Planning Board Approves 306-Foot, 27-Story Shorecrest Tower at 1901 North Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach

Plans for Shorecrest, a 306-foot-tall, 27-story residential tower proposed by Related Ross and designed by Roger Ferris + Partners with interiors by Rottet Studio, have received unanimous approval from the City of West Palm Beach Planning Board. Planned for 1901 North Flagler Drive, the approval marks an early milestone for the project along the North Flagler Drive corridor and advances the development to the next phase of the city review process, with additional regulatory approvals still required, including review by the City Commission.

The nearly two-acre waterfront site is currently occupied by Temple Israel. Under the approved plans, the synagogue has elected to relocate rather than occupy ground-floor space previously contemplated within the building. The property is expected to trade for approximately $30 million, after which demolition of the existing structures would clear the site for redevelopment.

Shorecrest is now proposed to contain 100 condominium residences, reflecting the most recent iteration of a project that has previously ranged between 140 and 199 units. While a full breakdown of unit typologies has not been released, the project’s website currently illustrates two- and three-bedroom floorplans with larger-than-average layouts, positioning the development toward lower-density ownership housing rather than rental apartments.

Resident amenities are planned to include a fitness center, golf simulator, bar and lounge, game lounge, yoga room, and a pool deck. Despite the relatively small number of residences, the tower will incorporate a five-story podium with 204 parking spaces, providing more than two spaces per unit.

No ground-floor retail space is proposed. Instead, the base of the building is designed around a large residential drop-off area, a double-height lobby, widened sidewalks, enhanced landscaping, and a publicly accessible park located at the rear of the property. Landscape architecture for the project is being handled by DS Boca.

To achieve its proposed height, Shorecrest is utilizing 195 feet of bonus incentive height beyond what is otherwise permitted under West Palm Beach zoning. The additional height is secured through a series of public benefits, including improvements to nearby Currie Park, a commitment to LEED Gold certification, payments toward mobility infrastructure, and the inclusion of the on-site public park.

Architectural renderings depict a glass-dominant tower with wraparound balconies oriented toward the Intracoastal Waterway. The five-story podium, reaching approximately 71 feet in height, is planned to be wrapped in a mesh facade featuring green and white graphic treatments intended to visually integrate the structure with surrounding landscape elements.

As part of the approval, the Planning Board granted six variances addressing landscape buffer width, maximum building length, setback requirements, minimum greenery standards, maximum driveway width, and access point separation. One of the more notable variances involves a reduction in required tree plantings, with the project proposing 27 trees compared to the 73 otherwise required under city code.

City planning staff recommended approval of both the site plan and variances subject to specific conditions.  Both the site plan and variances were approved subject to staff conditions, with continued compliance required as Shorecrest advances through subsequent phases of the city review process.

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