Boca Raton

[xzmattzx]

where was that second picture taken?

[DShoost88]

The second picture was taken @ the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center on A1A, 1 mile north of Palmetto Park Rd. The third picture was taken from the service parking lot @ the Boca Raton Beach Club. I've recently taken more pics of the expansion of Spanish River Blvd. as well as the newly constructed Tri-Rail Station @ Yamato Rd. Pics will come soon.

[DShoost88]

Okay, these first two pictures were taken 40 feet high from the tower at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.




These next two pictures are actually quite interesting. They were taken from the Spanish River Blvd. overpass at I-95 in late December of the areas Northeast and North west of SRB. This same exact area is where the city, county, and state are discussing the possibility of relocating the Scripps Research Institute.





This one is the "growing" skyline of central-eastern Boca Raton, taken from perhaps the most central location in the city, Spanish River and I-95.



These last two are of the Boca Raton Tri-Rail Station/Hub and the proposed complex to be constructed this year.




I hope these images broaden your views of this growing city and that you recognize it as more than a suburb of Miami or Fort Lauderdale (or West Palm Beach).

[The Mad Hatter!!]

nice stuff dshoost,that first one is really nice i didn't know boca had such a nice skyline a bit to cookie cutter for my liking but it does remind me off the coral gables skyline...

[MIAballinboi]

great pics, nice growing area, even saw a couple cranes

[fvcrew22]

Great pics, I've been meaning to get downtown and take some pictures but I just haven't.

Also, where's that new Tri-rail station going to be? I can't remember.

[DShoost88]

The new tri-rail station is at the southwest corner of Yamato Rd. and I-95. If you go to college in Boca Raton @ FAU, you go out the north enterance and make a left onto Spanish River. After you get over the bridge make a right and then you're next immediate right into the T-Rex Corporate Center. If you continue down that road, it will take you directly to the Train Station and the new shopping complex. If you go to Lynn, just go up Military and make a right onto Yamato. It'll be on your right at the Congress Av. light.

Also, what do you guys think about Scripps moving to Boca? Do you think it'll happen? Are you folks in Broward happy about that? And what do you think about that property by 95: isn't it perfect?!

[logybogy]

It would be pretty cool if Scripps went to Boca. With all the new building UM is doing in Miami, you could have a biotech cluster from Miami all the way to Palm Beach if Scripps sets up shop in Boca.

[nimbyhater]

hey... bocas closer to use then where they were planning to up it... maybe next theyll b talkin about a spot in ft. lauderdale... aventura... who knows... the farther south it comes the happier i get... but boca would b great...

[kevinkagy]

Boca is a very nice city and Mizner Park and Town Centre are an exposition of it.

[DShoost88]

http://bocanews.com/index.php?src=ne...9a896d995a01e2

Nine-story 'loft' building going up in downtown Boca
Attorney for developer calls it 'an exceptional building on a challenged site'

Published Thursday, January 12, 2006
by Dale King

How do you get 68 residential 'loft' units on less than an acre of land in downtown Boca Raton?


You go high-rise.


Lofts of Boca LLC got the go-ahead from the city's Community Redevelopment Authority this week to construct a nine-story building between North Federal and North Dixie highways. It will have 68 lofts, 3,260 square feet of mixed-use development and an internal three-story garage.


"This is an exceptional building on a challenged site," said attorney Wendy Larsen of Siemon & Larson, lawyer for the developer. "If there's a site that needs redevelopment, this is it."


The lot, measuring .936 acre, is located on what is essentially a narrow strip of land between the two major downtown roads. It is currently the site of two businesses - one a lawn and garden store, the other a brick and paver shop. They will be demolished, according to the plans.


The Planning & Zoning Board approved the plan on a 3-2 vote. The Community Appearance Board has also recommended it.


Larsen told the CRA - which is made up of the mayor and City Council members - that the structure - to be called Mizner Lofts - will be both pedestrian friendly, and offer some "wonderful living spaces."


She said the structure will be "layered" to reduce the scale of the building mass. "The skyline is very dynamic," she said.


The building is being "tailored" to fit the site, she said.


"I'm happy to see the lofts, it's a major need," said Deputy Mayor Susan Whelchel. "The parcel is definitely challenged."


She did say the Community Appearance Board should review the plans, saying the building may need more landscaping. When CRA members OK'd it, they added additional CAB review as part of approval conditions.


At the hearing, Quincy Johnson, an architect and resident of Mizner Park, spoke in favor of the project, saying it is "unique, fresh and dynamic. I like the fresh style."


