By John Pacenti
Manalapan’s ambitious Town Hall project hit a snag when the owner of a former bank on a corner of Plaza del Mar failed to respond to the town’s overture to purchase the property.
The Town Commission at its March 10 meeting authorized an outside attorney to prepare to proceed with the acquisition of the property by eminent domain.
The former bank building at 131 S. Ocean Blvd. has been a troublesome property for the town, which imposed a $163,000 lien on it last year for unpaid code-enforcement fines related to unapproved renovations.
Town Attorney Keith Davis told commissioners the resolution mirrors language used in prior actions and is a procedural step to preserve the town’s ability to acquire the property if the owner does not reach an agreement with the town.
Davis told commissioners that the April 5 deadline for the offer period is approaching. If the deadline passes without a response, town staff will move forward under the authority granted by the resolution.
Town Manager Eric Marmer said Manalapan has already made an offer to the building's owner, Salute Realty LLC, based on an appraisal.
The resolution adopted states the property — called Parcel 101 — is necessary “for the expansion or relocation of the Town Hall and parts of its offices and facilities, including but not limited to police and fire department facilities.”
The item drew limited public discussion at the meeting.
The town is working to secure additional land around the bank building owned by the plaza. The site is considered the best option because it would allow the current Town Hall to remain operational during construction.
Salute Realty LLC is based in New York. It purchased the building for $1.2 million in 2019, according to Palm Beach County property records.
State records do not list a direct phone number for Salute Realty or the registered agent.
The lack of a response from the ownership to the town is curious, given that Salute Realty vigorously fought the code violations.
The council-approved resolution is just the first step in the acquisition process. If negotiations fail, the town would file a Petition for Condemnation in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.
A judge would then decide whether the project serves a valid public purpose and whether the municipality truly needs the specific property. A jury would determine the final amount the town would pay to Salute Realty.
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