Five historic homes recommended for landmarks designation by Palm Beach board

Kit Pannill's home at 4 South Lake Trail was recommended to the Town Council for landmarks designation this month by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The home's terrace garden is pictured.
Kit Pannill's home at 4 South Lake Trail was recommended to the Town Council for landmarks designation this month by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The home's terrace garden is pictured.

Five historic properties throughout the town were recommended to the Town Council for designation as landmarks this month by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

During their monthly meeting at Town Hall, commissioners voted unanimously to approve four of the properties for landmark designation, with a fifth receiving a 6-1 vote.

Decisions on two other properties were deferred to January after concerns were raised by their owners during presentations to the landmarks board.

If approved as landmarks by the council at its Dec. 15 development review meeting, the five properties will join 340 other landmarked properties, sites and vistas that are protected under the Historic Preservation Ordinance of the town.

Another 26 properties have been designated by the council as historically significant, according to the town. That category was created in August 2020 in an effort to discourage owners from tearing down older houses that aren’t landmarked, but still contribute to the charm and character of their neighborhoods.

More: Palm Beach official explains differences between landmarked, historic buildings

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The five properties recommended for landmarks designation this month are: 4 S. Lake Trail; 425 Seabreeze Ave.; 137 Kings Road; 300 Clarke Ave.; and 256 Orange Grove Road.

Properties at 686 Island Drive and 357 Crescent Drive will be discussed in January.

In order to be considered for landmarks designation, properties must meet at least one of four criteria listed in the Landmark Preservation Ordinance.

Those criteria are:

1. Exemplifies or reflects the broad cultural, political, economic or social history of the nation, state, county or town.

2. Is identified with historic personages or with important events in national, state or local history.

3. Embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type or is a specimen inherently valuable for the study of a period, style, method of construction or use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship.

4. Is representative of the notable work of a master builder, designer or architect whose individual ability has been recognized or who influenced his age.

Architect John Volk, shown with wife Jane, designed 4 S. Lake Trail and 300 Clarke Ave.
Architect John Volk, shown with wife Jane, designed 4 S. Lake Trail and 300 Clarke Ave.

The home at 4 S. Lake Trail, designed by prominent Palm Beach architect John Volk and built by Arnold Construction Co. in 1946, meets criteria one, three and four, said Emily Stillings, a landmarks consultant for the town. It was purchased by William and Alice 'Kit' Pannill in 1988.

The home at 425 Seabreeze Ave., built in Poinciana Park prior to the 1920s, meets criteria one and three, said Janet Murphy, also a landmarks consultant for the town. It was purchased by Timothy and Marion Murphy in April.

The home at 300 Clarke Ave., designed by John Volk and built in 1936 by Arnold Construction Company, meets criteria one, three and four, Stillings said. It was purchased in 2007 by Desmond and Dorothy Heathwood.

The home at 137 Kings Road, built in 1950, meets criteria one, three and four, Murphy said. The home was purchased in 2005 by Eric and Lucinda Stonestrom.

The home at 256 Orange Grove Road, designed by John Stetson and built in 1949, meets criteria one, three and four, Stillings said. It remained in Stetson's family until 1989, when his daughter and son-in-law sold the property to the current owners, Allen and Peggy Tomlinson.

That home, Stillings said, is unique in that both its architect and architectural style are not represented among the town's current landmarks.

"There are no properties designed by John Stetson that have been landmarked, and there are no Mid-Century Modern houses that have been landmarked," she said. "In order to preserve the history and architecture of Palm Beach, the list of landmarks should grow to include later architectural styles and architects."

The Landmarks Preservation Commission reviews exterior changes to landmarked buildings in town, and recommends additional buildings for landmark protection to the council each year. It also considers development applications for historically significant buildings.

Jodie Wagner is a USA TODAY Network of Florida journalist. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

@JRWagner5

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach board recommends five homes for landmarks designation