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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-10-06 Village of NPB (Palm Beach Post)THE PPL.r 13t flr 10— 6- zonz. Hu • W2oo/201t1 ryrs'4.14su;;;r ,. Float yo North Palm Beac iti'i rine offers docking and boat charters, including the E lariah' pictured here. ?7-;hr:vitiri;:i A good read: The public library has a plethora of youth learning programs. en you enter t e I age o North Pawn Beach, your car's stereo won't spontaneously Begin to play a medley of Fats Domino or Little Richard hits — but the more familiar you become with this quaint little village, the more you may think it should. That's because, as longtime resident Dorothy Ewing explains, "So much about North Palm Beach is reminiscent of the 1950s. It9s like living in [the fictitious movie town] Pleasantville." While you won't see anyone sporting "I Like Ike" buttons, residents do enjoy a host of charming amenities that harken to a simpler time. For instance, the Village, which was incorporated in 1956, provides thrice -weekly door-to-door sanitation service — "Just leave your trash b p next to your side door," says Mayor Edward Eissey, "and sanitation workers will empty it, then return it." Word is, they've even been known to replace the bins' inner linings. And long before the events of 9/11 revived our nation's patriotism, North Palm Beach homeowners could request an American flag for their yards on national holidays, and youngsters from the Police Explorers program would dutifully mount Old Glory for them. These are but two examples of the countless ways in which North Pale Beach residents enjoy the neighborly, small-town appeal of what Ewing calls , "the ideal 99 e eal version of suburbia." ia. Story by Steve Dorfman Photos by Barry Ravel ave eve ling a fatuity cou want," Eissey says. "This is a 1Y er`✓ safe .community, with almost no crime. It's. aesthetically beautiful, and people can have a quality of life second to none." . . That's especially true if living by the water appeals to you — nearly half of all residences in the 4.9-square-mile village are built on waterfront or canal -front property, or have direct access. Many residences are situated along the Intracoastal Waterway or its canals. More often than not, homeowners become so enamored of the peaceful, picturesque locale that they put down roots in the community, which engenders a palpable sense of permanence in the Village's venerable neighborhoods. For both lifelong residents and newcomers, the recreational, educational and entertainment opportunities seem endless. Within the Village's easily navigated limits (a lack of traffic congestion is yet another North Palm Beach perk) are four parks, a community center, tennis courts, one of the county's finest municipal golf courses, a wonderful public library, biking paths, adult classes, a lakeside spiritual center and the highly regarded North Palm Beach Elementary School. An array of diverse restaurants stands at the ready to satis any palate: There's the scrumptious Spanish and Portuguese Dig in® The homemade dishes at La desserts at La Fonda Fonda del Sol, del Sol are irresistible. Please see NORTH PALMS II t Dorothy Ewing's job as director of the Public Services Division of the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office affords her the ability to become more familiar than most with the county's vast array of diverse communities. So when she bought a home in the Village of North Palm Beach in 1994, it wasn't by accident: "I'd always enjoyed myvisits to the Village," says Ewing, "and I knew this was where I wanted to live." Chief among her reasons for settling in North Palm is the Village's "throwback vibe it's as if, in terms of people's attitudes, time has stood still." She delights in the quaint aspects of life in the Village: greeting the sanitation men with whom she's on a first -name basis ("Where else does that happen?" she asks) or visiting the North Palm Beach Public Library — one of a dying breed, in that you still can thumb through a card -catalog system and be assessed a daily five -cent fine on overdue books. "Sometimes," Ewing admits with a giggle, "I'll purposely bring back a book three days late just so one of the sweet librarians will charge, and then collect, the 15-cent fine." Of course, Ewing's affinity for North Palm Beach extends beyond simple nostalgia: "The Village offers great adult education programs in things like art, yoga and ballroom dance, and I have a great time participating in the masters swimming program at the public pool." Ewing, the president of Executive Women of the Palm Beaches, also enjoys dining in nearby restaurants such as DeCesare's, Park Ave BBQ & Grille, and Giuseppe's Restaurant; walking through the foliage -filled neighborhoods; and riding her bicycle to John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. Regardless