Housing Leadership Council Board of Directors- Michael S. Weiner

Michael S. Weiner, Esquire was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Washington & Jefferson College where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He was then accepted into the University of Michigan Law School and graduated in May, 1974.

After beginning his career as a tax attorney, Mr. Weiner turned to the narrow specialty of tax planning for real estate developers. Mr. Weiner first became familiar with redevelopment by being involved in the Tower City project in Cleveland, Ohio in the late 1970′s.

Upon moving to Florida he took an active interest in real estate opportunities afforded by South Florida. He became active in the Art Deco Society in the early 1980’s which advocated the re-development (as opposed to demolition) of the Art Deco Miami Beach Hotels. Moving to Palm Beach County later in the 1980’s, Mr. Weiner shaped the law firm in tandem with the resurgence of another city, Delray Beach, Florida.

Mr. Weiner specializes in solving his client’s problems relating to government regulation.  He is a sought-after speaker before various City and County Commissioners, Chambers of Commerce, local civic clubs and groups about the importance of the revitalization of urban centers. To that end, Mr. Weiner has invested his own funds in pursuit of the same goal, demonstrating that there can be profits both for the individual and for the community. He owns one of the oldest homes in Delray Beach, Florida called the “Clark House” built in 1896.  He has renovated the Tarrimore House built in 1926 and the Masonic Temple built in 1923. His success is as both an attorney and investor in numerous residential and commercial restorations in several South Florida municipalities, most notably Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, Florida.

As an expert in re-adaptive use, the assemblage of properties, “grandfathering” and similar legal issues which often stand in the way of re-development of blighted areas, Mr. Weiner continues to assist his clients in searching for the proper re-development opportunities east of I-95.  Making the older neighborhoods glorious once again reduces the pressure on westward expansion and the ever increasing commuter trips.  The creativity that is required to work in these sorts of situations has given Mr. Weiner additional tools for working with government regulation, especially with respect to those uses which seem unpopular or misunderstood.

Another area of business endeavor which required assistance because of growing governmental regulation concerns the efforts of service providers to the recovery community.  Sober houses, detoxification facilities and general medical services catering to those in recovery were undergoing unwarranted governmental attack based upon prejudicial notions as to of the individuals who seek out recovery assistance.  Beginning in the 1990’s, Mr. Weiner defended the conversion of a psychiatric hospital to a recovery facility and from that work he became known for his advocacy in favor of those businesses dealing with the recovery community.