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Stephen Ross’ Related Companies plans a pair of towers at The Square mixed-use complex in West Palm Beach. The projects would mark the firm’s seventh and eighth office buildings in downtown, as it bets on an influx of businesses to the area.

Related wants to build the East Tower and West Tower, each with 430,000 square feet of office space, on the northeast corner of South Rosemary Avenue and Hibiscus Street, according to the company’s website and an application filed to the city. The projects would replace the AMC West Palm Beach 12 at 545 Hibiscus Street, and the closed Brio Italian Grille at 550 South Rosemary Avenue.

The East Tower would include 20,000 square feet of retail and dining, private terraces on floors 18 to 21, and a club lounge on the 22nd story, Related’s website shows. The West Tower would have from 35,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet of retail and dining, and a 21st-floor lounge.

Arquitectonica and Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates are the architects.

On Monday, the West Palm city commission is expected to vote on an item that would increase the maximum allowed office square footage within The Square. In turn, this would allow for the construction of the East and West towers. The city’s planning board on Feb. 22 recommended approval of the item.

The projects are part of New York-based Related’s larger redevelopment plan for The Square, a roughly 82-acre complex that it developed in 2000. At the time named CityPlace, the mixed-use community is now experiencing a boom amid the influx of companies and employees to South Florida.

Related rechristened the complex The Square last year. Now, it plans the 364-unit 575 Rosemary apartment tower on the site of the closed Macy’s at 575 South Rosemary Avenue, and an eight-story hotel to be built above the Cheesecake Factory at 701 South Rosemary Avenue, according to The Palm Beach Post. The luxury multifamily building is expected to be completed next year.

Related, which declined comment on the new office towers, already is West Palm Beach’s biggest downtown office landlord.

Beginning in 2021, the firm bought the two-tower Phillips Point; CityPlace Tower, which Related originally developed in 2008 with CP Group; and half of the ownership interest in Esperanté Corporate Center for an undisclosed amount. It also completed and fully leased the 20-story 360 Rosemary building, and is developing the 25-story One Flagler at the foot of the Royal Park Bridge, overlooking the Lake Worth Lagoon.

In January, the city approved Related’s 25-story 515 Fern, which at roughly 466,000 square feet will be downtown’s biggest office building. The tower is expected to be completed in 2025.

Ocean One will join several nearby developments that are planned or already completed, including Town Square, The Villages, The Pierce, Broadstone and 500 Ocean.

Palm Beach Post

After many years without a shovel in the ground, a long-awaited retail and residential project is coming to downtown Boynton Beach under a new property owner and developer.

The Ocean One project is set to transform 3.7 acres of vacant property bordered by East Ocean Avenue, North Federal Highway and East Boynton Beach Boulevard, directly west of the Boynton Harbor Marina and just south of Casa Costa Condos.

Plans for Ocean One include an eight-story building with hundreds of residential units and plenty of space for shops and restaurants, along with a nearby parking garage and several public plazas.

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Hyperion Development Group, a company with offices in Miami and New York, plans to break ground on the project in 2024 and to start leasing two years later, closing out a saga that began under the previous landowner nearly two decades ago.

The longtime property owner, Davis Camalier, unveiled his vision for Ocean One in 2005, but it wasn't until 2017 that the city commission officially rezoned the land — formerly home to a Bank of America — and approved a site plan for the project.

City leaders granted Camalier several extensions in the years that followed. His plan to underwrite the project fell through and he was working against growing construction costs, his attorney said in 2020.

Hyperion Group entered the picture in late 2021 when its affiliate, BB1 Development LLC, bought the land for $12 million, paving the way for a reimagined Ocean One project.

The new plan increases Ocean One's residential units to 371 from 358 and offers residents a pool, fitness center and parking garage, which includes public spaces and private, closed-off spaces for the residents.

It also more than doubles the amount of commercial space to 25,588 square feet from 12,075. And the entire project is moving forward at the same time, addressing a criticism of the original plan, which called for apartments, shops, a parking garage and a hotel to be built in two phases.

“Years ago, when we came to you the first time, different owner, the project was criticized because it was two phases and they didn’t have enough retail,” attorney Bonnie Miskel said during a commission meeting in April.

Miskel, who worked for the previous and current property owner, also pointed to the public areas included in Ocean One's renderings. A large plaza with chairs, tables, umbrellas and palm trees faces Ocean Avenue, largely surrounded by retail space, while another plaza sits off North Federal Highway.

The new plans, Miskel said, increase the amount of open space by more than 35% compared with the original layout for Ocean One.

