on behalf of some of the world’s leading institutions and private investors.


Further information on Round Hill Capital use this link.

Lake Worth Beach, suburban Lake Worth and Greenacres: Help PBSO eliminate graffiti in your neighborhood.

PBSO Graffiti Eradication Unit.

NO COST TO YOU!
IT’S FREE!

Take back your street, neighborhood,
community and parks.

Help PBSO District 14 (Lake Worth Beach) and District 16 (City of Greenacres) and help PBSO in unincorporated Palm Beach County as well (e.g., places like John Prince Park in suburban Lake Worth and Lake Osborne Estates). . .

• If you see GRAFFITI IN PROGRESS call 911 immediately!
• Non-emergency number: 561-688-3400.
• Have a chronic graffiti problem? Call CrimeStoppers at 800-458-8477. Be eligible for a reward and remain anonymous.

How the PBSO Graffiti Eradication Unit came to be:

In early 2005 Sheriff Ric Bradshaw established this program to rapidly respond and remove graffiti within unincorporated Palm Beach County and select municipalities that now include the cities of Lake Worth, Greenacres, South Palm Beach and Palm Beach Shores.

It is very worth noting that Greenacres received high honors for “Safest Cities in Florida 2018” in Palm Beach County; however, the data from City of Lake Worth was late arriving to the judges showing a significant drop in crime.

The villages of Wellington and Royal Palm Beach — also patrolled by PBSO — were also ranked very high on the “Safest Cities” list as well.

Get signed up for “Critical Event” alerts in Lake Worth Beach.

You can get signed up today and it only takes a few moments. Continue reading to find out how. Here is information from the City:

Get up-to-the-minute information about severe weather, road closures, and much more.

Your safety is our top concern — That’s why the City of Lake Worth Beach wants to make sure you know about emergencies and incidents as they happen.

The City of Lake Worth Beach will begin to use an emergency communication service powered by Everbridge to make sure you know about issues that may affect your safety. This system allows the City to contact thousands of residents in seconds so you can find out about an emergency right away.

Receive important messages from the City of Lake Worth Beach via email, phone, and much more.

How Does It Work?

The process begins when the City of Lake Worth Beach issues a message about a potential safety hazard or concern. Next, the emergency notification system sends a message through your primary contact path. If you don’t confirm receipt of the message, the system will try to reach your second contact path and continues trying to reach you until you confirm receipt.

The success of this service relies on YOU.

Having your latest contact information is the only way to ensure that we can contact you in an emergency.

Please sign up online by clicking on this link. It only takes about a minute to enroll, or you can sign up by texting LAKEWORTHBCH to 888777 (message and data rates may apply).

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and participation in this important program!

Roaring '20s Theme - Lake Worth Beach Holiday Parade

City of Lake Worth Beach online system upgrades

The City of Lake Worth Beach Information Technology Department will be conducting an essential upgrade to the city's Naviline and Click2Gov online services starting Friday, December 13th at 6pm and continuing through Saturday, December 14th at 6pm. To facilitate the upgrade all systems using the service including: Code Compliance, Building Permits, and Business Licenses will be unavailable during the upgrade window. Following the upgrade all services will return as before. Utility bill payments and the City webpage will be unaffected by this downtime.

Guatemalan Maya Center in Lake Worth Beach needs help for Christmas.

This LOCAL community news is published in this week’s LOCAL Lake Worth Herald. Do you have community news you would like to share? At the end of this blog post today is how to contact the editor at the LOCAL community Herald.

Here is the news about the Guatemalan Maya Center:


It’s that time of year again where we can share the joy of the holidays by providing for our children who need it the most.

The director, assistant director, staff and volunteers of the Guatemalan Maya Center are urgently requesting a generous donation in response to the growing community’s need.

The Center has had an increased request from mothers having access to enough holiday food and age appropriate toys for their children. This increase has doubled from last year.

