Values Up in The Bridges and Seven Bridges

Entry to The Bridges; image by Google

The Bridges and Seven Bridges are bright spots on the real estate market for 2016. Our analysis of MLS data shows that prices are rising in those two communities.
A great example of this is the house at 8200 Lost Creek Lane in the east end of The Bridges. It sold new for $812K in 2014 and sold again in 2016 for $1.1M, an increase of nearly $300,000. Upgrades explain some of the differences (the 2016 listing included a golf cart and furniture) but it doesn’t look like $300K in added value.
8200 Lost Creek Lane sold for $812K in 2014; it was resold in 2016 for $1.1M. The house has 5 bedrooms and 4 1/2 baths in 4200 square feet, a backyard pool, and a location close to the Florida Turnpike. Image from County Appraiser.

Overall the average price for the 49 transactions in 2016 was just under $1.1M, up from $985K for 36 transactions in 2015 and $936K average of 19 transactions in 2014. Measured in dollars per square foot, the average for 2016 was $252/sq.ft., up from $241 in 2015 and $225 in 2014.
2016 was also the first time an MLS sale in The Bridges exceeded $2M. 16840 Crown Bridge Drive sold for $2.4M, up from its $1.9M sale price (not through MLS) in 2014.
16840 Crown Bridge Drive has 6 bedrooms, 6 full and 2 half baths in 7600 square feet under air (over 10,000 total) on a cul de sac lot with over 180º of water views.

It should be noted that a pool was added before the current sale, which is mentioned in the listing and shows up on the latest Google Maps satellite image (apparently taken within the past few weeks).
Image from Google.

Transactions in 2016 ranged from $660K for a 4 bedroom, 3 bath house (2500 square feet) up to the $2.4M. Of the 49 MLS transactions, 29 were under $1M and 20 were over $1M.
Another good example to understand price changes is 8652 Lewis River Road. The house sold in 2015 listed with four bedrooms for $870K. A year later it sold for $960K (up $90,000). The 2016 listing included five bedrooms and noted $135K in upgrades. It is unclear how much of the upgrades, if any, were included in the 2015 listing which indicated “top of the line” upgrades already.
8652 Lewis River Road; image from County Appraiser.

On the numbers alone it appears that transaction prices are up in The Bridges and Seven Bridges. A source tells us that new home sales are slowing in Seven Bridges but we can’t confirm that and it certainly seems like volume is up.
Both developments are gated communities from GL Homes, one of the leading builders in the area (also active in other parts of Florida). New homes there include impact glass, natural gas connections, and lawn care provided by the association. Reported HOA fees range from near $400/month up to the mid-$500s. They are located just north of the Boca/Delray line.
Map showing location of Seven Bridges (left of Lyons) and The Bridges (right of Lyons). Image and map data by Google.

Seven Bridges is newer and has an additional gate on US-441. The main gate is on the west side of Lyons Road. Across Lyons is the main gate for The Bridges, which extends to the Turnpike. Stone Creek Ranch and Mizner Country Club are to the north. The Oaks is a little south of Seven Bridges.

Closed? Out of Denmark in Delray

Front of Out of Denmark; image by Google
Front of Out of Denmark; image by Google

It appears that landmark restaurant Out of Denmark in Delray Beach has closed. A reader tipped us off to the closure. We think we’ve verified this.
The phone number for the restaurant indicates that it is out of service. The restaurant website, RestaurantOutOfDenmark.com is “parked”, meaning there is no active website any more. They had previously relocated to their latest location in 2013.
out-of-denmark-logo
This is a big loss for the county. We only made it there once but it was a special meal. It was expensive but worth it. Unfortunately other readers may never get to try it. To read more about the experience see this article in SouthFlorida.com.
You can also catch a video of the restaurant and its owner, Jorgen Moller, below:

Armed Robbery in West Delray

Map data and image by Google
Map data and image by Google

We just received a media advisory from the Palm Beach Sheriff. This incident occurred just north of West Boca, on Atlantic in Delray between Military Trail and Jog.
Suspect Wanted for Robbery to a Business in Western Delray Beach.
Unknown male suspect walked into Gold Buyers, in western Delray Beach, looked at a few pieces of jewelry and showed interest in making a purchase. Before finalizing the purchase the suspect advised the victim he had a gun. He demanded the victim “get on the floor and not move” while he grabbed several bags of jewelry and fled on foot.
west-delray1
The suspect appears to be 40 – 50 years of age, 5’06”, stocky build, wearing a navy polo stripped short sleeve shirt, blue jeans and had short military style haircut.
west-delray2
This incident occurred on June 28, 2015, 12:54 pm, at Gold Buyers located in the 5800 block of Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach.
If this individual resembles anyone you know please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS.

Dirty Inspection at Muddy Waters? Near Boca Inspection Report

muddy-waters
November was not a good month for the Muddy Waters Restaurant as far as inspections go. The inspector found a total of 30 violations including 6 marked “high priority”:

  • Dishwasher handled soiled dishes or utensils and then handled clean dishes or utensils without washing hands.
  • Employee failed to wash hands before putting on new set of gloves to work with food. Cook working with raw chicken and moving to other food glove change no hand wash.
  • Live flies in kitchen.
  • Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded.
  • Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled.
  • Cook touch garbage by dish machine the continues to prep food no glove change.
  • Wiping cloth sanitizing solution bucket stored near/on/above food preparation surface or food.