of what the future holds, Ewing says, "I can't imagine living anywhere else." Population: About 13,000 Village Limits: The eastern boundary is the Intracoastal Waterway; the western boundary is just east of the Florida East Coast railroad tracks; the northern boundary is just south of PGA Boulevard; the southern boundary is the Lake Park town limit. Municipal Golf Course: The Village of North Palm Beach Country Club has a public golf course. Village Parks: The village maintains four parks, one of which includes a community center. Hospital: None within the village proper; the nearest hospital is Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center in Palm Beach Gardens. Village Hall: 501 U.S. Hwy. 1 North Palm Beach, FL 33408 Phone: (561) 841-3355 Web site: www.village-npb.org 1 +a• li$i'eeef ::rein` :+.�+1e+:ie1K i i ;e ".1u �:`e,•i±:i'�r��l+YclirE•r��t�lf`�s!'h.,, f P 9 5 2 ITIE -Rum BEACH Rsr JO ^6 - zed z Aerial photo by Katie Deits NORTH PALM BEACH/From 40 the English pub atmosphere of Mondo's, the authentic Italian cuisine at Bacco and the all -you -can -eat Oriental fare at Sun Kong Buffet. The mayor, a golf enthusiast, also makes a point of mentioning that the Village is "about a 3-wood from virtually everywhere in Palm Beach County." Indeed, a short drive enables residents to take advantage of the numerous attractions in bustling neighboring cities such as Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter and West Palm Beach. Whether one is attending a show at the Eissey Center at Palm Beach Community College (so named in tribute to the mayor's 19-year tenure as president of PBCC), watching a ball game at Roger Dean Stadium or enjoying a night out at CityPlace, North Palm Beach residents can conveniently do so without bearing any of the high municipal tax burdens of those cities. Walk this way: Lighthouse Park features scenic paths for walking, running or biking. Water views: In the decade since this 1992 aerial photo (left) was taken, North Palm Beach hasn't changed much for example, the Masters swim program (below) is still quite popular. And speaking of taxes, Eissey takes pride in the fact that "our tax rate is one of the lowest in the county." In the mid-1990s, the Village ensured that that would remain the case by approving the construction of two high -end luxury developments Harbour Isles and Prosperity Harbor where the revenue from these valuable new properties would buttress municipal coffers without raising the tax bills of longtime homeowners. Sure, the Village may have small-town appeal, but its leadership doesn't think small-time. With the mayor's promise of more beautification and/or renovation projects in the offing for Village Hall, the country club, community center, library and neighborhood streets in general, you can be sure that residents will remain devoted to the self proclaimed "Best Place in the World to Live" for a long time to come. To dine for: At Mississippi Sweets, the portions are as plentiful as they are delicious. ct cat REALTO1 s i y s • As a third -generation REALTOR and lifelong Palm Beach County resident, Teddy Brown, who recently acquired Ted Brown Real Estate Inc. from his father Ted, would like to change just one thing about the Village of North Palm Beach: "I wish I had a bigger inventory of North Palm homes. They're snapped up almost as soon as they come on the market." Brown, whose grandfather was a West Palm Beach mayor in the 1920s, e,tunidtes the strong demand has driven up property values between 10 and 20 percent in the last year, but says, "East of Prosperity Farms Road, you can still buy a three -bedroom, two -bath home with a garage and pool for $150,000 to $200,000." As with all South Florida communities, Brown says, 'The TeddyBrown and - closer you get to the water in this case, the Intracoastal or his canal the more expensive the homes become, starting at father, Ted Brown anywhere from $300,000 to $500,000." North Palm's family -friendly, activity -laden atmosphere makes it a superb place to raise kids. "There's almost no crime, the schools are great, the streets are well -maintained, and the government sincerely cares about its residents," Brown says. "What more can you ask for?" Website. www.oldportcove.com E-Mail. opcc@bellsouth.net �4� .•may :. a.�f �• •1Yv ::• .£ k{%}}G�•h;}; H,+�+i�', {�,�' i !}:. `�,T :2' �^' +% v� i�,?: `+i . is R tin�i p�}4� ff'"F,.A .}��•'.j}� ��C•: C+{J.v�Qi.A+�Y'�4: A-0}�•r•.'ii:L4{�tc%'•i�•x.?... k:•';ii:!ti�8�•..•}: '%Gi:.`.%>+"!C•.+5.:•:: }.'fi:� OLD PORT COVE Is a self-contained community with its own Marinas, Yacht Club, Shopping Plaza and miles of walking/ jogging trails located on 60 acres of land with 8,400 feet of shoreline. There are six towers and one low-rise Condominium Association at OLD PORT COVE with magnificent marine views of Lake Worth, the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. M.t rE 4'.