Related ‘Changing the DNA’ and Name of CityPlace in West Palm

WEST PALM BEACH, FL—Related Companies, which made headlines recently with the opening of its Hudson Yards project in New York City, has announced plans to invest approximately $550 million to its CityPlace development in West Palm Beach.

The New York City-based firm is also rebranding its CityPlace development as “Rosemary Square.” The five-year investment will include infrastructure changes by architect David Manfreddi and urban designer Gehl, a public square with tech-focused art installations by Culture Corp, a host of new restaurants and hybrid retail experiences, 5.5 million square feet of Class A office space, luxury residential towers and a second hotel.

“We’re completely changing the DNA of what was formally CityPlace,” says Gopal Rajegowda, SVP of Related Companies. “Working closely with a world-class team of architects, designers and artists, we’ve envisioned spaces that foster connections and create a whole new paradigm in West Palm.”

Related announced that this summer at the 72-acre Rosemary Square neighborhood the firm will break ground on 360 Rosemary, a 300,000-square-foot Class-A, LEED Gold office building that will be a new option for commercial tenants in the 6 million-square-foot office market in West Palm Beach. Over the next five years, Rosemary Square will also add a 21-story LEED Gold mixed-use tower to include state-of-the-art luxury residences and commercial space, as well as a second hotel adjacent to the Hilton West Palm Beach.

The firm plans to add two trolley stops, ride share locations, bike racks for 54 bicycles, and what it terms will be a “seamless parking garage experience” via Park Mobile and Park Assist that is geared to enhancing accessibility in Downtown West Palm. Hibiscus Street valet will also allow for an increased flow of vehicle traffic, the company states.

Related also reports that the Rosemary Square development, which is located adjacent to the Brightline high-speed train station, will add a host of new dining and retail offerings, including a 6,000-square-foot, award-winning True Food Kitchen specializing in health-minded and seasonally-inspired fare by Dr. Andrew Weil; High Dive, a hip seafood spot featuring locally-sourced fish and produce from Jeremy Bearman, former executive chef of Michelin-starred Rouge Tomate and wife, Cindy Bearman, former Pastry Chef of Jean George’s ABC Kitchen; and Barrio Sangria Bar, a lively sangria and tapas concept by Big Time Restaurant Group.

A number of other local restauranteurs will be added including Tacos & Hip Hop, a food and music concept by Ricky Perez of local taqueria Zipitios, in collaboration with local DJ Steve Pershad; and a new location for The Shack by Field of Greens, a popular, health-conscious grab-and-go that first debuted on the square in 2017.

Newly elected City of West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James says of the changes planned at the former CityPlace site, “With these changes in the coming years, Rosemary Square will be one of the most exciting neighborhoods in South Florida.”

Related also reports that complimenting the experiential retail concepts that have quickly become sought-after destinations in the neighborhood, including the 80,000-square-foot RH West Palm: The Gallery, Casper and Capital One Café, Sur La Table will unveil a retail and cooking school in the winter of 2019. Additional technology-driven retail experiences are expected to join Rosemary Square in the coming years, Related officials note.

“Our vision for Downtown West Palm Beach is to create a sense of place with energy and culture that extends well beyond the boundaries of Rosemary Square,” says Stephen M. Ross, chairman of Related Companies. “It will be a model for sustainable urban cities, putting pedestrians and alternative transportation at the forefront, and a continued economic engine, welcoming new businesses, but most importantly, it will be a community that seamlessly connects the fabric of the area for residents and families across Florida,”

In 2019, new inviting green spaces and outdoor public venues will be added throughout the neighborhood. This past weekend, the new “Main Street” of the neighborhood debuted on Rosemary Avenue between Okeechobee Boulevard and Hibiscus Street that now feature wider curbless sidewalks and lush landscaping. Designed as a “pedestrian oasis,” dozens of newly planted trees create shaded spots to rejuvenate, relax and recharge. Later this year, the stretch from Hibiscus to Fern Streets along Rosemary Avenue will also be revitalized, completing the half-mile connection to the rest of downtown.

In November 2019, Rosemary Square will unveil the lyrical and engaging Water Pavilion West Palm, created by Danish artist Jeppe Hein. Both children and adults alike will be invited to interact with the playfully ephemeral piece that Hein refers to as a “social sculpture”, allowing viewers to walk in and out of “rooms” created by the vertical columns of water. It is Hein’s first permanent installation in Florida.

The installation will complement Rosemary Square’s existing 2,000+ feet of large-scale murals on display around the neighborhood by world-renowned and local artists

“In the 20 years since we developed CityPlace, we’ve witnessed both incredible growth in West Palm Beach and a global renaissance of dynamic urban neighborhoods. We’re thrilled to continue our legacy transforming CityPlace to a place in the city that simply cannot be missed on any trip to South Florida,” says Kenneth A. Himmel, president and CEO of Related Urban, the mixed-use division of Related Companies. “Our plans for Rosemary Square reflect the way people live, work and travel, and fulfill the desire to spend time in places with shopping, dining, and cultural experiences all within a short walk.”

Related’s new investment builds on recent additions and enhancements over the past few years to CityPlace, which debuted in 2000, including the highly successful RH West Palm: The Gallery, which opened in November 2017. The 400-room Hilton West Palm Beach connected to the Palm Beach County Convention Center; and The Regional, a contemporary bistro concept by James Beard nominee Lindsay Autry, both opened in 2016.