This is outrageous!
What a huge step backward for a community. Boca Raton supported one of the first sea turtle protection programs in 1976, one of the first lighting ordinances in 1986, and has half of its beachfront property owned by the public - instead of commercial development, ugly condos and private beaches.
The City has listened to its environmental people several times to prevent the building of a private home east of A1A just north of Ocean Strand Beachfront Park. I do not understand why they would even entertain a larger building east of A1A on the Ocean Strand property.
What I find odd is that this beautiful piece of property is a real bargain compared to the Wildflower parking lot recently purchased. The Wildflower cost more than half the price of the Ocean Strand property.
What kind message is it to use CITY TAXPAYERS MONEY purchase sensitive PUBLIC land for parks and then deal them off to PRIVATE developers? Let them buy John Kennelly’s 11 acre parcel the same distance away from their potential Via Mizner development which is listed for $115,000,000.
Boca did not earn its reputation in this manner

I would like to share a quote from a PennFlorida employee the development group. “This is truly an asset to our community,” said Wanda Thayer, a council member back in 1995 when the Ocean Strand purchase was being discussed. “An overwhelmingly majority of residents have said they wanted the property purchased. "Once it's gone, it's gone. I would hate to miss it ..."

If it helps their investments with higher property values, then a higher quality of life is received.


The reality is the properties on the barrier island values will diminish due to external obsolescence. And the values of near by properties will be reduced because their view amenity will be eliminated and other significant valuation effects. Where is the higher quality of Life in that? That is a great thing to do when values have tanked and tax revenues would be further reduced.

This is one of Boca's prettiest areas. Why ruin it.
Look at what happened to the Boca Inlet. It started out small enough. Now it's a concrete wall.

I sure hope this doesn't happen!

BEACH FRONT PURCHASE A SMART MOVE
Sun Sentinel- Fort Lauderdale
Date: Jan 7, 1995
Section: EDITORIAL

Over the years, Boca Raton wisely purchased much of its attractive beachfront for public enjoyment. From Palmetto Park Road northward along scenic highway A1A, public beaches and parks offer swimming, surfing, sunbathing, a par-3 golf course and many great spots for family picnics.

The foresight of responsible officials is appreciated, and the same kind of sound thinking undergirds a decision to buy the last sizable chunk of undeveloped beach property in the city. That land, 15.2 acres stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway along Ocean Strand, is to be turned into a park.

The parcel, just south of Spanish River Park, is being bought by the Greater Boca Raton Beach Tax District, which encompasses the city and the unincorporated area west to Florida's Turnpike. This special tax district was set up so those residents most likely to benefit from parks and beaches, including persons living west of the city limits, would help pay for them.

The price, $11.88 million, is quite high, but there's not much other land with which to compare it. No other available parcels of property that large exist along Boca Raton's oceanfront; in a sense, it's incomparable.

If the tax district hadn't agreed to buy it, condominiums and houses would have been built on the site. For the long run, thinking of the children and grandchildren of current residents, the best use will be as a park.

The parcel of land and its shoreline are amazingly diverse: mature mangroves, a nesting ground for sea turtles, an important feeding area for manatees and a stand of environmentally sensitive seagrass. Four houses are on the property, and one of them could become a public building in the proposed park.

A cooperative financial arrangement between the city of Boca Raton and the beach tax district will allow purchase of the property. The city will borrow the money, and the district will repay it over a decade.

Any community that invests in its future through a strong system of parks and beaches is making a wise, thoughtful forward-looking move. The decision to buy this parcel of land was correct.

Ok, I wonder how many of those "May 2010" users are legitimate and how many of them are newly spawned Barneys?

Wow a lot of new forumers and Boca fans in particular. Welcome!!!

^^Of course there is. I should of changed my screename to Bocalover but I couldn't change it after I made my account. Greetings Bocans!

Who let the newspaper "comments section" people out?

Typical New York rude attitude.

Is that really needed?

Who let the newspaper "comments section" people out?


Come on be nice.:cheers: I heard they had another site they were thinking of for a "private beach club" at 1862 Thatch Palm Dr., Boca Raton, FL 33432 if this one does not work!

Thanks for the welome Jan280 and bostonianlover, you seem to both be concerned and informed posters.:)

Typical New York rude attitude.

Is that really needed?

Yes it is, and I'm not from New York or even the North for that matter.

Thanks for the welome Jan280 and bostonianlover, you seem to both be concerned and informed posters.:)

Somebody please tell Jan280 to take his Ritalin. He is obviously Bostonianlover, and appealing to DShoost88 (because he seems to hate Jan280), asking questions already answered to his main account. As for the rash of new accounts, I can tell it's Jan280 from how they cite news, which is exactly how he does. No quotes, strange punctuation in everything else (this goes for Bostonianlover, too), and even slipping up on post #758.

Therefore,

moderator check his info

^^Okay first Soapy thinks I am Dshoost88 on post 700 and now NYJets305 is calling me Jan280. And now NYJets305 is saying Jan280 is connected to all these new accounts that is supposably me? WTF IS GOING ON!!!???

(getting back on subject....)

Has anyone on the forum had the pleasure of staying at the famous resort?

http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/0/J/o/BocaRatonResortFlikr.jpg

(getting back on subject....)

Has anyone on the forum had the pleasure of staying at the famous resort?

http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/0/J/o/BocaRatonResortFlikr.jpg


We stayed here for a week just before we moved here. It is very nice and this is were the potential VIA MIZNER hotel ought to try to work a deal out with the Boca Resort rather than impacting a pristine beachfront. As of today this botique hotel does not have a single open location on the beach nor does it have a beach element in any of their worldwide locations. So why would they insist that they would need it now? BS:banana:

FYI, NYJets305, you don't know enough about Boca to make these thoughtless remarks about the city. For your information, Boca Raton is a very popular destination for tourism. Although its public beaches don't see the the mobs of sunbathers that visit nearby Delray & Deerfield Beaches, Boca has concentrated their tourists where it matters: places they'll spend money! Between the Town Center Mall in Boca Raton and Mizner Park lifestyle center, more tourists spend money at high-end shops in Boca than any other place in South Florida except perhaps for Aventura Mall & the Bal Harbor Shoppes.

Additionally, the 1,038-room Boca Raton Resort & Club is the largest resort hotel in all of South Florida--more than the Biltmore, Fountainbleu, Diplomat, and even the Breakers. Between their two 18-hole championship golf courses, thousands of feet of beachfront property, 13 on-site restaurants, and multiple conference and convention spaces, the Boca Raton Resort is a vehicle that pumps in the kind of tourist money to the city that most other South Florida municipalities can only dream of.

And bringing the conversation back to the beach property owned by the city that this yet-to-be-built hotel's developer proposes to buy... the developer knows that his "boutique", 100+ room hotel cannot compete with the 1038-room mega resort immediately next door to his downtown property. Locked between an excellent street corner and the golf course for the Boca Raton Resort, the developer knows that his "high-end" hotel will never be the first pick for tourists to Boca unless he can compete with some of the amenities offered by the Boca Resort. That is why he's desperately seeking the beachfront property. He has no care for the environmental sensitivity for the land (and by the sounds of it, neither do you). I've volunteered over 100 hours at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. The care they offer to marine animals and education they offer to the public about sea turtles and other creatures has been such a blessing to the community, the only shame is that ignorant people like you haven't taken the time to learn a thing or two about why some development should be frowned upon. You should visit it sometime.

Oh, and one last thing. Boca Raton parks (besides "the pavilion", which must be the Count & Countess de Hoernle Pavilion at Mizner Park that you speak of):
- Red Reef Park
- South Beach Inlet Park
- Spanish River Park
- Patch Reef Park
- Sugar Sand Park
- Mizner Dog Park
- SW Regional Park (technically PB County, but still a Boca Raton zip code)
- Hidden Lakes Park
- Boca Rio Park
- Blazing Star Preserve
- Silver Palm Park

Those are just ones I can think of off the top of my head. Please, NYJets305, just go away.

I would say that there are quite a few other s fl cities ahead of boca in terms of tourist retail spending.

Also, the boca resort is not the largest , Fontainebleau now has about 50% more rooms after recent additions. And of all the resorts you listed, boca commands the lowest room rates.

(getting back on subject....)

Has anyone on the forum had the pleasure of staying at the famous resort?

http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/0/J/o/BocaRatonResortFlikr.jpg

I'm a resort member. I've been one virtually my whole life--been going there and to the beach club multiple times a year for as long as I can remember. After spending a summer volunteering for the Boca Raton Historical Society, I really grew to appreciate the rich history, architecture, and story of the Boca Resort each subsequent time I've visited it. It's always a treat.

And before you look up membership costs, my family became members long, long, long before the membership jumped up to something like $100,000/person.

Lastly, Sodermalm: I was wrong and you are correct. The last time I checked the Fountainebleau Miami Beach had 998 rooms, but I see now that after its renovation it currently has 1504 rooms... by far the most. Touche. As for your comment about tourist spending, all I know is that 4x the population of Boca come into the city everyday of the week, both to work and to shop. Town Center Mall at Boca Raton and Mizner Park have more high end shops that wealthy area residents spend money at than most South Florida shopping centers. Between that and the number of 4-star steakhouses jam-packed every night with people from all over SoFlo, a lot of money comes pooring into Boca Raton's economy... one of the reasons the city's businesses have faired well during this rough slump in the economy.

^^That's one thing that amazes me. I drive down Glades road passing Town Center, FAU, and the Cinemark theater area and is always packed even at 10 o'clock at night in the middle of the week. :)

Great news! Boca isn't selling the developers the Ocean Strand site!

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-boca-ocean-strand-folo-20100525,0,5926876.story

Bad news: the $1 billion Via Mizner project in downtown Boca may now be in jeopardy.

There's a parcel at 2601 N. Ocean available. They could purchase that.
There's also one about the same distance as the Ocean Strand parcel in Deerfield they could purchase. That seems a more appropriate place.:)

Are these people blind?Build it on the Wildflower Property!!!Right next to Downtown, the intercoastal, and the beach!Duh!

Building on the old Wildflower would be to easy. Do they have intention on moving this questionable potential development Via Mizner forward? Can't you see it appears as a straight up land grab. Is a 118 room hotel really going to support an oceanfront public property worth tens of millions?

So are you against it or not? It is better than nothing.:dunno:

So are you against it or not? It is better than nothing.:dunno:

Definitely for downtown. Definitely not for destroying the beachfront.:bash:

Okay good, at least someone agrees with me. Who else?

^^ I don't.

The developer intends to build a beach club fronting the beach and not the Intracoastal Waterway. Anywhere else they're probably going to look along the beach, more people will complain.

If the criteria was who was going to complain the most or least this city would be a complete disaster. It is not appropriate to have these commercial uses in the middle of a residential area period. It goes against every element of the Comp Plan as well. Why do they not buy private property like the last two developers in Boca did who wanted to build on the ocean? The developers purcahsed Excelsior and Luxuria both redevelopment opportunities. There are many other oportunities to purchase private property to redevelop. Obviously this is a staight up land grab and do not kid yourself.

Who let the newspaper "comments section" people out?

Typical New York rude attitude.

Is that really needed?

Yes it is, and I'm not from New York or even the North for that matter.

Keep it up! I've already brigged you for your attitude! A complete ban is next!

It's obviously your call, Q, but I think it's safe to say pretty much everyone that's been here more than a few months instantly knew "NYJets" was a Barney sock-puppet. I don't think he even really denied it---at least not convincingly.

I have a big soft spot for pranksters. It can often be truly funny stuff. But this version of "Barney" is pretty lame. The name alone was created with such a blatant, comical desire to get a reaction that it backfired into irrelevance.

My advice to Barney is this: Come up with a character that seems genuinely curious and reasonable but gradually devolves into oddities and absurdism. It can be done---without even a whiff of anything to get you banned---and it can also be VERY funny when done right. I think "NYJets" should get a dignified burial by the perp himself...and then re-charge the batteries with a much more compelling and funny character. If you care about the forum enough to keep creating these cyberspace people, at least make them interesting.

Wow this thread is dead. It seems 3 forumers have been banned which probably explains all the quiteness of this thread.

Wow this thread is dead. It seems 3 forumers have been banned which probably explains all the quiteness of this thread.

That and the two main people other than yourself here - meaning DShoot and myself - no longer live in Boca, so other than what comes across GoogleNews (or in my case, any FAU stuff as well) we don't really know what's happening down there. We're building dorms at FAU which should be finished Sept 2010.

Beyond that, I know the Circuit City in the University Commons is being replaced by a Nordstrom Rack, a Shane's Ribs place is opening up next to Moe's and the city has approved a promenade downtown. I'd really like to know what's going on with the ice rink on Spanish River road but emails to the city officials responsible were not returned... but that's probably because I already bugged them about a a disc golf park at the future (?) Countess De Hoernle park (has that started construction other than the water silos?)

I was driving along 95 earlier this week, and saw a structure looming in the distance over where FAU is. I can only assume it must have been the stadium :banana:

^^Yeah me too but I think its the Innovation Village but I really need to go visit it to tell. And something to be proud of for our city is that number 17 in the USA soccer team playing in the World Cup right now is Jozy Altidore!Couple of years ago he lived in Boca Raton and got promoted and now he is on the top as one of the best players in the U.S.!:applause:Cheers from Boca Jozy!

^^Yeah me too but I think its the Innovation Village but I really need to go visit it to tell.

You got it right. It's the 7 (8?) story apartment complex called the Innovation Village.

The stadium is coming along but they needed to make some changes or collect some more data, something, to gain the final blessing of the Florida Goard of Governors.

If all goes well, they should start construction on it by end of summer/early Fall.

Boca Raton considers annexing northern areas to boost tax revenue
Boca Raton could be getting bigger.
URL="http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/boca-raton-considers-annexing-northern-areas-to-boost-756390.html"]http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/boca-raton-considers-annexing-northern-areas-to-boost-756390.html[/URL]

Hoping to plug budget holes, the city is looking into annexing several communities mainly on its northern border as a way to increase its tax base.

