Delray Beach developer Frank McKinney is marketing a 4,042-square-foot micro-mansion
that is under construction in Ocean Ridge. He’s not set a price.
Rendering provided
By Christine Davis
Frank McKinney, Delray Beach resident and “real estate artist” (“That’s what The Wall Street Journal called me, and I ran with it,” he says), has created his share of mega-million-dollar spec mega-mansions, but he is currently exploring the micro-mansion trend, building one in Ocean Ridge.
Aligning with the concept “the best things come in small packages,” he’s not skimping. His 4,042-square-foot micro-mansion will offer $4,000-a-square-foot finishes, a floating sun deck, multiple pools, antique flooring from a sunken 16th-century Spanish galleon, and a second-floor outdoor master shower complete with trees.
“I’ve watched the evolution of high-end buyers since my first spec house in 1992, and what’s changing is that a 10,000-square-foot house is no longer the trophy statement it used to be,” he says. “The ultra-wealthy don’t have time to be bothered with the maintenance.
“I’m setting this trend, and I’ve never felt more convinced about it. The wealthy are already buying condos with this kind of money, but I’m thinking they don’t want to live in a 4,000-square-foot toolbox, surrounded by people on all sides, above and below.”
His prototype three-bedroom, 3½-bath home, at 19 Tropical Drive, Ocean Ridge, is 345 feet from the ocean and has deeded beach access. His team includes architect George Brewer and Dale Construction.
Currently, the second floor is going up, and McKinney aims to have the home completed by New Year’s Eve, turnkey ready and fully furnished with linens on the bed, thanks to his wife, Nilsa.
As yet, he hasn’t set a price, but to give a hint, consider that the sea-glass countertops in the kitchen came in at $128,000. “I want the market to tell me if it’s the right size, so I don’t have a price on it.
“If your paper didn’t have the name Coastal Star, I would take the name. This house hopes to be a coastal star.”
Menin Development Inc. entered into agreements with Capital One Café (offering financial services with coffee) and The Green Owl restaurant for its East Atlantic Avenue buildings. Capital One Café will lease 5,840 square feet at 326 E. Atlantic Ave. The Green Owl will move to 400 E. Atlantic Ave. behind Huber’s Pharmacy.
As you may recall, The Fite Group’s agent, Jack Elkins, holds the listings for 1920 and 1940 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, which are on the market for $19.5 million and $9.5 million respectively. (Elkins and public records say they are owned by South Ocean Living LLC. Other sources, though, report the owner is Billy Joel.) While a buyer can still purchase the properties separately, Elkins has recently relisted them as a package for $27 million as well.
Lang Realty has announced that it leads among all residential real estate agencies in both sales volume and number of listings in Palm Beach County from January through March 2016, according to area Multiple Listing Systems.
Florida Realtors announced that home sales totaled $627 million in February, representing a 16.6 percent increase year over year. Also noted was a heightened demand for homes between $300,000 and $600,000 and above $1 million.
Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller Sharon R. Bock received the 2015 Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiving Legacy Award in the public policy category for her Guardianship Fraud program and hotline. In recognition of its accomplishments toward addressing the needs of Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers, Bock’s office received $20,000 in March.
Through the hotline, callers can anonymously report potential incidents of financial fraud or waste involving court-appointed guardianships over elderly, minor or incapacitated individuals.
Since the program’s inception, its Division of Inspector General has audited and investigated more than 900 guardianship cases and identified more than $4.5 million in unsubstantiated disbursements, missing assets and fraud. For information about the hotline, visit www.mypalmbeachclerk.com/fraud.
In March, the Renaissance Boca Raton Hotel debuted its multimillion-dollar renovation featuring Spanish-inspired architecture, a new color palette, a transformed hotel lobby, and 189 renovated guest rooms. Other amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center, as well as 15,000 square feet of meeting and conference spaces. The hotel is at 2000 NW 19th St., Boca Raton.
Palm Beach Travel, founded by Annie Davis three years ago, was recently recognized with the 2015 Best of the Best Independent Agency award from the Avoya Travel Network, for the second year in a row. Also, Sharon Yale has joined Palm Beach Travel, specializing in trips for couples and families with Oceania, SilverSeas, Seabourn, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, River Cruise and other large group cruises. Palm Beach Travel is in Plaza del Mar at 257 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan.
In April at Florida Atlantic University, Student ACES (Athletics + Community + Education) hosted its first ACE Captains Leadership Summit, an event designed for high school athletic captains to learn leadership skills and techniques and life lessons that will enable them to lead their teams on and off the field. More than 200 students attended.
The panel included Clay Shiver, former NFL player and Florida State Hall of Famer, and Pete Martinez, chairman and CEO of Game Changer.
Sponsors for the event included Tire Kingdom, Garden of Life, Keiser University, Advanced Roofing, Walmart and Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA.
Evelyn & Arthur’s president, Adrianne Weissman, received one of the 2016 Enterprising Women of the Year Awards at Enterprising Women magazine’s conference in Coconut Grove. Winners were recognized in March for having fast-growing businesses, and mentoring women and girls involved in entrepreneurship. Evelyn & Arthur’s Manalapan boutique for women’ fashions is in Plaza del Mar, at 227 S. Ocean Blvd.
