Enclosing loggias at old site of Testa’s gets rejected
Palm Beach officials last week gave a decidedly cool reception to a new proposal to air-condition dining loggias at a restaurant planned for the old Testa’s restaurant site.
The Architectural Commission roundly criticized and then rejected a proposal to add windows to the restaurant space’s previously approved open-air loggias facing Royal Poinciana Way and an interior courtyard. The plan would have added retractable and fixedglass windows to the arches that would separate dining tables from the sidewalk and the courtyard.
Approved by the board in August 2015 after years of controversy, the Royal Poinciana Palm Beach project is a joint project by the Frisbie Group and The Breakers. Under a partnership announced last fall, the resort would own the restaurant as well as the ground-floor shops in the mixed-use project and its parking garage. The Frisbie family would develop several luxury condominiums on the second floor. Construction began last year.
The plan detailed how the windows would have been added to the reworked Gothic-style arches. Fixed glass panels would have been installed in the lower part and the upper arched portion of each opening. Filling in the middle, larger windows would slide up and down to open the loggia to the outside. These windows would be similar to those at other Palm Beach restaurants, including those a few doors down at Maven in the former Nick & Johnnie’s space, according to a letter Breakers CEO Paul N. Leone wrote and submitted to the board.
Windows also would have allowed the loggias to be used year-round — the only way The Breakers could “successfully” operate the restaurant, Leone wrote.
The loggias would hold about 40 of the restaurant’s 150 seats, according to Leone. Having so many seats open to the elements would mean the restaurant could have problems moving every outdoor diner inside if necessary because of unpleasant weather.
But such arguments held little weight Wednesday with the board.
“To put (in sliding) windows, in my professional opinion, destroys the elevation,” said architect and Commissioner Robert N. Garrison, referring to the side of the restaurant facing Royal Poinciana Way. “I would oppose all types of (glass) to close that (area) in.”
In a 4-2 vote, commissioners rejected the loggia windows but approved a number of other changes to the project requested by Frisbie Group. The developer plans to present a revised version of the loggia project under a new application at the board’s meeting Aug. 22, Robert Frisbie Jr. said Friday.
The loggia project was outlined by Cody Crowell, representing the Frisbie Group, and project manager Jason Skinner of Dailey Janssen Architects.
Leone, who was out of town Wednesday, noted in his letter that The Breakers joined the project long after the design was approved.
“On review of the specific architectural plans, and the restaurant elevations in particular, we realized that the open outdoor seating areas on the south and northeast elevations are simply not practical in Florida due to the heat, humidity and rain,” Leone wrote. “Controlling the dining environment in the loggias will (ensure) we operate in a town-serving manner honoring all reservations.”
Alternate Commissioner Katherine Catlin, who voted in the absence of Commissioner Maisie Grace, joined Garrison in criticizing the proposed window system.
“I can’t get my head around enclosing that loggia,” she said, adding that people love to dine outside in Palm Beach.