Rob Van Winkle, aka rapper Vanilla Ice, is offering to do a 13-episode TV show
about his renovation of this $10.5 million home in Manapalan.
Photo provided
By Christine Davis
Broker James Arena, of Arena and Company, which has headquarters at the Boynton Beach Mall, has produced a YouTube video starring Rob Van Winkle, better known as Vanilla Ice, about a property for sale at 4020 S. Ocean in Manalapan. Owned by Ken Brown, it’s currently listed by Marisela Cotilla and Michael Castro of Douglas Elliman and Sheri Reback and Mindy Gaines of Reback Realty for $10.5 million.
“This is one of the most unique things I’ve ever done,” Van Winkle said in the video. “We are going to put this on TV, make 13 episodes out of this, and turn this house into something that’s truly magical.”
In an email response, Van Winkle added: “This is a great opportunity for investors or homeowners looking for a jewel in the heart of Palm Beach. The home is a little dated, and it would be a complete new build. This will make for a magical TV show on the Vanilla Ice Project to showcase to the world the beauty of Palm Beach and its wealthy residents. Palm Beach has its own style and flair that is second to none.”
For homes on his show, he always endeavors to take them from dated to amazing, he wrote, using the finest features such as home IMAX theaters, lazy-river swimming pools, pneumatic elevators, award-winning kitchens, rotating automobile turntables for the garage, etc.
According to Arena, the investor can do it as a joint venture and have the property renovated by Vanilla Ice and have it featured on season six of DIY Network’s The Vanilla Ice Project. “Rob will be the contractor, and renovate it on air in front of 51 million viewers, then put it back on the market and sell it at a premium.”
Cotilla, one of the listing agents, said that the value of the property is in the land, a double lot on 2.4 acres with views of the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean. The property is adjacent to the Boynton Inlet.
Van Winkle’s company also closed on a Hypoluxo Island property in October. In that $1.425 million sale, Arena represented the seller, and Angela Kinser of Milestone Real Estate Services represented the buyer. Arena said he was told that the Lantana house would be featured during season five of HGTV and DIY Network’s Vanilla Ice Project.
Lord & Taylor’s corporate nonprofit program, Shop Smart Do Good, returns on Nov. 6 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., in support of 25 local nonprofits. Organizations sell $5 tickets to the daylong event, and in addition to the deep discounts, refreshments will be offered from area restaurants as well as entertainment by local performing artists. Top-selling nonprofit organizations will receive additional bonus prizes from Lord & Taylor and all ticket proceeds sold on the day of the event are divided between the participating organizations. Lord & Taylor is at 200 Plaza Real, Mizner Park, Boca Raton.
INSET BELOW: Jan Savarick
Jan Savarick, president of Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation, plans to retire. “Jan is going to be a tremendous loss to the hospital,” said Jerry Fedele, the hospital’s president and CEO. “She’s been here for 13 years, and the hospital has evolved from a very good hospital to an academic center. During the last six years, since I’ve been here, I’ve worked with her personally. She does it all: major gifts, spectacular community events, the golf tournament, and a big part of the marketing component by reaching out and educating about the services we have here, and she sits in patients’ rooms and holds their hands. She does it all 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
She is a busy woman. In addition to her role at the hospital, she’s chairwoman of the advisory board for the School of Social Work at Florida Atlantic University, an honorary board member of Hillel of Broward & Palm Beach, and past president of Donna Klein Jewish Academy. She was named one of South Florida’s Most Influential Business Women of 2012 and a 2013 Palm Beach County Ultimate CEO by the South Florida Business Journal. She was the honoree at the annual American Association of Caregiving Youth’s Back to School breakfast in 2013, and most recently received the Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Crystal Award in recognition of her involvement in and support of the Levis Jewish Community Center. Savarick also is honorary chair for the 2015 Kiwanis Scholarship Walk for Homeless/Foster Care Students and recipient of the 2015 Rotary Opal Award in Medicine and Healthcare.
Which is why she’s winding down a little, she said. “I will continue with the work I’m doing. I’m not going quite so fast; maybe in four months or so. The hospital has not started the search yet.”
She wants to take some time to figure out the next chapter of her life, she said, and she has so many interests and opportunities, she hasn’t decided on anything specific yet. “I’m seeing too many small nonprofits failing because they are focused only on the good services of their mission. I might want to do some consulting for them; step in to help facilitate for major asks. It’s not something that would make me a millionaire, but it would help others. My primary passion is the world of contemporary art, so I’d like to marry my personal passion with something that I’m doing in the business world.”