The city decided to launch an in-depth study, required by state statutes, after a preliminary investigation estimated that the city would net about $2 million a year after providing police, fire and other services to the nine properties.

The study will encompass the Boca Golf & Tennis Club, Costco, Le Lac, the old Royal Palm polo fields, Fieldbrook, Newport Bay, Boniello Acres, St. Andrews Country Club and Boca Grove Plantation.

"I would support anything that would bring in an extra $2 million a year," said Council member Mike Mullaugh.

Boca Raton is facing a $7 million budget shortfall in the coming year and is looking for ways to boost revenues. Although if the city were to annex all those communities by December, it wouldn't see the extra income until 2012.

The combined taxable value of the nine areas being considered for annexation is $1.5 billion. That would bring in about $6.7 million to city coffers under the current tax rate. But it would cost about $4.2 million to provide services to those areas.

Plus, the city would have to set aside about $400,000 a year for five years to upgrade the medians near the communities.

"Maybe that will be the trade-off," said Edward Haymes, president of the St. Andrews Country Club Property Owners Association.

His community has been asking Boca Raton to fix up the medians on Clint Moore Road for awhile, but the city said it didn't have the money to put in trees and shrubs, Haymes said.

He said becoming a part of Boca Raton has not been seriously discussed in his community and that the community "would have to spend some time looking into it."

Boca Raton's last major annexations were in 2003 and 2004 when the city expanded its borders to include the Town Center Mall and surrounding neighborhoods as well as the Via Verde, Waterside at Boca Trail and Marina del Mar neighborhoods.

Those annexations brought in about $3 million a year to the city.

Nearly 10 years ago, the Boca Golf & Tennis Club asked to become a part of the city, mainly as way to stop a Costco from going in across the street from the community on Congress Avenue. Annexing the community also would have required annexing the Costco property under state law. But didn't consider the annexation because Costco threatened to fight it.

Residents still might think it's worthwhile to become a part of the city, said Arthur Knapp, a board member for the Boca Golf & Tennis Club Property Owners Association.

Residents would be able to use Boca Raton's nearby Spanish River library and buy annual beach parking passes, he said.

Residents who live in the areas being studied would have to vote to approve annexation by Boca Raton.

More than 4,300 people would be added to the city if it annexes all the proposed area, growing the population to more than 90,000. That still would be the second-largest in Palm Beach County behind West Palm Beach.

Still, some council members aren't sold on annexing.

"Bigger is not always better," said council member Anthony Majhess. "Annexation will dramatically change the culture of our community. I don't support annexation as a means to raise revenue."

Where is your support Majhess?No time to waste if we want to get improving in our economy. Of course there are the cons of annexation which is a higher tax rate and the cost to improving medians but I think the pros are good enough. I agree with annexation just like I made in my own thread a long time ago. Wow if this happens then Boca will pass the 90,000 mark in population!It may even surpass some city populations like Davie and Sunrise. On another subject, Tyco Int. headquarters will be moving this year to another building by Yamato road just west of Congress near the big gym. I think it is the Old Washington Mutual building but my mom told me because she works at Tyco. They said they need more office space.

Majhess makes a poor argument because everyone in Boca knows that annexing these communities would only better reflect the true essence and character of what makes Boca Raton the community that it is. It's not like the city is proposing to annex land out by Lake Okeechobee or anything... I don't see how this "annexation will dramatically change the culture of our community."

That said, however, annexation is a very long, laborious process. I once had the pleasure of working under the employee responsible for the 2003-2004 annexation of the Via Verde communities (her name is slipping my mind...). When I asked her why Boca didn't just gobble up the remaining zip codes that use the Boca Raton address, she explained to me in detail just how much paperwork, resident participation, and voter participation is necessary to successfully execute annexation. For instance, Boca West--one of the largest subdivisions in South Florida--would be a wonderful addition to the city and its tax base. The reason it's never been successfully annexed is because 2/3 of the residents there need to vote in favor of it, but more than half the residents of Boca West are snow birds and never down at their condos all at the same time... making it seemingly impossible to get a community concensus. If Boca West were part of the city, we'd have eclipsed West Palm, Pompano, and maybe even Coral Springs in population years ago!

The skyline is growing by every bit!Took a tour guide to FAU today.
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/6195/1012181.jpg (http://img35.imageshack.us/i/1012181.jpg/)
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/8889/1012186p.jpg (http://img130.imageshack.us/i/1012186p.jpg/)
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/4212/1012191.jpg (http://img35.imageshack.us/i/1012191.jpg/)
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/4056/1012193.jpg (http://img24.imageshack.us/i/1012193.jpg/)
Stadium site(before)...can't wait to do an (after) picture!
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5141/1012196g.jpg (http://img130.imageshack.us/i/1012196g.jpg/)
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3958/1012197.jpg (http://img687.imageshack.us/i/1012197.jpg/)
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/2999/1012201r.jpg (http://img41.imageshack.us/i/1012201r.jpg/)
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/8964/1012199r.jpg (http://img24.imageshack.us/i/1012199r.jpg/)
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/8770/1012212b.jpg (http://img24.imageshack.us/i/1012212b.jpg/)
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/9076/1012213.jpg (http://img52.imageshack.us/i/1012213.jpg/)
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/5095/1012215.jpg (http://img18.imageshack.us/i/1012215.jpg/)
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/6861/1012214.jpg (http://img35.imageshack.us/i/1012214.jpg/)
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/8801/1012208.jpg (http://img52.imageshack.us/i/1012208.jpg/)
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/6813/1012207.jpg (http://img24.imageshack.us/i/1012207.jpg/)

^^WHOA!!! I can't believe how quickly those residence halls went up!!! Awesome pics, Jan, thank you! I'll be in town at the end of July; I'll have to make a visit to the campus. BTW, how long is the campus tour? And are you going there in the fall?

It's approximately an hour and 30 minutes which includes a brief lecture of the admission process,facts about the campus, and then the majority of the time going around the campus by foot but not the whole university, of course. And no, I am actually expected to come the fallafter this one(when the stadium should open):).

The skyline is growing by every bit!Took a tour guide to FAU today.

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/6861/1012214.jpg

^^ I helped design that pool! :)

Those new Innovation Village dorms were supposed to open in Fall 2011 but I've read two credible accounts - one from the Director of Housing herself - that it will be finished early and should open in time for Spring 2011 occupancy.

Jan280, what's your major going to be - Urban and Regional Planning? Architecture? Or something else entirely?

This link discusses the 700 pre-made bathrooms they're going to install at the new FAU Innovation village and has a great aerial photograph of construction progress as well:

http://www.centredaily.com/2010/06/23/2054590/eggrock-enters-the-student-housing.html

Also, it confirms what Go Owls said about opening early:

"This will help us meet our aggressive deadline and open the 1,200- bed student housing before the start of the 2011 school year.”

Read more: http://www.centredaily.com/2010/06/23/2054590/eggrock-enters-the-student-housing.html#ixzz0rqL68k00

What's wrong with the bowling alley? The management keeps turning over and now they want to knock it down and build a sueprstore?

According to: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/wal-mart-scouting-new-location-possibilities-in-palm-770083.html

Wal-Mart also considered, but did not pursue, a store at the Strikes@Boca bowling alley in Boca Raton, real estate sources say. The 64,000-square-foot property, owned by shopping center developer Woolbright Development, is along Military Trail near Glades Road. Word is the deal did not progress because of opposition by city officials. A city official did not return a phone call seeking comment.

(Dick's Sporting Goods is said to be eyeing the property now.)

Owls, no I am going to be majoring in Meteorology but I am going to take prepatory classes at FAU because they don't have my degree there. :(

On the other hand, I found something a little nice that went up on this site that is nothing big but looks nice. http://http://www.danburg.com/index.php?action=listingview&listingID=49

I took another trip on the intercoastal and wanted to share where some of the true mansions are in Boca.
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4236/1012266w.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/1012266w.jpg/)
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/3636/1012270.jpg (http://img130.imageshack.us/i/1012270.jpg/)
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/6647/1012271.jpg (http://img130.imageshack.us/i/1012271.jpg/)
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/2456/1012272.jpg (http://img130.imageshack.us/i/1012272.jpg/)
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4315/1012274.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/1012274.jpg/)
http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/2254/1012279.jpg (http://img704.imageshack.us/i/1012279.jpg/)
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/848/1012286.jpg (http://img535.imageshack.us/i/1012286.jpg/)
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/701/1012307.jpg (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/1012307.jpg/)
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/6803/1012320.jpg (http://img130.imageshack.us/i/1012320.jpg/)
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/2713/1012321.jpg (http://img708.imageshack.us/i/1012321.jpg/)
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/1621/1012322.jpg (http://img708.imageshack.us/i/1012322.jpg/)
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/2435/1012324.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/1012324.jpg/)
http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/3808/1012327.jpg (http://img704.imageshack.us/i/1012327.jpg/)
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/6421/1012329.jpg (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/1012329.jpg/)
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/2793/1012331.jpg (http://img708.imageshack.us/i/1012331.jpg/)
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/533/1012333.jpg (http://img535.imageshack.us/i/1012333.jpg/)
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/8425/1012335.jpg (http://img130.imageshack.us/i/1012335.jpg/)
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/773/1012290.jpg (http://img708.imageshack.us/i/1012290.jpg/)
Let's not forget 1000 Ocean is done!
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/8295/1012312.jpg (http://img708.imageshack.us/i/1012312.jpg/)
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/4867/1012314.jpg (http://img708.imageshack.us/i/1012314.jpg/)
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/2915/1012355.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/1012355.jpg/)

Owls, no I am going to be majoring in Meteorology but I am going to take prepatory classes at FAU because they don't have my degree there. :(

On the other hand, I found something a little nice that went up on this site that is nothing big but looks nice. http://http://www.danburg.com/index.php?action=listingview&listingID=49

I took another trip on the intercoastal and wanted to share where some of the true mansions are in Boca.
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4236/1012266w.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/1012266w.jpg/)
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/3636/1012270.jpg (http://img130.imageshack.us/i/1012270.jpg/)
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/6647/1012271.jpg (http://img130.imageshack.us/i/1012271.jpg/)
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/2456/1012272.jpg (http://img130.imageshack.us/i/1012272.jpg/)
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4315/1012274.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/1012274.jpg/)
http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/2254/1012279.jpg (http://img704.imageshack.us/i/1012279.jpg/)
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/848/1012286.jpg (http://img535.imageshack.us/i/1012286.jpg/)
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http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/1621/1012322.jpg (http://img708.imageshack.us/i/1012322.jpg/)
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/2435/1012324.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/1012324.jpg/)
http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/3808/1012327.jpg (http://img704.imageshack.us/i/1012327.jpg/)
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/6421/1012329.jpg (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/1012329.jpg/)
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/2793/1012331.jpg (http://img708.imageshack.us/i/1012331.jpg/)
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http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/8425/1012335.jpg (http://img130.imageshack.us/i/1012335.jpg/)
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/773/1012290.jpg (http://img708.imageshack.us/i/1012290.jpg/)
Let's not forget 1000 Ocean is done!
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/8295/1012312.jpg (http://img708.imageshack.us/i/1012312.jpg/)
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/4867/1012314.jpg (http://img708.imageshack.us/i/1012314.jpg/)
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/2915/1012355.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/1012355.jpg/)

I Love those mansions, especially the white one.

What do you guys know about Floozapalooza on Lake Boca?

Owls, look at post 724. It is similar to Boca Bash and thats all I know.

Those Boca pics were awesome.

I believe DShoot posted an image of his ideas for light rail and intermodal centers.

I found this document (http://www.fau.edu/facilities/uavp/masterplans-folder/bocaraton-mp-folder/Boca-FirstHearingDraftFigures/FIG_11-04_THRU_08h.pdf) on FAU's Master Plan website for the Transportation element. It's an LRTP - Long Range Transportation Plan (up to 2030).

It shows some interesting ideas regarding traffic in and around the university, including an Intermodal Center on campus and bicycle paths along Glades and Yamato.

==>

Excellent news: FAU's football stadium was approved by the Florida Board of Governors! They will now have an on-campus football stadium up-and-running by the Fall 2011 season! And at 30,000+ seats (in the first phase), it will be the largest sporting facility in Broward and Palm Beach counties! Hooray for FAU; Hooray for Boca!

Bigger than BankAtlantic? :banana: Way to go FAU!

^^ Bank Atlantic Center has a seating capacity of about 22,000. Lockhart Stadium seats 21,000. FAU's stadium will seat 30,000 initially and can be expanded eventually to seat up to 65,000, making it the second-biggest stadium in South Florida (after Dolphin's Stadium).

Are there any renderings out there? Where does FAU play games right now? Is their following really that strong?

Are there any renderings out there?

Yep.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/media/photo/2010-09/56155928.jpg

Very nice.

How big is their current stadium? You don't heart too much, if any mention of the Owls, so i'm just wondering how big their following is?

^^ Yeah, that's one of the main renderings featured in the newspaper. To answer your other question, Hia-leah, they currently play their games at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. With over 28,000 students enrolled at FAU (and growing) and two bowl wins in the last 3 seasons, spirit is high on campus and the time is ripe to deliver the team a stadium. Also, there are over 110,000 alumni from this young state school--many of whom continue to live in South Florida--so there will most certainly be crowds at their games.

Also, here's a video of FAU's "Innovation Village" plan overall. It includes the new stadium, several new residence halls, their alumni & wellness centers (recently completed), and a new convocation center/basketball arena.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCKD9bhxwdE

You don't hear too much, if any mention of the Owls, so i'm just wondering how big their following is?

