The Boca boom: A closer look at the luxury residential developments on the city's runway
Boca Raton, the second biggest city in Palm Beach County, recently eclipsed the 100,000 population mark based on the 2024 U.S. Census Bureau and that number is likely going to rapidly grow based on the number of new residential developments the city has in the works.
Developers have taken notice. The city's Planning and Zoning Board recently approved three new residential development applications and is currently considering more than 25 multi-family projects.
Contemporary developments Briskel Pointe, Modera Boca and Park Tower were all recently approved by the planning board. Briskel Pointe and Modera Boca require a second vote from the city council before building permits can be obtained and construction can begin.
The city was once strictly known as a resort and retiree haven, but its median age today is just 48 years old and newcomers are rapidly changing Boca’s demography.
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Here's a look at the latest residential projects in the works:
Briskel Pointe at Boca Harbour
Briskel Pointe labels itself as a future boutique community that will feature townhome residences with three models. It includes eight two-story duplex buildings with 20 total units and one four-unit townhouse building. This development will be located right off East Federal Highway along the Intracoastal adjacent to Arturo’s Restaurant on Appleby Street.
Each model, which all start at $1.2 million, includes a two-car garage, private pool and entertainment area.
The Boca Harbour Association and a nearby condominium association also gave their stamp of approval for this property, representatives both saying they would rather have the land go to use than sit empty.
Modera Boca
Located off of South Dixie Highway, Modera Boca will be a 12-story multi-family residential building with a total of 306 units and an attached parking garage.
Located off of South Dixie Highway, Modera Boca will be a 12-story multi-family residential building with a total of 306 units and an attached parking garage. This property would replace the existing Arbor Professional Office building and include amenities such as a main lobby, fitness center, leasing area, clubhouse, bicycle room, yoga lawn, 7th floor roof deck pool, seating areas, Zen garden and a putting green.
The complex, located between SE 3rd Street and SE 5th Street, will be one of the first major private development projects along Dixie Highway adjacent to the Florida East Coast Railroad tracks.
Boca Raton-based Mill Creek Residential said it sees the area near the new Brightline station as an opportunity for growth.
The Planning and Zoning Board unanimously approved this property application at their June 26 meeting, and a city planner will present the application to the Community Redevelopment Agency for approval next.
The Park at Broken Sound
Rendering of Mutual of America Residential, a project that will bring a seven-story building with 2,000 square feet of retail space to 1150 NW Broken Sound Parkway in Boca Raton, Fla.
On June 10, the city council approved a new seven-story, 289-unit multifamily residential building on Broken Sound Parkway, which would include a 2,100 square foot retail component on the ground floor. Five percent will be considered affordable housing — 29 affordable units and 15 workforce housing units.
This development is the second part of a two-phase master plan that the council originally approved in 2024. Phase one, which is already complete, consists of 370 residential units, according to Senior Planner Eoin Devlin at the latest council meeting,
The new complex will include a clubhouse, co-working space, a pool, pet spa and a fitness center on the first floor.
A seven-level integrated parking structure will provide new residents with 502 total parking spaces and 36 bicycle parking spaces. Of the parking spaces, 25 will be EV installed, meaning an electric vehicle charging station will be readily available.
The complex, once once known as the Arvida Park of Commerce, was previously an office park, but has since shifted to allow multiple residential complexes.
The Link at Boca
Development group 13th Floor Investments is scheduled to break ground this summer on construction of a mixed-use mobile hub off near the Boca Raton Tri-Rail Station called The Link at Boca. The property, at 680 West Yamato Road, would include an eight-story residential building with 340 units, street-level retail space and a 650-space parking garage.
The development is a public-private partnership with the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority and would be a mix of studio one, two and three-bedroom units.
Amenities include a pool deck, office spaces, wellness facilities and outdoor recreation areas.
The project, expected to take about two years to finish,
City Center Government Campus
Rendering of the proposed government campus redevelopment in downtown Boca Raton, Fla. The joint venture plan is being led by the Miami-based Terra Group and the Frisbie Group of Palm Beach.
Boca Raton has received plenty of community input on its joint venture partnership with Miami-based Terra Group and Palm Beach-based Frisbie Group on the downtown government campus redevelopment, which will include a residential building with 912 units.
The new building would be located on the 30-acre lot across from the Brightline station near Palmetto Park Road and residents would have access to multiple restaurants, a hotel and a wide, outdoor recreational space.
Some Boca residents have persistently expressed their opposition to the original plan, as it threatened to eradicate valuable recreational spaces like tennis courts and the city’s only skate park. The developers have been receptive to the feedback and as of June 10, the city council approved a scaled-back plan.
791 Park of Commerce
In April, Boca Raton approved a mixed-use development property with an eight-story apartment building consisting of 226 units and 17 other units distributed between three townhome-style buildings. This will be located right off Yamato Road and east of Congress Avenue.
Twenty-five of the residential units at Park of Commerce will be designated affordable housing for those who are low-income and unemployed, and 13 units will be considered workforce housing, a program for residents just above the low-income line but who may struggle to afford the standard rent in Boca’s costly real estate market.
Residents at Park of Commerce will have easy access to a fast-casual restaurant and bar, an amateur athletic facility (mini golf, climbing walls and ninja courts), retail stores and a parking garage.
The project is being filed under the state’s Live Local Act, which allows developers to override local zoning and land rules that would, in turn, make housing more affordable in the area.
A look at other residential developments coming to Boca Raton
- Boca Center Residential: Approved in February by the city council, this office and residential mixed-use property will include 295 units at 1800 North Military Trail.
- Office Depot mixed-use project: An eight-story, 500-rental unit multifamily residential building will soon replace what used to be the Office Depot global headquarters located on 6600 North Military Trail.
- Park Square Townhomes: A neighborhood located at 12th Avenue right off of Palmetto Park Road consisting of more than 40 townhouse-style buildings.
- Martin Manor Phase II: Two three-story residential buildings will be added to the Martin Manor property located on North Federal Highway, which includes a combined total of 105 low-income housing units.
- The Villas on 5th Avenue: This property consists of 120 units spread throughout 22 three-story buildings at 2600 Northwest 5th Avenue.
- North Park Villas: The city is reviewing an application to construct a multi-family building with 10 dwelling units on Northwest 2nd Avenue.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: The Boca boom: A closer look at the luxury residential developments on the city's runway
