Palm Beach’s only gas station is in store for a mid-century modern revamp after a redesign proposal won the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s approval.
Commissioners on Dec. 7 voted to approve the redesign of the station at 340 S. County Road, near Australian Avenue. They also endorsed a variance to the zoning code related to floodplain elevation requirements.
The landmarks board reviewed the project because the station is part of the historical district that includes Town Hall and Memorial Fountain.
Alternate Commissioner Catherine Brooker voted in place of Alex Hufty Griswold, who recused himself from the discussion because he is a co-owner of the station.
“I’m very excited about all of this,” Commissioner Jacqueline Albarran “I think it’s a great design.”
The design for the full-service pumping station would see it return to the mid-century modern architectural style it had when it opened in 1956, said Caroline Forrest, an architect with MHK Architecture.
That includes removing the “S-type” Mediterranean-style tiles lining its roof and putting a flat roof in its place to match its original appearance. The project also will replace its windows with a paneled design, according to the plans presented Dec. 17. Part of the gas station would be painted white with other sections covered in white porcelain tile, complimented with green and white detailing.
The plans also would see the convenience store area expanded by 1,094 square feet. That expansion would include converting one of the station’s four garage stalls into retail space. The expansion would also allow the designers to add storage space at the store’s rear, Forrest said.
The plans come after a Delaware limited liability company purchased the former Grey’s Sunoco gas station in March for $11.94 million. That company, named 340 S. County Road after the property’s address, is managed by Armata Holdings Management Corp., an entity controlled by Griswold.
Forrest also noted that the gas station would not be leased to a large fuel vendor but would operate under its own brand, Palm Petrol.
The Landmark Preservation Commission review came after the Town Council voted on Dec. 11 to approve a so-called “special exception” tied to expanding the station’s convenience store and a variance to accommodate fewer parking spaces on the property than required in the zoning code
Diego Diaz Lasa is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at dlasa@pbdailynews.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Landmarks board approves revamp of Palm Beach’s only gas station
Reporting by Diego Diaz Lasa, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
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