Tuesday, September 9, 2014

BOCA RATON BOWLING ALLEY COULD BECOME APARTMENTS


BOCA RATON BOWLING ALLEY COULD BECOME APARTMENTS

This article caught my eye because there have been so many rumors about this site over the past 10 years. First it was going to be part of a high end restaurant cluster, which would have stretched along 19th Street. That didn’t pan out. Then there was the Dick’s Sporting Goods rumor, which I knew couldn’t happen since there wasn’t enough room for one of their normal prototypes. There were several gym rumors and rumors of supermarkets. But now we might finally have a winner for this site, a not very exciting 649 unit apartment building which would feature 25,600 square feet of retail and restaurant space. For anyone that has lived in Boca Raton for some time this is shocking news. Strikes @ Boca, which is the current name of the bowling alley, is the only bowling alley in Boca Raton. The building has been there for 33 years and is a beloved use of the City’s residents. The bowling alley is currently used by area high schools with bowling teams and also by 3,000 league bowlers. I was just there with my family and a friend’s family for a couple of hours of fun on Labor Day. But as we know, money talks and that is what is important when it comes to real estate. So if this project is approved by the City Council it is going to happen, nostalgia be damned. Fortunately we have a brand new bowling alley close to our house, called the CineBowl & Grille at the Frank’s Theaters at the Delray Marketplace but it really isn’t the same. There is something about Strikes, the dirtiness, the terrible food, the arcade, the kids, the old fashioned style, that will be missed. Development is often called progress but sometimes I am not so sure. But there is no question that apartments here is the highest and best use for this site so expect the owner, CVR Realty to cash in soon. Who can blame them? I think it will be very successful, with residents being to walk to both The Town Center Mall and The Boca Center. Soon there will even be a Tri – Rail station they can walk to on Military Trail. As always thanks for reading and have a great day.

New development would strike Boca's only bowling center


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