Tiki Central / General Tiki / Palm Beach Hawaiian Inn to be bulldozed
Post #728427 by Hurricane Hayward on Fri, Sep 26, 2014 12:19 AM
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Fri, Sep 26, 2014 12:19 AM
Sadly, the inevitable has happened ... Former Palm Beach Hawaiian Ocean Inn to be razed for six-story condo By Susan Salisbury - Palm Beach Post Staff Writer SOUTH PALM BEACH — The Palm Beach Oceanfront Inn, known to locals as the Hawaiian, is slated to be torn down and be replaced by a six-story residential condominium. Operated as the Palm Beach Hawaiian Ocean Inn for years, the Polynesian-style hotel and restaurant that opened in 1964 in the town of South Palm Beach was considered by some to be one of the last vestiges of old Florida along A1A. It closed Sunday along with its on-site Tides Bar & Grille known for its beach-side patio bar, tropical drinks, and even breakfast. Along with the 58-room hotel, it attracted locals and tourists, but had become run-down in recent years. The landmark at 3550 S. Ocean Boulevard was distinguished by its sloping, winged roof amid a line of condos, and has been the only commercial building in South Palm Beach.
This month the town’s Architectural Review Board approved Delray Beach-based Paragon Acquisition Group’s plans to build 33 units. Town Manager Rex Taylor said Wednesday that because no variances were requested or needed, the project does not have to go before the council. “It basically had its best days behind it,” Taylor said of the facility across the street from town hall. An ultra-modern design by Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design of Miami calls for the residential units to be built above a one-story parking garage. The building will be the first condominium built in South Palm Beach in more than 20 years, Taylor said. A new seawall will also be included. Taylor said he has not been given a date for when the demolition might begin.
Gary Cohen, Paragon’s CEO could not be reached Wednesday. Cohen, also represents 3550 Palm Beach Holdings, which purchased the property for $8.25 million in November 2012. Over the years the 1.1 acre site’s future has been controversial. In 2007 a 14-story condominium hotel was proposed. In its heyday the Palm Beach Hawaiian hosted such famous guests as Tiny Tim, the singer and ukulele player. Television anchorman Chet Huntley booked a room when he was doing a story on Belle Glade, after his Huntley-Brinkley Report days ended. Former New York Yankees Manager Joe Torre spent time there with his family and other relatives years ago when he managed the Atlanta Braves. It was also a favorite spot for victory parties by South Palm Beach officials. The Inn’s name was changed to the Palm Beach Oceanfront Inn around 2002.
It appears that last year's sale did nothing to revive the hotel. As the photos show, the new owners apparently let it fall into disrepair. Considering that the CEO of the group that plans to build the condos also represents the group that bought the property in 2012, bulldozing the hotel could have been the plan all along. Here are a couple of the previous Palm Beach Post stories with some more photos: I'll try to make it down there to get some final photos. Aloha, Palm Beach Hawaiian. A couple re-posted vintage postcards ...
And here are some links back to a previous thread with lots more info and photos ... http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic=29385&forum=5&start=15 http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic=29385&forum=5&start=30 |
