Delray Beach credits historic preservation for downtown renaissance; tax abatement and awards highlight revival

Delray Beach officials and homeowners credit a focus on historic preservation with driving a downtown “renaissance” that began after the 1980s recession and continues into 2025, city historic preservation staff member Michelle Hoyland said.

The effort traces to planning actions in the late 1980s and early 1990s. “It was identified in the 1989 comp plan that there needed to be a revitalization and that there was a lot of value in preserving our sense of place,” said Michelle Hoyland, historic preservation specialist in the City of Delray Beach Development Services Department. That planning led to the creation of four historic districts in 1989 and, later, to designation of a fifth district, the West Settlers Historic District north of West Atlantic Avenue.

Why it matters: preservation rules, incentives and local advocacy helped shape investment patterns downtown and near the beach, officials said. The city also…