Demolition at historic Palm Beach theater draws ire, but developer says work OK'd by town

The sight of the Royal Poinciana Playhouse missing many of its walls amid a long-awaited redevelopment has sparked concern from some residents, but the project's developer says all the work done thus far was approved by the town.

What was expected to be an "amazing rehabilitation" of the landmarked, John Volk-designed structure at 70 Royal Poinciana Plaza has instead turned into a near-total demolition, Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach President and CEO Amanda Skier wrote in an email to members and advocates on Monday.

Rebirth for theater: Cultural arts center, waterfront restaurant planned for long-shuttered Royal Poinciana Playhouse site

"The Preservation Foundation is shocked and saddened by this loss of historic materials, and its devastating impact on the character and charm of Palm Beach," Skier wrote. "Although we have heard that some exterior walls are intended to be reconstructed, the John Volk-designed Playhouse was truly a special place, and we will never fully get back the authenticity and character of the actual historic Playhouse that was just lost."

Town Council member Julie Araskog said last week she was "devastated" when she saw the site in July following a two-week vacation.

"I came over the north bridge and saw no more of the Playhouse," she told council members during their Aug. 8 meeting. "Gobsmacked isn't even a word that reveals how I felt."

The project's developer, however, told the Daily News that all renovation, restoration, and demolition work has been "fully approved" by the town.

Alexandra Clark, vice president of Asset Strategy & Experience for WS Development, noted that many structural elements in the building needed to be rebuilt in order to meet the minimum requirements of the Florida Building Code.

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"Rebuilding what was there is not something we came to lightly," Clark said Monday. "We were advised by a team of experts that it was needed to make it safe for public occupancy. Restoring this building and reopening the long vacant Playhouse is our priority right now, and we are excited to watch construction progress toward its opening next fall."

The Landmarks Preservation Commission, which approved the proposed architecture for the project in February 2022, will discuss the demolition work at its meeting Wednesday.

Wayne Bergman, the town's director of planning, zoning and building, noted in an Aug. 7 memo that landmarks commissioners had raised concerns about the demolition work being performed at the Playhouse and two other properties within the town.

In each case, Bergman wrote, commissioners expressed concern that more demolition work was performed than what they reviewed and approved.

At Wednesday's meeting, the design and build teams for the three properties — the other two are the North Fire-Rescue Station at 300 N. County Road, and a residence at 284 Monterey Road — will explain why the "large level" of demolition and reconstruction is needed on their projects.

"Staff has directed the design professionals responsible for each project to come prepared with presentations highlighting any structural or safety issues that their projects have encountered, how those issues were mitigated, and any future revisions or new items the team anticipates moving forward," Bergman wrote.

The Playhouse opened in 1958 and closed nearly a half-century later. It is slated to reopen as a cultural arts center and new waterfront restaurant.

Redevelopment plans call for a top-to-bottom renovation of the two-story, 34,517-square-foot building, which closed in 2004 after Clear Channel Communications, its last tenant, left.

When complete, the new venue will seat about 400, Clark told the Town Council last year. The programming will include art, film, dance, theater, music, education and charitable events.

Plans also call for a 200-seat waterfront restaurant with outdoor dining as well as 12,000 feet of retail and gallery space.

Up Markets, a division of WS Development, has controlled the playhouse since 2014 under a long-term lease for the plaza.

Construction on the project began in November, and some external walls now are being demolished, Clark told the Daily News last month.

This phase of the project includes "select walls where (demolition) was necessary to accommodate extensive structural work that we are putting in place to support the future building, something that was never done previously," she said.

Interior demolition also is underway to accommodate work by center programmer Innovate and allow the developer to prepare for a new restaurant and retail spaces.

Innovate, a publicly held company chaired by resident Avie Glazer, whose family owns the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will operate the programming for the planned cultural arts center.

In a statement Monday, Glazer and his wife, Jill, said their plan for the interior will draw inspiration from Volk as well as aim to honor his vision and legacy while making it usable as a successful space beginning next fall.

"We are beyond excited to open the doors in a little over a year to a world-class cultural arts center," they said.

When reached Monday, Skier said she looks forward to sharing her concerns about the project during the landmarks meeting.

"We are eager to see what transpires at the Landmarks Preservation Commission meeting on Wednesday, and to take in all the information that will be shared," she said.

Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Demolition work at historic Palm Beach theater raises concerns