On the team at the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority are (l-r) Executive Director Laura Simon;
Lauren Lyall, operations coordinator; and Alexandra Farnsworth, program coordinator.
Photo provided
In honor of Mother’s Day, the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority will present a “Downtown Delray Orchid Giveaway,” through May 7. Here’s how it works: Shop the more than 300 boutiques, galleries, shops, spas, salons and fitness studios in the downtown area, collect $200 in receipts and turn them in at one of two Orchid Stations, which are located in front of Hand’s Stationers, 325 E Atlantic Ave., and Petite Connection, 1049 E. Atlantic Ave.
The stations will be open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 4 through 6, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 7. Restaurant receipts are excluded.
Also, until May 10, enter to win a Mother’s Day prize package (with more than $500 of certificates from downtown Delray Beach businesses) at delrayorchidgiveaway.com.
Other news from the DDA: Alexandra Farnsworth has joined its team as program coordinator, and Lauren Lyall has joined as operations coordinator.
On May 5, the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches honored four local women who make a difference in the county at its annual Women in Leadership Award event. Among them was Boca Raton resident Yvonne Boice, who received the 2016 Volunteer Sector Award. A businesswoman and philanthropist, she owns and operates two businesses in Boca Raton: The Shoppes at Village Pointe and Fugazy International Travel.
By doing what she loves — creating delicious low- and no-fat snacks, former Miss Georgia Linda Kamm has created a product, Fruitfull bars, which has sold 92 million pieces. Her company, Happy and Healthy, with an office at 1600 S. Dixie Highway, Boca Raton, has been in business for 25 years.
JFK Medical Center’s cancer program was granted a three-year accreditation with commendation from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons in March. To earn the commission’s voluntary accreditation, a cancer program must meet or exceed 34 of its quality-care standards, be surveyed and evaluated every three years, and maintain levels of excellence in care delivery.
Also in March, JFK Medical Center made the pledge to help increase colorectal cancer screening rates by supporting the “80 percent by 2018” initiative, led by the American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable. As part of the pledge, JFK received the Colorectal Cancer Partnership award and grant from the American Cancer Society to be used for funding colorectal cancer education, activities, and/or interventions. JFK Medical Center is at 5301 S. Congress Ave., Atlantis.
Heather L. Apicella was named a partner at the marital and family law firm Gladstone & Weissman PA. Its main office is at 101 Renaissance Centre, 101 N. Federal Highway, Suite 702, Boca Raton.
The crew at Our Boat House is planning a tent sale May 12-15 at its new Delray Beach location.
Pictured (l-r): Christina Auer, Karen Marcil, Lori Auer-Smith, golden retriever Dune and Eleanor Auer.
Photo provided
The family-owned Our Boat House has recently moved from Mizner Park to its own 3,500-square-foot building at 820 SE Fifth Ave., Delray Beach. On May 12-15, old and new customers are invited to take advantages of discounted prices at its tent sale. “Everyone who loves The Coastal Star loves us,” says co-owner Karen Marcil, referring to the store’s coastal vibe. Our Boat House has something for everyone. Men are attracted to its collection of old boating artifacts, fire pieces and local artwork —and women like those too, as well as everything else (which includes slip-covered furniture, lighting, accessories, rugs, large coral pieces, and a new line of outdoor furniture). And for those nautical types who like a good treasure hunt, here’s a riddle to solve: “When you need me, you throw me away. When you are done with me, you bring me home.” When visiting the tent sale, if you identify this object, you will receive an old sea-glass float.
As of May 1, organizational changes took place at Palm Beach State College focused on student success and quality customer service. Ginger Pedersen assumed the new position of vice president of information services. Jean Wihbey became the vice president for workforce development and provost of the Lake Worth campus. Maria Vallejo was named the vice president for growth and expansion and provost of the Belle Glade and Loxahatchee Groves campuses. Holly Bennett now serves as vice president for institutional effectiveness and provost of the Palm Beach Gardens campus. Bernadette Russell became the vice president for e-Learning and continues to serve as provost of the Boca Raton campus.
At 7 p.m. May 12, David Dweck, president of the Boca Real Estate Investment Club, will give a presentation, “The Landlord/Tenant Boot Camp,” with Dan DeMott of Rent Pro and landlord-tenant attorney Jerron Kelley.
The presentation will be held at the Renaissance Boca Raton Hotel, 2000 NW 19th St., Boca Raton. The cost is $20 for nonmembers. For information, call 391-REAL.
John M. Campanola, with New York Life Insurance Company at 401 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, recently joined a group of agents who are authorized to offer AARP members a range of financial solutions through AARP Life Insurance, and annuity and long-term care options from New York Life.
The annual Boynton Beach Food, Wine & Brew Festival, offering cuisine from 30 of the town’s restaurants and lounges as well as wine and craft beer tastings, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. May 26 at Benvenuto restaurant, 1730 N. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. Tickets are $35. For information, call 732-9501.
For “We [Heart] Small Biz Month,” the Delray Beach City Commission has planned a series of activities in May that include networking events, business walks, workshops and giveaways. For a schedule, visit www.WeHeartSmallBiz.org or call 243-7054.
Send business news to Christine Davis at cdavis9797@gmail.com.
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