Amid what seems like endless construction of new luxury high rises and other development sits a structure that reminds individuals of the power of community and history — the Harriet Himmel Theater. Built in 1926 in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, it was originally the First United Methodist Church. The church later turned into a theater, where it hosted plays, concerts, dance receptions, banquets, exhibitions, weddings and other events.
Currently, the theater is not hosting events due to new ownership and renovations. While its surrounding area has undergone many changes, the building itself has withstood the test of time and reflects the city’s rich history. However, Florida is undergoing a concerning trend when it comes to appreciating the value of historic structures.
Lately, the ambitions of real-estate developers are trumping the protection of cultural heritage sites throughout the state. The Resiliency and Safe Structures Act, a bill passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law this spring, exemplifies how state policymakers have sided with developers over protecting an array of significant historic structures around the state. Sponsors of the bill insisted they filed it to reduce environmental risk to buildings on Florida’s coast.
While this is an important priority, the bill’s language overreached by allowing property developers and investors to bypass local government ordinances prohibiting the demolition of buildings if the targeted structur.