“If a neighbor is walking their dog, or if they just want to sit outside next to a café in a beautifully landscaped, paved plaza, they have the ability," she said.

Ocean One project revives conversation about parking in downtown Boynton Beach

While the developer revitalized plans for Ocean One, it also revived a long-standing concern about the limited parking in downtown Boynton Beach and how new developments might strain the scarce supply.

Before commissioners approved the original Ocean One plans in 2017, they heard from residents who said that limited parking in downtown Boynton Beach was hurting local businesses. They said new projects would bring more traffic to the area and worsen the problem if they didn't offer a substantial number of public parking spaces.

Ocean One will join several nearby developments that are planned or already completed, including Town Square, The Villages, The Pierce, Broadstone and 500 Ocean.

Residents in the nearby Marina Village shared similar concerns during a commission meeting in April, when Ocean One was up for a vote. They described a marina parking garage that was often full before noon, and a constant rotation of visitors who sometimes give up and leave before finding a parking spot

"Restaurant patrons, boat patrons and beach patrons are turned away at a rate of 20 an hour during season and busy times," said Ilene Bruccoleri, vice president of Marina Village's condo board.

Another resident said cars often stop in the middle of the road to wait for an open space, while others are "double- and triple-parking right in front of the marina," creating traffic congestion that was unsafe to Marina Village residents, visitors and emergency vehicles.

In response, Miskel said 171 commercial parking spaces are included in the Ocean One project — plenty for anyone visiting and shopping at the new development. Project leaders, she said, complied with all city codes and shouldn't be held responsible for Boynton Beach's longstanding parking issue.

”This is a collaborative effort, we are a neighbor in the downtown, we have the same interest they do in making the downtown better, but we are not the cause of the problem," she said during the April 18 commission meeting.

Vice Mayor Thomas Turkin, who represents the area where Ocean One is planned, was unconvinced. While the project passed 4-1 at the meeting, he cast the dissenting vote and vowed to continue pushing for more public parking spaces at Ocean One, a solution that might be attainable with incentives for the developer, he said.

'Where there are problems, there's always opportunities'

A spokesperson for Hyperion Group said in late May that developers have since met with residents of Marina Village to learn more about their concerns with parking in downtown Boynton Beach.

The developers are now doing an internal review of "mutually beneficial solutions regarding the city’s overall parking needs prior to any formal engagement with the city."

And during the meeting in April, other city leaders agreed that parking is a Boynton Beach problem that calls for solutions greater than anything Ocean One can provide on its own. Mayor Ty Penserga and Commissioner Woodrow Hay floated the idea of building a public parking garage or launching a trolley service.

"We can park people in one location and move them to other areas," the mayor said.

Penserga also called for a study of the city's parking issue and the creation of a master plan to address the problem. The developers for Ocean One have committed $30,000 to that effort.

"Where there are problems, there's always opportunities, and we're willing to participate in those," the developer's attorney said.

Giuseppe Sabella is a reporter covering Boynton Beach and Lake Worth Beach at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at [email protected]. Help support our journalism and subscribe today.

By Alex Kushel | Sun Sentinel Correspondent

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The East Boynton Beach Little League celebrated members of its 2003 national championship team to kick off festivities for the spring season during Opening Night ceremonies on Feb. 17.

The event featured members of the East Boynton Little League 2003 team, which represented the United States in the championship and finished as the runner-up at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

The 20th-year anniversary celebration included former players Michael Broad and Matt Overton as well as coaches Kenny Emerson and Joe Irene. Patrick Mullen’s father also attended on his son’s behalf. The East Boynton Little League presented letters to the team members from the White House in Washington, D.C. from their magical season.

East Boynton Little League President AJ Quinones said it was a great opportunity celebrate the team.

“We tried hard to get as many of them here,” he said. “We know that some of them live out-of-state and they have commitments. We were planning it for a few years and were able to make it happen. When looking back, we found these letters that were never given to them and we wanted to present it to them for their achievement. It was great to interact and listen to their stories. They were instant superstars that summer and recognized everywhere they went. They were larger than life back then.”

The Opening Night ceremonies also included the parade of teams, which consisted of the introduction of players, coaches and team sponsors. They also had food trucks, music, raffles and a dunk tank. The Boynton Beach Fire Rescue Honor Guard presented on the field. Kaitlyn Casiano, who has been featured at minor league and major league stadiums, performed the national anthem.

The East Boynton Little League also recognized players with awards as well as the 12U All-Star team from last season, which won both the District 7 and Section 2 championship and finished third overall in the state tournament.

