The Related Cos. planning a future for West Palm Beach; could it include Temple Israel?

Temple Israel at 1901 N. Flagler Dr. in West Palm Beach.
Temple Israel at 1901 N. Flagler Dr. in West Palm Beach.

As chief executive of Related Urban, the mixed-use arm of the Related Cos., Ken Himmel said the company always is thinking about how one use can feed off of another.

Consequently, medical offices could come to the Reflections office center on S. Australian Avenue, on downtown West Palm Beach's western boundary along Clear Lake. Related is part of a group that bought the two-tower Reflections office complex in February.

In addition, Himmel said his company is helping several private K-12 schools find sites throughout Palm Beach County. Schools are racing to meet demand from executives with young families moving to the county, said Gopal Rajegowda, partner with Related Southeast.

In fact, new corporate tenants could bring up to 10,000 to 15,000 employees and their families to the county, Himmel said.

"It's a huge priority for us, and we've been on it for the last couple of years," Himmel added.

One developer's big plans for West Palm: Related Cos. has plans for West Palm and neither hurricanes nor a recession can stop them

More: More "Wall Street South:" Related Cos. plans largest office complex in West Palm Beach

More: Is West Palm Beach the "Wall Street South"? New York firm's expansion south is latest in trend

New private schools coming to the area from Boca to West Palm?

During the next year, he expects "three to four" announcements of private schools between Boca Raton and West Palm Beach.

Even as Related works to fill in the West Palm Beach downtown core, it also is eying the city's choicest real estate: property along North Flagler Drive overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway and Palm Beach.

Ken Himmel
Ken Himmel

Real estate sources said the company is in talks to buy Temple Israel at 1901 N. Flagler Dr., joining other developers rushing to build luxury condominiums along the city's eastern edge.

New city zoning rules now would allow a 202-foot building to be constructed on the 1.5-acre temple property.

Himmel was coy about the temple property, but he didn't deny the company's interest.

"It's a very attractive site. Let's put it that way," Himmel said.


Want to get The Dirt?

Stay up to date on South Florida's sizzling real estate market and sign up for The Dirt weekly newsletter, delivered every Tuesday! Exclusively for Palm Beach Post subscribers.


Alexandra Clough is a business writer at the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at aclough@pbpost.com. Twitter: @acloughpbp. Help support our journalism. Subscribe to The Palm Beach Post today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Sources say The Related Cos. is in talks to buy Temple Israel.