Palm Beach County commissioners chose The Related Cos. to build a 400-room hotel next to the downtown convention center.
Under the developer’s proposal, the hotel could eventually be expanded if there is demand for additional rooms. The hotel is expected to open in 2014.
In 2008, county commissioners scrapped a deal with developer Ocean Properties to build a 400-room hotel and 104 condo units next to the convention center. According to the Palm Beach Post, the decision to find another developer came about when ex-County Commissioner Mary McCarty admitted to taking free resort stays from the company. She was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in federal prison.
