The Post quoted Rebel Cook on the concept that Abacoa Town Center would be a pedestrian friendly place for people to live, work, and play, following a concept called New Urbanism.

“It was based on a concept that if you put all the shopping in the middle of a residential community, everybody would walk to the town center,” said Rebel Cook, of Rebel Cook Real Estate of Jupiter. …  “That concept looked great on paper,” Cook said, “but in reality it doesn’t work, particularly in South Florida. It’s too hot (for people to walk).” Cook says Abacoa Town Center also suffers from the lack of an anchor store, such as a grocery store.

Read More: Bank Sues Abacoa (pdf)

One year ago, the business world was in crisis. Now, 12 months later, entrepreneurs such as Michael Cabot are finding that crisis can be great for business. Cabot’s company, Mariner Asset Management Services of West Palm Beach, is scooping up foreclosed, distressed properties and renovating them to conform to new “green” standards for energy efficiency. Aging homes with poor insulation and outdated appliances are being spruced up with central air, new windows and new appliances meeting the latest energy efficiency ratings. Mariner then rents the homes as affordable workforce housing.

Rebel Cook, a real estate broker who runs a local business group, said she’s seeing a thaw in decision-making by business leaders. Now that warehouse rental rates now have fallen below $10 per square foot, companies are once again exploring rental warehouse property in Palm Beach County. Investors with cash are starting to get serious about buying properties. They’ll offer distressed sellers a rock-bottom price and then, if it’s not accepted, move on to the next deal, she said. “This is a new economic cycle, and what that means is that properties or assets change hands. And nobody ever said that every cycle has to be a sellers’ market,” said Cook, president of the Economic Forum, a 250-member group of leaders from the real estate, banking, finance and health care industries in Palm Beach County.

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From the Palm Beach Post

The Seagate Marina, once a bucolic launching point for small boats, might soon be the site of a $25 million waterfront retreat with a 130-room hotel, expanded barns to store luxury boats and tiki bars and grills.

The location is the marina’s best asset, said North County commercial Realtor Rebel Cook. The nearest indoor large boat storage locations are in Riviera Beach and Stuart. And Jupiter Pointe is a convenient location for boat owners who live on Jupiter Island, she said. “The economy is still down. (Miller) must have strong financial backing if he is going to make it through this recession,” Cook said.

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