HyettPalma
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Featured Project:
Downtown West Palm Beach, FL

HyettPalma defined a Downtown enhancement strategy for West Palm Beach, Florida. The Downtown West Palm Beach Market Analysis and Action Agenda was completed as part of the technical assistance program offered through the National League of Cities, called America Downtown® — New Thinking. New Life. Please click here for more information about America Downtown.

At that time, West Palm Beach had a dynamic mayor who was extremely dedicated to Downtown and its further enhancement, a very active Downtown Development Authority, and a considerable number of private sector investors who were about to invest significant sums in Downtown real estate. In addition, a master plan had been recently completed for the community.

HyettPalma was retained by the City to “take the next step.” Essentially, the City wanted to build on the new master plan by creating a Downtown enhancement strategy that was based on economic realities.

HyettPalma engaged the community in defining their hopes and aspirations for Downtown. And, we recommended a market position for Downtown to guarantee that Downtown could successfully coexist with City Center — a $750,000,000 plus, pedestrian-oriented shopping center being constructed adjacent to Downtown West Palm Beach — which was called “Downtown/Uptown” while in the planning stages.

Thanks to the work of the City, the DDA, and the HyettPalma recommendations, Downtown West Palm Beach is being called the hottest real estate in South Florida.

The following excerpt outlines the community’s desired vision for Downtown and the development framework recommended by HyettPalma to position Downtown in the marketplace.

The following is an excerpt from the Downtown West Palm Beach Market Analysis and Action Agenda, which was written by HyettPalma.

The Market Analysis and Action Agenda for Downtown West Palm Beach was based on:

• Discussions held with many members of both the private and public sectors of West Palm Beach;
• Data collected by the Process Committee established for the project;
• The results of a retail, office, and housing market analysis completed for Downtown; and
• The professional and technical expertise of HyettPalma.

Downtown West Palm Beach Tomorrow
A series of discussions, focus groups, and meetings were held to define the community’s preferred vision of Downtown West Palm Beach — as it would ideally exist in the future.

The ideal future Downtown West Palm Beach would be bustling with people who are living, working, and visiting the area. These people would be drawn to Downtown because it would have become a unique mixed-use area that is “citified,” “urban” and “real” — as opposed to being “Disney-like.”

West Palm Beach’s Downtown would be pedestrian-friendly, pedestrian-safe and crime-free, with restaurants along the waterfront as well as walks, benches, and landscaping that “invite people to visit.” The rehab and reuse of Downtown’s historic structures would continue and Downtown would be made more attractive by removing all hanging wires and placing them underground.

Downtown would be an ethnically diverse, culturally diverse, and economically diverse place that residents of West Palm Beach would be “proud to take visitors.”

The preferred future Downtown West Palm Beach would be able to attract a wide variety of users, including Downtown residents, neighborhood residents, Kravis Center users, professionals, families, retirees, students, youth, “jocks,” tourists, boaters, business travelers, artists, and those involved in creative endeavors — such as theater, movies, and media. Session participants were asked to describe the image that Downtown West Palm Beach would ideally have in the future. They said Downtown should be known:

• As a cultural center that is civil, civilized, safe, and user-friendly;
• For its ambiance, charm, uniqueness, and pride in its heritage;
• As a business district that is diverse, tolerant, inclusive and accessible to all, rather than exclusive;
• As an area that is fun, functional, and alive with “lots to do and something for all;”
• For being a business community that collaborates, cooperates, and works in partnership with its “stable, good local government;”
• As a holistic and whole Downtown that is part of a “model city;” and
• As a place that makes people say “being there makes me feel good!”

Downtown Development Framework
The following development framework is being used to guide Downtown’s overall enhancement.

• Downtown and Downtown/Uptown — Without a doubt, Downtown and Downtown/Uptown must have two distinct identities and personalities that allow the areas to complement each other. Only in this way will they be able to coexist and will they both be able to experience long-term economic vitality. The recommended identities for each area follow.
  
  
  • Downtown
    The core of Downtown West Palm Beach is being positioned as the City’s fun, creative and arty “Theater:Entertainment District.” And, this core should continue to be ringed by offices, institutional uses and housing.
    
    Retail, retail-related and food businesses located in the Theater:Entertainment District should be mostly independent businesses mixed with “funky” national chains.
    
    While the area’s “life” would come from its mix of creative businesses, its character should come from its “old Florida” buildings. To put the suggested “personality” of Downtown into graphic terms, it could be thought of as “The Soho of South Florida.”
  • Downtown/Uptown
    This area is being positioned as the City’s new, slick, modern “Arts:Culture District.” Here would be found mainstream national chain businesses in “new Florida” structures.
    
    And, while Downtown could be thought of as South Florida’s Soho, Downtown/Uptown could be characterized as South Florida’s equivalent of “Fifth Avenue/Museum Row” surrounded by housing.
  • The Sum of the Parts
    In combination, Downtown and Downtown/Uptown — with their unique and complementary personalities — would have the combined power of turning West Palm Beach into “Florida’s Cultural Coast.” In creating this distinct magnet and economic force, it is paramount that the art and entertainment venues offered in each area all be first class and of top quality.
• Cultural and Economic Diversity — Downtown is continuing to be enhanced as “a real Downtown for a real community.” In doing so, care is being taken to ensure that Downtown appeals to and invites people of all ages, colors, and income levels.
  
  
• Pro-Investor and Pro-Quality — The City of West Palm Beach’s planning and review procedures are being made as quick and easy to navigate as possible — for quality investors. This is being achieved by using the City’s Downtown Master Plan and the Downtown Market Analysis and Action Agenda.
• Big Fixes — No single big fix will enhance Downtown. West Palm Beach’s Downtown enhancement effort remains focused on the myriad of small and medium-sized improvements and changes that must occur in order to attain Downtown’s economic potentials.
• Factory Outlets — Downtown West Palm Beach is not an appropriate location for factory outlets, discount stores, or off-price retailers.
• Bars — A number of high quality drinking establishments are currently located within Downtown — and are assets to its commercial mix. As the enhancement effort progresses, care is being taken to ensure that Downtown does not acquire the reputation of being a wild, “party Downtown.” Instead, Downtown works to maintain an image of casual elegance and sophistication.
• Downtown Districts and Clusters — To ensure planned growth — as opposed to conflicting land uses and urban sprawl — Downtown is being enhanced in a way that creates a series of complementary districts. And, within each district, uses are being clustered so that they can attract consumers, share customers, and expand Downtown’s market over time.
• The Lake Worth Waterfront — The Lake Worth waterfront is the prime real estate in Downtown. As such, the waterfront is being tied into and made a part of The Theater:Entertainment District.