CityPlace

CityPlace is an upscale, mixed-use lifestyle center at 700 South Rosemary Avenue in Downtown West Palm Beach, Florida. Built as a New Urbanist mixed-use development, the center showcases Mediterranean and Venetian architecture throughout. The 600,000-square-foot property spans several city blocks and houses more than 60 restaurants and stores, along with rental apartments, condos, and offices. Developed by The Related Companies and opened on October 27, 2000, it's now the most visited neighborhood in West Palm Beach and a symbol of the city's urban comeback. Credit for West Palm Beach's urban renaissance goes largely to CityPlace. The downtown had suffered from notorious crime, poverty, and crumbling buildings before the development arrived.

Background and Pre-Development History

West Palm Beach's downtown had been dying for decades. By the 1980s, it'd become infamous for crime and poverty, with vacant storefronts and decaying houses everywhere. United States Senator Lawton Chiles called the area a "war zone," and local politicians saw little hope for recovery. The city actually had the highest crime rate for a city of its size in the late 1980s.

The first serious push to fix things came in the mid-1980s. Private investors David C. Paladino and Henry J. Rolfs brought forward a 20-year, $433 million proposal in 1986 to rebuild the western side of downtown, right where CityPlace would eventually go. This plan, called Uptown/Downtown, included 3,700,000 square feet of office space, 190,000 square feet of retail, 800 hotel rooms, and 700 residential units. Paladino and Rolfs bought and demolished properties across 77 acres. More than 300 buildings came down. They paid roughly $40 million, though they spared the historic First United Methodist Church (built in 1926), which later became the Harriet Himmel Theater. They also donated 5 acres for the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, which opened in 1992.

But things fell apart. By the early 1990s, Rolfs ran out of money and loans went bad. Foreclosures, lawsuits, and a recession killed the whole project. Then-Mayor of West Palm Beach Nancy Graham and the city stepped in, buying the land in 1995 with a multimillion-dollar loan and eminent domain. Now that the city controlled the property, officials asked for new development plans. Three proposals came in on August 1, 1996: CityPlace, KravisPlace, and Millennium. The city commission voted 5 to 1 for the $375 million CityPlace project, which was backed by Himmel & Co., the Related Cos., the O'Connor Group, and the Related Group.

Development and Opening

After the commission chose CityPlace in October 1996, the real work started. Architecture firm Elkus Manfredi designed the Master Plan in the late 1990s. The First United Methodist Church, a stunning example of Spanish Colonial Revival design from 1926, got converted into the Harriet Himmel Theatre with restaurants and shops around it. It became the cultural heart of the whole project. Mayor Nancy Graham pushed for this. "Develop what you wish on these 55 acres," she said. "My only request is that you save, restore and adaptively reuse this iconic structure with a public use for the people of West Palm Beach."

The city agreed to invest $75 million in streets, parking garages, and public plazas in exchange for approving the development. Another $20 million was already borrowed for land. Construction kicked off on May 1, 1998, with a gala that featured Mayor Nancy Graham, Congressmen Mark Foley and Clay Shaw, and project leaders speaking. November 1999 was the target. That didn't happen. CityPlace opened to the public on October 27, 2000, with 31 stores and just 1 restaurant opening that first weekend. The original anchors were Barnes & Noble, Macy's, Muvico Parisian 20, and an IMAX theater.

Architecture and Layout

This is what a New Urbanist mixed-use development looks like. Most of the architecture draws from West European design, particularly Mediterranean and Venetian styles. That design choice was intentional. Developers wanted a walkable, village-like feel, something missing from most American suburban shopping centers of that era.

The CityPlace Tower went up in 2007. It's postmodern in style and was downtown West Palm Beach's first office development in over twenty years. Later additions like Montecito Palm Beach (formerly The Mark at CityPlace) and CityPlace South Tower stuck with the original architecture.

The Harriet Himmel Theater matters most architecturally. The Urban Land Institute called it the "heart and soul" of West Palm Beach in an article about the urban renewal project. The historic building gave CityPlace real character, a European-style village center unlike anywhere else in Florida.

Public art draws crowds. The Wishing Tree is a 26-foot color-changing LED-lit banyan tree. Water Pavilion West Palm gets kids excited. CityPlace holds the largest concentration of public art installed by a private company in Palm Beach County.

Transit access is strong. The high-speed train Brightline sits right nearby, connecting West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. An early-century trolleybus also circles downtown between CityPlace and Clematis Street.

Name Changes and Rebranding

The property's had several names over the years, each reflecting different ownership strategies and community goals.

In 2019, CityPlace was rebranded as Rosemary Square. This was part of a $550 million transformation plan by Related Companies to make the space more dynamic and community-focused. The new vision emphasized green space, walkability, and engagement. Public spaces got updated, landscaping improved, new art installations went in, and connections to nearby neighborhoods strengthened.

Things shifted again. "The Square" became the name in 2023. But that didn't stick. By 2024, the entertainment area downtown went back to CityPlace. Market factors and community preferences drove this decision. CityPlace had strong brand recognition over the years. The name meant something to locals and visitors, tied to downtown's comeback. Nostalgia played a role too. On May 1, 2024, The Related Cos. officially switched the name back to CityPlace.

Tenants, Anchors, and Amenities

LA Fitness and Publix serve as current anchors. Macy's was the third anchor until it closed in 2017. Two movie theaters operated here before. AMC Parisian 20 and IMAX used to draw crowds. Both have closed now. In May 2023, AMC Theatre shut down and was demolished four months later, taking Copper Blues and Palm Beach Improv with it.

Expansion's happening fast. Over 125,000 square feet of new retail is coming. Equinox, Alo, Reformation, Bluemercury, and Crate & Barrel are moving in. Food-wise, Eataly opened inside the historic Harriet Himmel Hall. It's 23,000 square feet of food, culture, and theatrical experience in the heart of CityPlace.

Walking distance matters here. The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the Arts, and Palm Beach County Convention Center are all nearby. The Hilton West Palm Beach is directly integrated with CityPlace. The renovated Hilton brings 400-plus rooms, a resort-style pool, and quality amenities to the campus.

Expansion and Future Development

The biggest expansion yet started in 2025. On March 12, 2025, Related Ross held a groundbreaking for 10 and 15 CityPlace. These two Class AA office towers mark a turning point for downtown West Palm Beach. 10 CityPlace, the western tower, will be 22 floors and 327 feet tall. 15 CityPlace, on the east side, goes higher at 24 floors or 338 feet. Kohn Pedersen Fox designed 10 CityPlace. Arquitectonica designed 15 CityPlace.

Nearly one million square feet of new office space will come from these two towers. Completion's targeted for 2027. 15 CityPlace is already 60 percent leased. Cleveland Clinic is anchoring the building with a state-of-the-art outpatient facility that'll connect to their new hospital campus. About 4,700 jobs are expected to follow once these towers open.

This expansion works alongside other projects. Eataly's already here. Vanderbilt University's launching a graduate campus nearby. Retail and dining options keep expanding. Related Ross is committed to sustainability. 15 CityPlace is targeting LEED Gold certification.