No mother wants to be faced with the devastating prospect of having little or nothing being on the holiday table. No mother ever wants to be in the position of having to dry a child’s tears because their child thought they were not good enough for Santa to come. No one wants to know they could have helped but didn’t.

Donations may be in the form of toys, gift cards, and/or tax deductible monetary contribution made payable to the Guatemalan Maya Center. All direct contributions will be used to continue the good works of the center for hopefully another 30 years.

For more information contact Lucia Barnes at the Guatemalan Maya Center. The Center is located at 430 North G Street in Lake Worth Beach and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., phone 561-547-0085.

Do you have LOCAL community news to share?

The Lake Worth Herald Press is located at 1313 Central Terrace in Lake Worth Beach. For subscription rates use this link. To contact the editor call 561-585-9387; email: Editor@lwherald.com

Real estate news from the City of Lake Worth Beach.

Be in the loop with the latest news and press releases from the City!

Take just a few moments and join the City’s mailing list. Have the latest information delivered right to your email inbox: click on this link to get signed up.

A recent press release issued by the City’s public information officer (PIO):


Lake Worth Beach — In-Rel Properties, Inc., a long-term Lake Worth Beach resident has relocated its offices to downtown. This real estate investment firm recently purchased and renovated the former Chase Bank Building at 200 Lake Avenue, a two-story structure comprised of approximately twelve thousand square feet.

 
According to a company spokesperson:

“In-Rel has spent the last two years searching for new headquarter offices. Concerned by the possibility of leaving this wonderful area, we were elated to find this opportunity to remain in Lake Worth Beach. We brought new life to a significant downtown property, contributed towards preserving the local vibe, and secured facilities that will support our growth for years to come.”

In-Rel has now restored the building’s mid-century modern design, a subtle blend of 1950’s Art Deco and futuristic styles. The project preserved downtown’s culture, showing respect for the artistic community, while repurposing the property for new commercial uses. The avant-garde architecture is highly flexible. The interior offers generous open floor plates and high ceilings, making it easy to build out creative, modern, and functional spaces.

The building is situated between Lake Avenue and Lucerne Avenue, just west of the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge. It is in the heart of downtown Lake Worth Beach and within minutes of the Palm Beach Island communities across the bridge. This locale is ideal for a variety of office and retail tenants, including medical, wealth management, boutique law firm, wellness, art gallery, gourmet food market, and restaurant uses.

In-Rel now occupies the building’s top floor and has made up to six thousand square feet on the ground floor available for lease. A quick visit to In-Rel’s offices reveals the exciting possibilities for the use of the available space.


End of press release.


For more information about In-Rel Properties use this link.

The City’s PIO in Lake Worth Beach is Mr. Ben Kerr. For media inquiries contact Mr. Kerr at 561-586-1631; email: bkerr@lakeworth.org

About Lake Worth Beach:

Located in Central Palm Beach County, Lake Worth Beach is a dynamic, multi-cultural city with an individualistic style. People are drawn to the City by its acceptance of different cultures and lifestyles, historic districts, hip downtown and colorful arts district.


Remember! Public safety is a top priority. If you are planning a beach day in Lake Worth Beach leave the plastic straws at home and pack plenty of sunscreen:

This Saturday in downtown Lake Worth Beach: It’s Small Business Saturday!

Make plans this Saturday to come on out and support your LOCAL shops and establishments! Also worth noting from 2:00–4:00 there will be a free concert in the Cultural Plaza featuring Sierra Lane.

And did you know. . .

The CRA is currently accepting applications for commercial grants.

The Lake Worth Beach CRA offers multiple grant programs which are meant to provide property owners with the opportunity to obtain assistance associated with the costs of doing enhancements and developing commercial properties within the CRA District. The CRA will provide matching funds to qualified applicants wishing to make significant upgrades to the exterior and interior of their property. Grants are also available to commercial developers that make major improvements to properties resulting in job creation. In addition, businesses within the CRA district can apply for micro-grants to be used for new or improved exterior signage.