Hard to say. Announced attendance is ~15k/game. That tends to be a little generous. Lockhart stadium was a huge part of the problem though. Off-campus and outdated, there was nothing respectable or exciting about watching games there. This new stadium will change that. Whether it will sellout or not remains to be seen.

well what do you know!
American Planning Association Designates Plaza Real In Downtown Boca Raton
One of Top 10 Great Public Spaces for 2010–No Details Spared for Highly Successful Space–

Washington, DC (October 13, 2010)– The American Planning Association (APA) today announced the designation of Plaza Real in Boca Raton as one of 10 Great Public Spaces for 2010 under the organization’s Great Places in America program. APA Great Places exemplify exceptional character and highlight the role planners and planning play in creating communities of lasting value. Also designated in Florida as one of APA’s Great Places for 2010 is Riverside Avondale in Jacksonville.

APA singled out Plaza Real in downtown Boca Raton (www.downtownboca.org) as an iconic example of the public and private sectors partnering to successfully redevelop a former shopping mall into an area with its own identity and sense of place. The Plaza is easily accessible and links adjoining commercial, residential, cultural and entertainment uses.

“We’re honored to be recognized by the APA as a Great Public Space,” said Mayor Susan Whelchel. “Plaza Real is one of the jewels of Boca Raton and an enduring example of how the public and the private sectors can partner to create and sustain remarkable places.”

Mizner Park and Plaza Real are part of what make downtown Boca Raton a wonderful place to live, work and play,” added Council Member Constance J. Scott, Chair of the Boca Raton Redevelopment Authority. “This goes to show that with creativity, persistence, and effective partnerships obsolete shopping malls can be transformed into vibrant places for everyone to enjoy.”

“It’s quite an honor to be recognized for something you’re so committed to,” said Michael McNaughton, executive vice president for General Growth Properties, owner of Mizner Park. “We are fully committed to providing our shoppers with a total experience. This goes beyond providing a stellar retail line-up. It includes providing aesthetically pleasing spaces that encourage our visitors to linger and enjoy time with their friends and family.”

Through Great Places in America, APA recognizes unique and authentic characteristics found in three essential components of all communities – streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces. APA Great Places offer better choices for where and how people work and live every day and are defined by many things including planning efforts, architectural styles, accessibility, and community involvement.

Since APA began Great Places in America in 2007, 40 Neighborhoods, 40 Streets and 30 Public Spaces have been designated in 47 states and the District of Columbia.

“We’re very excited to name Plaza Real as one of this year’s Great Public Spaces,” said APA Chief Executive Officer Paul Farmer, FAICP. “The Plaza shows the importance and value of including a well-designed and inviting public space when redeveloping an area, which in this case was a shuttered shopping mall. Boca Raton is to be commended for its accomplishment here,” he added.

Located at the epicenter of Mizner Park – the city’s 30-acre commercial, residential and business district, Plaza Real is the result of a 1988 comprehensive redevelopment plan. Prepared by the Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency, the plan led to a $56.6 million renovation of the former Boca Raton Mall, which had closed in the late 1980s.

No details were spared when building the Plaza. The space is defined by four fountains, three wrought-iron detailed gazebos, public art, benches and palm trees that line the outer edges. The layout of the plaza and the building placement were intentionally designed to create a “Venturi effect” that enhances natural breezes flowing through the area. Nathan Cherry, author of Grid/Street/Place: Essential Elements of Sustainable Urban Districts, has called Plaza Real “one of the first and most successful mixed use redevelopments of a mall site in the United States.”

The plaza is fronted by stunning Mediterranean-style architecture. The Countess de Hoernle Amphitheater, the Boca Raton Museum of Art, and the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Association Center all border the Plaza. Movie theaters, restaurants and retail shops dot the landscape and bring life to Mizner Park.

The Plaza is easily accessed by car, bike or foot with four adjacent garages, numerous bike racks, and wide sidewalks and footpaths.

The nine other APA 2010 Great Public Spaces are: Bryant Park in New York City, NY; Charles W. Ireland Sculpture Garden in Birmingham, AL; Fountain Square in Bowling Green, KY; Emerald Necklace in Boston, MA; Ferry Building in San Francisco, CA; Campus Martius Park in Detroit, MI; Percival Landing Boardwalk and Park in Olympia, WA; Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia, PA; and Main Plaza in San Antonio, TX.

For more information about these public spaces, as well as lists of the 2010 APA 10 Great Neighborhoods and 10 Great Streets, and designations between 2007 and 2009, visit www.planning.org/greatplaces.

This year’s Great Places in America will be celebrated as part of APA’s National Community Planning Month in October 2010; for more about the special month, visit www.planning.org/ncpm.

The American Planning Association is an independent, not-for-profit educational organization that provides leadership in the development of vital communities. APA and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners, are dedicated to advancing the art, science and profession of good planning — physical, economic and social — so as to create communities that offer better choices for where and how people work and live. Members of APA help create communities of lasting value and encourage civic leaders, business interests and citizens to play a meaningful role in creating communities that enrich people’s lives. APA has offices in Washington, D.C., and Chicago, Ill. For more information, visit www.planning.org.


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October 13th, 2010 | Editor | Comments Off |
http://www.downtownboca.org/?p=1517

Its been a long time I been to the beach, Boca Raton. Well here is two beatiful photos I made in panoramio. The Beach club is the #1 resort I have ever been too out of all the resorts/hotels I went to.
http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/1061/beachb.jpg (http://img543.imageshack.us/i/beachb.jpg/)
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/7696/beach2t.jpg (http://img194.imageshack.us/i/beach2t.jpg/)

Beautiful pics!

^^Yea, private beach clubs are nice. For some.
But Boca has great PUBLIC beaches!

http://www.keepyourbocabeachespublic.org/

^^Yea, private beach clubs are nice. For some.
But Boca has great PUBLIC beaches!

http://www.keepyourbocabeachespublic.org/

They're certainly decent. I do wish they'd have something long the lines of what Hollywood Beach has with restaurants, bikes and boats for rent, etc. But I suppose that's likely the kind of development most Boca residents would oppose.

I would like to see something either near the beach or at the public parks with disc golf, canoeing, maybe an outdoor roller hockey rink. Give citizens more recreational options. They keep building parks with open fields and playgrounds - which is nice - but it's still so plain. The Parks and Recreation people say they don't have money for the kinds of "niche" specialties I suggested and right now the need is for more baseball and soccer fields.

So who knows if we'll ever get something like that.

Anybody know whatever happened to that idea for the geodesic dome that the Boca Raton Botanical Garden Society was trying to build at Countess de Hoernle Park? The city seemed to raise a big stink about them paying for peripheral sidewalks and such so the project stalled. I didn't know if they canceled it altogether or they're saving more money for it. Then again, Countess de Hoernle Park supposedly got the go-ahead and not much has happened there either.

I'm rambling. Sorry.

Nearly decade-old plan to build new interchange on I-95 in Boca gets FDOT approvalBy Dale M. King

BOCA RATON – The plan for a new interchange on Interstate 95 in Boca Raton was first proposed in a meeting room at Florida Atlantic University in 2002 during a news conference attended by then-State Rep. Bill Andrews, then-FAU President Anthony Catanese and the-Boca Raton Mayor Steven Abrams.

Andrew drafted the concept, and, over the years, many proposed locations and configurations for an interchange have been put together.


I-95
Nearly 10 years later, Abrams, now Palm Beach County Commissioner for District 4, has made a new, but related announcement. He said a new Interstate 95 interchange located on Spanish River Boulevard at the rear of FAU in Boca Raton has been officially adopted as a future development project by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

Abrams, who also serves as a member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, said that based on reports issued by FDOT, numerous traffic analyses performed over the past few years “have clearly indicated this segment of I-95 does not meet the required level of standards, mainly because of the high levels of congestion.” The new interchange will provide major relief to burgeoning traffic levels.

“I have been working on this since my first days as mayor, and it has finally come to fruition,” said Abrams. “It will provide needed relief to Glades Road and Yamato Road, two of the county’s most congested interchanges,” he added.

The proposed Airport/FAU interchange will connect to Spanish River Boulevard, extending from Military Trail on the west to State Road A1A on the east. It will provide a “back-entrance” to FAU’s campus while providing the much needed relief on Glades Road, and eliminate persistent problematic residential cut-through traffic via Yamato Road, said Abrams.

One of the primary reasons for the new interchange, he said, is to serve FAU, which has a new campus Master Plan that shows explosive growth for commuter and non-commuter students. Currently, some 15,000 students attend the Boca Raton campus, of which more than 12,000 are commuters.

FAU has broken ground for a Division 1 football stadium designated to seat 30,000 people and will be used for other events, such as concerts, Abrams said. In addition, the university is in the process of constructing an Innovation Village, one that will include on-campus housing and retail shops.

In past years, many efforts have been made to relieve the glut of traffic on Glades Road. Consultants for Florida’s Turnpike have been studying possible new exits and entrances to the limited-access road. They had been eying locations north and south of Glades Road as means of turning traffic away from Glades Road before it overflowed onto that roadway.

Currently, most commuter students attending FAU enter and leave the campus via the two entrance/exits connected to Glades Road.

In addition, Glades Road relief has been the goal of a couple of road projects. Newly paved lanes, traffic lights and drain pipes have been installed.

Abrams said the proposed new interchange is part of the FDOT’s Five-Year Work Program and is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2014.

http://www.bocaratontribune.com/nearly-decade-old-plan-to-build-new-interchange-on-i-95-in-boca-gets-fdot-approval/

http://www.fau.edu/stadium/earthcam.html

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1043/1013255.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/i/1013255.jpg/)

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/2459/1013260.jpg (http://img52.imageshack.us/i/1013260.jpg/)
I have a Boca Raton fever!

Today 2/23:
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/8115/img20110223140041.jpg

^Thanks for the picture of FAU's stadium. I've been following the progress from the webcam, but it great to see it from ground level and envision it being finished.

Cool video update of the FAU Stadium. You can see the ocean, and there's a nice 1-second shot of Boca's "skyline" too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOiVkHfwoY4&feature=player_embedded

Alright it's official I'm going to FAU for 2 years starting this Fall!Can't wait. These photos were taken today at the Tri-Rail station. Oh and by the way the Countess de Hoernle Park has already started razing the land for construction, I saw it today when driving on I-95. :D.
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/1598/1013979.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/204/1013979.jpg/)

http://img862.imageshack.us/img862/1931/1013982.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/862/1013982.jpg/)


http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/4778/1013985.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/89/1013985.jpg/)

Alright it's official I'm going to FAU for 2 years starting this Fall!Can't wait. These photos were taken today at the Tri-Rail station. Oh and by the way the Countess de Hoernle Park has already started razing the land for construction, I saw it today when driving on I-95. :D.
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/1598/1013979.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/204/1013979.jpg/)

http://img862.imageshack.us/img862/1931/1013982.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/862/1013982.jpg/)


http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/4778/1013985.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/89/1013985.jpg/)

Thanks for the photo update.

This sounds promising:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/developer-plans-1-billion-in-investments-in-boca-raton-2011-07-26?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Developer Plans $1 Billion in Investments in Boca Raton
Mixed Use Project in Town Center Area and Boutique Hotels/Projects in Downtown Boca and nearby Delray Beach Planned

BOCA RATON, Fla., July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Glenn Gromann, President/Member of 1750/Center Realty Associates/Prestige International Realty, announced today plans to invest approximately $1 Billion in redevelopment projects in the City of Boca Raton. After completion of the successful "The Milan at Town Center" office project, Gromann sought foreign and other investors to complete a mixed use project to be prospectively known as "The Fountains at Town Center" on nearby property. The Milan project houses the Florida headquarters of Comerica Bank, and is also home to CBIZ Goldstein Lewin, the local arm of the national accounting and professional services firm. Plans for a high-end Miami-style club called "Sofia at Milan" which Gromann plans to do with local chef Angelo Morinelli are also proceeding with financing commitments in place. The Sofia at Milan is a unique concept and the only use of its kind currently approved in the City. "Expect some celebrity involvement," says Gromann.

The mixed use "Fountains" project at Town Center is expected to be between 250,000 and 500,000 square feet and run in the $250 Million to $450 Million range. The project is slated to include high-end retail, boutique hotel, multiple restaurant uses, banks, specialty office and both rental and condo residential uses. "Whoever is not currently in the Town Center area is going to want to be involved in this project. The best thing about this project is that I am not really competing with anyone in the area. I am bringing new and specialty uses which complement the existing infrastructure and provide a value-added benefit and draw to the existing office and retail components." The proposed residential space in this pedestrian friendly project will add density and customers for all of the local businesses. "The smart tenants are already lining up for space," cites Gromann.

Boca Raton was a natural choice and not a difficult sell for investors. "This is one of the best managed cities in the country. The Mayor and City Council work well together and with the City Manager's office, and the city's staff is some of the best around. The CRA has done a fantastic job with the downtown area," states Gromann who sits as the Chairman of the Downtown Boca Raton Advisory Committee. An internationally recognized locale, "Boca always recovers faster after an economic downturn and property values and rental rates are typically some the highest in South Florida. We have just gone through one of the most cataclysmic real estate downturns in history yet the City of Boca has kept taxes low and credit ratings high."

Along with the Sofia club, Gromann is currently looking to build two or three boutique hotels under a national franchise both in Downtown Boca and on Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. "We are in the right climate for well-planned development in Boca; those who do not move quickly are going to miss out. As we say in the Downtown 'It's happening!'" notes Gromann.

For More Information:

Glenn E. GromannGGromann@Center-Realty.com561.289.7440

This sounds promising:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/developer-plans-1-billion-in-investments-in-boca-raton-2011-07-26?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Any clue on the location of the "Fountains" and the time frame all of the projects will be completed?

Hi there!

The Fountains at Town Center will be located in the corners of Military Trail and Commercial Blvd. It is arguably the most valuable redevelopment parcel left in the City of Boca Raton. It is surronded by Class "A" Office, Retail, Restaurant, Bank and Mall properties that are institutionally owned and are essentially fully occupied. The subject has the most expansive zoning use anywhere in the City of Boca Raton. Roadways including Military Trail, Town Center Road and other arterial roads carry some of the highest traffic counts in Palm Beach County. Take a look at the site aerial map below.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/center_realty/AERIAL-FOUNTAINSFINAL.jpg

Hi there!

