Article Courtesy of The Boca
Raton News
By Dale M. King
Published December 29, 2007
The
company developing the controversial Eden Condominium project near
downtown Boca Raton hopes to save it by turning it into an age-restricted
combination independent and assisted living center.
As
it has done in the past, the developer, Boca East LLC, brought its revised
plans to City Hall on the 90th day of a 90-period the City Council had
given for submission of revised plans.
In
September, the council had to call a special morning meeting to approve an
extension of the firm’s permits. It was the day before the documents
issued to Eden would have expired
And
it was not the first extension given to the troubled complex. But city
officials guaranteed that it would be the last.
The
council issued the firm a list of stringent regulations, a specific
timetable for completion and said that any deviation from that path would
nullify the extension.
The
plan that arrived in City Hall four days before Christmas revises the
initial proposal that had called for 248 condominium units – 62 in each
of four buildings.
The
developer now wants to put in 92 two-bedroom units, 87 one-bedroom units
and 10 studio apartments for a total of 193 independent living units and
86 assisted living residences.
Deputy
City Manager George Brown said the plans will have to go before the
Planning Board and City Council for approval. The first time the proposal
will see the light of municipal day will be Jan. 3 when they go before the
Planning Advisory Committee.
The
four-building complex located just a block south of City Hall has been in
the works since 2003. One structure is done, another is nearly finished.
The other two are just concrete skeletons.
The
City Council had to call a special meeting Sept. 27 – one day before
Eden’s permits expired – to vote on the two-year extension.
Not to grant the extension would have forced the city to take over the
complex and demolish it. It would have then had to lien the property to
get its money back.
At
the time, at least three council members – Susan Whelchel, Bill Hager
and Peter Baronoff – specifically said they have received many
complaints about the project.
It
was at that meeting that Charles Siemon, attorney for Eden, told the
council that Boca East LLC was about to join forces with Parc Communities
to turn a couple of the buildings into senior residences.
The
plans at came to City Hall last week said the project will now be called
Parc at Eden. It said that three of the buildings would be for independent
living; the fourth for assisted living.
Owner
of failed condo conversion files plans
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