By Ron Hayes

In 1925, the famed society architect Addison Mizner agreed to design a building for the Boynton Beach Woman’s Club, provided the construction cost did not exceed $50,000.
Today, that wouldn’t keep his beautiful landmark open a year.
“Our annual operating budget is about $80,000,” says Patti Owens, president of the 102-year-old club. “Last year, our insurance alone was $30,000.”
And while the structure’s historical significance appreciates with each passing year, its market value has dropped from $772,000 in 2008 to $549,000 last year.
Now the stately Mediterranean Revival building at 1010 S. Federal Highway waits uncertainly between a group of dedicated women who love but cannot afford to support it, and a City Commission that must decide if, and how, to adopt it.
In May, Owens approached Mayor Jose Rodriguez with a tentative offer to sell the building to the city. That would be impossible in today’s tight economy, Rodriguez said, but perhaps the club might deed the building to the city while retaining the right to rent it out for social events, the club’s sole source of income.
At its July meeting, commissioners got an overview from Jeff Livergood, the city’s director of public works, who had met with club members on June 21.
“We all came away with a true recognition of the architectural value of the building,” he began. “It’s a cool old building, and we share a goal of preserving and protecting that building. That’s the sentimental part.”
It is, indeed, a cool old building, the first in the city to be placed on the National Register of Historical Places, and one of the last that can make you feel like Old Florida is still young. It has a barrel tile roof and a cloister, a cypress ceiling and Dade pine floors, a stately stone fireplace downstairs and an airy ballroom up.
“A building manifests the history of a community,” says Bonnie Dearborn, a former administrator with the state Division of Historical Resources who lectures on Mizner’s designs. “Nobody else has your history, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
On that, no one disagrees. But after acknowledging the club’s historical and architectural importance, Livergood gave the commission a reality check. Three, in fact.
First, he said, before agreeing to a deed transfer, the city should spend $15,000 to $25,000 to have a local architect assess the building’s structural integrity, wiring, plumbing and accessibility.
Secondly, with discussions already under way to revive the 1927 high school, the city must investigate how the club’s private rentals might compete with existing city facilities. Livergood praised the club members’ volunteer efforts to rent the building, but said staff believes a private marketing or management firm may be necessary, regardless of who holds the deed.
Finally — and most critically — Livergood voiced serious doubts about the club’s insufficient parking space, which he estimated at about 16 spots.
“For a large-scale building, parking is essential,” he said, and while the nearby senior center might accommodate shared parking, it is across Federal Highway from the club, necessitating installation of a traffic signal costing about $300,000.”
“What would be the cost of a pedestrian bridge?” wondered District 1 Commissioner Bill Orlove.
“Between $1 million and $1.5 million,” Livergood replied.
Owens, the club president, had asked that the discussion be tabled and was not present at the meeting. But the mayor, in noting her request, concluded that commissioners should hear the staff report since no action would be taken.
Contacted after the meeting, Owens emphasized that her approach to the city had been only preliminary, and no decision could be made without a vote by the 103-member club.
“I don’t want the city to be spending money until we find out if two-thirds of the membership is on board,” she said.
Regarding parking, she estimated the site has about 25 spaces, and said it had never been a problem.
“People park behind each other,” she said.
Owens emphasized that no decisions have been made, all existing rental contracts will be honored and the club is still very much available for weddings, birthday and bar mitzvahs.
Meanwhile, the City Commission was equally cautious.
“We need to be mindful that this is a building of historical significance to our city,” Orlove said as the inconclusive discussion wound down.
“We all agree,” the mayor said. “But to what extent, and to what cost?”                    Ú
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