In a unanimous decision, the Palm Beach Town Council approved plans for an Italian villa-inspired condominium redevelopment at 3301 South Ocean Boulevard, replacing the former Palm Beach Resort & Beach Club property with a more intimate residential vision rooted in architecture, scale, and landscape.
The approval marks an important milestone for the project, which has already drawn praise from council members for its sensitivity to Palm Beach’s historic character and its departure from the larger-scale developments often associated with waterfront redevelopment.
A Considered Approach to Development
Situated on a man-made peninsula along the Intracoastal Waterway, the proposed development introduces just 12 residences, emphasizing low-density living and a more residential scale. Designed in the spirit of Mediterranean and Italian villa architecture, the project favors courtyards, varied rooflines, textured façades, and landscaped open spaces over a more conventional condominium approach.
Town Council President Ted Cooney described the proposal as “such an architectural marvel,” noting that the development felt aligned with the vision Palm Beach’s founders may have imagined for the town’s public-facing spaces.
Rooted in Palm Beach Character
The property has been owned since 2022 by Copperline Partners, led by developer and real estate investor Richard Schlesinger. Plans call for the peninsula to be transformed into a private island setting through the excavation of a portion of the connecting land, introducing an even greater sense of separation and exclusivity.
The development will feature a private roadway extending through the property and terminating in a central piazza, reinforcing the project’s village-like atmosphere. Unlike the existing center-aligned structure currently on site, the new residences will be positioned along the edges of the property, creating a more open relationship with the surrounding water and landscape.
Though several variance requests were required for approval, council members ultimately expressed support for the overall vision, citing the project’s architectural integrity and its commitment to preserving the scale and character long associated with Palm Beach.
Landscape and Architectural History
Fairfax & Sammons have positioned the project within a broader architectural dialogue tied closely to both Palm Beach and the Mediterranean. References include Addison Mizner’s work along Lake Worth, the historic La Fleur Du Cap Villa, and the lakeside villas of Lake Como, influences reflected in the layered façades, shifting building heights, and intimate green courtyards woven throughout the property.
Landscape architecture also plays a central role in the redevelopment. Plans include new mangrove plantings along the water’s edge, in collaboration with MANG Consulting Services, to stabilize the shoreline and restore native ecology. The site’s hardscape and drainage systems have been carefully engineered to support lush landscaping without compromising performance, reinforcing the project’s emphasis on integrating architecture with the surrounding environment.
Rather than maximizing density, the development focuses on scale, movement, and connection to the waterfront, creating what the design team describes as a calm architectural backdrop along the causeway and South End shoreline.
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