The Fountains at Town Center will be located in the corners of Military Trail and Commercial Blvd. It is arguably the most valuable redevelopment parcel left in the City of Boca Raton. It is surronded by Class "A" Office, Retail, Restaurant, Bank and Mall properties that are institutionally owned and are essentially fully occupied. The subject has the most expansive zoning use anywhere in the City of Boca Raton. Roadways including Military Trail, Town Center Road and other arterial roads carry some of the highest traffic counts in Palm Beach County. Take a look at the site aerial map below.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/center_realty/AERIAL-FOUNTAINSFINAL.jpg

Any Rendering's ... Any Mention of what would be included in this development... Would their be a hotel or an office tower included such as the Boca Center Towers.

Ideally what would be included in this development is a boutique hotel, some retail, residential condos, restaurants, car wash, banks. The company expects to close on the loan purchase by September 2011. More information will be available soon.

Thank you... Keep us updated !

I'm going to say this as politely as I find it humanly possible.

@South Florida: Your posts annoy the bejesus out of me!!!


For pete sakes, we largely depend on the internet for answers to a lot of the little questions that pop in our mind about development (*except for the other instances when it becomes clear that information will be shared a a P&Z/city council meeting and may not be available on the web). Please, for the love of whatever you believe in, cool it with the non-sensical over-posting. If someone shares a news article, read it. If you don't get all the info you want from it, google the info. If you still want more information, I recommend doing as the end of most articles say and contacting the author/source for more information (*Case in point, the end of the article I shared said to contact "Glenn E. GromannGGromann@Center-Realty.com561.289.7440" for more information on this project).

You lucked out that somebody from center_realty was generous enough to share info on here about this project, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take a chill pill on the over-posting.

(And you other Miami-frequenters reading this better speak up because I have a feeling I'm not alone here. I feel like I'm the only user vocal enough to keep litter off our forums).

I'm going to say this as politely as I find it humanly possible.

@South Florida: Your posts annoy the bejesus out of me!!!


For pete sakes, we largely depend on the internet for answers to a lot of the little questions that pop in our mind about development (*except for the other instances when it becomes clear that information will be shared a a P&Z/city council meeting and may not be available on the web). Please, for the love of whatever you believe in, cool it with the non-sensical over-posting. If someone shares a news article, read it. If you don't get all the info you want from it, google the info. If you still want more information, I recommend doing as the end of most articles say and contacting the author/source for more information (*Case in point, the end of the article I shared said to contact "Glenn E. GromannGGromann@Center-Realty.com561.289.7440" for more information on this project).

You lucked out that somebody from center_realty was generous enough to share info on here about this project, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take a chill pill on the over-posting.

(And you other Miami-frequenters reading this better speak up because I have a feeling I'm not alone here. I feel like I'm the only user vocal enough to keep litter off our forums).

Agreed ... will now going into hiding.... Thanks for your Kind words....

If I'm placing this correctly, this new development would wipe out the only bowling alley in the entire city (STRIKES @ Boca).

I hope I'm wrong about this because Boca's only got a handful of entertainment venues as it is and I imagine residents are going to get up in arms when their only bowling alley gets closed down to build more "high-end retail" and "boutique hotels."

EDIT: I'm right. Found this quote in the Sun Sentinel, "More than likely the Bally's and bowling alley would be demolished," he said. The bowling alley is Strikes at Boca. The Bally Total Fitness location is closed. "The only existing tenant is the bowling alley. They have a lease and we're not in any rush and that will be the last thing to go," he said."

Wow. That sucks.

Well FAU is pretty awesome right now freshman year! I will be passing by this land every week when going to FAU so I'll keep you updated on the progress of the park on Spanish River blvd.
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/8810/1014114.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/36/1014114.jpg/)

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9349/1014115.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/6/1014115.jpg/)

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/6241/1014116.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/834/1014116.jpg/)

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/456/1014117.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/508/1014117.jpg/)

Back on Campus for school, the stadium grew! :lol:

It looks almost complete, I will have to take pictures w/ my cellphone thursday!

Yes Andy, it's almost complete and it looks fabulous!Here are some photos I took today in the new engineering building 5th floor. :D
Looking S.E.
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/9105/1014142.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/1014142.jpg/)
Looking S.W.
http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/8325/1014146.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/844/1014146.jpg/)
Looking N.W.
http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/870/1014153.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/192/1014153.jpg/)
West to East View
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2507/1014151.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/37/1014151.jpg/)
East to West View
http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/7011/1014141c.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/827/1014141c.jpg/)

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/319/img20110825195215.jpg

Testing out the lights today! :banana:

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/8131/img20110901174518.jpg

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/8350/capturewrg.png
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/4596/26859604.png

Nothing fancy, but I like it. I think it'll serve FAU very well in the years to come.

Years ago, the Marlins actually investigated doing a joint stadium project there---pretty much the same size as the new ballpark. They liked the site (easy access and lots of disposable income in close proximity) but there was no shot at any public financing.

Howard Schnellenberger is by FAR the main reason this got done. For those that don't know his role in South Florida sports history, Google his name sometime. He was on the sidelines as an assistant when the Dolphins won Super Bowls...as Head Coach when the Hurricanes won their first title...and literally took FAU from scratch to this.

This will be his last year coaching. Hopefully those kids will play their butts off for him and I'm sure the stadium will display his name prominently forever.

Job well done, coach.

http://i.usatoday.net/communitymanager/_photos/campus-rivalry/2011/08/11/schnellenbergerx-large.jpg

I remember those Marlins talks. Never had a chance at happening. I'm just happy that both the Marlins and Owls finally have their own homes. Much of my fandom the past decade was wrapped up in those two projects!

By the way, FAU's stadium is actually pretty "fancy". I recently toured the place and pictures and the now broken webcam don't do it justice. The place is really impressive. It has 6000 premium seats, 24 suites, and 26 loges. It has 2 separate club areas (priority and premium). Every seat has a chairback (a rarity in college stadiums) and the scoreboard is twice the size of those at FIU and UCF. The stadium will two team stores (one for everyone and one in the priority club section. They will also have a Subway sub shop location under the student endzone that will be open everyday. It took FAU a years to get this thing built, but they did it right. It's awesome.

By the way, when is the first game to be played in the stadium?

By the way, when is the first game to be played in the stadium?

October 15th.

Rick from FAUOwlsnest.com posted a new set of pictures from this weekend:

http://fauowlsnest.com/board/index.php?topic=10956.280

Here are some of the best shots:

Here is the southeast entrance gate:
http://www.fauowlsnest.com/itb/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/stadiumconstruction09-04-11iisoutheastcorner.jpg

Here are the home sideline and suite tower. All the seats are in and I love the blue padding around the field:
http://www.fauowlsnest.com/itb/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/stadiumconstruction09-04-11vipressbox.jpg

Here is the south endzone and auxiliary scoreboard:
http://www.fauowlsnest.com/itb/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/stadiumconstruction09-04-11xviisouthstands.jpg

The completed east sideline complete with one of the stadium's signatures, the giant FAU logo in the seats:
http://www.fauowlsnest.com/itb/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/stadiumconstruction09-04-11xiieaststands.jpg

The student endzone and the scoreboard:
http://www.fauowlsnest.com/itb/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/stadiumconstruction09-04-11xvisouthstands.jpg

The FAU lockerroom taking shape:
http://www.fauowlsnest.com/itb/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/stadiumconstruction09-04-11ixlockerroom.jpg

Saw that entrance gate today. Also, that red block of seats under the suites, does it signify anything or is it just a design aesthetic?

This is just a sample of how many people were walking through here, don't even get me started on the Breezeway at FAU!And sorry I uploaded this late, just never had time.
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5291/wooooww.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/163/wooooww.jpg/)

This is just a sample of how many people were walking through here

I think you may have unloaded the wrong photo - that doesn't seem to be very many people!

Last Tuesday I saw they were testing out the jumbotron and speaker system! :banana:

Does anyone know where I can get a ticket for the opening game?

Last Tuesday I saw they were testing out the jumbotron and speaker system! :banana:

Does anyone know where I can get a ticket for the opening game?

Call the FAU ticket office. The number is 1-866-FAU-OWLS.

This is just a sample of how many people were walking through here, don't even get me started on the Breezeway at FAU!And sorry I uploaded this late, just never had time.
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5291/wooooww.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/163/wooooww.jpg/)

WOW! Look at all the congestion! You're lucky if you can even make it to your classes on time! Judging by your photo, FAU's campus scene has even changed leaps and bounds in just a few year's time.






















:bash:

I still think the Gators have the nicest college stadium Florida.

Although I obviously love talking about FAU, and the stadium is absolutely beautiful, I did want to mention that the Letters of Interest are starting to trickle in for the Wildflower property. One proposal is for BrickTop's restaurant and another one (which I really like) is Guanabanas (http://www.guanabanas.com/), which wants to build a restaurant/resort property very similar to what they've already done in Jupiter. It would offer not only food but live entertainment and watersports rentals, which is really what a lot of citizen input have requested - more nightlife and connection to the water.

However, people seem unconvinced that a stand-alone restaurant would succeed. Another phenomenal idea proposed is to turn it into a designated Food Truck Park for the weekends. Likely they'd develop some sort of adjacent park with "artsy" elements. This seems like a pretty unique idea to me - I've heard of food truck events in South Florida but not designated Food Truck parks - but I'm not sure how much longer the Food Truck wave will stay in vogue, I wouldn't be surprised if people threw a lot of trash on the ground afterwards (like at a carnival or concert) causing Boca citizens to complain, and I also wonder if that means the park will be underwhelming Mon-Thurs.

Since the citizens are looking for consistent nightlife and a waterfront destination, it seems obvious that the City should most consider the Guananbanas concept. What do you guys think?

^^LOVE the Guanabanas in Jupiter. It's a regular stop when visiting my mom's place near there. It's always busy. The food is nothing remarkable, but it's much more about the atmosphere and drinks.

The money they spent on landscaping alone is impressive. And very well done.

Where is the wildflower property?

would you say this stadium is about the same size as FIU's?

would you say this stadium is about the same size as FIU's?

It's bigger. FAU's has 30,000 seats. FIU's is currently about 18,500, although they are planning to finish their open sideline after the season, which will bring them to somewheer around 25K or so.

Granted, I'm not impartial on this topic, but having been to both places (having seen a game at FIU and having toured FAU's new stadium), FAU's stadium blows theirs away. When FIU finishes theirs off, it will be better, but FAU's design is far more unique. FIU built a mini-Sun LIfe Stadium. It's perfectly functional, but lacks much personality.

It's bigger. FAU's has 30,000 seats. FIU's is currently about 18,500, although they are planning to finish their open sideline after the season, which will bring them to somewheer around 25K or so.

Granted, I'm not impartial on this topic, but having been to both places (having seen a game at FIU and having toured FAU's new stadium), FAU's stadium blows theirs away. When FIU finishes theirs off, it will be better, but FAU's design is far more unique. FIU built a mini-Sun LIfe Stadium. It's perfectly functional, but lacks much personality.
dont get ahead of yourself, they built a "mini sunlife stadium" is a little much:nuts:

I think he meant the shape of the stadium.

I think he meant the shape of the stadium.

That is exactly what I meant.

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/florida/miami_fiu1.jpg

Shape-wise, once they fill in the sideline, will be similar to Sun Life. It's a functional facility, just not very physically attractive.

who's filling the sidelines first FIU or FAU?
&
who has better football attendance?
&
are they in the same division?

......................just random questions, id really like to see them play each other!

FIU and FAU are both in the Sun Belt Conference (worst in college football) so they play eachother every year.
FIU is expected to go undefeated this season while FAU has the worst ranked offense in the country. I have no idea how FAU does with attendance, but it can't be good right now. The new stadium might help next year, but last night FIU had record attendance in their win against UCF.

I think you may have unloaded the wrong photo - that doesn't seem to be very many people!

Again, I said it was a SAMPLE of the amount of people walking here. Also, parking at FAU is horrible!Apparently FAU says they are trying to keep up with the demand this year because the number applicants this year admitted doubled versus last year. Well they are doing a very bad job at it because they put signs on the grass saying "No Parking on Grass." Like really come on, you don't even have enough parking spaces to accomodate the number of students going to FAU. It takes at least 30 minutes sometimes to find a parking spot or you have to stalk someone to their car.

who's filling the sidelines first FIU or FAU?
&
who has better football attendance?
&
are they in the same division?

......................just random questions, id really like to see them play each other!


Here's some background info:

FAU is opening a brand new stadium in October. FIU is going to be filling in their sideline (see the unfinished sideline in the picture I posted above).

Attendance for both has been very similar. Both have struggled to draw for a variety of reasons. FAU has struggled to draw fans because they played it's entire existance off campus either at Sun Life(40 miles from Boca) or Lockhart (a terrible high school stadium 20 miles from campus). On the field, we had been pretty good (winning Bowl games in 2007 and 2008), but have kind of bottomed out waiting for the stadium to open. The team has had two straight losing seasons and has been awful so far this year.

FIU has always had an on campus stadium, but they struggled to score because they have been among the worst teams in all of FBS football. This year, though, they are very good, and are going to contend for the Sun Belt title.

We do play eachother every year in a series that FAU has dominated. We are 8-1 against them all time.

Again, I said it was a SAMPLE of the amount of people walking here.

Yeah but come on man, there are like 20 total people in that photo. It's not an accurate representation at all. On a given weekday afternoon, you can barely walk through the Breezeway because it's so crowded. It's even worse now, I'd bet.

