The Dirt: Testimony on the value of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate takes a turn with phone call from dad

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

To be clear, you probably need a little swagger to hawk real estate in Palm Beach. It's not enough to have the beaded Alexander McQueen slippers and matching pocket square. You've got to have some cojones. So, it was no surprise that respected luxury Realtor Lawrence Moens answered a personal phone call from his father while testifying in former President Donald Trump's civil fraud trial in New York.

Here is an inaccurate and untruthful transcript of the call:

"Hi Dad, yeah, I love ya but I'm kind of busy right now and the judge is giving me side eye. Oh, the squirrels are back..."

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Meanwhile, some West Palm Beach homeowners are hoping to get the Miami-based Related Group to shrink its 25-story modern-style condominium planned for the shores of the Lake Worth Lagoon. Why? Well, it's on a 100-foot-wide lot just west of a historic district where century-old homes will crumble if you look at them cross-eyed. (I know this for a fact as someone who lives in a 92-year-old home that has traumatized every handyman in West Palm Beach. Seriously, there's a support group.)

Also, the much-anticipated Nora district is humming right along, and there's an update by senior business reporter Alexandra Clough and veteran photojournalist Greg Lovett.

And there's a new opening date for the kosher grocery store west of Boynton Beach, a pitch for a new car racing track, and an empty lot selling for $59 million. Gotta love Palm Beach County, we have it all.

Elegant West Palm Beach waterfront flophouse may become gilded high rise

Can flophouses be elegant? Of course they can! If they are on the shores of the Intracoastal Waterway across from Palm Beach and were once home to Wolfgang Von Falkenburg. But that's ancient history and the Related Group (not Related Cos., get it straight) wants to modernize, like, really modernize with a shiny 287-foot condominium high rise on the property.

The Northwood Harbor Historic District isn't too keen on the proposal but were polite and professional in their written statement about their concerns. Not so much for a neighbor who called the tower a "monstrosity."

Grit to glamour, Nora District to transform area north of downtown West Palm Beach

The first phase of development is well underway for the Nora District and you don't want to miss the incredible aerial video of the changes happening on what was a gritty, mostly unused, street. Nora's goal is to transform old warehouses into shops, restaurants, offices, stores and gyms. Please do not call it CityPlace North! Have some respect.

In all, the project will cost about $1 billion with the first phase including a dozen buildings with 154,000 square feet. A second phase is expected to start construction in 2024 that will include apartments and a hotel. Both phases are set for completion in 2026.

Pssst ... wanna buy a beautiful plot of grass?

A Palm Beach property that once housed a 1970s-era home sold in late July for $50 million. As is the Palm Beach way, the home was razed, and the lot is now on the market for $59 million.

Sure, there's nothing on the lot, but it sits along the Lake Worth Lagoon, which isn't as sexy as calling it the Intracoastal Waterway. Same thing though. Also, it has a private dock. Score! And water deep enough for a 130-foot yacht. You know what that means? You're rich. No rent at the Palm Beach Marina, which can cost $194,545 for a boat that length.

Kosher market opening west of Boynton Beach, really, this time for sure

The KC Market in Village Square is taking shape after briefly falling behind its construction schedule. And it's about four times bigger and better than the original store in Hollywood. While the owner of the kosher grocery store was hopeful it would open last month, it's not likely to be ready until the end of this month.

There will be a full deli, bakery, salad bar, produce, freshly made bagels, sushi and hummus. Also, a new line of smoked, cured and pickled fish will be introduced. The Dirt does love it some bagels and lox, or lox and bagels, either way, they're delicious!

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: Nora district flyover shows progress of hip new area for dining, shopping, working