In the 1890s, railroad baron and real estate developer Henry Flagler put Palm Beach on the map, developing the “veritable paradise” into a resort destination with properties that attracted the ultra-rich. Now, more than 130 years later, the focus is on West Palm Beach, but with a more inclusive approach to development.
This new phase, perhaps the third major growth spurt in West Palm’s lifespan, is largely led by 85-year-old billionaire and developer Stephen Ross. Ross’ vision is for a model city that attracts people to live and work here year-round. His South Florida–focused development company, Related Ross, is investing an estimated $10 billion in projects spanning health care, housing, office space, education, shopping, dining, entertainment, and more. The scale is so large that numbers don’t really paint much of a picture: 6 million square feet of office space, 1.4 million square feet of condos.
This is what it might look like: This spring saw the opening of a 25-floor luxury office building, One Flagler, which overlooks Royal Park Bridge. Hotel-style perks range from personal concierge services and a fitness center to an expansive terrace and the Related Life tenant experience program, which includes executive experiences, tenant happy hours, yoga classes, and preferred rates at various vendors. In 2027, Ross’ first condominium project in Florida, South Flagler House, will bring 105 luxury residences to Flagler Drive, with the most expensive single residence priced at $72.5 million…