“The overall culture has been great and that is huge for us at the park,” Quinones said. “We continue to grow our league and are looking to make an impact on the kids and make them better people on and off the field.”

The East Boynton Little League expects to have several upgrades in the upcoming years. Last November, the city of Boynton Beach approved a proposal of renovations at the park and an indoor training facility to be built adjacent to the fields. The renovations will include an artificial turf field, new concession building, restrooms, designated storage area, relocation and expansion of fields and pavilion, additional parking, new lighting and paved walkways.

Phil Terrano, CEO of Primetime Sports Group LLC, grew up playing on the fields in Boynton Beach. He has partnered with Mike Barwis to spearhead the effort. He is working with investors toward the new training facility and revamped fields, including new scoreboards and a field designed for people with disabilities.

“The city of Boynton Beach has been super involved and their efforts for everything they have done for the park have been second to none,” Quinones said.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (WPEC) — Hurricane Nicole is hours away from making landfall on the Florida coast and there are changes with the 10 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

The storm has started to make its right turn, to the north. It's now moving to the west-northwest, instead of west, at 13 mph.

RELATED: Wide-reaching wind field: We're all feeling Nicole's impact regardless of landfall site

CBS12 meteorologist Michael Ehrenberg has details on Hurricane Nicole’s new track and how it’s affecting Florida at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022. (WPEC)

The center of Nicole is about 75 miles east-northeast of West Palm Beach, but the center doesn’t make too much of a difference with such a large storm.

Nicole is still expected to make landfall in Florida overnight, in the early hours of Thursday.

Hurricane-force winds now extend 25 miles from the center, while tropical storm-force winds extend up to 485 miles away, especially to the north of the center.

Nicole’s maximum sustained winds remain at 75 mph, but with that slight turn to the north, Broward County is no longer under a hurricane watch. (The tropical storm warning remains.)

RELATED: Tracking Nicole: Photos and video of the storm's impact on South Florida

The hurricane warning from Palm Beach County, up the coast to Volusia County, remains, but it was expanded in Palm Beach County, late Wednesday afternoon.

RELATED: Tracking Nicole: County-by-county closings

The warning area now stretches west from the coast to U.S. 411. Earlier, it had only reached U.S. 1.

All of Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties remain under the hurricane warning.

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There’s a tropical storm warning for Okeechobee County, Lake Okeechobee, and Broward County.

The hurricane watch for Lake Okeechobee remains. It was discontinued for Broward County.

There’s a storm surge warning for North Palm Beach, up the coast to Georgia, and a storm surge watch from south of North Palm Beach down to all of Broward County.

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A few minutes before noon, Tropical Storm Nicole made landfall on Great Abaco Island in the Northwest Bahamas with maximum winds of 70 mph and a central minimum pressure of 985 mb.

Nicole became a hurricane near Grand Bahama Island during a special 6 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

After making landfall in Florida, Nicole will weaken while moving inland.

RELATED: These counties are under mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders

Take note of upcoming high tides and don’t get trapped by rising water.

Expect storm surge of 2 to 4 feet from North Palm Beach south, including Broward County, and 3 to 5 feet from North Palm Beach north to Georgia.

Avoid the deepest water. That’ll be along the immediate coast near and to the north of landfall, and come with large, destructive waves.

People living in mobile homes or on the barrier islands have been urged to evacuate.

In Palm Beach County, Zone A is the mainland, where authorities urged those people — and those in homes with substandard construction or in a flood-prone area — to evacuate.

Zone B is the barrier islands and a mandatory evacuation has been issued. The evacuation order for the barrier islands went into effect at 7 a.m. Wednesday.

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In Martin County, there are voluntary evacuations for people who live in Evacuation Zones A and B. That includes homes on the barrier islands (Hutchinson Island and Jupiter Island), Sewall’s Point, and manufactured/mobile homes, as well as homes in low-lying, vulnerable areas.

RELATED: Flooding in Hutchinson Island

St. Lucie County Public Safety officials "strongly recommend" evacuations for people on the barrier island, low-lying areas along the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon, and those living in manufactured/mobile homes and RVs.

RELATED: Boat ramp buried by flooding in Fort Pierce

Indian River County issued a recommended evacuation, effective Wednesday morning. Evacuation is recommended for areas east of U.S. 1 (including the barrier islands); low-lying, flood-prone areas; people in mobile homes or other vulnerable housing; and people with special medical needs.

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They report winds and rainfall will be the greatest threat along the coast with the strongest winds along the Treasure Coast.

