Related Cos. set to buy church land in West Palm

Stephen Ross’ New York-based Related Cos. has a contract with a church to purchase a high-profile corner property in downtown West Palm for a 30-story office building. Ken Himmel, president of Related Urban, the mixed-used development arm of Related Companies, told the Palm Beach Post the company signed a contract to purchase a parking lot and building next to First Church of Christ, Scientist, from the church.

The corner property is at Flagler Drive and Lakeview Avenue across from a bridge to Palm Beach. Buying it would allow Related to start applying for city approval of the company’s planned 300,000-square-foot office development. [Palm Beach Post] — Mike Seemuth