The Dirt: Former Palm Beach developer headed to hoosegow, and robot lawnmowers vie for world domination

Kimberly Miller, Palm Beach Post
·3 min read
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The historic estate at 1465 N. Ocean Blvd. in the town of Gulf Stream sold for $16.6 million in July 2023.
The historic estate at 1465 N. Ocean Blvd. in the town of Gulf Stream sold for $16.6 million in July 2023.

Welcome to The Dirt! I’m real estate reporter Kimberly Miller with the latest developments in the sizzling market.

It's not often that a municipality makes fun of someone in an official format, but, hey, this is Palm Beach County and just like the madcap antics in the musical "Anything Goes", well, anything goes.

In that vein, the City of Boynton Beach likened a downtown investor to a tantrum-throwing toddler in a lawsuit that has stalled a much-needed apartment complex on Federal Highway.

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And while there was no name calling, at least not in public, neighbors in the popular south of Southern Boulevard community, or SoSo, aren't all keen on a car wash expansion, even if it will alleviate congestion that backs up like the Great American Traffic Jam minus the hijinks and hilarity, but includes the idling cars spewing greenhouse gas emissions. (You, in the drive through lane at Starbucks, yes, I'm looking at you.) ⛽

Also, in the realm of real estate, which usually includes some kind of immense and sweaty landscaping effort, The Dirt introduces the friendly neighborhood robot lawnmower! They are great for your grass, pet and are baby friendly, too, and will bring your wife flowers when you forget an anniversary. They are nothing like the T-800 ... yet.

Pound the table all you want, Boynton Beach isn't impressed

The Pierce, a proposed mixed-use apartment complex in downtown Boynton Beach.
The Pierce, a proposed mixed-use apartment complex in downtown Boynton Beach.

Affiliated Development has been on a roll. Its apartment complexes are popping up all over, except in Boynton Beach where a lawsuit by a downtown investor has stymied planning.

Boynton Beach declined comment when asked about the suit, but it didn't hold back in its response the legal action, which is covered in senior business reporter Alexandra Clough's story on the speedbump.

Mow, mow, mow your grass, or have Rosie do it

Tyler Reiter, owner of Florida Image Landscaping, Inc., shows off a Husqvarna robot grass mowing machine at Bear Island gated community in West Palm Beach, Fla., on August 10, 2023
Tyler Reiter, owner of Florida Image Landscaping, Inc., shows off a Husqvarna robot grass mowing machine at Bear Island gated community in West Palm Beach, Fla., on August 10, 2023

A trio of robot lawnmowers named after the housekeeper in the animated TV series The Jetsons are hard at work in a West Palm Beach community helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and heat stroke.

Yeah, yeah, I know, we were promised jetpacks. But maybe a robot lawnmower isn't a bad tradeoff. Or is it ... bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha! 🚗☠💥

Hear ye, Hear ye, "The Ballroom" is on the market

A Mediterranean-style house at 160 Barton Ave. in Palm Beach entered the market in August 2023 at $32.8 million.
A Mediterranean-style house at 160 Barton Ave. in Palm Beach entered the market in August 2023 at $32.8 million.

A Palm Beach home nicknamed "The Ballroom" hit the market this month for $32.8 million. It last sold in 2002 for $5.51 million.

It's close to the ocean and has deeded beach access but it's the nickname that is the eye-catcher, harkening back to the days of Gatsby-style galas when invites came on embossed stationary, not via a misspelled text message. 🤮

Former Palm Beach developer headed to the hoosegow

Robert V. Matthews arrives with his then-wife Mia for a hearing related at the federal courthouse in West Palm Beach on March 23, 2018.
Robert V. Matthews arrives with his then-wife Mia for a hearing related at the federal courthouse in West Palm Beach on March 23, 2018.

Those federal prosecutors in Connecticut didn't hold back in describing former Palm Beach hotel developer Robert "Bob" V. Matthews, who they described as a "grifter." Ouch!

It's been a few years — or four — since Matthews pleaded guilty to a bunch of charges related to a failed renovation at the Palm House hotel. He'll now spend a few years — or, five years and five months — in the pokey, clink, cooler, hoosegow and/or prison.

Mint Eco plan leaves bad taste, some neighbors say

Mint Eco Carwash signage.
Mint Eco Carwash signage.

A very popular car wash at the corner of Southern Boulevard and Olive Avenue in West Palm Beach packs them in, and backs them up into traffic any given afternoon. You would think they were giving away free Birkins and Taylor Swift tickets with every wash.

The owner has proposed a new routing system that would convert a residential lot to commercial to alleviate the congestion, but is that too slippery a slope in SoSo?

Live lightly.

Kimberly Miller is a veteran journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate and how growth affects South Florida's environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Help support our local journalism, subscribe today. 

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Mint eco car wash expansion plans now in the hands of West Palm Beach commissioners