A judge reversed three code orders against Subculture, but not on the merits
Plus a $140 million sale on Morikami Park Road, a 7 a.m. hazmat crash at Linton, and Joe & the Juice coming to Delray Place.
The Subculture Coffee fight came back from Palm Beach County Circuit Court this week looking like a win for the coffee shop, but the ruling turned on paperwork, not parking. The city's position has not moved, and the bill so far is about $22,000 in taxpayer money. Elsewhere: a 207-apartment community west of Jog Road sold for at least $140 million, a hazardous-materials crash snarled the northbound I-95 commute at Linton, and the Appearance Board has three projects on Wednesday's agenda.
A Palm Beach County Circuit Court judge reversed three code-enforcement orders the city had filed against Subculture Coffee, ruling that the special magistrate's decisions lacked the required written findings of fact and conclusions of law. The case goes back to the special magistrate for proper proceedings. Nothing in the ruling says the coffee shop may hold events. The city's concern is overflow parking, and whether open mics, poetry nights, and similar gatherings turn a coffee shop into a venue. Owner Rodney Mayo says events have been paused for a year. He wants to sit down with city officials to establish what is actually permitted, and says he may sue for lost revenue if the two sides cannot reach an agreement. The city attorney puts the cost of the fight so far at roughly $22,000 in taxpayer money.
The Arbor at Delray Beach sold for at least $140 million
PGIM Real Estate sold The Arbor at Delray Beach to Artemis Real Estate Partners for at least $140 million. The community sits at 6595 Morikami Park Road, west of South Jog Road: 207 apartments across 224,951 square feet on 7.2 acres, built in 2023. The reported floor price works out to about $676,300 per apartment. The $140 million figure may or may not include the operating business. PGIM bought the land in 2021 for $8.2 million and took a $45.7 million construction loan to build. Three years from raw land to a nine-figure trade is a fast round trip, and it happened at an address most people in town have never driven past.
A hazmat crash backed up I-95 north to Linton on Wednesday morning
A crash involving hazardous materials was reported around 7:13 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, on northbound I-95 just before Exit 51 at Linton Boulevard. Northbound lanes reopened during the response, but three left lanes stayed blocked, and traffic backed up roughly three miles, from Boca Raton up into Delray Beach. That is the heart of the morning commute at one of the busiest interchanges in south county. The material involved, the length of the response, and any injuries have not been made public.
Joe & the Juice is coming to Delray Place
The Danish chain Joe & the Juice is planning a shop at 1821 S. Federal Highway, in the Delray Place shopping center at Linton Boulevard and Federal Highway. It would be the first of several planned Palm Beach County locations. The menu runs to juices, smoothies, specialty coffee, and toasted sandwiches. Kaspar Basse founded the company in 2002, and it now has more than 400 locations worldwide. No opening date has been announced.
Two Delray property transfers posted for Aug. 9-15, both at $10
Two Delray property transfers were recorded for the week of Aug. 9-15: 1075 Circle Drive, Apt. C, on Aug. 10, and 47 SW 11th Ave., 1,860 square feet, on Aug. 12. Both were recorded at $10, a nominal figure with no explanation attached. Neither transfer indicates what homes in Delray are selling for.
Three projects go before the Appearance Board Wednesday
The Site Plan Review and Appearance Board meets Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 5:01 p.m. in Commission Chambers, 100 NW First Ave., with the meeting also carried on the city's YouTube stream. Three quasi-judicial items are up. First, an amendment to The Ray Hotel and Shops master sign program to add two Campi Italian wall signs at 233 and 245 NE Second Ave. Second, a monument sign for Alexan Delray at 1231 S. Congress Ave. Third, a Level 2 site plan for five two-story fee-simple townhomes at 120 SW Third Ave., which also carries a request to waive or reduce the required street trees.