Mission

The McCormick Mile Beach Club, Inc. (“MMBC” or the “Club”) is a private, not for profit corporation supported and operated by its Members, and its operation is executed through a volunteer Board of Directors (“MMBC Board” or “Board”) elected annually by Members.  The goals of the club shall be to promote the welfare, health and safety and to protect the rights and interests of the property owners and inhabitants of the McCormick Mile Subdivision.

History

The Harbour Island, McCormick Mile development of 63 homes was launched in 1955, on part of the real estate formerly owned by the late Colonel Robert R. McCormick.  Homesites sold quickly and soon the second phase of development on Sabal Island and lands along A1A began. In 1957 the Town approved a request to construct a sales office for the developer on the beach under the guise that the building would eventually become a beach house for the McCormick Mile residents.  In 1964 lots were still available for $7,000.  Of the three islands, Sabal Island is the only naturally formed land, the other islands were formed from the dredging of the South Lake Worth Inlet and Intracoastal Waterway.

The McCormick Mile subdivision was marketed as “unique Florida living right in the Heart of the Gold Coast with every ingredient for enjoyable Florida living, including 146 feet of private beach and ownership of both this beach land and adjoining clubhouse.” The beach land and club house publicized in marketing and sales brochures were to be transferred to the residential property owners upon completion of the subdivision. Further, original sales agreements of lots purchased in McCormick Mile subdivision stated:

“Seller further agrees to convey, at closing, a right for the joint use of the “Beach Area”, which use shall be restricted and limited to the subdivision owners for their joint use solely for the purposes of bathing and beaching facilities. “

Alas, the developer refused to convey the fee simple title of the beach property and beach house to the property owners upon completion of the project. A group of forty angry property owners met on February 25, 1965 to determine a course of action. The McCormick Mile Beach Club Inc. was established for “the purpose of serving as a vehicle through which their efforts could be unified and their property and beach rights could be protected.”  The consensus was that a lawsuit should be filed by the McCormick Mile Beach Club Inc. for the purpose of enforcing the transfer of title. It was also discovered that there were outstanding County and Ocean Ridge Town taxes in the amount of $2275 overdue and the property rights were in jeopardy.

Sixteen members present paid $180 per person for the total sum of $2940 to pay back the taxes and proceeded with acquisition of the fee simple title to the property. Eventually a total of $3300 was collected from 18 members. These payments were to be treated as loans to the corporation and to be repaid to the parties from future income and dues received by the members. All agreed that loss of beach rights would definitely reflect in a substantial diminution of the value of the individual lots.

On March 1, 1965, the McCormick Mile Beach Club Inc. corporation was filed with the State and the Executive Board was set: President, Walter Hallam; Vice President, Mary Herman; Secretary, Rosalie Beck; and Treasurer, John W. Rossig.

In early June 1965 the developer, Ocean Ridge Development Company, executed a Quit Claim Deed to the McCormick Mile Beach Club Inc. for the conveyance of the property and Beach House for the sum of $10.00.  Triumphant, the Executive Board met and estimated that the value to each lot owner’s property from acquiring the beachfront and clubhouse to be from $600-$1000.  Further, they set annual dues at $30 per residence to cover back taxes and annual maintenance expenses.

Membership dues remained under $35 for the next ten years to cover routine maintenance needs.  After over 50 years of “service to the community”, the club house required more than routine maintenance and underwent a major renovation in 2012.  The lovely new facility has hosted birthdays, baby showers, weddings, retirement parties, life celebrations, garden club meetings, poker nights, book club gatherings, bunko games and the ever anticipated monthly Final Friday Happy Hour community gatherings. 

We hope that you use the club house often and enjoy the camaraderie with your neighbors.  The McCormick Mile Community is unique and a wonderful asset for us all!