Boca Raton city officials are continuing negotiations with developers Terra and Frisbie Group over a proposed redevelopment project, despite opposition from residents who have called for a referendum on the matter.
At a recent city council meeting, John Pearlman, founder of the grassroots group Save Boca, announced that volunteers had collected 5,200 signatures in support of an initiative ordinance. This ordinance would require voter approval before any sale or lease of more than half an acre of city-owned land could proceed. According to the city code, once these signatures are certified, the council must either approve the ordinance or put it to a special vote within 30 to 60 days.
“The voice of the people is stronger than ever. They’re saying stop this project, they don’t want it,” Pearlman told council members.
The proposed project involves a 99-year lease between Boca Raton and the Terra-Frisbie joint venture for about 31 acres of public land, including Memorial Park. The plan calls for construction of a 1.5-million-square-foot “government campus” featuring residential units, hotel rooms, office space, retail and restaurant areas. Many residents at the meeting argued that voters should have final say on such a significant deal.
Mayor Scott Singer acknowledged that a finalized agreement may not be reached by October as initially planned but said negotiations should continue. He emphasized gathering community input and noted there are supporters who were not present at the meeting.
“I think we are getting close to evaluating a plan that makes sense financially,” Singer said. “That we should just stop tonight, that is not giving an option.”
Under terms approved by the council in June with a 4-1 vote, Terra and Frisbie would be allowed to build 912 residential units, 150 hotel rooms, 350,000 square feet of offices and about 152,000 square feet for retail and restaurants near the Brightline station. In return, Boca Raton would receive $5.1 million annually in rent plus an upfront payment of $10 million; these terms remain under negotiation.
Frisbie Group co-principal Rob Frisbie Jr. stated that over the next century the project would generate $3 billion in revenue and that its net present value exceeds $350 million—enough to fund infrastructure improvements and public amenities on land dating back to mid-20th century development.
The developers also propose building new mini-parks and realigning streets around the downtown campus while constructing new municipal facilities including a community center, city hall and police substation. City officials report that existing facilities are outdated or deteriorating.
However, many residents objected to removing recreational amenities such as baseball fields and courts from Memorial Park—a site dedicated to World War II veterans—and Tim Huxhold Skate & Shuffle Board Park as part of redevelopment plans. Replacement facilities would be built elsewhere: tennis courts at Meadows Park two miles away; baseball fields at Sugar Sand Park three miles away; and a skatepark at North Park four miles from its current location.
Council Member Andy Thomson opposed the project due to concerns about its scale, potential traffic increases and loss of recreational spaces. He noted an independent audit will not be completed until late September and suggested delaying or putting the proposal to referendum.
“The increasing number of residents speaking out [against this project] reflect in my view an erosion of trust. They don’t trust this process,” Thomson said.
Mayor Singer responded that no final decision has been made regarding the project’s form or whether it will move forward at all. He also pointed out Thomson’s previous support for another development proposal from Related Ross earlier this year.
Interest from developers in Boca Raton has grown alongside population increases among affluent newcomers. Other projects recently approved include two hotel towers by James and Marta Batmasian near Mizner Park as well as apartment buildings by Group P6 and Mill Creek Residential on South Dixie Highway.
Elsewhere in Palm Beach County, Frisbie and Terra acquired land for future residential developments: $20.9 million was spent on property at Palm Beach Kennel Club for apartments; Hines and Frisbie paid $41.5 million for bayfront property in West Palm Beach intended for condo towers.
Terra Group remains active across Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties with projects such as Mr. C West Palm Beach condo hotel (financed by Tyko Capital), Major Food Group-branded condos in Miami’s Edgewater area (also financed by Tyko), collaboration with Michael Stern on a South Beach condo tower plan, and efforts with ESJ Capital Partners to acquire Watson Island land from Miami for luxury condominiums.
