Massive apartment project to change face of downtown Boca

Mizner 200 will be one of the largest construction projects in Boca Raton's downtown, offering three nine-story apartment buildings across 9 acres.

There will be 384 new apartments and garages with 672 parking spaces. You’ll also see an overhauled stretch of Southeast Mizner Boulevard — inundated with new canopy trees, park space and benches along an 8-foot-wide, paver-laden sidewalk.

It’s too early to say when construction will begin. But Mizner 200, at 200 SE Mizner Blvd., will give the area a much-needed face-lift, some residents say. It’s the latest high-rise project coming to downtown Boca, among the fastest rising in Palm Beach County.

“It’s an amazing project and one that I think Boca can stand behind in a very proud fashion,” said Marisela Catilla, a resident of Royal Palm Place just across the street.

The city, which this week approved the project, said it’s a product of cooperation between Mizner 200’s developer, Coral Springs-based El-ad National Properties, and many neighbors.

The city postponed approving the project last month, saying it was too large and needed to be scaled down. Neighbors and nearby property owners also complained the development was too big.

“If you want to build your dream house as big as you want, you go out to the country,” Michael Liss, a downtown business owner, told the City Council last month. “But the neighbors and the neighborhood have to benefit from the project.”

To allay concerns, the developer also:

– Added a public plaza at the complex’s entrance on Mizner Boulevard.

– Included benches and canopy trees along the sidewalks.

– Pushed back the buildings from the street by 5 feet.

– Reduced the height of some sections of the nine-story buildings.

In an animation from the developer, people are seen hanging out along Mizner Boulevard in shaded sidewalks decorated with plants and benches.

A new crosswalk will connect Mizner 200 to a proposed project just across the street in Royal Palm Plaza. That’s where developer Investments Limited plans to build a 12-story tower with 220 luxury apartments.

At city meetings, representatives from Investments Limited had been among Mizner 200’s most vocal critics.

El-ad National Properties said it worked with Investments Limited to improve designs for Mizner 200.

Currently, Mizner 200’s land is where the 248 townhomes of Mizner On the Green sit. It’s unclear when those will come tumbling down.

Jorge Garcia co-owns GS4 Studios, the firm that designed Mizner 200, said he was planning to regroup with El-ad to begin preparing additional designs.

Other high-rises have been completed recently in the immediate area. And with Royal Palm Place’s redesign coming up, Garcia said Mizner 200 will help make the redeveloping district more pedestrian-friendly.

Boca Councilwoman Andrea O’Rourke said, “I think this collaborative effort is what will bring the best project, and I think we are getting that.”

Developers reveal latest plans for more than 700 condos, apartments in downtown Boca »

Boca asks Mizner 200 developer to add more park space amid luxury apartments »

Downtown redevelopment

Mizner 200 is the latest downtown development capping off the city’s building boom. Other major downtown developments are also in the works:

• Tower 155:A 170-unit apartment building at 199 E. Boca Raton Road broke ground in November and is expected to be completed in fall 2018.
• Camino Square:Current plans call for 350 apartments and retail space at 171 W. Camino Real. The project has yet to get approval by the city’s advisory boards.
• Mandarin Oriental at Boca Raton:As part of the Viz Mizner project at 101 E. Camino Real, the international hotel chain’s latest project will break ground in early 2018. The 12-story will offer 164 hotel rooms.
• Residences at the Mandarin Oriental:Also part of the Viz Mizner project, the facility will house 85 luxury condos. The 12-story project is expected to break ground early next year and developers have opened a sales center to showcase the units.
• Royal Palm Assisted Living: A nine-story building on an acre of land will house 203 beds for the assisted-living facility. Plans garnered approval from a city board last month and have yet to pass the City Council.

achokey@sun-sentinel.com, 561-243-6531, Twitter: @aric_chokey

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