Why the Ritz Carlton Palm Beach Gardens condo complex could be even bigger than planned
A three-tower Ritz-Carlton condominium being built on the Intracoastal Waterway in Palm Beach Gardens soon could be adding a fourth tower.
Builder Dan Catalfumo confirmed he is buying a 2.5-acre lot just south of the existing 11-acre Ritz site on Ellison Wilson Road where he hopes to build another tower.
Catalfumo said he also wants the land so he can add additional amenities, including a tennis court, a pickleball court and a dog park three times larger than first envisioned. Preconstruction sales began this year.
"With the quality of the clients that are purchasing, they are into more activities," Catalfumo said.
The main Ritz lot formerly belonged to Panama Hattie’s Seafood House and Rum Bar. The additional lot belongs to resident Seija Regalmann, who lives in a house on the sprawling waterfront parcel.
Purchase of additional parcel gives Ritz project dominant position
The Regalmann property purchase, set for September, means the Ritz condo complex will dominate the east side of the Intracoastal Waterway just south of PGA Boulevard, creating a massive modern enclave filled with activities and people in an area previously dotted with single-family residences.
Kevin Jeannette, who owns a home along the Intracoastal directly across from the Reigelmann property and the planned Ritz expansion, said he knows times are changing and the county is growing rapidly. Still, he said he has "common sense" concerns about traffic on PGA Boulevard and about how the additional lighting from the expanded Ritz project will affect nearby residents, as well as sea life.
"When you see three or now four new buildings with all the lights on, the peace and tranquility will be gone," Jeannette said.
In addition, "I've got nothing against pickleball, but if you're near it, you're going to go crazy," Jeannette said. "It makes a lot of noise. Just think when you get a sound reflection across the water."
Regalmann's property is in unincorporated Palm Beach County, but Catalfumo is seeking approval from Palm Beach Gardens to annex the property into the city. He took the same actions when he gained control of the Panama Hattie's site, which formerly was also in unincorporated Palm Beach County.
On July 13, the city council approved a first reading on the annexation. The second, final reading is set to be considered at an Aug. 3 meeting, said Natalie Crowley, Palm Beach Gardens' director of planning and zoning.
Crowley said she hadn't seen any plans submitted yet for the expanded Ritz project, but she said all proposals would have be go before planning and zoning for review.
More: Putting on the sales blitz: Ritz Residences in Palm Beach Gardens find eager buyers
Early sales showed demand for Ritz condos
Since sales began in February, Catalfumo has presold more than 20% of the 106 units planned in the existing three-tower complex. These presales equal about $100 million in preconstruction sales contracts, he said.
Units at the Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach Gardens start at $4 million and go up to nearly $9 million for one of 16 penthouse units.
These Ritz-Carlton Residences are not hotels. Instead, they are Ritz-branded residences, where the company manages the property under its banner with the level of service typically found in a Ritz hotel.
This Palm Beach Gardens property will be different from other condominiums because it fits into Ritz’s “estate collection,” a larger and more private level of residence.
Construction is underway, with the project's completion slated for the fourth quarter of 2025.
Alexandra Clough is a business writer and columnist at the Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at aclough@pbpost.com. Twitter: @acloughpbp. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Ritz Carlton Palm Beach Gardens condo to add another tower, amenities
