5400 North Flagler, a 31-story condominium tower in West Palm Beach, has been approved by the city’s Planning Board. Developed by Canada-based Great Gulf with designs by Safdie Architects and Spina O’Rourke + Partners, the project is planned for a 2.46-acre site in the Pinewood Park neighborhood, bounded by the Intracoastal Waterway to the east, 54th Street to the north, and North Flagler Drive to the west.
Credit: Great Gulf.
The development will replace a 72-unit low-rise completed in 1966 with a modern tower containing 97 residences, including townhomes, two- to four-bedroom layouts, and penthouses. Although the structure is significantly taller than the existing building, the overall density increase is limited, with only 25 additional residences planned. Property records show the parcel was acquired by 5400 N Flagler Limited Partnership, an affiliate of Great Gulf, for $28.5 million on February 12, 2024.
At 380 feet tall, the building would rank among the tallest in West Palm Beach. The design features a gently tapered form with rounded corners, glass balconies, and white stucco surfaces, paired with a two-story parking garage recessed from the street. Mesh screening and other details complete the contemporary aesthetic, while the tower’s sculpted profile is intended to preserve view corridors for neighboring properties.
Credit: Great Gulf.
Amenities will include a rooftop pool, fitness and event spaces, garden areas, guest suites, libraries, lounges, and 209 parking spaces.
According to Floridian Development, the development team organized a series of community outreach sessions with local groups, including the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, Palm Beach House, and the Northwood Harbor Association ahead of its appearance before the Planning Board . These discussions resulted in several revisions to the proposal, among them a reduction in height and the repositioning of service and loading areas.
Credit: Great Gulf.
At the Planning Board hearing, some residents voiced concerns related to infrastructure capacity, such as water, sewer, and traffic impacts. City planning staff also advised against approval, pointing to shortcomings in the design that included limited activation at the ground level, insufficient screening of the parking garage and ramp, and questions about the building’s relationship to the surrounding neighborhood fabric.
Credit: Great Gulf.
Despite the objections, the board voted in favor of rezoning the site from Multifamily Density Residential (MF32) to Residential Planned Development (RPD) and granted a series of waivers. Board members stressed the need for the development team to continue working with staff to refine the design and strengthen its compatibility with the area as the project advances.
The proposal will next go before the City Commission for a final vote.
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Even as it was presented the design and “activation at the ground level” is light years ahead of Icon Marina Village. I still wonder how that junk ever got approved.