The lengthy, convoluted quest to find a developer for a Palm Beach
County convention center hotel took another turn this week when a
court-appointed special master said county officials had unfairly
rejected bids from two of five contractors seeking the work. The
Related Companies and another group, Acquest Realty Advisors of
Michigan, had been approved for bids, but special master Robert Rosillo
said the county had given Related an unfair advantage. He ordered that
FRI Investors and Rose Development, both of West Palm Beach, be
returned to the bidding, and added that the fifth remaining bidder,
Grove Street Partners of Atlanta should be reinstated as well. [Palm
Beach Post]

The Palm Beach County Convention Center hotel attracted two serious
contenders for the work after five developers submitted paperwork to
county staff, which rejected three bidders. One possible development
group includes the Related Companies of New York. Acquest Realty
Advisors of Michigan is the other contender. The rejected trio, which
includes a group consisting of real estate developer Llywd Ecclestone
Jr., FRI Investors of West Palm Beach and Westin Hotels, will have
until Sept. 18 to protest the decision. [more]