Muddy Waters is on Hillsboro, just west of Military Trail, in Deerfield Beach. Second worst in this month’s “Near Boca” report goes to Gordo’s Grill on Sample Road in Margate.
No restaurant had what we consider a perfect inspection (callback inspections don’t count).
char-hut
The best in this report goes to the new Char Hut burger place on Sample in Coral Springs with just one minor violation in their licensing inspection. Others with good numbers include the popular Colombian restaurant Medellin near the northwest corner of 441 and Wiles Road (2 minor violations); the Panera on 441 near the southeast corner of the same intersection (3 minor violations); and a new place, The Grille at the Bridges, which appears to be for residents of that development and their guests (3 violations including 1 “high priority”). As if you didn’t already want to live there:

The Grille at The Bridges will offer amazing cuisine for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks at The Club, poolside and coming soon — home delivery.

Other notables near Boca in November include:

  • Jake’s Wayback Burgers – Coconut Creek (18 violations including 2 high priority and a warning)
  • Bru’s Room – Coconut Creek (15 violations / 3 high priority)
  • Santo’s Buffet – Coconut Creek (14 / 2)
  • Big Bite Bagel & Deli (new) – Coconut Creek (14 / 1)
  • La Bamba Mexican – Delray Beach (13 / 2)
  • NYY Steak in Seminole Casino – Coconut Creek (12/2)
  • Blue Agave – Parkland (9/2 with a paperwork warning)

As usual, our full spreadsheet for this report is below.
[gview file=”https://westbocanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/nearboca-11-30-14.xls”]

Roaches at Saltimbocca in Delray – Twice

saltimbocca-delray
The worst of our latest “Near Boca” restaurant inspection report goes to Saltimbocca in Delray Beach. It was not a Happy Halloween when the inspector on October 31st found:

Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found…..one live roaches underneath 3 compartment sink and 4 live roaches along wall underneath Dishmachine

Usually when we see something like this, the follow-up inspection is clean but that’s not what happened on November 1st:

Dead roaches on premises…..2 dead roaches in underneath 3 compartment sink. You would imagine they would take it upon themselves to research pest control companies by now. **Warning** Call back: 6 dead roaches underneath Dishmachine, 8 dead roaches underneath 3 compartment sink, 6 dead roaches in cook line .
Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found…..one live roaches underneath 3 compartment sink and 4 live roaches along wall underneath Dishmachine. **Warning** Call back: approximately 10 alive roaches dishwashing area, 6 dead roaches underneath Dishmachine, 8 dead roaches underneath 3 compartment sink, 6 dead roaches in cook line.

Earlier in October they had 15 violations including 3 rated high priority:

Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit……eggplant fry, chicken breast 45°, lasagna , cheese 50° in flip top reach in cooler cross from fryer in kitchen . Food being held less than 4 hours ice down on food. Corrective action taken. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
Raw animal food stored over cooked food…..raw burger above cooked lasagna and ready to eat cheese in reach in cooler in kitchen. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature in walk-in freezer – all products not commercially packaged. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

Saltimbocca Italian Bistro is on Military Trail just south of Atlantic. We’ve never been there and we’re not likely to try it.
Other less than stellar inspections:

  • Peppertree Bagel on Sample near 441 in Margate, with 22 total violations. High priority violations involving hand washing and food storage were the most serious.
  • Duffy’s Sports Grill on Hillsboro at Lyons, with 19 violations including small flying insects in the kitchen and bar area.
  • Rotelli’s in the same plaza with Duffy’s had 15 violations, four high priority, such as hand washing, food temperatures and food storage. A follow-up will be required related to paperwork.
  • Lucky Dragon Chinese on 441 north of Hillsboro (near Starbuck’s and BJ’s) had 12 violations with live flying insects and food storage issues.

The Good News

subzero-parkland
The best of this report goes to Sub Zero Ice Cream in Parkland, with a perfect zero violations. It’s on University Drive and would be a short drive from the end of Palmetto Park if we built that bridge (never gonna happen).

Honorable mentions go to the near-perfect Bluefin Sushi and Hidden Tea Secrets, both in Parkland on Parkside Drive. Each had two minor violations. We’ve been to Bluefin and like it, and we’ve been inside the tea place. It looks nice but we haven’t tried it.

Other inspections worth noting:

  • Jersey Mike’s on 441 north of Hillsboro had a good inspection with only 2 violations, though one was high priority related to food storage.
  • Bamboo Wok in Coconut Creek (Hillsboro at Lyons, near the Rotelli’s and Duffy’s) did pretty well with 6 violations, all minor. It’s part of the same chain as the one on Glades west of Lyons, which was voted best Chinese west of the Turnpike in our survey.
  • Japango in Riverstone Shoppes (441 just south of Lox Road) had 8 violations, but all were minor.

Our spreadsheet for this report is below. The two most recent Saltimbocca inspections were not in the data set, but were on the state website when we were looking into the earlier inspection.
[gview file=”https://westbocanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/nearboca-inspections.xls”]