It’s not a walk in the park, but a mammogram can be like a day in the garden or at the beach, or by a waterfall. Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute offers the SensorySuite by GE Healthcare, which surrounds a woman with an interactive mammography experience designed to stimulate sight, smell and hearing. Studies have shown that when women can choose to have their mammogram in an environmental ambiance they have a better overall experience and are more likely to schedule regular exams.
For those with chronic hip pain who’ve resorted to replacement surgery and still have problems, Boca Raton Regional Hospital orthopedic surgeon Charles Toman may have a solution: the gluteus maximus transfer. This procedure divides and reroutes muscle from the gluteus maximus to replicate function of the medius and minimus hip abductors that are torn beyond repair. The gluteus maximus transfer is usually overlooked as an option, however, because X-rays are more commonly ordered than MRIs. While an X-ray may call for a new hip, it’s the MRI that can reveal evidence of atrophy and chronic tearing, which are the probable causes of pain. The gluteus maximus transfer is usually a last resort and is recommended for patients with chronic, degenerative issues or complications from other surgeries.
Brenner Real Estate Group, in cooperation with Balistreri Realty, has been awarded the brokerage listing for the sale of 31 luxury condominium units at Royal Poinciana, on West Hidden Valley Drive and Northwest 76th Street in Boca Raton, with its sales center at 93 Via Floresta Drive. The owner of the property is Sabal Financial Group LP, a hedge fund based in Newport Beach, Calif. The gated community of Royal Poinciana has 90 units, 31 of which have been rental apartment units. An onsite general contractor is renovating these units to make them ready for sale as townhomes by the Brenner/Balistreri team. The units range from 1,930 to 2,410 square feet with three- and four-bedroom layouts and two-car garages, with 50 of the units as two-story, single-family, semi-attached homes and 40 as three-story attached townhomes. Prices will range from $325,000 to $450,000. For information, visit www.royalpoincianaboca.com or call 994-8333.
Baptist Health South Florida, together with Bethesda Health and Bethesda Hospital, signed an affiliation agreement in October. “We believe that this potential affiliation will leverage our shared vision for improving the health of our respective communities,” said Roger L. Kirk, president and chief executive officer of Bethesda Health. “Over the coming months, we will be working collaboratively on a strategic business plan to ensure that our mutual goals for the affiliation are closely aligned,” said Brian E. Keeley, president and chief executive officer of Baptist Health South Florida. The closing date of the affiliation is expected to occur during the first quarter of 2015.
In mid-October, the George family, owners of 326 and 400 East Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach since 1915, listed the properties for sale for $21.5 million through Howard Bregman, of Marcus & Millichap.
“In the last six to 12 months, the Georges have received unsolicited offers for the buildings and they feel that it’s an opportune time to bring their assets to the market,” Bregman said.
“In general, the market in Downtown Delray Beach is very hot. I think it’s only getting hotter. Atlantic Avenue is a very limited area, so barrier of entry is very expensive. I think, in general all development — hotels, condos, theaters — only advances it.”
Around the corner, iPic Entertainment’s proposal for a mixed-use development anchored by an eight screen, 529-seat luxury movie theater was accepted by Delray Beach’s Community Redevelopment Agency, but raised concerns from some local business owners who believe that the theater will cause traffic congestion problems.
“iPic has resubmitted its development proposal, and the access of the alley has been eliminated from the original proposal. Now the access to the garage would be Southeast Fourth Avenue, and not from the alley,” said Scott Pape, the city’s Planning and Zoning senior planner.
“We need to review their revised plans, and once we have consensus to move forward, it will go to Planning and Zoning.” No date has been set.
Marianne Gourmet Shop, 803 George Bush Blvd. in Delray Beach, has added hours and menu items. New hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
“We extended times to help moms pick up healthy snacks and meals to go,” said owner Sara DeVries. “We’re offering more kid-friendly foods, like chicken cutlets, and healthy foods, like grilled salmon and shrimp. We have all kinds of casseroles, like macaroni and cheese, and baked ziti with meat sauce.”
Also, keep in mind the gourmet shop’s Thanksgiving menu, she said. “We do the whole nine yards. Come and purchase the whole dinner, or pick and choose items by the pound. Everything is made right here.” In addition to old stand-by favorites like chicken salads, tuna salad and Turkey Terrific Sandwiches with stuffing and cranberry mayonnaise are an array of desserts and daily specials.
“Also, people like to bring in their own dish, and ask us to fill it up with their favorite. They can entertain at home, and their guests will think they home-cooked it.”
BCBGMaxazria, a luxury national-brand women’s clothing boutique, plans to open its doors in a storefront in the 411 E. Atlantic Ave. building by the end of November, if not sooner, said the soon-to-be store manager, Rena Vatch, who is currently working out of the company’s Boca Raton Town Center store. Construction is underway and, BCBG is currently hiring sales staff.