For more information regarding the various grant programs please contact CRA Deputy Director Chris Dabros at 561 493-2550 or by email: cdabros@lakeworthbeachfl.gov


To learn more about the Lake Worth Beach CRA use this link.

Lake Worth BEACH! and Pier, 1977.

Notice all the parking available at the BEACH! back then. Compare that to the parking arrangement and traffic patterns at the ‘newly-renovated’ Casino complex. Back in the day it is was very easy to drive to the beach with an elderly person, the handicapped, and young children and find parking at the top of the dune. Unfortunately, a mundane day at the beach has sadly become much too hard for many people; many are forced to park further west and make the long trudge up the dune to their destination.

Florida history: “The Road to Beauty” (1965) — Film sponsored by the Florida Citrus Commission.

Below is a video from the State of Florida Archives. Advertising and promotion of Florida’s citrus industry has, shall we say, evolved over time. Here is an excerpt from the text of the article:


“Health maintenance techniques are demonstrated, including how to walk properly, dance as exercise, nutrition (such as citrus), and sports. The film then moves on to discuss career, marriage, and home life. A wife announces that she is pregnant and the couple promptly drinks some orange juice to celebrate.”

“The Cottages of Lake Worth”: Book signing at The Book Cellar bookstore by renowned Palm Beach designer.

For more details about today’s event (Sun., Nov. 24th from 3:30–5:30), there is contact information following the press release (see below).

Designer Carleton Varney will talk about his books: Mr. Color and Rooms to Remember. He will also offer his endorsement of The Cottages of Lake Worth book. Mr. Varney will sign his books and authors of the Cottages of Lake Worth book will be there to sign that book as well.

Press release follows.

Lake Worth Beach, FL — The Book Cellar bookstore, located at 801 Lake Ave., is pleased to host a book signing and cottage talk on Sunday, November 24th [TODAY] from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Carleton Varney will be signing his books: Mr. Color and Rooms to Remember. The authors of Living Large in Small Spaces: The Cottages of Lake Worth will also be signing the book published by the not-for-profit Cottages of Lake Worth, Inc.

Books on display at The Book Cellar.

Varney, a well-known decorator and author, is president of Dorothy Draper & Company. His designs reflect his love of bright colors and patterns and grace many celebrity homes, hotels, ships, and public buildings. His design sites include the Vice President’s residence in Washington, D.C., the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia and The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island to name just a few. Varney has written many books and syndicated columns; he also lectures and designs a wide range of products.

Mr. Carleton Varney (image provided courtesy of Dorothy Draper & Company, Inc.).

 
Varney will present a talk on the cottages of Lake Worth Beach. These small homes, usually less than 1,000 square feet on 25′ lots, reflect many architectural styles — craftsman, mission, frame vernacular, art deco, and art moderne. Their exteriors may be viewed by a self-guided tour pamphlet published by The Cottages of Lake worth Inc. and their interiors may be seen on alternate years via an “Inside the Cottages” tour. The next tour is scheduled for January 2021. 

You don’t have to wait for the upcoming tour to explore the cottages with the book Living Large in Small Spaces: The Cottages of Lake Worth. This hardcover book takes you inside the cottages and their gardens with professional color photographs and accompanying text profiles. Whether you are looking for decorating and gardening ideas or just want to enjoy looking at the beauty of these hidden gems, the authors Janice Snearer, Wes Blackman and photographer Taylor Jones will be available to sign your book and answer any questions.

The Cottages of Lake Worth Inc. is a non-profit, community-based organization that was formed in 2013 to promote the unique housing stock of over one thousand unique cottages in Lake Worth Beach.


For additional information about the upcoming event next Sunday contact Wes Blackman at 561-308-0364; email: wesblackman@gmail.com

Refreshments will be available for purchase at The Book Cellar bookstore.

Lake Worth Beach sounds off: “[S]ay ‘yes’ to a pool, but ‘no’ to a pool at the beach.”

