Applause broke out at the Palm Beach Town Council meeting when Maggie Zeidman, then-president of the council, proposed transforming a 5.8-acre parking lot on South County Road into a park. She called on residents to raise approximately $400 million for the project, highlighting the land’s prime location and potential.

Despite her optimism, Wells Fargo sold the property to the Frisbie Group, which planned a major development with residential and commercial spaces reflecting the island’s architectural style but was eventually withdrawn, leaving the site’s future uncertain.

This situation underscores the broader development challenges in Palm Beach, where resistance to new projects is particularly pronounced. The dissenters often include members of prominent families and individuals with extensive influence and wealth. Their connections and clout add a unique layer of complexity to development projects in the area.

(source: therealdeal.com, picture: Antonio Cuellar)