Also, parking at FAU is horrible! Apparently FAU says they are trying to keep up with the demand this year because the number applicants this year admitted doubled versus last year. Well they are doing a very bad job at it because they put signs on the grass saying "No Parking on Grass." Like really come on, you don't even have enough parking spaces to accomodate the number of students going to FAU. It takes at least 30 minutes sometimes to find a parking spot or you have to stalk someone to their car.

That's college, man. Tell your friends.

This is not just FAU. At all. 95+% of the universities in the country don't have enough parking. FAU, FIU, UCF, FSU, all of them... at schools like UF, students have to ride buses or bike to campus because there is NOWHERE to park. Literally. You think you have it bad? For a university with 45k+ students, UF may have 5-10k parking spaces. FAU has ~30K students and ~10K parking spaces.

Furthermore, FAU just opened several new parking lots - one over by the movie theater and one over by nursing (grass lot). I know you drove around campus several times before attending but you may not have realized that they actually did build new lots to help accommodate growth (and they have more on the way). Give credit where it's due. It's not cheap to build parking. It's like $10 million to build a parking garage. Street parking is something like $1500 per parking space too. Do the math.

Not trying to be a douche here - you just hear this all the time from students who think a university with 30K students should have 30K parking spaces and oh by the way, they should all be right next to any given lecture hall so you can show up 3 minutes before class starts and then don't have to walk more than 100 feet to the classroom. It doesn't work like that. Maybe at small liberal arts colleges with 5K people, but not at a university the size of FAU.

And things will continue to change at FAU.

What you're going to see over the next decade is the development of more student housing projects to the east along 20th and more people riding bikes and shuttles in. FAU will build a few parking garages but they'll also throw up new academic buildings on top of existing parking lots. They don't have a lot of land comparatively so they have to make due with what they have.

^^Well said, I am speechless, thank you sir.:) Soon I will get a pic of the breezeway.

And here is the Breezeway around 10am which is not the busiest time. This was taken with my phone so sorry that I cannot make it bigger.
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/4172/breezeway.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/12/breezeway.png/)

Marci Shatzman mshatzman@tribune.com

September 21, 2011
It may surprise longtime Boca Ratonians to learn that the college built on the grounds of the old World War II Boca Raton Army Air Field is turning 50.

"On a bright October day in 1964, Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th president of the United States, squinted into the South Florida sun and, in his famous Texas drawl, declared Florida Atlantic University officially open," reads the school's history.

President Mary Jane "M.J." Saunders delivered the State of the University address a few weeks ago, and talked to Forum about all FAU's firsts this year, and plans for the immediate future.

Q: You have a record incoming freshman class of 3,300, up 21 percent from last year. Your enrollment is now 29,400, the largest ever. The first class of medical students just received their white coats. On Oct. 15 you will open a 30,000-seat football stadium, and you just built new dorms. What's going on here?

A: I think it was part of the planning to have a traditional campus this institution didn't have before. And I love the fact that we bookended the stadium with the medical school; it's the highest academics and something that appeals to undergraduates and our community. Our $300 million in construction projects is keeping a lot of people employed.

Q: I loved the line about in your speech: "I look at our university and I see the face of America." Why do you think FAU, in a southern state, was so open to minorities from the beginning, and did that reputation help you recruit minorities all along?

A: It started with that philosophy. LBJ was fostering education and the Civil Rights Movement. We have a book coming out for our 50th anniversary and the forward is by Luci Baines Johnson and [she says] how proud her father would be.

Q: You talked about the financial challenges after losing $24 million in your budget and reluctantly having to raise tuition by 15 percent. Yet you just announced your largest freshman class and a record 24,600 applications, up by 88 percent over last year, plus 8,000 transfer applications. It can't just be the weather.

A: When you come on campus, there's an air of excitement. We have a talented faculty. We have started a lot of student services and we have 256 student organizations. It's a great place to go to school and you can't beat the weather.

Q: Are most of your students on financial aid?

A: We distribute about $120 million each year from Bright Futures to Pell grants to our own scholarships. The end result is that college in Florida is the most affordable in the country.

Q: Is part of your growth that students stay at FAU for graduate school?

A: We estimate 80 percent of our graduates stay in a 50-mile radius. You almost always see an uptick in graduate school applications in a down economy.

Q: You just hired more than 50 new faculty members recruited from prestigious universities. I interviewed a Princeton student who's in your medical school class. Does that make you feel like FAU is now on the map academically?

A: Yes. You always want faculty well known in that discipline, so that is a mark of a successful university. In graduate programs you want students from outstanding institutions.

Q: Going forward, you want to focus on marine and coastal issues, biotechnology and you mentioned contemporary societal challenges. What is that?

A: When you're a transplant to Florida, you see it in a different way. You see healthy aging. You see the immediate effect of immigration. You see us as a bell weather state politically. It gives us an opportunity to have faculty studying those issues and informing our local community and the nation. Things are happening here that may happen sooner or later in the rest of the country.

Q: What are your plans for parking and how will you encourage your students to take Tri-Rail or commute to campus on bikes?

A: We have seen a lot more bike traffic and we need more bike racks. The next building I want to build is a garage and retail next to the stadium. This is the No. 1 question for presidents.
Copyright © 2011, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
http://http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-brf-saunders-0921-20110921,0,2191225.story
Well I guess that answers my question about parking earlier :)

First game at the new stadium is Saturday. Here are some pictures from tonight's first practice in the new place. The pictures are from www.fauowlsnest.com:

Just inside the entrance gate.
http://www.fauowlsnest.com/itb/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stadium-construction-10-11-11palms.jpg

View of the field. The stadium is beach themed...Love the use of sand in the landscaping.
http://www.fauowlsnest.com/itb/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stadium-construction-10-11-11playerssouthwest.jpg

Home sideline and suite/press tower.
http://www.fauowlsnest.com/itb/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stadium-construction-10-11-11tower.jpg

President's Suite.
http://www.fauowlsnest.com/itb/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stadium-construction-10-11-11presidentssuitei.jpg

Premier Club.
http://www.fauowlsnest.com/itb/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stadium-construction-10-11-112ndpremierclub.jpg

The open-air Priority Club.
http://www.fauowlsnest.com/itb/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stadium-construction-10-11-11priorityclub.jpg

The video board.
http://www.fauowlsnest.com/itb/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stadium-construction-10-11-11scoreboard.jpg

Field looks pretty awesome too! Opening game's almost sold out!

http://owlaccess.smugmug.com/Other/FAU-Stadium-Shots-Oct13/i-b3jSPB4/0/XL/FieldSidelineWideFull-XL.jpg

Where can I buy tickets?

Where can I buy tickets?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=FAU+Football+Tickets

That's a beautiful stadium. Is the field grass or turf? It looks too good to be real grass but it makes no sense to use turf in South Florida where the grass is always green.

That's a beautiful stadium. Is the field grass or turf? It looks too good to be real grass but it makes no sense to use turf in South Florida where the grass is always green.

It's natural grass and it's the only natural grass surface in the Sun Belt Conference.

That's a beautiful stadium.

One of the most beautiful in Florida, definitely! And leaps and bounds better than FIU's stadium! GO OWLS!

do you have any pictures from opening game id like to see a sold out crowd!

do you have any pictures from opening game id like to see a sold out crowd!

Something like this is the best I could find:
http://www.fauowlaccess.com/images/stadium-special.jpg

Picture from owlaccess.com, obviously.

This is the best picture I could find of a "sold out" game and the last picture before my camera went out of battery -_-
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/8694/owlsb.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/6/owlsb.jpg/)
Other news, the Levitz Plaza is sprucing up at last and the old building is already gone when I went by this week:
Alliance Residential to break ground in Boca Raton

384 residential units set for Levitz Plaza site

November 9--Alliance Residential Company hosted a groundbreaking ceremony at its 17-acre parcel of land located at 7801 North Federal Highway in Boca Raton on Wednesday morning. The company plans to build a $62 million luxury apartment community consisting of 384 residential rental units called Broadstone at North Boca Village.

Alliance closed the sale on the long-vacant Levitz Plaza property on September 29, and anticipates initial lease-up to begin in the third quarter of 2012, with final completion expected in March 2013. Upon completion, Broadstone at North Boca Village will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom units averaging 997 square feet, along with optional attached and detached garages.

Alliance considers Broadstone at North Boca Village to be at a highly desirable location between downtown Boca Raton and downtown Delray Beach. Situated along the North Federal Highway corridor less than a mile from the Atlantic Ocean.

“This is an exciting, new infill luxury residential community that will be the centerpiece for the redevelopment of the North Federal Highway corridor, which links the cities of Boca Raton and Delray Beach,” says Michael Ging, Managing Director of Development for Florida. “Our future residents will enjoy the latest in amenities and features that define luxury living while being within close proximity to Boca Raton’s beautiful beaches and downtown Mizner Park, as well as the exciting nightlife on Atlantic Avenue in downtown Delray Beach.”
http://www.southfloridasunrise.com/article/alliance-residential-break-ground-boca-raton

November 9--Alliance Residential Company hosted a groundbreaking ceremony at its 17-acre parcel of land located at 7801 North Federal Highway in Boca Raton on Wednesday morning. The company plans to build a $62 million luxury apartment community consisting of 384 residential rental units called Broadstone at North Boca Village.


Awesome - it's about time someone built some luxury buildings in Boca Raton.

Awesome - it's about time someone built some luxury buildings in Boca Raton.


:lol:


HAHAHAHAHA!!!

:lol::lol::lol:


Seriously, I'm LMAO right now!!! I just returned to Boca for the week/Thanksgiving holiday, and was discussing the "luxury" market with some people... mainly that there is an over-abundance of this kind of development in the city. Nevertheless, as long as demand is being met and these units get filled, we can't complain.



On a separate note, I've been dying to see the new FAU Stadium since I've been home. So I'm planning on going to their home game this Saturday against UAB. If any of you forum members want to meet up and attend the game (I doubt we'll have any trouble finding tickets), shoot me a message.

The stadium looks pretty awful in person, especially from the outside, there's no way that thing cost $70 million dollars like they said it did. Doesn't surprise me though, that goddamn school has taken so much money from me.

The stadium looks pretty awful in person, especially from the outside, there's no way that thing cost $70 million dollars like they said it did. Doesn't surprise me though, that goddamn school has taken so much money from me.

If you don't like the school, you are free to go find one that you like better.

As for the stadium, I have no idea what you are talking about, but it is beautiful.

The stadium looks pretty awful in person, especially from the outside, there's no way that thing cost $70 million dollars like they said it did.

You're absolutely out of your mind.

The stadium is fantastic. Too bad the team is having its worst season ever. But next year we'll have a new coach and the stadium will fill up again like it did on October 15th (what an amazing day that was!)

:lol:
I just returned to Boca for the week/Thanksgiving holiday, and was discussing the "luxury" market with some people... mainly that there is an over-abundance of this kind of development in the city. Nevertheless, as long as demand is being met and these units get filled, we can't complain.

I seriously doubt they're being filled, especially since so many neighboring cities are building upscale developments as well. Offhand I'm thinking of downtown Delray Beach, Boynton Beach (Renaissance Commons) and... if you'll let me stretch "neighboring" this far... Wellington.

Downtown Delray Beach in particular has really taken off. I lived in that area for over a decade and it was never really that big of a deal until the last few years. Not sure what they did to bring that South Beach flair north and attract businesses there but I know Boca is interested in replicating that success.

The problem is that Boca is still burdened by its stinginess - the downtown is dead, so instead of going out to seek "night life businesses" they... built a promenade? They hired a marketing firm to lie to people and say, "Downtown Boca - It's Happening!" while at the same time won't let restaurants have sandwich signs "for aesthetic reasons" or allow clubs like SPIN to open past 2 am (actually, check that... not sure what the decision was on that)

The upside to all of this is that it paves the way for a new development culture to come to Boca Raton: "college town." The City Council is already fielding requests for student housing and they're looking to designate the industrial area east of campus (on 20th) for university-centric development. Very excited about what will come of that.

On a separate note, I've been dying to see the new FAU Stadium since I've been home. So I'm planning on going to their home game this Saturday against UAB. If any of you forum members want to meet up and attend the game (I doubt we'll have any trouble finding tickets), shoot me a message.

I can't make it, unfortunately. But good luck and enjoy! Look out for all the "little things" they worked into the design and stop by the open-air bar area on the west side. It's supposed to be for people with premium seats only but with thinning crowds you should be able to get in there no problem. I loved that space, just a very inspiring design decision.

Oh, and you might want to check out the new Owlsley statue by the Rec Center. One of two bronze statues that went up on the campus in the span of a month!




On a separate note:
does anybody know what the zoning/ownership situation is for those two narrow plots of land south of Glades Road? I'm talking about the land along the canal east of University Commons to FAU/NW 10th (and then that same narrow strip on the east side of NW 10th). Basically it's right across from FAU. Does the university own that, is it public land, is it even able to be developed? Could student housing or an FAU shopping plaza be built there? Impossible? Ungettable? Not enough space?

Your thoughts.

On a separate note:
does anybody know what the zoning/ownership situation is for those two narrow plots of land south of Glades Road? I'm talking about the land along the canal east of University Commons to FAU/NW 10th (and then that same narrow strip on the east side of NW 10th). Basically it's right across from FAU. Does the university own that, is it public land, is it even able to be developed? Could student housing or an FAU shopping plaza be built there? Impossible? Ungettable? Not enough space?

Your thoughts.

It looks as if a semi-main power line runs through the property. I don't think it could be buried. Student housing may be too tall, and retail may be to narrow to have that plus parking.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/major-mixed-use-project-in-works-for-boca-2023503.html

Major mixed-use project in works for Boca

By ALEXANDRA CLOUGH
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Post a Comment E-mail Print Share Larger Type
A major apartment project in the works for the heart of downtown Boca Raton could finally turn the sleepy district into a center as lively as downtown Delray Beach or West Palm Beach.

Archstone, one of the nation's leading apartment operators, is poised to buy 5.8 acres in downtown Boca Raton along Palmetto Park Road, east of Federal Highway. The land consists of vacant property, plus some partly occupied storefronts.

