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Article Courtesy of The Palm Beach Post
By Lulu Ramadan
Published October 27, 2017
BOCA RATON — A seven-story, high-end condominium building
will replace a commercial plaza and town homes on Palmetto Park Road and
Ocean Boulevard, across the street from South Beach Park on Boca Raton’s
barrier island, city leaders decided Tuesday.
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Ocean Palm, a 324,000-square-feet complex with 70 units
and underground parking, will be built on the southwest
corner of the two roads.
The city council unanimously approved the project.
An office building and Breakers at Boca Raton, a 20-town
home building at the site, will be demolished to make room
for the high-rise.
The developer — One Ocean Plaza Venture owned by Walter
Defortuna of Miami-based Fortune International Realty — has
an agreement with the town home owners, representatives of
the project said.
While the project is built up to 75 feet, more than 50
percent of the 2 acres it sits on will be greenery, based on
suggestions of neighbors, the developer said. Most of the
green space will be accessible to the public.
The project also includes widening the sidewalks along
Palmetto Park Road to 8 feet. |
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A rendering of Ocean Palm, a 7-story condominium
complex proposed on Palmetto Park Road and Ocean Boulevard in Boca
Raton.
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This was a “better effort by developers to reach out to neighbors,”
Councilman Scott Singer said.
The project, which has been in the works for over a year, initially included
a sky bridge that would give its residents direct access to the public beach
across the street, owned and maintained by the city.
That idea did not sit well with residents, however.
“We had a couple hiccups along the way but I think we resolved those,” said
Mark Simmons, of the Riviera Civic Association that represents the nearby
waterfront Riviera neighborhood. “We’re in support.”
One resident of the Marbella condos, a 200-foot complex southeast of the
project, said Marbella’s residents did not have input on the project.
“Our residents are concerned about the diminution of value on our
properties,” Marbella board member Carrie McGuirk said.
The developer made multiple attempts to reach Marbella residents, many of
whom are seasonal, said Bonnie Miskel, an attorney for the project.
The project would have significantly less impact on the area as a
condominium complex as opposed to a high-rise office complex, which the
developer could have proposed, city staff said.
“We have to look at what good is coming out of this,” Councilwoman Andrea
O’Rourke said.
The condominiums will be built in a flood zone and what the city described
as a “coastal hazard area.” As a result, when hurricanes warnings are in
effect, residents of Ocean Palm will have to evacuate earlier than other
areas, the city said.
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