The owner of a building in downtown Boca Raton that dates back to 1939 is hoping to repurpose the structure, however a vote to allow the project to move forward was tabled after officials questioned parking, safety and affordability in the proposed mixed-use project.
The property in question is located at 101 E. Palmetto Park Road, next to the entrance to Sanborn Square at the corner of NE 1st Avenue. The white building, now encircled by taller structures and next door to the forthcoming Aletto at Sanborn Square project, was constructed in 1939 and stands two stories tall. In 1955, the city permitted the construction of what is now a one-story addition on the east side of the building. The owner is seeking what representatives called an “adaptive re-use” of the property, seeking to transform it from a mix of retail and office space to a new mix of restaurant and residential space.
As the building currently stands, the first floor consists of 5,680 square feet of retail space and the second floor houses 2,555 square feet of office space. Under the proposed plan, the first floor would be converted to 3,136 square feet of retail usage and a 2,544 square foot restaurant with outdoor seating on Palmetto Park Road. The second floor would be converted to four residential units with no parking spaces. Historically, the building included no parking access, however the owner leased several spaces from the city in a publicly-owned lot nearby. The apartment proposal does not include a continuation of parking access, however, creating a bone of contention between the developer and some commissioners of the Community Redevelopment Authority, which has jurisdiction over the downtown sector.
Ele Zachariades, representing the property owner, said the four apartments – all studios – on the second floor would be affordable and the overall development would “activate” the entrance to Sanborn Square while preserving one of the downtown’s oldest buildings…