Also, the storm surge is expected to be the greatest threat north of the center of the storm.

Right now, this will primarily be a coastal impact with coastal flooding expected along with beach erosion as we approach the full moon phase and see higher-than-normal tides.

Wednesday night, Nicole started to turn from the west toward the west-northwest. It'll continue the turn, heading to the northwest on Thursday, and then north or north-northeast on Friday.

That forecast has the center of Nicole making landfall early Thursday morning, within a few hours of midnight.

Then, it should move across central and northern Florida, and into southern Georgia, Thursday and Thursday night, followed by the Carolinas on Friday.

South Florida’s retail market outlook this year appears bright with leasing and rents holding steady, though that’s until Palm Beach County enters the picture.

It was the only county in the region to show signs of softening in the second quarter, with both leasing and asking rents slightly dropping while vacancies crept up, according to Colliers’ new reports. For one, Palm Beach net absorption, or the difference between the amount of space tenants leased during the second quarter and the space they vacated, dropped for the first time since early 2021.

Taken as a whole, South Florida’s market has remained strong, even as expensive financing costs have burned a hole in business’ wallets, prompting some to reevaluate their real estate needs. The leasing activity was partly propped up by gyms and restaurants, tenants that aren’t impacted by e-commerce.

The average vacancy rate across the three counties was 3 percent in the second quarter, flat from the previous quarter and lower than the 3.3 percent during the second quarter of last year, according to a Lee & Associates report. At the same time, landlords weren’t shy about pushing up asking rents, which hit just above $36 per square foot, triple net, a 7 percent hike from almost $34 a foot rate during the second quarter of last year, according to the Lee & Associates report.

In total, more than 3.5 million square feet of retail space is under construction in South Florida.

Miami-Dade leasing picked up in the second quarter, as the net absorption was more than 410,000 square feet, Colliers’ report shows. That’s much better than the miniscule net absorption of 6,700 square feet during the first quarter.

As tenants took space, the vacancy rate hit 3.1 percent, down from 3.2 percent in the previous quarter and from 3.3 percent during the second quarter of last year. Landlords kept average asking rents at almost $44 per square foot, flat from the first quarter but about 4 percent higher than in the second quarter of last year.

The biggest lease was by indoor entertainment center Flying Squirrels Sports taking 120,000 square feet at 12350 Southwest Eighth Street in an unincorporated area of west Miami-Dade, although that was a sublease, according to Colliers’ data. Goodwill trailed by renewing its term for 14,000 square feet at Plaza Algere retail strip, also in west Miami-Dade, and by good hall Shoma Bazaar expanding its footprint beyond its Doral space and to a 10,400 square feet space in Hialeah.

Similar to its neighbor to the south, Broward experienced an uptick in leasing. The second quarter net absorption was nearly 230,000 square feet, marking an uptick from the nearly 120,000 square feet of net absorption in the previous quarter, according to Colliers.

The vacancy rate hit 3.5 percent, down from 3.7 percent in the first quarter and from 4.2 percent in the second quarter of last year. Property owners pushed up the average asking rents to almost $28 per square foot, or 1.8 percent higher than in the first quarter and 6 percent higher than in the second quarter of last year.

Crunch Fitness took 53,000 square feet at 9919 West Oakland Park Boulevard in Sunrise, marking the biggest lease in the second quarter.

Despite the robust leasing activity, investment sales were “muted,” the report says. The Federal Reserve’s interest rate increases since last year created bid-ask gaps, or chasms between what sellers expect for their well-leased properties and what buyers facing expensive financing can afford to pay.

The biggest deal in the second quarter was Flanigan’s Seafood Bar & Grill’s purchase of the properties at 615, 701, 707 and 715 East Hallandale Beach Boulevard for $9 million.

Palm Beach’s second quarter net absorption was a negative 75,000 square feet and vacancy rates crept up to 3.7 percent, according to Colliers. That marked a turnaround from the previous quarter when net absorption was nearly 187,000 square feet and the vacancy rate was 3.5 percent.

Palm Beach was also the only South Florida county to record a drop in average asking rents, which were just above $29 per square foot in the second quarter, down by 3.3 percent from the previous quarter.

The county “showed early signs of a slowdown,” the report’s authors wrote. With more than 409,000 square feet of retail real estate under construction across the county, it remains to be seen whether leasing will catch up to the new supply.

Office Depot renewed its term for 19,300 square feet Lantana Plaza in the biggest lease for the quarter, followed by Retro Fitness taking 17,300 square feet at Delray Landing.