FLORIDA UPDATE JUNE 2015 from CFO Jeff Atwater

Along with Florida’s beautiful beaches and laid-back lifestyle, here are recent advances:

• Since 2011 Florida’s economy has been growing, with private sector growth higher than national average.
• Ranked #1 in aerospace manufacturing attractiveness
• 2^nd best  state to do business in
• 3^rd highest number of technology establishments in US
• 4^th in nation for technology industry workers
• Miami named 2^nd best metropolitan statistical area for startup activity
• Miami is home to #1 cruise port in the world
• Largest single site employer is Walt Disney World in Orlando
• High tech corridor (Orlando, Gainesville, Lakeland, St. Petersburg and more) creates cutting-edge aviation and aerospace advancements with economic impact of $1.2BB
• Creative digital media advances, including top-selling video games
• Panama City ranked as south’s #1 pro-business beach community
• Pensacola ranked in Top 10 for successful aviation and aerospace clusters in the south
   

GRAND OLE GULFSTREAM HOTEL IN LAKE WORTH GETTING A NEW LIFE

A historic building on the National Register of Historic Places has been involved in a long-running foreclosure lawsuit.  Sitting at the west end of the Lake Worth Bridge, the hotel looks forlorn when you drive by, with memories of wonderful meals there. 

The 106-room hotel, built in 1923, reportedly defaulted on a loan for $16.7MM.This is the only remaining Grand Hotel of Palm Beach’s “Roaring 20’s” era.

New owners say that the historic façade will remain as is.  They are looking for a top-notch restauranteur and a brand to manage the hotel.  Rooms and the interior will be upgraded but no architect has been selected yet.  The deal included two vacant acres, and plans have not yet been made for what to build on that land.  How about a theatre on the style of the Kravis and Broward Centers?  Plenty of room for a parking garage.  That would make it a fine destination for weekend or week long visitors, and the dining room would overflow.

Intracoastal views are spectacular.  80% of it rooms face the water.  Other features include

• 7.5 miles to Palm Beach, FL
• 13 miles to Delray Beach, FL
• 5 minutes walking to Lake Worth Beach
• Private parking in the same building
• Roof top bar
  Looking forward to their reopening and this may just give Lake Worth a shot-in-the-arm for more cultural venues to buy into the area.  Good news indeed!

APRIL 2015 CLOSED SALES OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND TOWNHOUSES AND CONDOS FROM REALTORS ASSOCIATION OF PALM BEACHES

The taxable value of property in Palm Beach County jumped by 8.7 percent over the past year, its biggest one-year increase in 10 years, according to early estimates released today by the Property Appraiser’s Office

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/property-value-increase-is-palm-beach-countys-bigg/nmLwD/

PATRIOTIC MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT at MIZNER PARK, 7 PM, MAY 25th

 

Memorial Day concert "An American Tribute"

Monday, May 25th at 7:00pm

And a schedule of our Summer Series 2015
 Free music and movies under the stars

 

As part of the City of Boca Raton's Memorial Day observances

Monday, May 25th at 7:00 pm

"An American Tribute"

Full concert band of patriotic music

For information: 561.393.7995 or Click Here