The following is a call to action, a Letter to the Editor published in The Lake Worth Herald:


Dear Editor,

I do not understand why so many people think that the only place for a City pool is at the beach. Our town has a lot more to offer than just a beach, which is wonderful, and should be developed as a beach!

I am suggesting that the City build an aquatic/recreation complex at the south end of town, near the gym. This location puts the pool near the recreation headquarters and near the home of our summer camp. Swim lessons could be offered. Plenty of room for [FREE] parking. Nighttime event lighting would not bother the sea turtles. A state of the art recreation complex including a pool and splash area would appeal to City residents of all ages. Who wouldn’t want to relax in the pool after a soccer game or other athletic event?

Instead of crowding our lovely beach let’s spread out our City attractions and develop an underutilized area into a modern and exciting complex in the south end of town.

Just because we had a pool at the beach in the past doesn’t mean that the beach is the best location for a pool today. I propose that we say “yes” to a pool, but “no” to a pool at the beach.

Lake Worth Beach — we’re more than a beach — let’s make it happen.

Cindy Ansell

Support your LOCAL newspaper and
support LOCAL journalism.

To become a subscriber to the Herald click on this link.

The Herald is still just ¢50! 

To contact the editor send an email to Editor@lwherald.com, call 561-585-9387, or send a letter to: 1313 Central Terrace, Lake Worth Beach, FL 33460

“A Florida Divided”

The image below is from the Facebook page,

“Historic Florida X”.

Click on image to enlarge:

Learn why Florida was divided “by a line
drawn down the center of the state”:

 
“During WW II, Florida had many flying training bases with Navy and Army separated by a line drawn down the center of the state; Navy, Marine and Coast Guard bases on the east side, Army Air Forces on west side. If there had been no separation, mid-air collisions would have been much higher due to Inter-service rivalry between young men flying high powered, expensive machines and would have been worse than at Army-Navy football games. [emphasis added] Separation line was enforced by Gen. Hap Arnold, Chief of Army Air Forces.”

News in Lake Worth Herald: Lake Clarke Shores holding municipal elections on March 17th.

Do you know where the Town of Lake Clarke Shores is located?

Regular readers of LOCAL newspapers such as The Lake Worth Herald are informed each week about nearby news and developments in other LOCAL municipalities in coastal Central Palm Beach County. To become a subscriber to the Herald that information is at the end of this blog post today.

Lake Clarke Shores (see map below) is located west of City of Lake Worth Beach and east of Village of Palm Springs. West Palm Beach, a municipality that DOES NOT have a beach, is also in the vicinity of Lake Clarke Shores.

Click on map to enlarge:

The un-shaded areas in the map above are unincorporated (suburban) Palm Beach County.

Here is the news that appears in this week’s Herald:

NOTICE OF GENERAL ELECTION
TOWN OF LAKE CLARKE SHORES, FLORIDA

The Town of Lake Clarke Shores, 1701 Barbados Road, Lake Clarke Shores, Florida, 33406, will hold a General Election on March 17, 2020 for the purpose of electing Council Members from Groups 3, 4 & 5 for a term of two (2) years. The polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. If a Runoff Election is necessary, it will be held on March 31, 2020, utilizing the same times and precincts identified below. Candidates for Council Member must reside in the Town of Lake Clarke Shores. Candidate qualifying is from NOON November 19, 2019 to NOON December 3, 2019. Voter registration book closing is February 18, 2020 for the General Election. No person will be permitted to vote unless he or she is registered in Palm Beach County and residing in the Town of Lake Clarke Shores, Precinct #3014 & #2127.

Mary Pinkerman, CMC
Town Clerk


To learn more about the Town Council of Lake Clarke Shores click on this link.

Support LOCAL newspapers and LOCAL reporting

of LOCAL small town government.

The Herald is still just ¢50! The newsroom is located at 1313 Central Terrace in Lake Worth Beach. For subscription prices use this link. To contact the editor call 561-585-9387 or send an email to Editor@lwherald.com