The next few posts will feature an analysis of items on Boca Raton’s March 10 ballot; the topic of today’s post is the proposed police station.
Later, I will examine the mayor’s race, the three city council races, and the proposed Terra/Frisbie downtown redevelopment plan.
Here is the language voters will see at the polls or on mail-in ballots:
“Shall the City issue general obligation bonds, in one or more series, to finance the construction and equipping of a new police department headquarters, and related public safety support facilities located within the City in the principal amount not to exceed $175,000,000, bearing interest at not exceeding the legal rate, maturing not later than 30 years from the date of issuance, and payable from ad valorem taxes levied on all taxable property in the City?”
Which means:
Boca Raton wants to build a station on city land next to the Spanish River Library. The city would finance it with an increase in property taxes over the life of the bonds—no more than 30 years, as the language states.
For a homestead—primary residence—assessed at $500,000, the cost would be $130 per year. The owner of a $3 million commercial property would pay about $780, much of it likely passed on to tenants.
City officials make a persuasive case. When the current station opened in 1988, Boca Raton’s population was about 60,000. It’s now slightly above 100,000. Add technological advancements of the last four decades and the importance of a building that can withstand a Category 5 hurricane. A study in 2007 showed that the department already had outgrown the current facility.
City officials, however, worry that voters will associate the station with the Terra/Frisbie project. The 4.4-acre site would be among those leased to Terra/Frisbie for private development.
But as city council members have said—and Chief Financial Officer James Zervis reiterated in an interview—one has nothing to do with the other. The city would be seeking a new station even without the prospect of redevelopment.
No one today would put the station in the heart of downtown, creating dead space. Zervis also explained in detail why rebuilding on that site is impractical. Doing so, Zervis said, would require a two-story structure. Going up is more expensive than one-floor construction. Also, no location is suitable to house the department during demolition and construction, given the unique demands of a law enforcement agency.
Aside from the debunked Terra/Frisbie link, the case against the station comes down to two arguments:
Cost – Critics say $175 million is too much. The city’s financial advisory board recommended $125 million. But that $175 million figure is a maximum. Council members could seek reductions, and the price could drop during negotiations with the contractor.
Safety – Some downtown and east-side residents have expressed concern that shifting the station to the northwest would reduce patrols in their neighborhoods. Chief Michelle Miuccio, though, has said that nothing will change. Patrols are assigned by area and need, not where the station is. And with or without the Terra/Frisbie project, there would be a downtown substation.
This is Boca Raton’s first public safety bond item since 2002. That year, voters overwhelmingly approved a plan to upgrade the city’s seven existing fire stations and build a new one next to what is now Hillsboro/El Rio Park South.
The city could face a big problem if the Terra/Frisbie plan passed and voters rejected bonds for the station. But that seems unlikely. The police station could get the most support of any item on the ballot. Beyond the Terra/Frisbie conspiracy theories, there’s no reason to vote it down.
Information sessions for voters to learn more about police station
Speaking of the station, Boca Raton will hold two more information sessions for voters. The first will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at the downtown library. The second will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Spanish River Library.
Boca candidate forum yields little new information
Speaking of the mayoral and council elections, the Federation of Boca Raton Homeowner Associations hosted a candidate forum last week. What did we learn? Not much.
One reason was the format. The moderators asked candidates individual questions, so there was little back and forth between those opposing each other. Robert Weinroth, running for Seat D, did express strong support for the police station after Save Boca founder Jonathan Pearlman (Seat B) sounded skeptical.
We also heard Pearlman say that he would have opposed the donation of land for Blue Lake Middle School. Construction has greatly reduced crowding at city schools. Marc Wigder, the Seat B incumbent, quickly called the comment “Crazy!”
But too much attention went to small-ball topics: a possible planning division in the building services department, more access to the dog beach, and bringing back the holiday boat parade, to draw people to Wildflower Park. If trying to revive an event that died for lack of interest is a possible option, Wildflower is in even more trouble than I think.
Boca P&Z Board to discuss changes to downtown development rules
Speaking of the Terra/Frisbie project, the Planning and Zoning Board tonight will consider changes to downtown development that could accommodate the project.
Most notably, the new rules would transfer development rights from elsewhere downtown to the two blocks north of Second Street near City Hall. The changes would apply to the parking spaces between the library and the Brightline station.
If the council approves, as it will, that area will become part of the central business district. The changes would apply even if voters reject the project on March 10.
Boca P&Z Board to discuss new residential tower at The Boca Raton
Also on the Planning and Zoning Board agenda is the proposal to convert roughly two acres of open space at The Boca Raton to an eight-story, 76-unit residential tower. There would be a three-story fitness center and one level of underground parking. The staff recommends approval.
New management for Mizner Park?
Mizner Park soon could be under new management.
On the agenda for Monday’s Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency meeting is approval of an entity that would acquire the leases for the retail/residential/cultural center from Brookfield Property Partners. The CRA must decide that the consortium is financially sound, and that surely is the case.
A subsidiary of StepStone Real Estate would own 75% of the interest in the residential, retail and office leases. The staff memo notes that StepStone has $179 billion worldwide in assets under management. Another 20% would be held by Miami-based ACRE, a real estate private equity firm. It has $4.7 billion under management.
The most important partner, though, would be Boca Raton-based CP Group. Its managing partner is Angelo Bianco, who tried a decade ago to broker a redevelopment of Midtown. The city council killed it. CP Group has moved on with big plans to transform the Boca Raton Innovation Campus.
Deputy City Manager Jorge Camejo said Bianco would manage the new venture. Camejo was the CRA director before leaving 16 years ago for a similar job in Hollywood. Bianco, Camejo said, “is the perfect person at this time.”
Mizner Park, Camejo said, is “struggling.” Council candidates have complained about its appearance and the fact that an outlet store occupies the former Lord & Taylor space. I’ve heard complaints for years that Brookfield representatives are unresponsive. Brookfield acquired the leases in 2018 when it brought General Growth Properties.
City Manager Mark Sohaney said the consortium would move quickly to “enhance” Mizner Park. For CP Group, it would be a full-circle moment. CP is the successor to Crocker Partners, which developed Mizner Park.
After the city’s presumptive approval Monday, the deal still would have to close. I’ll have more after the meeting.
Italian firm to develop new luxury condos in downtown Boca
Boca Raton’s new downtown condo will carry the Mr. C brand. That’s from the Italian firm Cipriani, which operates luxury properties worldwide.
Mr. C. Residences Boca Raton will be the company’s third Florida venture, after Coconut Grove in Miami and West Palm Beach. It will have 133 units in a 12-story building, with prices starting at $1.7 million. The location is 41 SE Fourth St., which has been home to Dunay Miskel Backman, the city’s leading land-use law firm. Key International and Wexford Real Estate Investors are the local developers.
Louis Bossi accepts deferred prosecution agreement in domestic battery case
Boca Raton restaurateur Louie Bossi has accepted a deferred prosecution agreement after he was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery.
Under the terms, Bossi must undergo mental health and substance evaluations and complete treatment for either or both, if needed. He must take an eight-hour anger management class and a parenting class. He can’t have a firearm or any weapon, and he must have no “violent contact” with his wife. If Bossi adheres to the terms, prosecutors will drop the charge.
