November 6, 2008
Ms. Jane S. Day
c/o Research Atlantica, Inc. for
Town of Palm Beach
728 Granada Drive
Boca Raton, Florida 33432
Dear Ms. Day:
We are writing to encourage the Town of Palm Beach to landmark the Royal Poinciana Plaza & Playhouse. Although we understand that potential plans would allow the façade to remain intact, the entire property is culturally important in the Palm Beach Community and should be saved. On behalf the Board of Trustees of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, we would strongly encourage the Town of Palm Beach to landmark this important building so that it does not lose this unique architectural treasure.
Architect John L. Volk, who designed the Royal Poinciana Playhouse and its Plaza in 1957, has been recognized as one of the integral architects in the Town of Palm Beach. Built on the site of Henry Flagler’s Royal Poinciana Hotel along the Lake Worth shoreline, this theater was one of the most significant projects of the 1950s. Choosing to combine the modern and traditional styles, the open modern site plan accommodated both vehicular and pedestrian traffic in addition to parking for the theater and the shopping area of the Plaza. This type of design combination showcases a unique balance between the traditional styles and modern spacing techniques.
In addition to this site’s important local status, according to the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, Bureau of Historic Preservation, this project is a potentate candidate for a nomination listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation will offer our support to any effort to save this treasure in Palm Beach. Please contact us at your first opportunity if we can be of assistance in any way at the State and National level of preservation advocacy. We respectfully request that your office keep us informed to the status and disposition of this important landmark. It is our sincere hope that the Royal Poinciana Plaza & Playhouse be given every consideration for Landmark Status, as we hope to avoid the loss of another important mid-century treasure in the Town of Palm Beach.
In May of 2009, the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation will hold our 31st Annual Meeting in Palm Beach County. We are excited to have the opportunity to showcase many successful historic preservation projects within the town and we would like nothing better than to announce to our conference attendees that the Royal Poinciana Plaza & Playhouse is one of the newest Landmark designations in the Town of Palm Beach.
Sincerely,
Mark A. Tarmey
President
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