Developer Robert Wolfson said this is his company's first venture into Boca Raton. "We are working on a project in Chicago, six in Michigan," he told CRA members. "We are one of the largest subdivision developers in Michigan."
He said the lofts will start at $400,000.


In other business, the CRA also approved another mixed-use project on 2.2 acres of land at 855 S. Federal Highway, between SE 8th and SE 9th streets.


The Planning & Zoning Board and CAB have already given it their OK.


The proposal, from Altman Development, proposes a structure that will include 224 residential units, 11,000 square feet of retail, 6,000 square feet of office space and a 395-space parking garage.


All commercial space will be on the first floor, officials told the CRA. Of the total number of housing units, 50 will be one-bedroom and the other 168 will be two- and three-bedrooms. The starting price is $600,000.


Amenities for owners will include a pool, fitness center and patio area on the fourth floor above the parking garage.

Dale M. King can be reached at 561-549-0832 or at dking@bocanews.com.

[DShoost88]

Okay, so Boca didn't get Scripps. But at least we're still attracting some sort of Bio-Medical research facilities.

Just to make sure this forum doesn't die, what do you guys see for Boca's future? Does anyone think it may one day look like a Fort Lauderdale or West Palm? Or is it more likely to become a Coral Gables?

I had the pleasure of going to the County Commission meeting and introducing myself to Mayor of Boca Raton, Steve Abrams. He has great plans in mind for the city. I think within the next 10 to 20 years the city will fully annex all of its unincorporated land. Once that happens, the city may be taken seriously as an economic engine for South Florida. I certainly believe that Boca has the most potential along the SoFlo coastline for urban redevelopment.

Again, comments, please! I insist.

[nimbyhater]

i can see it becoming more of a coral gables type area... never really becoming a huge city but becoming increasingly important, economically and culturally... and they have some of the nicest development ive been seeing in this whole boom...

[The Mad Hatter!!]

dshoost, if you have renderings or information about boca projects could you make a thread in the development news section.

im sure we would like to see some boca projects.

[The Baz]

Enjoyed the photos of Boca. Am thinking about going to FAU for grad school. It's a beautiful community.

[xzmattzx]

can you post pictures of the downtown area as well? the downtown shops and whatnot looked pretty nice from what i remember when i was down there 4 or 5 years ago.

[DShoost88]

A couple corporate headquarters moving to Boca Raton... that's more than I can say about Miami.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/061120/20061120005808.html?.v=1

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/busines...0/1130nlc.html

Also, what's Kabbalah doing in Boca? Of 9 cities in the U.S. that have Kabbalah centers (mostly major cities such as San Diego, LA, New York, Vegas), why is Kabbalah in Boca? Hmm... that's interesting.

In other news about Boca: "Boca tops Sun Belt college sport communities in housing prices"

http://bocanews.com/index.php?src=ne...y=Local%20News

While Miami's a beautiful conundrum, it's neighbors to the north are faring pretty well... I just thought it was worth speaking out about.

[floridian-will]

So I was in Boca today, man its awsome, possibly one of the most underated cities in Florida. I didnt take my camera cause i didnt know i was going but i had my camera phone, but my phone wont let me text pix to my comp today So if anyone else has pictures Id love to see em. At first glance Boca was just another intercoastal community, but as I entered Mizner Place it seemed more like I was at a Disney Resort than in a city, the buildings where beautiful the landskaping was awsome, and I even was prized enough to do some plumbing in a penthouse, it was great. I dont know how or why but the inlet seemed more like a paradise cove with clear emerald waters that looked more desirable than the wavey beach, and speaking of beach, it was well kept also. I have to say Dshoot was right, Boca is great.

[coruna]

I agree, it's a great suburban city. However, I'm getting tired of hearing how Boca or Hollywood or any other suburban city is the best in South Florida. Regardless of how nice Boca is, and I admit it's one of the nicest suburban communities in South Florida, it is still a car-dependant, spread out, non-urban place with no skyscrapers or urban core. Because of that, I have to say that Miami, Miami Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and West Palm are the best cities in South Florida.....Boca is great if you're looking for that type of lifestyle, but it's too suburban for my liking.

[floridian-will]

Coruna Coruna,
You missunderstood me, I would NEVER say that Boca is nicer than Miami.
It is simply a laid back cozy city that really impressed me,
The rankings I give to SoFla cities would be #1Miami and Miami Beach #2 Fort Lauderdale #3 West Palm Beach. But I would only take WPB over boca for its strong downtown core, which is still kinda lacking. Boca is a very livable, cozy, CLEAN, safe, pleasant, calm, city so its no wonder so many ppl go there to die. Palm Beach County is very lucky to claim her. Really Boca is more like a resort than a city.