Stet NewsSome key development decisions dominated Stet News headlines in May. Also, Joel’s exclusive reporting about competing data center proposals at the same location and spreading the news about Stet in Philly.
🏗️ County’s $1 billion hotel deal
A proposed second convention center hotel built by megadeveloper Related Ross would cost Palm Beach County $26 million up-front but bring in a minimum of $1 billion over 99 years.
Why it matters: The deal would help draw more visitors to the convention center. It seeks to carve out minimum payments to avoid giveaways that often mar county efforts to draw convention center hotels. It also gives the county a cut of hotel revenues but it still must pass the County Commission.
– Jane Musgrave and Joel Engelhardt
⚔️ Dueling owners scrap over proposed data center
There are two owners and two plans now for the hotly contested hyperscale data center proposed for Southern Boulevard at 20-Mile Bend.
Catch up quick: Seeming united, the owners moved forward in December to finalize zoning on up to 1.8 million square feet of data center space.
- Facing intense opposition, PBA Holdings, the owner of all but 60 acres on the site pulled back, submitting plans for 1.03 million square feet of data space and promising no diesel generators, enclosed cooling fans and a closed-loop water system to minimize water consumption.
- That plan would go before the County Commission in July.
Yes, but: The other owner, Atlanta-based TPA Group, put itself in the crosshairs of community opposition for the first time, as Stet News exclusively reported, by seeking county site plan approval on April 27 for 1.1 million square feet of data center use on its 60 acres, replete with outdoor generator yards, a water treatment building and 80-foot-tall chillers.
– Joel Engelhardt
🚪 Development comes knocking
The Crossroads Baptist Church is at a crossroads.
After surviving the ups and downs of more than 50 years at 45th Street and Haverhill Road, the church is being sold — for housing.
- Kolter Group is proposing 318 apartments in three buildings six stories tall on the eight-acre site. The builder is asking West Palm Beach to annex the property and approve the development plan.
Yes, but: That leaves the congregation homeless, except for a promise from the church’s landlord, the Palm Lake Baptist Association, to help financially for five years.
Why it matters: The deal illustrates the reach of Palm Beach County’s housing boom, which isn’t confined to waterfront high-rises but extends to forlorn pockets where builders struggle to find available land. It also promises a financial windfall for the Baptist association at the expense of a single congregation.
– Joel Engelhardt
🎲 Riviera Beach bets on Forest Development
Riviera Beach leaders chose a partner this month to transform one of its most valuable assets, the city marina waterfront, into a $566 million residential and tourist destination.
Driving the news: Forest Development founder Peter Baytarian’s winning proposal calls for tearing down the city’s 10-year-old event center and replacing it with a 73,000-square-foot convention center.
Also on the drawing board for 12 acres at the Marina Village just north of the Port of Palm Beach is a 270-room Marriott Autograph hotel, 164 condominiums, three waterfront restaurants, a rooftop lounge, a culinary school and a 240-slip dry-boat storage center.
Why it matters: It’s yet another massive investment in a city that has been undergoing extraordinary change in recent years. Riviera Beach has been trying to redo the waterfront since 2005 and initiated this effort in 2018.
– Carolyn DiPaolo
🏆 Your top stories in May
North county’s new hospital is a family affair
Local TV news rivals to be neighbors
New world order in Riviera Beach
Exclusive: Riviera Beach’s utility chief is out
How Sweet Fish it is: An unexpected eatery
🎨 Stet behind the scenes: Front row seats for the local news renaissance
👋 Liz, here. This month, I was in Philadelphia for the Lenfest News Philanthropy Summit: three days with about 500 local news fundraisers, leaders and donors gathered to network and learn from one another.
The invitation-only summit, hosted by the Lenfest Institute and Press Forward, is focused on philanthropy and revenue in local journalism, and what is not only possible, but what is working. Lenfest’s Annie McCain Madonia set a bold tone in her opening remarks on the state of local news with this challenge: “Let’s stop saying ‘crisis’ and start believing ‘renaissance.’”
My takeaway: Some of the best advice came in breakout groups and one-on-one conversations. Across more than 35 sessions representatives of small operations, legacy outlets, public radio and news startups created a vibe of camaraderie and optimism.
What I’m bringing back to Stet: Several sessions reinforced that local philanthropy is the essential long game. National foundation money has sparked a lot of what’s happening in local news today, but it won’t sustain it. The leaders building lasting newsrooms to serve their audiences are the ones cultivating donors in their own communities, engaging people who understand what’s at stake locally and want to be part of the renaissance.
Proud moment: One of my favorite sessions was on the power of student journalism partnerships that reinforced the value of Stet’s Community Voices high school reporting pilot program at Inlet Grove High School in Riviera Beach. It explored collaboration with education partners and seeking support for programs like ours beyond journalism grants, including foundations focused on youth development and civic engagement.
The bottom line: Even with a flight cancellation that got me home a day later than planned, I landed energized to put what I’ve learned into action. Independent local news is growing, journalistic competition has evolved to collaboration and Palm Beach County deserves the same robust investment that philanthropic leaders have made in other communities.
Throughout the summit I was reminded of all the support we’ve received on this journey building Stet News to serve Palm Beach County. We are grateful for your financial contributions, your sharing Stet stories and constantly cheering us on.
Thank you to the Lenfest Institute for inviting Stet News and supporting my participation in the conference.
– Liz Capozzi