Plans are to build 390 units in a mix of rental townhouses and apartments, in three large buildings dubbed Archstone Palmetto Park. The plans include towers of up to nine stories, as well as about 15,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor, according to plans filed with Boca Raton.

The land runs from Northeast Third Avenue to east of Northeast Fourth Avenue, and north to Boca Raton Road. It used to be owned by land baron Greg Talbott, who amassed the property over many years with grand plans for a mixed-use project of condos, offices and shops called Palmetto Promenade.

The development would have helped link Mizner Park on the north side of Palmetto Park Road and Royal Palm Place to the south. But Talbott's plans were dashed by the recession, and last year he lost the land and buildings to lender Fifth Third Bank, which has a $29 million loan on the property. The property is to be sold early next year to Archstone.

The project could finally create the downtown pedestrian traffic that city planners long have sought.

"This is a big deal for Boca Raton, a nice shot in the arm," said Peter Reed, a principal with Commercial Florida Realty Services in Boca Raton. "It's a good location, close to the beach, with a lot of built-in amenities."

An Archstone representative could not be reached for comment, but people familiar with Archstone's plans say construction could start as early as June, with completion in about a year. All three buildings will be built at the same time.

Archstone won the bid for the coveted downtown land at a time when developers are prowling South Florida for apartment sites. The belief is that the prolonged economic downturn has led many people, including young professionals, to conclude that home ownership is risky and expensive.

In addition, many who lost homes in foreclosure now have no choice but to rent.

As a result, the rental market is red hot, stoking concerns by some observers that apartments could be the next real estate bubble. Indeed, the 248-unit Heritage apartments in downtown Boca Raton (formerly the Eden condo) just sold to a pension fund for a whopping $67 million, according to Palm Beach County property records. The deal was all cash.

Reed said Archstone is such a respected player that the Palmetto Park Road project likely will prompt other major developers to take a look in the area. Several other developments already are slated for Boca Raton, including a 384-unit rental apartment that just began construction in the old Levitz Plaza on North Federal Highway. Alliance Residential is the developer of the site, dubbed Broadstone at North Boca Village.

^^ Dunno about you but I enjoy my happy hours in Dtwn WPB on Thursdays. That downtown has a lot of pedestrian traffic all day long. I can see you havent been there much lately ;) Lunch time is busy always...

Does anybody know what's being built a little bit south of the Tri-Rail Sta. I see a lot of movement while riding the train and adding more offices/apartments/shops will def make this station the busiest one day--80% of the train gets off there...:nuts:

^^ Dunno about you but I enjoy my happy hours in Dtwn WPB on Thursdays. That downtown has a lot of pedestrian traffic all day long. I can see you havent been there much lately ;) Lunch time is busy always...

Does anybody know what's being built a little bit south of the Tri-Rail Sta. I see a lot of movement while riding the train and adding more offices/apartments/shops will def make this station the busiest one day--80% of the train gets off there...:nuts:

Yeah, there's a lot in the way of transit oriented development taking place there... more so office spaces and retail than residential at the moment. But in time, I wouldn't be surprised if affordable apartment towers for area college students and young professionals popped up around there. I'm pretty confident that's what the area's zoned/approved for.

I know the shiny blue building on Congress (S of Yamato and across from the LA Fitness) is going to have an identical twin as soon as demand is great enough.

An update:
FAU's going to build a new 600-bed freshmen dorm to open in 2013. That will put the total housing population, now at ~3,600, up to ~4,200. FAU will also eventually construct (2-3 years afterward) the second phase of the Innovation Village apartments (1,200 beds) to bring total on-campus population to 5,600. That's not even counting off-campus developments like Casa Del Rio, Addison Park and the near-future University Park project that's going to be built along 20th Street/Dixie Highway. Thus it's entirely conceivable that within a decade (maybe sooner) FAU would have 8,000 to 10,000 students living on or within walking distance of the Boca Raton campus.

FAU will also be opening up the Innovation Village parking garages for 1,000 cars in 2013. As you may know, the first level of the parking garages are intended for retail/dining/student services. Not sure all of what will be in there, since I've heard everything from restaurants to pharmacy to bowling alley to bookstore, but it may appeal to the Boca community as well. It certainly will enhance the Saturday gameday experience for football fans... that is, when Pelini gets this program turned around and the city of Boca can be proud of their team again.

Finally, this link (http://upressonline.com/2011/11/fraternity-sorority-life-say-they%E2%80%99re-closer-than-ever-to-getting-housing/) may interest you, as FAU believes it is "closer than ever" to building Greek Housing. Apparently the plan is to mimic Auburn's Greek Village model that combines Greek Housing into a single large complex instead of multiple McMansions. This doesn't give a date but I saw on another forum a target date of Fall 2014, meaning they would start construction in 2013.

It looks as if a semi-main power line runs through the property. I don't think it could be buried. Student housing may be too tall, and retail may be to narrow to have that plus parking.

Interesting. DShoot, would you agree with this?

When I use to volunteer for Boca's Development Services office years ago, I remember somebody came in asking about those two plots of land. They were interested in putting retail along Glades Rd. and especially loved that intersection. As best as I recall, there's a lot of ROW owned by many different parties that complicates any development prospects there in the near future. At least this was what I remember the situation being.

When I use to volunteer for Boca's Development Services office years ago, I remember somebody came in asking about those two plots of land. They were interested in putting retail along Glades Rd. and especially loved that intersection. As best as I recall, there's a lot of ROW owned by many different parties that complicates any development prospects there in the near future. At least this was what I remember the situation being.

ROW stands for...? Right of something?

I was under the impression that FAU owned that land as part of the deal that gave them the University Commons land. That's why I thought there had been no development there - because FAU had to do it themselves and they weren't.

ROW ==> Right of way

Spanish River Athletic Fields and Recreation Complex on Fast Track (http://www.southfloridasunrise.com/article/spanish-river-athletic-fields-and-recreation-complex-fast-track)

http://www.kaufmanlynn.com/img/pj/government-municipal/spanish-river-athletic-park/2.jpg

Three more pictures here (http://www.kaufmanlynn.com/projects/government-municipal/spanish-river-athletic-park).

Didn't this used to be called "Countess de Hoernle Park?" Maybe things have changed. I like "Spanish River Sports Complex" much better anyway.

I wrote the Director of Recreation Services for the City back when this was still in the design and asked if he'd consider a disc golf course. He told me the budget only covered the badly-needed soccer and baseball fields and I should take the request to FAU... but FAU told me they don't have room for a disc golf course.

In about a decade I'll be making enough to donate the $20K-$25K to put in a FAU-themed disc golf course there. Hope they're willing to accept my donation at that point.

This sounds exciting:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-boca-raton-new-tri-rail-station-20120104,0,1907065.story
Second Tri-Rail station in Boca Raton proposed
Site at Glades Road and Military Trail had been considered in the past

By Angel Streeter, Sun Sentinel
6:23 p.m. EST, January 4, 2012

A second Tri-Rail stop in Boca Raton may be on the horizon.

The Florida Department of Transportation has proposed adding a second Tri-Rail station in Boca Raton, reviving plans that had been dormant for some time.

In its short-term transportation plan that still must be approved by the State Legislature, the department sets aside $1.5 million in 2017 for a new Tri-Rail station near Glades Road and Military Trail.

That would put the station in close proximity to the Town Center Mall, Florida Atlantic University and a number of large office parks.

"A train station there would be great," said Susan Haynie, Boca Raton's vice mayor.

A second Tri-Rail station — the current one is at Yamato Road — in Boca Raton has been discussed for years. In the early 2000s as new Tri-Rail stations were being built, debate circled around locations at Yamato, Congress Avenue and Military Trail in Boca Raton.

The Military Trail site had once been slated for a replica of a historic CSX railroad depot. But the proposed 12-acre site never took off as Tri-Rail officials were concerned that there was no direct access from Military Trail to Glades, which crosses Military on an overpass.

Now, state transportation planners said a Tri-Rail station near Glades Road would allow thousands of employees to be within walking distance of Tri-Rail.

And they are confident the station would get a lot of use. The Yamato station is the third busiest in the Tri-Rail system — after the Metrorail Transfer Station in Hialeah and the West Palm Beach station.

That's because Boca Raton has a number of large employment centers. To accommodate many of them, shuttles run regularly between the Yamato station and Town Center Mall.

"It's a pretty popular route," said Bonnie Arnold, Tri-Rail spokeswoman.

Transportation planners also believe the proposed station would complement express bus service being considered now in a study on Glades Road.

As part of the study on Glades Road, FDOT is considering express toll lanes on the road and interchanges to move traffic more quickly and smoothly through the busy corridor. But that hasn't gone over well with residents.

"No one wants that," Haynie said. Another option to reduce traffic is to provide more transit.

That's why the state has to look at the Military Trail site again for a second Tri-Rail station in Boca Raton, she said.

Tri-Rail used to own land at the proposed station site, but sold it in 2004. However, the current owners have expressed interest in having a station built on the property.

Early talks have begun between South Florida Regional Transportation Authority planners and nearby property owners about potential partnerships for the new station.

astreeter@tribune.com or 561-243-6537

I Second That Notion. I believe the station will be going up where the "King's" Market used to be. I think...

Thus it's entirely conceivable that within a decade (maybe sooner) FAU would have 8,000 to 10,000 students living on or within walking distance of the Boca Raton campus.


That would be as much as UF, which currently has 9,400 students living on campus. However, I suspect that if you included students who lived near campus that number would double or triple.

Over the next 10 years, what would you like to see happen to the City of Boca Raton?

More skyscrapers?
More parks?
More tourism?
More public transportation?

I wanna see light rail on Glades Road with grade separations at all the major intersections. I want to see this long overdue Tri-Rail station open for business at Glades/Military, where a new "urban" intermodal station can open that serves the immediate vicinity (Town Center, Butts Rd. offices, Boca Center, FAU, University Commons, etc.). If you look a few pages back in the post you can see a drawing I made calling for this EXACT same type of development.

Boca's got plenty of parks, just not enough people to use them. More needs to be done to lure young people to the city and to keep them staying here. Boca's already at a competitive advantage among most other cities in South Florida because we already have the colleges and universities that enroll about 40,000 students; what the city NEEDS is higher-density, affordable housing for these young people to move into that is nearby to the university, Glades Road, downtown Boca, ARVIDA Park of Commerce, or the El Rio bike trail that's so popular.

I'll put together a google map and write more.

^ Are We Talking about the Plot located to the South of Glades Road on Military (formerly a fresh supermarket that went under).

Yes; if you read the article, that's exactly where they're talking about. They've been talking about putting a station there since the 1980's. It only went to Yamato because IBM and Blue Lake folks. wanted it to be closer to their very large workforces.

Thanks for Clarifying. Maybe the Land on which Bally and the Bowling Alley still is can be used for TOD.

One thing, I would like to ask is: when you stated "urban intermodal center" , does this mean the station will look different than your "regular" tri-rail station?

And Btw, pardon my cluelessness, I have never heard of plans of a second station.

I live 3 minutes away from that location, and I would walk to the station.

As Dshoot Said:

I believe DShoot posted an image of his ideas for light rail and intermodal centers.

I found this document (http://www.fau.edu/facilities/uavp/masterplans-folder/bocaraton-mp-folder/Boca-FirstHearingDraftFigures/FIG_11-04_THRU_08h.pdf) on FAU's Master Plan website for the Transportation element. It's an LRTP - Long Range Transportation Plan (up to 2030).

It shows some interesting ideas regarding traffic in and around the university, including an Intermodal Center on campus and bicycle paths along Glades and Yamato.

Over the next 10 years, what would you like to see happen to the City of Boca Raton?


It's a work in progress, but here's a map of what I'd like to see happen to Boca in the next 10 years:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200912762090942381293.0004b5c8fb26ebd745bcc&msa=0

Make sure to zoom in and click the items for better detail.

It's a work in progress, but here's a map of what I'd like to see happen to Boca in the next 10 years:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200912762090942381293.0004b5c8fb26ebd745bcc&msa=0

Make sure to zoom in and click the items for better detail.

WOW - how do I make a map like this? I'd like to show you my vision of the area with a map like this.

In the meantime: Love all these ideas! You may want to slightly amend your map to reflect FAU's plan to straighten Indian River all the way from West University to East University, freeing up land on the south side. Also, FAU is planning to put their Greek Village - to be very similar to Auburn's new Greek Village - near the stadium because they feel Greeks and sports should be together. So you may want to move that Greek Village north of the stadium.

Thanks; glad you like it. It's really easy to make--just time consuming. If you have a gmail account, go to google maps, then click "My Places", and then "Create Map". You can draw lines, shapes, add pictures, and write descriptions on everything.If you wanna message me your email address, I could make you a collaborator on the map.

I didn't know that about the Greek Village, but it makes more sense for it to be next to the athletic facilities. That just means more residence towers along the El Rio trail/canal.

