4. ARC-23-074 (ZON-23-061) 100 WORTH AVE (COMBO) The applicant, The Winthrop House, has filed an application requesting Architectural Commission review and approval for an exterior renovation to an existing seven-story residential building including the installation of new storefronts at the ground level, new stucco, repairs and paint finishes to all elevations, the removal of exterior brick finish materials along all façades, the installation of new metal balconies guardrails along all balconies, removal and replacement of balustrade parapet at rooftop, sitework including new surface material, removal of existing drive aisle and parking lanes, new landscaping, modifications to the existing porte-cochere, and new pedestrian gates and a new vehicular gate; and including a variance for the removal of on-site parking. This is a combination project that shall be reviewed by Town Council as it pertains to zoning relief/approval.
Public Comment, Town of Palm Beach Admin
admin
over 1 year ago
Received via email 10.19.23:
RE: WINTHROP HOUSE | ARCOM APPLICATION ARC -23-074
Mayor & Members of ARCOM:
We hope this letter finds each of you safe and well. We are extremely grateful for your time, dedication, and service in making
the Town of Palm Beach a fabulous place to live and work. Our team has reviewed the Winthrop House’s renovation plans for
its building located at 100 Worth Avenue and, following our review, we find their proposed renovations as outlined in the
Exhibit attached hereto to be consistent with the Town of Palm Beach’s Comprehensive Plan, Land Use Regulations, and the
Worth Avenue Design Guidelines as follows:
1. Maintain the character of the Town as a predominantly residential community having only the type and number of
businesses and other support services necessary to meet the needs of Town residents (Town of Palm Beach
Comprehensive Plan Objective 2);
2. The plan for the building is in conformity with good taste and design and in general contributes to the image of the
town as a place of beauty, spaciousness, balance, taste, fitness, charm and high quality (Town of Palm Beach Municipal
Code Section 18-205);
3. The proposed design is not, in its exterior design and appearance, of inferior quality such as to cause the nature of the
local environment to materially depreciate in appearance and value (Town of Palm Beach Municipal Code Section 18-205);
and
As the property owner of the Esplanade located at 150 Worth Avenue, we happily support their application presented to you.
We believe the proposed changes are designed in a well thought out manner and will positively impact our town without
negatively impacting adjacent property owners. Thank you for your time in this matter and for continuing to protect Palm
Beach.
Respectfully,
WILSON 150 WORTH LLC
Yvonne A. Jones, CPM
Managing Agent, Wilson 150 Worth LLC
Director of Property Management, O’Connor Property Management LLC
Received via email 10.19.23:
Dear ARCOM Members:
The Board of Directors of Winthrop House are honored to represent the owners that reside in the 121 units at 100 Worth Avenue. With this letter we intend to clarify our needs concerning the Exterior Renovation project and the facts that have shaped this journey.
This project is extremely important to our owners. The building is more than 50 years old, and while it is structurally sound, a major project is needed to address moisture intrusion issues that have developed over time. Three independent engineering reports have concluded that the vapor barrier behind the brick has deteriorated and is the primary cause of this intrusion. The complete removal of the brick is required to address this problem. Other required renovation items include necessary concrete restoration, balcony railing replacement, and upgrading non-impact rated common area windows.
For the past two and a half years, we have engaged with our owners concerning this project, striving for complete transparency, and have used the time to gather professional legal, engineering, and architectural advice before calling for a vote of owners on this renovation.
On February 23, 2023, 89% of voting owners voted positively, easily surpassing the minimum approval required by our condominium bylaws.
We take your feedback seriously and greatly appreciate the work you do to protect and enhance the visual elegance of the Town. It is our intention to deliver a project that exceeds the expectations of both the Town of Palm Beach and our owners. We appreciate your guidance and collaboration in this effort.
We are now at a point at which, if the project is not approved by ARCOM, we will be forced to defer construction until off season 2025 – a full year after our target date. Accordingly, this creates a critical sense of urgency to obtain ARCOM approval at the October 25th meeting because postponing these repairs certainly means additional moisture intrusion will occur and the construction costs will only increase as time goes on.
We stand fully behind the submitted design materials and the design adjustments made by our architect, David Miller. We hope that you will approve our project at next week’s meeting.
Sincerely,
Winthrop House
Board of Directors
Received via email 10.19.23:
RE: WINTHROP HOUSE | ARCOM APPLICATION ARC -23-074
Mayor & Members of ARCOM:
We hope this letter finds each of you safe and well. We are extremely grateful for your time, dedication, and service in making
the Town of Palm Beach a fabulous place to live and work. Our team has reviewed the Winthrop House’s renovation plans for
its building located at 100 Worth Avenue and, following our review, we find their proposed renovations as outlined in the
Exhibit attached hereto to be consistent with the Town of Palm Beach’s Comprehensive Plan, Land Use Regulations, and the
Worth Avenue Design Guidelines as follows:
1. Maintain the character of the Town as a predominantly residential community having only the type and number of
businesses and other support services necessary to meet the needs of Town residents (Town of Palm Beach
Comprehensive Plan Objective 2);
2. The plan for the building is in conformity with good taste and design and in general contributes to the image of the
town as a place of beauty, spaciousness, balance, taste, fitness, charm and high quality (Town of Palm Beach Municipal
Code Section 18-205);
3. The proposed design is not, in its exterior design and appearance, of inferior quality such as to cause the nature of the
local environment to materially depreciate in appearance and value (Town of Palm Beach Municipal Code Section 18-205);
and
As the property owner of the Esplanade located at 150 Worth Avenue, we happily support their application presented to you.
We believe the proposed changes are designed in a well thought out manner and will positively impact our town without
negatively impacting adjacent property owners. Thank you for your time in this matter and for continuing to protect Palm
Beach.
Respectfully,
WILSON 150 WORTH LLC
Yvonne A. Jones, CPM
Managing Agent, Wilson 150 Worth LLC
Director of Property Management, O’Connor Property Management LLC
Received via email 10.19.23:
Dear ARCOM Members:
The Board of Directors of Winthrop House are honored to represent the owners that reside in the 121 units at 100 Worth Avenue. With this letter we intend to clarify our needs concerning the Exterior Renovation project and the facts that have shaped this journey.
This project is extremely important to our owners. The building is more than 50 years old, and while it is structurally sound, a major project is needed to address moisture intrusion issues that have developed over time. Three independent engineering reports have concluded that the vapor barrier behind the brick has deteriorated and is the primary cause of this intrusion. The complete removal of the brick is required to address this problem. Other required renovation items include necessary concrete restoration, balcony railing replacement, and upgrading non-impact rated common area windows.
For the past two and a half years, we have engaged with our owners concerning this project, striving for complete transparency, and have used the time to gather professional legal, engineering, and architectural advice before calling for a vote of owners on this renovation.
On February 23, 2023, 89% of voting owners voted positively, easily surpassing the minimum approval required by our condominium bylaws.
We take your feedback seriously and greatly appreciate the work you do to protect and enhance the visual elegance of the Town. It is our intention to deliver a project that exceeds the expectations of both the Town of Palm Beach and our owners. We appreciate your guidance and collaboration in this effort.
We are now at a point at which, if the project is not approved by ARCOM, we will be forced to defer construction until off season 2025 – a full year after our target date. Accordingly, this creates a critical sense of urgency to obtain ARCOM approval at the October 25th meeting because postponing these repairs certainly means additional moisture intrusion will occur and the construction costs will only increase as time goes on.
We stand fully behind the submitted design materials and the design adjustments made by our architect, David Miller. We hope that you will approve our project at next week’s meeting.
Sincerely,
Winthrop House
Board of Directors