Major changes can soon be coming to the Downtown Palm Beach Gardens shopping and entertainment center. Last week, Palm Beach Gardens City Officials approved the first reading of two ordinances that could bring an apartment building and a hotel to the shopping and entertainment complex.

The City Officials gave the preliminary approval to a zoning change and a land-use amendment for the 49-acre site. The changes will allow for a mix of uses on the land that is now designated for business buildings. The site’s owner wants a land-use designation change to mixed-use from professional use. The site’s owners are also asking to rezone the property to general commercial and professional office space.

The plans that have been in the works since 2019 include plans for a 174-room hotel, a residential tower with 280 residences, and a mixed-use tower on the property. City Officials will make their final decision at the Planning, Zoning, and Appeals Board meeting scheduled for this week.

Currently Downtown Palm Beach Gardens is under construction to remodel and add new stores, landscaping, botanical structures, a resort-style health club called Life Time Athletic Health Club, and a new parking garage that is expected to be completed in early 2022.

Downtown Palm Beach Gardens formally known as Downtown at the Gardens opened in 2006 with about 50 stores. The site is currently a mix of retail stores, restaurants, and professional office spaces.