Big news out of Boca: $25 million is largest gift to Boca Raton Regional Hospital

http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_s_palm_beach_county/boca_raton/25-million-is-largest-gift-to-boca-raton-regional-hospital
BOCA RATON, Fla. - A $25-million donation from the co-founder of The Home Depot will create a neuroscience center at Boca Raton Regional Hospital that officials hope will become a national destination for patients with epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and other brain disorders.
The Marcus Neuroscience Institute, set to open in 2014, is expected to create 100 jobs for staff, nurses and doctors, who will work in a new, three-story building with 22 beds, sophisticated equipment and two operating rooms. The center will also host academic research in cooperation with Florida Atlantic University.
The gift is the largest ever to the hospital, topping a $20-million donation in 2005 from Harvey and Phyllis Sandler.
But it's not the largest gift made by Bernie and Billi Marcus, Boca Raton residents whose Marcus Foundation has supported numerous charities in Atlanta, where Home Depot is based, including the Marcus Autism Center, the Marcus Nanotechnology Building at Georgia Tech and the Marcus Trauma Center, part of the Grady Health System. The couple also donated $250 million for the Georgia Aquarium, which opened in 2005.
During a Wednesday news conference, Marcus, 82, said he and his wife have been watching themselves and their friends age and decided they no longer wanted to travel to Atlanta for medical care.
"We have friends with Alzheimer's disease, dear friends," said Marcus, whose net worth is $1.8 billion, according to Forbes. "You see it all around you. The time was right for this 10 years ago."
Marcus said he has been impressed with the evolution of Boca Raton Regional over the past few years, including a residency program with FAU's medical school and cancer care that is becoming a regional mecca.
Marcus showed his sense of humor as he detailed his donation.
"How many of you shop at Home Depot? If any of you shop at the other guy, I put a curse on you," he said. "May your toilet run forever."
Boca Raton hospital officials say the Marcus institute will be unique to Palm Beach and Broward counties for the large concentration of brain specialists in one place, including neurologists, neurosurgeons, "neuro-intensivists," who are trained in critical care, a neuropsychologist and a research director. They expect to recruit 10 to 12 doctors from across the country.
"A lot of people leave South Florida to get care,'' said Dr. Charles Posternack, the hospital's chief medical officer. "There is no other comprehensive neuroscience center where everything is available."
Posternack said the Florida Hospital Neuroscience Institute in Orlando, with 80 physicians who treat the gamut of neurological disorders, provides the closest model in Florida to the Marcus center. Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood also has a neuroscience center, as do the University of Miami's medical school and Jackson Memorial Hospital, which have neurology and neurosurgery units that treat an assortment of brain diseases.
About 50 million Americans have neurological or brain disorders, such as headaches, Parkinson's disease and autism, according to the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. As Baby Boomers age, a growing number, nearly one in two who reach 85, is expected to contract Alzheimer's disease, a progressive dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
"There is a lot of research on neurodegenerative diseases going on now," especially related to traumatic brain injuries, child development, aging and drug addiction, said Richard Hyson, director of the interdisciplinary program in neuroscience at Florida State University. "Everyone's affected by them."
Hospital officials said they will design the 52,000-square-foot building this year and break ground in 2013. Completion is expected in 2014, they said.


Read more: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_s_palm_beach_county/boca_raton/25-million-is-largest-gift-to-boca-raton-regional-hospital#ixzz1jCK8JeXS

You'll probably be able to read about this in the news tomorrow but tonight the City Council approved of the "University Park" 599-bed student housing project at the edge of 20th street and Dixie Highway. It's the same developers as Addison Park. The majority of the Council believes that it will be the catalyst for the redevelopment of 20th Street into a pedestrian college area they called University Avenue.

:cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer:

Thank god there considering this 2nd tri rail station. It is definitely needed. I'll get some picture updates of the whats now called Spanish River Sports Complex because I pass by there everyday to FAU. And Hello everyone, have not been on in a while, so much has happened :)

I'll get some picture updates of the whats now called Spanish River Sports Complex because I pass by there everyday to FAU.

Yes, please.

Is that the official title now? Did they erect a sign out front?

I don't know if that's the official name yet. I'll look more slowly next time to see if I see any sign or name indicating that. I'll keep you up to date with pics on this project.
http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/255/1014717.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/827/1014717.jpg/)
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/7637/1014718.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/716/1014718.jpg/)
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/779/1014720.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/849/1014720.jpg/)
http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/1874/1014721.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/542/1014721.jpg/)

Thanks! It's looking good!

Might be easier next time (if you have the time) to park over by the library and walk over to get the shots. Just a thought.

Here are some renderings of the new student housing complex I mentioned:

http://www.southfloridasunrise.com/sites/default/files/University%20Park%20entrance.jpg

http://www.southfloridasunrise.com/sites/default/files/University%20Park%20perspective%201.jpg

And the report:
http://www.southfloridasunrise.com/article/changes-allow-new-project-go-forward-near-fau

The City Council is looking for RFPs for both a restaurant at the Wildflower site (hopefully Guanabana's wins it) and also for a "recreational attraction" on the site just east of and adjacent to the new Spanish River library.

Could be a great opportunity if they get something cool in there. I think that was formerly the site reserved for the ice rink.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-boca-apartment-growth-downtown-20120407,0,6940813.story

Boca Raton readies for apartment-building binge

By Larry Barszewski, Sun Sentinel
9:33 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2012

Boca Raton—
More than a thousand new apartments are being proposed for downtown, with four projects seeking city approvals in just the last four months.

Proponents say the new projects will add something vital for the downtown's health: year-round residents to support downtown businesses.

Critics fear the city is moving too fast and could end up with a glut of empty or unfinished apartments — a reverse version of the Eden condominiums that sat unfinished for seven years across from City Hall before a new developer bought the project in 2010 and finished it as Heritage rental apartments.

The four downtown projects, combined with the 384-unit Broadstone at North Boca Village apartments under construction in the north end of the city, will add almost 1,600 units in eastern Boca Raton. Competing with the new units will be former condominiums that were converted to rentals when the condo market deteriorated.

The apartment binge is being driven by developers going where the money is, not by what is best for the city, said Ann Witte, a research economist and Townsend Place condominium resident downtown.

"The banks will finance apartment rentals right now. They won't finance office or retail because the market is so saturated," Witte said. "My guess is that the market can absorb somewhere around 800 rental units."

Lewis Goodkin, a real estate analyst and president of the Miami-based Goodkin Consulting Corp., agrees that it's all about the financing.

"What I'm concerned about, like a lot of things, when a market gets hot, it's because investor groups are paying big bucks for rentals," Goodkin said. "I think that there's not enough work being done to determine how large that market is."

But the demand is real and growing, said Charlie Siemon, a development attorney representing several of the apartment developers.

"I think we're catching up for lost time. We're filling an imbalance," Siemon said.

The demand, he said, is coming from a number of sources, including people who went through foreclosures who either don't have the credit or the desire to get back into the ownership market, people who prize their mobility and don't want to be tied down by a mortgage and college students who would prefer a downtown lifestyle.

"If we don't have attractive urban-style rental housing, we're not going to be competitive," said Siemon, who says there's a need for one-bedroom apartments. "Now people are realizing paying for more space than you really need is not a good idea."

Witte said that if the rental market falters, it won't be easy to convert those smaller rental units into more desirable condominiums. But the rental push could be a blessing for downtown, proponents say, because a large portion of South Florida condo dwellers are seasonal residents who wouldn't provide the year-round spark the downtown needs.

"The goal is to sustain a vibrant downtown," said Ruby Childers, the city's downtown manager. "From a marketing perspective, if we have residents downtown to support the activities downtown and the businesses, then it's going to flourish."

The downtown projects that have been proposed are:

•Via Mizner, which will have 350 units on the east side of Federal Highway north of Camino Real;

•Camden Boca Raton, a 261-unit complex just west of Federal Highway between Southeast First and Second Streets;

•Ram, 208 units proposed for the southeast corner of Federal Highway and Palmetto Park Road;

•Archstone, which includes 378 rental apartments and 25 townhouse rentals on the north side of Palmetto Park Road east of Northeast Third Avenue.

The Archstone project, approved by the Community Redevelopment Agency in February, sparked a furor because its three-football-field long apartment structure of up to nine stories will be next to single-family homes.

The density of the housing will create traffic congestion, critics say, and they don't think the project has enough ground-level retail space to get people out of their cars and walking downtown.

Opponents submitted petition signatures last month to hold a referendum to overturn the council's decision to extend downtown development regulations to the Palmetto Park Road site, changes that were needed to allow the project to move forward. That effort was dashed after City Attorney Diana Grub Frieser said state law prohibits initiative petitions that challenge approved development orders.

"Projects of this kind are put together by people and organizations that can walk away after the fact, but it's the surrounding residents that live with it for the rest of their lives," said George O'Rourke, who lives in the Golden Triangle neighborhood next to the Archstone site.

"We can develop a town that is done tastefully with new development, with new vibrancy," O'Rourke said. "It doesn't have to be the highest density. It doesn't have to be gaming the ordinances."

Councilman Anthony Majhess, who voted against Archstone, wants to make sure the city gets the right mix of residential, office and retail in the downtown.

"I'm happy that we have economic activity and what should be affordable options for rentals in the downtown, but I'm concerned we're moving forward without a plan," Majhess said. "I'd be less concerned if the banks were loaning money in all sectors, but they're not. So now rental's the most important thing."

lbarszewski@tribune.com or 561-243-6624

^ I'm Asumming that the Archstone Nine Level Building will be the tallest one of the four. Would be nice for downtown boca to get a 20 story signature tower.

Correction After Research: Via Mizner will be 13 floors.

Correction After Research: Via Mizner will be 13 floors.

:cheer: :cheer: HOORAY!!! 'South Florida' did some research!!! :cheer: :cheer:

:) Typically, I always attempt to do research, but google only goes so far.

What are your thoughts on these new developments?

Also, While we are on the subject of downtown Boca, after reading the south Florida corridor study 300+ page document, I figured out that their will be a tri-rail station at palmetto and dixie rd, but when I drive through their on a weekly basis, I do not notice any land available for a large station.

Isn't the trirail station west of 95 ?

^ The Proposed Tri-Rail Station on the FEC Railroad, the Current CSX Tri-Rail station is located on Yamato and congress.

I figured out that their will be a tri-rail station at palmetto and dixie rd, but when I drive through their on a weekly basis, I do not notice any land available for a large station.

That doesn't sound right. I believe the next Tri-Rail station is supposed to be along Military Trail just south of Glades Road (perhaps across from NW 19th Street).

From what I remember, the idea is to get people off the train there and onto buses or shuttles that can take them either west to the mall or east to FAU/Boca Regional Hospital.

Councilman Anthony Majhess, who voted against Archstone, wants to make sure the city gets the right mix of residential, office and retail in the downtown.

"I'm happy that we have economic activity and what should be affordable options for rentals in the downtown, but I'm concerned we're moving forward without a plan," Majhess said.

What a surprise... Majhess voted against progress.

Here are some renderings of the new student housing complex I mentioned:
http://www.southfloridasunrise.com/sites/default/files/University%20Park%20entrance.jpg
Isn't that the place in Coral Springs, on Atlantic Blvd and Coral Ridge where my girlfriend lived in 1992?

That doesn't sound right. I believe the next Tri-Rail station is supposed to be along Military Trail just south of Glades Road (perhaps across from NW 19th Street).

From what I remember, the idea is to get people off the train there and onto buses or shuttles that can take them either west to the mall or east to FAU/Boca Regional Hospital.

You're both correct.

The SFRTA has been exploring a new Tri-Rail station at Military & Glades for YEARS, and did even announce in the last few months that they may finally put a station there.

But to what "South Florida" was saying, if you download the Tri-Rail expansion plan that would make use of FEC track ROW, you'll see that there is a proposed station for East Boca Raton where SF was saying: somewhere around Palmetto Park Road (I'm blanking if it was north or south of PPR).

There's no question that Boca Raton & SFRTA want to have more transportation options down the road, so it's refreshing to have these proposals on the drawing board. And I think the "apartment building binge" coming to Boca is exciting news as well, especially because I remember going to community meetings for the Via Mizner project back in 2007. If Majhess would stop pretending to play devil's advocate all the time and instead open a textbook on real estate, he'd understand that a larger inventory of rental units downtown would prevent apartment rates from inflating too greatly over time. With the demand from FAU students to live on or closer to campus numbering the thousands, I'm confident these new units can be absorbed quickly (*so long as the transit infrastructure is implemented to make commuting between downtown and FAU feasible).

You're both correct.

The SFRTA has been exploring a new Tri-Rail station at Military & Glades for YEARS, and did even announce in the last few months that they may finally put a station there.

But to what "South Florida" was saying, if you download the Tri-Rail expansion plan that would make use of FEC track ROW, you'll see that there is a proposed station for East Boca Raton where SF was saying: somewhere around Palmetto Park Road (I'm blanking if it was north or south of PPR).


Ahh, I see. Thanks for the clarification.


If Majhess would stop pretending to play devil's advocate all the time and instead open a textbook on real estate, he'd understand that a larger inventory of rental units downtown would prevent apartment rates from inflating too greatly over time.

He's not playing Devil's advocate, he's being obstinate for the sake of being obstinate. He's an enemy to the university as well.


With the demand from FAU students to live on or closer to campus numbering the thousands, I'm confident these new units can be absorbed quickly (*so long as the transit infrastructure is implemented to make commuting between downtown and FAU feasible).

Actually, during the proposal meeting some 15-20 homeowners spoke out against the apartment projects for various reasons like traffic and easements, if memory serves, but they also wanted assurances that "this won't become FAU East." The developers explained that the apartments will be at LEAST $2,000/month, effectively pricing out most college students (or so they think - I know there are FAU students in Mizner Park and Vistazo, which are both pricey places)

Speaking of FAU, what do you guys think about Obama coming to FAU tomorrow?I didn't win a ticket for his speech tomorrow, there was a lottery limited to FAU staff/students of only 3,500 people. Going to be really crowded when I go to school tomorrow with all lots closed on west side of FAU!

Speaking of FAU, what do you guys think about Obama coming to FAU tomorrow?

Here's what I think, personally:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/522002_10150645882642124_533057123_9113444_46954244_n.jpg

Obama throwing up the Owl Fingers. Solid.

In other news, the City is hoping to finish the Lake Wyman restoration/expansion project by 2013. That's particularly exciting news because it would re-open the livery (place where you can rent canoes and kayaks) on the property. I guess the old trails got overgrown... you can see more here (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=lake%20wyman%20restoration&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.co.palm-beach.fl.us%2Ferm%2Fdownloads%2Fpdf%2Fprojectfactsheets%2FLakeWyman_fs.pdf&ei=bqGET9PJJufa0QGjz-TtBw&usg=AFQjCNFCxq5mhJT0Ep0nMaOuu0KRxty7bg&cad=rja).