Fresh Produce opened in October at 401 E. Atlantic Ave. “Fresh Produce clothing has had a strong presence in the Delray Beach area since the 1980s at Dock Square Clothiers,” said Mary Ellen Vernon, Fresh Produce founder and chief brand officer. “Everything about this location aligns beautifully with the spirit of Fresh Produce, from the vibrant colors to the calm, casual feel.”
Early November, Robert Greenfield, former owner of DIG and Greenfields on Atlantic, will open his new restaurant, Green Fields Organic Bistro, in Boca Rey Plaza, 4900 Linton Blvd., Suite 14. Offering a smoothie bar, organic foods and other healthy choices, the menu will include salads, soups, organic mac and cheese, wraps, sandwiches, seafood, juices and desserts. Green Fields also will offer take-out and delivery.
The Delray Beach Green Market at Old School Square Park is in its 19th season and will be open every Saturday through May 9, with a few location changes and closures because of festivals. The market will also host two special events this season including the 18th Annual Chili Cook-off on Feb. 21 and the 14th annual Easter Bonnet Pet Parade on April 4. This season, more than 65 veteran vendors have returned. Old School Square Park is located on 51 N. Swinton Ave. in downtown Delray Beach. For more information, email greenmarket@delraycra.org or call 276-7511.
From 6 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 20, for this year’s final Third Thursday Fun-Raiser at Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel Tiki Bar, 10 local restaurants will compete for the coveted title of Best Bite on the Ave by offering free samples from their menu. Attendees will select the winner by dropping a special token in their favorite restaurant’s fish bowl.
Attendees will receive their first token (along with five free raffle tickets) upon paying the $5 admission charge, and will receive another token every time they buy a drink (alcoholic or not) at the Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel Tiki Bar.
At the end of the evening, the restaurant with the most tokens will be declared Best Bite on the Ave winner for 2014. Previous winners include Tryst Gastropub in 2013 and Prime Delray in 2012.
This Fun-Raiser will benefit the HOW Foundation of South Florida, which works with wounded warriors, and Project Holiday, which supports local families who have loved ones serving in the armed forces. Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel Tiki Bar is at 82 Gleason St., Delray Beach. For information, call (561) 278-1700 or visit www.cranesbeachhouse.com.
INSET BELOW: Bob Weisblut
It took two years, but Bob Weisblut’s little “For Sale by Owner” sign finally produced results, bringing him two potential buyers for his Ocean Liner Villa Apartments at 5001 Old Ocean Blvd., Ocean Ridge, on the same afternoon in September, and finally gaining him a $2.7 million sale by the month’s end.
“When I bought the Ocean Liner 22 years ago, I walked down the street, saw it and wanted it, and I figured I’d sell it the same way,” he said. He figured right. “The day I was leaving for a trip to Peru, Francois Marcil and Frank McKinney both had an interest in it. I told them I was leaving for two weeks and what could I do on a Saturday?”
Upon Weisblut’s return, Marcil did indeed buy it. The closing was Sept. 30. Marcil, who is planning some renovations, has already painted the roof, Weisblut said. The Ocean Liner, comprising six apartments, was originally a duplex, “but at some point (before his time), the porches closed it up,” Weisblut said.
At first, he was going to rent a unit from Anna Ruggiero, for whom Anna Street was named. “But she passed away and her son, who lived in Georgia, didn’t want anything to do with it. He had no idea who was going to show up that year, because he had no records. He said he wanted out. I loved it, so I bought it.”
But that was a long time ago. “I was ready to sell,” he said. “I want to travel, and that’s hard when you have people depending on you to have things fixed. I’m finished with that.”
Recently, the Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches promoted Dionna Hall as the new chief operating officer and Kim Hansen as the new director of MLS. On Sept. 6, the association donated $5,000 toward the home of a family in Lake Worth, and spent the day assembling and installing walls. On Sept. 25, they donated $200 to The Lord’s Place and $250 to Quantum House. Proceeds were raised from continuing education classes sponsored by First American Title.
The Mildred Hoit boutique, at 265 Sunrise Ave. in Palm Beach, will host Adopt-A-Family Day on Nov. 4. During this daylong event, a percentage of all sales will be donated directly to the nonprofit organization. The agency has helped more than 40,000 families attain self-sufficiency in its 31 years of service in the community. The boutique offers fashions and designer products including sportswear, jewelry, handbags, lingerie and home furnishings.
Christine Davis is a freelance writer. Send business news to her at cdavis9797@comcast.net.
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