(After)
(Before)
Mizner 200 update
Last week, Boca Raton received plans for the updated version of Mizner 200, the Elad National Properties condo project that would replace Elad’s Mizner on the Green rental complex across Mizner Boulevard from Royal Palm Place. The change in design is significant and pleasing.
Like the first version, the new plan is for 384 luxury units. Like the first version, the project would run roughly 900 feet from Townsend Place on the south to Mizner Village Boulevard on the north. Like the first version, it would be nine stories tall and would not exceed the 100-foot height limit that Ordinance 4035, which governs downtown development, allows for the site.
Unlike the first version, the new design breaks up what remains one building into what appear to be three buildings. There are new sight lines through to the east, where Mizner 200 would abut the Boca Raton Resort & Club golf course. The single entrance aligns with the entrance to Royal Palm Place.
Architect Peter Stromberg of GarciaStromberg/GS4 Studios made the changes in response to comments from residents about the first version. The Boca Beautiful group sent Mayor Susan Haynie a review that referred to the project as a “wall” and claimed that the design did not comply with Ordinance 4035. Since Boca Beautiful’s founder and many of its members live in Townsend Place, the review focused especially on views for those and other downtown residents and scale. Mizner 200, the review argued, would “overwhelm” the area.
In an interview last week, Stromberg said he took Boca Beautiful’s review “seriously.” Noting that Ordinance 4035 does not contain the architectural rules of Ordinance 5052, Stromberg said he nevertheless wanted in the redesign to “create open space above the street.” The setback from the sidewalk would be 30 feet; the city requires just six feet. The new design breaks out the three sections at the fourth floor, with another “step back” at the ninth floor. Pedestrians, Stromberg said, would see “three masses” and the public walkway would be opened up. Mizner on the Green goes right up to the sidewalk.
To accommodate the changes, Stromberg said, he took 50,000 square feet out of the project. The average size of the units would be 2,000 square feet, but the design allows buyers who want more space to combine units. Stromberg estimates that the working number of units would be about 340, not 384.
Ironically, the development team’s meeting with Boca Beautiful, the Federation of Boca Raton Homeowners and others might result not only in what Stromberg calls “a better project” but a more lucrative project. Because of the new spacing, there are more end units. Those tend to cost more. Elad’s attorney, Bonnie Miskel, estimated the sale prices at $750 per square foot. At that rate, a 2,000-square foot apartment would cost $1.5 million.
Elad also met with representatives of Royal Palm Place, whose owners are planning their own residential project on what is now parking on the west side of Mizner Boulevard. That project would be part of a seven-phase makeover of Royal Palm Place. Miskel said, “We’ve attempted to meet (Royal Palm Place) halfway.” Stromberg said the two companies have a mutual interest in making their respective projects complementary.
In an interview Friday, Royal Palm Place architect Doug Mummaw acknowledged the design changes but said his side still objects to Mizner 200 as “not congruent with the architectural guidelines” of Ordinance 4035 and “significantly overscaled.” Mummaw said Royal Palm Beach intends to “put (Elad) on notice” about these issues.
Obviously, Royal Palm Place will want optimal views for its residential project so as to charge optimal prices. Potentially obstructed views also will be the issue for some Townsend Place residents. One asked Stromberg to reconfigure the southernmost portion of Mizner 200, a change that Stromberg called “not feasible.” Mizner on the Green’s buildings are all three stories, so Mizner 200 would be a big change.
Referring to Townsend Place, Miskel said, “No one is entitled to a view.” Referring to objections about the design, Miskel said she has read Ordinance 4035 “at least 100 times,” and believes that no other downtown Boca project has adhered as much to it as Mizner 200. Downtown projects, she said, always seek one or two technical violations, “and they’re always granted.” Mizner 200 seeks no technical variations.
Aside from the size and scale, Miskel anticipates questions about the design style, with critics saying it isn’t Mizneresque. To which she responded, “There’s a lot about Addison Mizner that people don’t know,” adding that the architect most identified with Boca Raton’s Mediterranean look also favored “lines, patterns and undulations” that are not typically Mediterranean.
Mizner 200 wouldn’t have roof tiles, but Stromberg responds that Mizner 200 would have a flat roof, and downtown design guidelines don’t require Spanish tiles with flat roofs. Stromberg calls the project “a modern interpretation of tropical Mediterranean style.”
Construction of Mizner 200 would take three to four years. The company would begin on the north end and work south. Elad has been notifying Mizner on the Green tenants when their leases come up and offering to move anyone interested to other company projects in Boca.
There is no date for Mizner 200 to go before the Planning and Zoning Board, which is the first step in city review. Discussion of the project likely will include what Elad first proposed: four condo towers averaging 300 feet in height. That project never got a hearing. Miskel hopes that the board can get Mizner 200 on its agenda in June.
Scott resignation
Delray Beach Assistant City Manager David Scott has submitted his resignation, effective Aug. 31. Scott came to the city last fall from Pinellas County.
Scott is one of two assistants to Don Cooper. News of Scott’s departure comes just after city commissioners said in their evaluation of Cooper that he needs his top aides to take on more work so the manager can focus on bigger issues that are commission priorities.
Most recently, Scott was involved in a workplace dispute between Parks and Recreation Director Suzanne Fisher, who reports to Scott, and Human Resources Director Tennile DeCoste. Fisher had reported DeCoste for using a park facility last Thanksgiving without paying. Cooper finally had to have Fisher report directly to him. Commissioners told me that Scott should have been able to resolve the dispute before the manager had to step in.
City Attorney search
On Tuesday, the Delray Beach City Commission will hold a special meeting to agree on the finalists for city attorney. The search firm has received roughly 50 applications, and has culled that list to about 10. Noel Pfeffer’s last day is June 24.
Traffic report
One of Boca Raton’s most anticipated meetings in the last few months will come June 13, when the city’s traffic consultant discusses its recommendations. Though much of the anticipation has focused on the Palmetto Park Road/Northeast Fifth Avenue intersection and the surrounding area, the report will cover much more.
According to a city spokeswoman, the consultant will present three reports “that provide options and alternatives” Palmetto and Fifth Avenue, other downtown proposals such as turning lanes medians and widening Fifth Avenue, alternatives to Dixie Highway—the downtown bypass—and Palmetto Park Road west of City Hall, including the option of widening the road to Interstate 95.
Airport delays problematic here
One of the many nice things about living in Boca Raton or Delray is having a choice of three airports fairly close by that offer flights to almost everywhere.Travel & Leisure magazine, however, reports that getting almost everywhere from here may take a while.
Miami International Airport has the second-worst rate of delays among domestic airports, with just 76.03 percent of flights on time. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood is third-worst, at 76.60 percent. And if you’re flying to New York City, as many South Floridians do regularly, LaGuardia is sixth-worst.