What government freebies was he promising to the little College kiddies ?

I got a ticket to the speech, just got back. He talked about financial aid, taxing the rich the same as mid class, creating funding, how its not about "you" but about "us", politician stuff.

I might not agree with some of his views but it was at least cool to see the President of the United States and will be something I never forget.

I'll post pictures from my phone as soon as it charges.

I watched it live and the fact that he saluted the hoot made my day. One of the greatest days in FAU history, so glad I am owl to see this!:)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/3689/pano20120410140500.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/339/pano20120410140500.jpg/)

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/6306/img20120410145109.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/811/img20120410145109.jpg/)

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/5546/img20120410145130.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/811/img20120410145130.jpg/)

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/3504/img20120410150518.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/192/img20120410150518.jpg/)

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/6726/img20120410151227.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/535/img20120410151227.jpg/)

http://img848.imageshack.us/img848/843/img20120410154125.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/848/img20120410154125.jpg/)

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/8465/img20120410154128.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/217/img20120410154128.jpg/)

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/7553/img20120410154934.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/834/img20120410154934.jpg/)

http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/730/img20120410155028.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/594/img20120410155028.jpg/)

I got a ticket to the speech, just got back. He talked about financial aid, taxing the rich the same as mid class, creating funding, how its not about "you" but about "us", politician stuff.

I might not agree with some of his views but it was at least cool to see the President of the United States and will be something I never forget.

I'll post pictures from my phone as soon as it charges.

Too bad, he still does not represent the interest of the american people.

Guy is a clown but the college kids eat it up.

There's a thread in the Miami Forum for politic discussions. This isn't it.

Politics go here --> http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1053477&page=72

Quantum, can we just make it a rule that political discussions unrelated to thread topics are not allowed. We banned two of our best contributors, Roark and RX, for being rude and yet it's somehow acceptable for people to hijack threads with political rants?

It's time you fix this.

Ok sounds good to me but when you have a few members post in this thread about how much their legs were tingling at the event, it's hard not to respond :)

I totally understand but with the upcoming election, politics are going to end up destroying a lot of threads if we don't nip it in the bud and move all political discussions to a dedicated thread.

Understood.

I agree, It's great that Obama came to Boca for the attention it puts on the city, but for the purpose of the forum, lets keep it to Urban development :)

Let's hope that Palmetto City Center (below) and Palmetto Promenade still get built.

http://www.palmettoparkcitycenter.com/uploads/photo_gallery/24.jpg

Did I hear we now have a Red Steakhouse in Boca !@

Let's hope that Palmetto City Center (below) and Palmetto Promenade still get built.

http://www.palmettoparkcitycenter.com/uploads/photo_gallery/24.jpg

This is the one that's planned for downtown Boca on the southeast corner of Palmetto and Federal Hwy, right?

I keep hoping they'd do something like Buckingham Fountain in Chicago

http://abestworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Buckingham-Memorial-Fountain-.jpg

Which is set in Grant Park:
http://www.airsignsandbanners.com/images/Grant%20Park%20-%20Buckingham%20Fountain.jpg

A large public space with a large fountain that would draw people in...

I know a skyscraper is highly desirable but there are similar developments already in that immediate area that don't have any real life to them (consider 200 East Palmetto a few buildings away - it's a gorgeous building with retail on the bottom and NO TENANTS)

I don't think the downtown will ever take off until more affordable housing options are available. It sounded like that was going to happen with the Archstone deal but in the City Council meeting they mentioned those apartments would be $2,000+... which is ridiculous. $1,200, ok, $1,500 is pushing it, $2,000+ is too much considering the downtown is not very desirable right now.

I don't think the downtown will ever take off until more affordable housing options are available. It sounded like that was going to happen with the Archstone deal but in the City Council meeting they mentioned those apartments would be $2,000+... which is ridiculous. $1,200, ok, $1,500 is pushing it, $2,000+ is too much considering the downtown is not very desirable right now.

This isn't bad at all, it's actually a good thing that they're pricing these apartments in this price range. New housing inventory should be higher-priced; it's the older apartments downtown that should see their values drop a bit or maintain the same price range as they're unable to compete with the quality of the newer housing.

Yes, it would be nice if all the affordable housing in Boca (and the rest of South Florida) was always brand-spanking new. But that's not how the housing market works.

Boca Raton readies for apartment-building binge

By Larry Barszewski, Sun Sentinel

Boca Raton — More than a thousand new apartments are being proposed for downtown, with four projects seeking city approvals in just the last four months.

Proponents say the new projects will add something vital for the downtown's health: year-round residents to support downtown businesses.

Critics fear the city is moving too fast and could end up with a glut of empty or unfinished apartments — a reverse version of the Eden condominiums that sat unfinished for seven years across from City Hall before a new developer bought the project in 2010 and finished it as Heritage rental apartments.

The four downtown projects, combined with the 384-unit Broadstone at North Boca Village apartments under construction in the north end of the city, will add almost 1,600 units in eastern Boca Raton. Competing with the new units will be former condominiums that were converted to rentals when the condo market deteriorated.

The apartment binge is being driven by developers going where the money is, not by what is best for the city, said Ann Witte, a research economist and Townsend Place condominium resident downtown.

"The banks will finance apartment rentals right now. They won't finance office or retail because the market is so saturated," Witte said. "My guess is that the market can absorb somewhere around 800 rental units."

Lewis Goodkin, a real estate analyst and president of the Miami-based Goodkin Consulting Corp., agrees that it's all about the financing.

"What I'm concerned about, like a lot of things, when a market gets hot, it's because investor groups are paying big bucks for rentals," Goodkin said. "I think that there's not enough work being done to determine how large that market is."

But the demand is real and growing, said Charlie Siemon, a development attorney representing several of the apartment developers.

"I think we're catching up for lost time. We're filling an imbalance," Siemon said.

The demand, he said, is coming from a number of sources, including people who went through foreclosures who either don't have the credit or the desire to get back into the ownership market, people who prize their mobility and don't want to be tied down by a mortgage and college students who would prefer a downtown lifestyle.

"If we don't have attractive urban-style rental housing, we're not going to be competitive," said Siemon, who says there's a need for one-bedroom apartments. "Now people are realizing paying for more space than you really need is not a good idea."

Witte said that if the rental market falters, it won't be easy to convert those smaller rental units into more desirable condominiums. But the rental push could be a blessing for downtown, proponents say, because a large portion of South Florida condo dwellers are seasonal residents who wouldn't provide the year-round spark the downtown needs.

"The goal is to sustain a vibrant downtown," said Ruby Childers, the city's downtown manager. "From a marketing perspective, if we have residents downtown to support the activities downtown and the businesses, then it's going to flourish."

The downtown projects that have been proposed are:

•Via Mizner, which will have 350 units on the east side of Federal Highway north of Camino Real;

•Camden Boca Raton, a 261-unit complex just west of Federal Highway between Southeast First and Second Streets;

•Ram, 208 units proposed for the southeast corner of Federal Highway and Palmetto Park Road;

Archstone, which includes 378 rental apartments and 25 townhouse rentals on the north side of Palmetto Park Road east of Northeast Third Avenue.

The Archstone project, approved by the Community Redevelopment Agency in February, sparked a furor because its three-football-field long apartment structure of up to nine stories will be next to single-family homes.

The density of the housing will create traffic congestion, critics say, and they don't think the project has enough ground-level retail space to get people out of their cars and walking downtown.

Opponents submitted petition signatures last month to hold a referendum to overturn the council's decision to extend downtown development regulations to the Palmetto Park Road site, changes that were needed to allow the project to move forward. That effort was dashed after City Attorney Diana Grub Frieser said state law prohibits initiative petitions that challenge approved development orders.

"Projects of this kind are put together by people and organizations that can walk away after the fact, but it's the surrounding residents that live with it for the rest of their lives," said George O'Rourke, who lives in the Golden Triangle neighborhood next to the Archstone site.

"We can develop a town that is done tastefully with new development, with new vibrancy," O'Rourke said. "It doesn't have to be the highest density. It doesn't have to be gaming the ordinances."

Councilman Anthony Majhess, who voted against Archstone, wants to make sure the city gets the right mix of residential, office and retail in the downtown.

"I'm happy that we have economic activity and what should be affordable options for rentals in the downtown, but I'm concerned we're moving forward without a plan," Majhess said. "I'd be less concerned if the banks were loaning money in all sectors, but they're not. So now rental's the most important thing."

^^ Old news:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=90222519&postcount=912

This isn't bad at all, it's actually a good thing that they're pricing these apartments in this price range. New housing inventory should be higher-priced; it's the older apartments downtown that should see their values drop a bit or maintain the same price range as they're unable to compete with the quality of the newer housing.

Yes, it would be nice if all the affordable housing in Boca (and the rest of South Florida) was always brand-spanking new. But that's not how the housing market works.

Just looked and Addison Park, the other new apartment complex in Boca, rents between $975 and $1,100 per person per month... and they're filled.

By way of comparison, my friends got a 4 bedroom house with pool, two car garage and two living rooms in Boca and they were paying $525/month each to live there. Guess houses are the way to go.

Here's another comparison for you, Owls: my 300 sq. ft. apartment in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood--a single studio--runs me $1450/month. They're bumping up the rent to $1,550/month in September (which is one of the reasons I'm moving), and apartment rentals in these neighborhoods (Back Bay, Fenway, South End) are still 95% occupied. The most surprising reality about rents up here, however, is that the city defines an "affordable" one-bedroom apartment as costing $2,000/month.

From my perspective, these brand new apartments in Boca are a bargain. And those 4-bedroom homes renting for $2,200/month? Criminal.

This is the one that's planned for downtown Boca on the southeast corner of Palmetto and Federal Hwy, right?

I keep hoping they'd do something like Buckingham Fountain in Chicago
Which is set in Grant Park:
http://www.airsignsandbanners.com/images/Grant%20Park%20-%20Buckingham%20Fountain.jpg

A large public space with a large fountain that would draw people in...

I know a skyscraper is highly desirable but there are similar developments already in that immediate area that don't have any real life to them (consider 200 East Palmetto a few buildings away - it's a gorgeous building with retail on the bottom and NO TENANTS)

I don't think the downtown will ever take off until more affordable housing options are available. It sounded like that was going to happen with the Archstone deal but in the City Council meeting they mentioned those apartments would be $2,000+... which is ridiculous. $1,200, ok, $1,500 is pushing it, $2,000+ is too much considering the downtown is not very desirable right now.

Coincidentally I actually currently live in downtown Chicago, so I get to see that fountain all the time! Its very lovely. Such a thing is actually very possible for downtown Boca. Yes, that building is proposed for the corner of Palmetto Park and Federal, in addition the city has been planning for years to close Palmetto Park Road between US1 and Mizner Blvd to establish a 'Pedestrian Core' that would in some way connect Mizner Park to Royal Palm Plaza. So the city already has said they would like to turn the existing area of road into a pedestrian promenade of some sort, and with that wide if an area i'm sure they have a centerpiece like a fountain in mind!

It's worth hoping for anyway :)

Apparently the Transit Authority is planning three TOD stations along the FEC line (hopefully all that terminology came out correctly) in Boca Raton. The top two priorities are future stations at:

1) Mizner Park/downtown area, and
2) 20th Street, which has begun the process of being converted to "University Boulevard", a college-centric street from FAU to Dixie Highway along 20th Street. It would be a hub of student housing, retail, restaurants, etc.
3) Not sure where the third one would be, or a time table on any of this.

Imagine connecting these two parts of the city! It would spur development in both areas.

If anybody has links/information about the timetables for these stations, please share. Also these FEC stations should be independent of the possible Tri-Rail station at Glades + Military, I believe.

Apparently the Transit Authority is planning three TOD stations along the FEC line (hopefully all that terminology came out correctly) in Boca Raton. The top two priorities are future stations at:

1) Mizner Park/downtown area, and
2) 20th Street, which has begun the process of being converted to "University Boulevard", a college-centric street from FAU to Dixie Highway along 20th Street. It would be a hub of student housing, retail, restaurants, etc.
3) Not sure where the third one would be, or a time table on any of this.

Imagine connecting these two parts of the city! It would spur development in both areas.

If anybody has links/information about the timetables for these stations, please share. Also these FEC stations should be independent of the possible Tri-Rail station at Glades + Military, I believe.

Where did you find out about this?

Where did you find out about this?

Last Planning and Zoning meeting where they discussed the overlay... said they want to take the future train station into account.

^ If the FEC Fast Start Up Plan is chosen, initially only one station will be built, and that will be built at palmetto park rd.

However, if the longer Corridor study plan is chosen, all three will be built initially.

^ If the FEC Fast Start Up Plan is chosen, initially only one station will be built, and that will be built at palmetto park rd.

Whether it's one station or three depends on funding, right? And the P+Z people said the #1 stop was at Mizner, not Palmetto. Maybe they're wrong but that's what was said at the meeting.

Whether it's one station or three depends on funding, right? And the P+Z people said the #1 stop was at Mizner, not Palmetto. Maybe they're wrong but that's what was said at the meeting.

I think for clarification, the stop that's been talked about in Boca for years would be located just north of Palmetto Park Road (south of NE 2nd Street), making it a very short walk across US-1 to arrive at Mizner Park.

Also, it doesn't just depend on funding. If the FEC rail will be serving the entire South Florida corridor from Jupiter to downtown Miami, then they're going to think very carefully about how many stations they build and where they locate them. It's not just about funding, they need to consider travel times as well. Every station adds time to the commute.

^ I Agree, it would be a long commute if the train stopped every five minutes. One way to combat this was stated in the Corridor Study..

Two Rail Systems run on the FEC Railroad:

Regional [like tri rail] (Give or Take 18 Stations)

Local (40+ ?)

---

But due to minimal funds, highly unlikely this will happen anytime soon.

Specially with Rick Scott in Office.