Vote could decide fate of 8 historic Delray homes
DELRAY BEACH — The fate of eight historic homes in the heart of Delray Beach hangs on a developer’s proposal to recreate a historic street scene as part of a nearly $140 million mixed-use development project.
OnMonday, developerHudsonHoldings is scheduled to present revised plans to the city’s Historic Preservation Board for the restoration of seven historic homes, and the reconstruction of an eighth, as part of Midtown Delray Beach, formerly known as Swinton Commons.
The catch is that the decaying homes, which are owned by the developer, could ultimately be demolished if the plans aren’t approved, said Steven Michael, co-founder ofHudsonHoldings.
“Itwould be, I think, a dereliction of their responsibility as historic board members to not want to embrace a preservation project that is this important,” he said.
MidtownDelray Beach is a 7-acre project with plans to include a 120-room hotel, apartments, restaurants, office and retail space.
It will also feature five of the restored homes, prominently displayed along Swinton Avenue south of Atlantic Avenue. The restored homes will be used for retail.
Revisions to the project come afterHudsonHoldings waited a year while receiving input from stakeholders and the community.
The developer initially previewed plans last year to relocate all the historic homes into whatwould have been a historic village beside the SundyHouse, the oldest home in Delray Beach and the residence of the city’s firstmayor, John Sundy.
But those plans drew criticism from the Historic Preservation Board, with some in the community saying they would like to see the homes stay in place.
“I want to see this area redeveloped. I would love to see you find a way to keep these structures in place and celebrate where they are,” said board chairman John Miller during the meeting last February.
NowHudsonHoldings is back with plans to place five of the homes on Swinton Avenue— three in almost exactly the same spot, according to Jeff Mustard, a spokesperson forHudsonHoldings. None of the homes is moving more than 200 feet on the same block, Michael said.
Another two homes at the south end of the property will also stay in relatively the same area, and the eighth home — which must be completely reconstructed — will move south of the Sundy House, Mustard said.
“It’s almost like you are restoring the fabricof the historic neighborhoodby doing this,” said Rick Gonzalez, president of REG architects, vice chairman of Florida Historical Commission.
However, the historic homes will have to be moved temporarily to accommodate construction of an underground parking lot with room for about 400 spaces, said Gonzalez, who helped with the project’s master plans.
Hudson Holdings will use a national leader in home relocation to gently, carefully relocate the homes during construction, he said.
Some critics remain hesitant about moving the homes though.
Claudia Willis, a Delray resident, would like to see the historic homes remain on their original lots.
“The issue I’m concerned with is it isn’t a goodmove for any historic districts tomove houses off of their lots so youcan put innew infill,” Willis said.
Linda Oxford, of Delray Beach, said she would like to see the houses preserved, preferably in the same spot. “If we keep whittling away our historic areas, Delray is not going to be the same town it has been,” she said.
Hudson Holdings estimates the project would create 400 permanent jobs, generate $6.4 million in sales tax revenues and act as a catalyst for redevelopment west of Swinton Avenue.
Commissioner Jim Chard said he’s hopeful the development would be a boon for communitieswest of SwintonAvenue.
“I think they are definitely going in the right direction,” he said. “I think there are going to be lots of jobs, and good jobs that are going to arise from this, and since it is west of Atlantic, I think it will benefit [west Atlantic neighborhoods].”