Two West Palm Beach neighborhood groups filed a lawsuit on Oct. 14 in the 15th Judicial Circuit, challenging Palm Beach County’s Sept. 29 approval of a $26 million deal to acquire and lease back an 18‑story, 400‑room hotel near the county convention center. The plaintiffs argue the county violated Florida’s open‑meetings (Sunshine) Law by providing insufficient public notice and using an emergency agenda procedure for a non‑emergency transaction.
According to WPBF, the Grandview Heights Neighborhood Association and the West Palm Beach Neighborhood Alliance filed the complaint, naming Palm Beach County, Related Ross affiliates (CityPlace South Tower II, LLC; CityPlace Hotel, LLC; The Related Companies, L.P.; CityPlace Retail, L.L.C.), the CityPlace Community Development District, the City of West Palm Beach, and its Community Redevelopment Agency as defendants. WPTV reported that the county board voted 6‑1 to approve the 34‑part transaction, with Commissioner Gregg Weiss casting the sole dissenting vote.
The agreement would have the county advance $26 million from its General Fund reserves to a Related Ross affiliate as construction deposits, acquire the completed hotel at 940 South Rosemary Avenue, and lease it back for up to 97 years. The site, a former surface‑parking lot, sits about 45 feet from neighboring historic townhomes and would rise 204 feet, featuring a pool deck and ballroom terrace.
Both outlets note that the lawsuit alleges the county placed the transaction on an “add‑on” agenda item only six days before the vote, invoking a procedure reserved for emergencies. The full 715‑page file was not made publicly available until 8 a.m. on the day of the meeting—roughly ninety minutes before commissioners began deliberating. WPTV added that county officials provided roughly 600 pages of agreements to commissioners just five days before the vote.
“Plaintiffs believe the County cannot use an emergency procedure to avoid accountability,” said lead counsel William A. Brewer III of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors, quoted by WPTV. “The West Palm Beach community should not have to fight to ensure its public servants follow the rules.” Margaret Frazzini, president of both plaintiff organizations, told WPBF that while she supports development, residents feel “unheard and invisible” because of the rushed process.
Related Ross defended the project in a statement to WPBF, saying the hotel “brings new opportunities and jobs for local residents while contributing to our city’s vitality.” County administrator Joseph Abruzzo, as reported by WPTV, later acknowledged the county had verbally agreed with Related Ross to bring the transaction to a vote in September, timing it to meet the developer’s goal of breaking ground by the end of that month.
What’s next: The lawsuit seeks a court order blocking the county’s approval and requiring the deal be reconsidered at a properly noticed public meeting. The case will proceed in Palm Beach County circuit court, where a judge will determine whether the county’s use of the emergency agenda violated the Sunshine Law.
