Woerner Holdings has received preliminary approval from the Palm Beach Town Council to redevelop the Paramount Theatre into a private club with additional mixed-use elements. The company revised its proposal after an earlier plan was rejected, making significant changes in response to concerns raised by local officials.
The new plan reduces the size of the proposed club from 45,000 square feet to 5,000 square feet and lowers the maximum membership from 475 to 175. The redevelopment will also include “church-style seating for 200 guests.” A single residence is planned for the third and fourth floors of the building at 139 North County Road, which is known for its distinctive architectural features designed by Joseph Urban.
A public cafe with seating for 80 people is now part of the project, marking a shift from previous plans that did not include such an amenity. Woerner Holdings utilized provisions under Florida’s Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution Act to negotiate these revisions without litigation after its initial proposal was denied due to issues related to traffic, parking, and site density.
According to reports, “Woerner cut the club from 45,000 square feet to 5,000 square feet, and trimmed the maximum membership from 475 to 175. The adaptive reuse and renovation will have ‘church-style seating for 200 guests.’” In addition: “The family office of Lester Woerner revised its plan to add a residential component and a cafe that will be open to the public, while slashing the size of the club,” as stated by Palm Beach Daily News.
The council discussed these changes during a four-hour meeting before voting to send the revised plan on for review by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Final approval could be granted next month.
Woerner Holdings acquired the Paramount Theatre building in 2021 for $14 million. The property previously belonged to Paramount Church since it was purchased in 1996 for $3.7 million. Built in 1927 and spanning approximately 36,000 square feet on a lot of about 1.3 acres, this historic structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places—a designation that may make it eligible for certain tax benefits aimed at preserving historic properties.
The Paramount Theatre originally operated as a movie house until closing in 1980 before being converted into retail and office space by another developer.
