Delray Beach, Florida is on the East (Atlantic) coast of South Florida, between Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. The town has come a long way since the construction of the Orange Grove house of Refuge in 1876, yet it retains much of its original, early Florida character. While many modern South Florida towns were reinvented with a bulldozer, Delray Beach has preserved much important Real Estate through protection of original structures in the Historic District, the Old School Square and its genuine downtown. Take the Atlantic Avenue exit east from 95 and check into the nostalgic Colony Hotel, on your way east to the beach. Quaint shops and modern boutiques stand beside informal through upscale eateries and nightclubs. The downtown area is now a thriving center of commerce, and Delray Beach was named an All-America City in both 1993 and 2001. Nearly all the downtown buildings are original, rivaled only by Key West and St. Augustine as bastions of early Florida architecture. Population in 2003 was estimated at 63,321 and continues to grow steadily as Condominiums have sprung up within the city limits and downtown, within sight or easy access to one of Florida’s most beautiful beaches. While the seemingly insatiable demand for condos continues to attract more year-round residents, guest houses and vacation rentals abound. This place is truly paradise for visitors, vacationers and Real Estate investors. Other attractions include the Delray Beach Tennis Center, which has hosted several major international tennis events such as the April 2005 Fed Cup (USA vs. Belgium), the April 2004 Davis Cup (USA vs Sweden), the Millennium ITC (ATP Event), and the Chris Evert / Bank of AmericaPro Celebrity. The annual Delray Beach film festival features over one hundred shorts, features, documentaries and Xtreme sports films. Major employers headquartered west of the downtown area include Office Depot’s national headquarters, Levinger, Marriott Corporation and hosts of retail chain stores. Delray Beach condominium development proceeds in harmony with local, county and state resources, and perfectly compliments the traditional elements of the town. Townhomes are the preferred building style, and are designed to enhance the landscape, with town codes prescribing beautiful color schemes reminiscent of Bahamian and Carribean influences. While there are a few high rise structures, including vacation rentals and timeshare properties, the prevalent building and development style in Delray Beach is decidedly low to mid-rise. One reason to own a condo in Delray Beach is that residents and occupants are intimate with both the beach and the downtown. Further expansion has recently expanded northward, off the midpoint of Atlantic Avenue. From an Eastbound bearing headed towards the beach, a left turn onto Pineapple Grove is confirmed as you drive (or walk) under a beautiful and colorful archway overhead that bears the name of that district. The beautiful pastel colors of midrise buildings bridge the classic downtown to this mixed use neighborhood, where luxury condominium units sit atop ground floor retail establishments, including health spas, restaurants and even a vintage Porshe enthusiasts’ boutique. Delray Beach may be the perfect town for both young and old, working class through affluent. Excellent schools support the needs of young and growing families. Endless leisure pursuits abound for people of every economic strata. And the sun shines optimistically on one of the fastest growing and appreciating concominium markets in the country. |
