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Board recommends permitting ‘contemporary functionalism’ as an alternate downtown architectural style
Summary
The Planning & Zoning Board voted 5‑2 on April 21 to recommend that the City Commission permit an alternative architectural style called “contemporary functionalism” for a proposed four‑story residential development at 109 SE Fifth Avenue.
The Planning & Zoning Board on April 21 voted 5‑2 to recommend that the City Commission accept “contemporary functionalism” as an alternate architectural style for a proposed four‑story residential project at 109 Southeast Fifth Avenue.
The applicant team, led by attorney Neil Schiller of Government Law Group with architects from NEDA and developer Jerry Badoff, asked the board to accept contemporary functionalism — characterized in their materials as a tripartite facade (base, middle, top), use of modern materials (glass, steel, concrete), expansive fenestration, simple geometric forms and climate‑responsive elements — as an accepted alternative style under the Central Business District design guidelines. The application is a request to establish the style category; the project’s level‑3 site plan will return to staff and the board for design review and any necessary waivers.
Planning staff, represented by Senior Planner Julian Gudanik, said staff was not opposed to contemporary‑era architecture per se but questioned whether the applicant had sufficiently defined the proposed style as a documented Florida vernacular that is contextually appropriate for Downtown Delray Beach. Staff noted the term “contemporary” describes a period rather than a specific architectural vocabulary and urged clearer, more specific defining characteristics before the style is adopted broadly. Staff also noted several nearby examples of contemporary buildings and advised that approval of the style does not equate to approval of a specific design.
Members who voted in favor said the city’s downtown already contains several contemporary buildings and the proposed style could be integrated with careful review of design details. Two members — Mitch Katz and Gregory Snyder — voted no, citing concerns about the breadth of the category and the need for greater specificity in the design guidelines.
The motion recommended approval of the “contemporary functionalism” style to the City Commission. If the commission concurs, the applicant’s site plan will proceed through the normal detailed review with staff and the board for design compliance and any additional approvals.
