30 STORY PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL TOWER WOULD ALTER BOCA RATON SKYLINE & MORE
Every once in a while there is a proposed project that is so large that it could drastically change a city or village. I think this is one of these for Boca Raton. Boca is a city that favors low rise (100 – 140 feet high) Spanish-revival style buildings, and that is what is provided for in city codes. Now a company called Elad National Properties is proposing a 500 unit “ultra luxury” 30 story condo building. The property would be called New Mizner on the Green and would be built at 210 SE Mizner Blvd. where 244 town homes are currently built. They would be demolished to make way for the new tower which would be at least 300 feet high. There is only one building of this height in Boca now, the 27 story Boca Raton Resort & Club. Elad claims the new building would add $5 million dollars to Boca Raton’s tax base, almost doubling the current amount. They argue that it will draw very high net worth buyers to the area which will support the retail and restaurants in the neighborhood. It should be noted that a public relations firm has been hired to push the project, unlike most projects up for approval. If this project gets approved, it opens the door for more projects like it. All of a sudden we are creating a Collins Ave./Biscayne Blvd. in Miami, or an A1A in Ft. Lauderdale situation, areas where residential high rises cluster along the ocean. Is this good for Boca? On the one side you say this is growth, if the demographics support it then do it. On the other, you say the city is losing its identity with this one and if it happens it will forever change the look and feel of the city. Clearly the members of the City Council are divided on this subject and a battle over it is looming. I can promise you when a decision is made you can read about it here. I would love to know how you feel about this issue, so please let me know if you can. As always thanks for reading and have a great day.
Boca on the rise? Proposal would double downtown building height limit
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