Related’s Hilton in West Palm Beach to break ground

The long-delayed Palm Beach County convention center hotel will break ground in December.

The Related Group’s $105 million development of a 400-room Hilton next to the center, at 650 Okeechobee Boulevard in West Palm Beach, will proceed, now that the county has pledged monetary support. Deputy County Administrator Verdenia Baker said yesterday at a Tourism Development Council meeting that the county will provide $27 million from bonds for construction costs.

The hotel and an eight-story parking garage will be built on the area, which is currently set aside for overflow parking. County officials have expressed concerns over traffic on the boulevard, and so they plan to build a parking garage for the convention center.

The county selected Related as the developer for the project in 2010, as previously reported. The delay was largely attributed to Related moving slowly on the project as it attempted to rescue CityPlace at 700 South Rosemary Avenue in West Palm Beach from foreclosure. [Palm Beach Post] — Mark Maurer