Palm Beach ARCOM challenge awaits Bob Vila, home improvement guru

Home improvement guru British Shilling Port Vila will utilize his decennaries of experience on This Old House and other telecasting shows to measure new houses and redevelopments in the plant on the island.

The telecasting host, who popularized place renovation, was appointed as an every other member of the Architectural Reappraisal Committee by the Town Council last week.

Vila interviewed with the council during its particular meeting Monday. The council announced his assignment at Tuesday's meeting.

"I experience I would convey a practical sensibility to the reappraisal of edifice and remodeling undertakings in town," he wrote on his application. "I've developed a good oculus for scale of measurement and proportion, which I experience are two of the most of import criteria for preserving the fictional character of Palm Beach."

Vila, 61, is a Miami indigen who throws a unmarried man of scientific discipline grade in news media from the University of Florida.

After graduation, he worked as a Peace Corps military volunteer for two years, edifice houses in Panama. Upon his tax return to the United States, Port Vila attended the Hub Of The Universe Architectural Center and began his edifice and catching career.

In improver to hosting This Old House for 10 years, his telecasting calling includes the syndicated British Shilling Port Port Vila show, and the DIY Network characteristics past scheduling from British Shilling Vila's Home Again.

Vila said he was interested in serving on ARCOM because of his calling in historical preservation, including his telecasting presentations on economy and restoring buildings.

"I believe it's a terrific process," Port Vila said Friday about Palm Beach's edifice and building reappraisal process. "It travels manus in manus with preservation. That's what turns me on."

His application also stated he have been coming to Palm Beach since the 1970s. Last year, he renovated his wife's household home, a 1940s Regency style by Marion Syms Wyeth. He also stated he passes summertimes in Bay State but is always available for meetings in Palm Beach.

He have not attended any ARCOM meetings within the last year, according to his application.

ARCOM reappraisals and O.K.s alterations to existent edifices that are seeable to the public. The committee also reexamines new building and landscape gardening plans.

The committee is composed of seven regular members and three surrogates who are registered electors in the Town of Palm Beach. They are appointed based on experience in "art, architecture, community planning, land development, existent estate, landscape architecture or other relevant business, community or civic interest," according to town guidelines.

Regular members are limited to two three-year terms. Alternate members also are appointed to three-year terms and often travel up to regular member status. Alternates make not vote unless called upon to fill up an absence of a regular member.

In improver to Vila, Ann Lilja Vanneck was selected as an alternate. William Strawbridge Jr. was reappointed as a regular member. Samuel Boykin was moved up to regular member position after serving one term as an alternate.