Palm Beach board recommends six historic homes for landmarks designation

Six historic properties were recommended to the Town Council for designation as landmarks this month by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

During their monthly meeting at Town Hall Nov. 16, commissioners voted to approve the properties for landmark designation, while rejecting two others. Three other properties were deferred until December and January.

If approved as landmarks by the council at its Dec. 14 development review meeting, the six properties will join 350 other landmarked properties, sites and vistas that are protected under the town's Historic Preservation Ordinance.

Another 35 properties have been designated by the council as historically significant, according to the town. That category was created in August 2020 in an effort to discourage owners from tearing down older houses that aren’t landmarked, but still contribute to the charm and character of their neighborhoods.

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The six properties recommended for landmarks designation this month are: 144 Everglade Ave.; 127 Kings Road; 1510 N. Ocean Blvd.; 345 Polmer Park Road; 686 Island Drive; and 4 Via Vizcaya.

Properties at 755 S. County Road and 205 Nightingale Trail were not recommended for landmarks designation, while properties at 1250 N. Ocean Blvd., 205 Jamaica Lane and 246 Atlantic Ave. will be discussed at a later date.

In order to be considered for the landmark designation, properties must meet at least one of four criteria listed in the Landmark Preservation Ordinance.

Those criteria are: 1. exemplifies or reflects the broad cultural, political, economic or social history of the nation, state, county or town; 2. is identified with historic personages or with important events in national, state or local history; 3. embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type or is a specimen inherently valuable for the study of a period, style, method of construction or use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship; and 4. is representative of the notable work of a master builder, designer or architect whose individual ability has been recognized or who influenced his age.

The home at 144 Everglade Ave. in the Ocean Park subdivision was built in 1919 in the Colonial Revival style, with some craftsman-style influence.

The two-story, wood frame structure was originally owned by Henry S. Moody and his wife, Mabel. Subsequent owners included cosmetic company owners Joseph and Estée Lauder, who purchased the home in 1957.

Leslie Johnston purchased the home in 2003 and has been a good steward of the property, said Janet Murphy, a landmarks consultant with the town.

The home at 127 Kings Road was originally part of Cielito Lindo, a 45,000-square-foot Mediterranean Revival-style estate designed in 1927 by architect Marion Sims Wyeth for retail heir Jessie Woolworth Donahue and her husband, James.

The property was sold to developers in 1946, and then subdivided into five single-family residences, with Kings Road running down the middle. The three-story structure at 127 Kings Road was originally Cielito Lindo's culinary wing. It was purchased in 1984 by James and Angie McNamara.

The home at 1510 N. Ocean Blvd., in the far North End, was designed and constructed in 1925 by Eugene Bartholomew for his brother, developer Harvey Bartholomew.

The Mediterranean Revival-style home on the northwest corner of North Ocean Boulevard and Mediterranean Road was purchased in 1978 by James C. Gavigan, who has lived there for over 40 years.

The home at 345 Polmer Park Road was designed in the French-based Mansard style by Palm Beach architect William Ames Bennett in 1961. Five years later, prominent Palm Beach architect John Volk designed a Chinese pagoda pavilion for the home, which was purchased in 2000 by its current owner, Donna Acquavella.

The home at 686 Island Drive was designed in the Neo-Classical Revival style in 1955. It was built for Dr. and Mrs. Alfred Henderson, who lived there for 20 years.

The structure, which Murphy said is noted for its architectural charm, had several additional owners before being purchased in 1999 by novelist James Patterson and his wife, Sue. The current owner, Robert Greenhill, purchased the home in 2012.

The home at 4 Via Vizcaya was designed in the Monterey Revival style by prominent Palm Beach architect Maurice Fatio in 1934.

One- and two-story additions to the home were completed in 1977 and 1990 to provide more living space for the homeowners while retaining the architectural integrity of the original design, said Emily Stillings, a landmarks consultant with the town.

Alterations also have been made to the home, which is on the northwest corner of South County Road and Via Vizcaya. Monnie and Thorne Donnelly have owned the home since 1993.

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: Palm Beach board recommends 6 historic homes for landmarks designation