Exterior deterioration at the Addison Mizner-designed William Grey Warden House condominium building might take up to a year to repair on the near North End of Palm Beach.

But that work can only be done after the private Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach and the town's Landmark Preservation Commission sign off on a restoration plan, Lisa Reves, attorney for the landmarked building’s condominium board, told the Code Enforcement Board during its most recent meeting.

For eight months, the condo building facing the ocean has been enmeshed in a code-enforcement case related to crumbling cast-stone elements on the northeastern unit of the building at 200 N. Ocean Blvd. The six-unit condominium was once a single-family mansion built in 1922 to a design by Mizner, whose work is considered iconic in Palm Beach. The Mediterranean-style mansion was converted into condos in the 1980s by the late developer and real estate investor Robert Eigelberger. The U-shaped building's exterior was kept largely intact and still features interiors with Mizner’s handcrafted tile floors, antique European stained-glass windows and intricate stonework detailing. Aime Sunny, director of preservation and planning for the Preservation Foundation, told the code board on March 19 that the restoration project is still at least two months away from receiving the go-ahead from the foundation and the landmarks commission. “From the perspective of the Preservation Foundation, we will not be rushed in making a decision of making replacement of parts in this building until we see conclusive evidence” that the facade’s historic stonework cannot be repaired, Sunny told the board. The code board unanimously voted to defer the fine-consideration hearing on the condo association to its Sept. 17 meeting. It marked the fifth deferral the project has received since code-violations tied to the condition of the building’s exterior were first reviewed by the board in July.

At 200 N. Ocean Blvd., a landmarked building that houses six condominiums and was once a single-family mansion known as the William Gray Warden House is the subject of an ongoing code-enforcement case in Palm Beach.

 

The Preservation Foundation is reviewing contractors and the scope of work being proposed at the oceanfront property to repair not just the crumbling stonework at Unit No. 1 — the section of the property cited by code officers — but also all of the stonework on the building’s facade, Sunny told the board.

The individual condos are owned separately but the homeowners association oversees the overall property.

The foundation’s approval is needed because of a conservation easement between the Warden House's condo association and the Preservation Foundation. That document is tied to the Warden House’s designation in the National Register of Historic Places.

Signed in 1987, the easement has served as an agreement between the two parties and gives the foundation indefinite rights as guardian of the building’s historical architecture, Sunny said.

That means the Preservation Foundation has the right to oversee all repairs of the Warden House’s exterior. Any restoration project would require the foundation’s written approval, she noted.

Reves said the Warden House has made progress in its planning efforts, noting that the condo board had already sought bids from engineering firms, cast-stone contractors and conservation experts.

But Sunny noted that any contractors must be approved by the Preservation Foundation, noting that the nonprofit organization had already turned down one bid from one stonemason company because the foundation “did not feel had the expertise in preservation.”

Part of the issue is that stone contractors and engineers often would rather replace cracked or damaged stonework instead of repairing it, she told the board.

“Our first and foremost goal is always to preserve and repair as much as possible, and not to replace,” Sunny said. “Our goal is to see only the minimal amount of stone replaced on this building, and to have anything that can be repaired, be repaired by the experts.”

The condominium association has been working toward that goal, but it’s a time-consuming challenge considering that several companies are required for the project.

“Basically, you’re telling us there is no timetable,” board member Chris Larmoyeux said.

While Sunny didn't give a timeframe for the work to be completed, she said that she would “not be happy if by September we do not have significant progress” toward getting the landmarks commission's approval for the restoration project.

Code board members questioned if the project should just prioritize repairing the northeastern portion of the building cited by code officers.

But code officer John Moriarty told the board that to come into compliance, the condominium board would need to undergo a final inspection from the Planning, Zoning and Building department after it is repaired.

Considering the project’s scope, he said, construction permits issued in the future would likely target work on all the building’s facades

Moriarty told the board he saw no issue giving the condominium board additional time.

“I think if the people are genuinely concerned about preserving this historic building and maintaining it for the safety and security of the residents, that they (should) do the whole thing and do it properly,” Moriarty told the board.