REIMAGINING URBAN SPACES IN BOCA TATON

Boca Raton, known to some as the Sixth Borough, often carries a reputation that doesn't fully reflect reality. Your average person might believe it consists solely of high net worth individuals. This is really not the case. While there is a tremendous amount of wealth and high net income producing property owners in Boca Raton, not all residents fall within that income bracket. Middle income earners exist alongside some lower income residents as well. Interaction between all these people takes place every day in Boca Raton, just like most other major city in Florida.

The social fabric of Boca Raton, I believe, has already been shaped. All levels of income are seen throughout the city, just some more ovious to the eyes, than others. Middle and upper income are easily visible to one's eye in the automobiles driven, the clothing and accessories worn, the prices chared in many restaurants and retail establishments, and rents charged for both commercial and residential use. Lower income areas are also evident, seen in some of the older more established neighborhoods and by the many people who service our neighbors' needs.

Repurposing With Purpose

If this office building targeted for redevelopment is not needed in its present form and use, then repurposing it to something that better suits the residents of this area is justified. Is it necessary? I'm not sure. Will it disrupt the current community structure? Time will tell. I don't think it will, but again, time will tell. In my opinion it is too small a portion of a huge, bustling community to create significant disruption.

With services like Uber and Lyft and other ride-sharing services available to everyone these days, I don't believe that the proposed 700 parking spaces would really be necessary for this development. This approach may be a bit outdated. The space could be put to some other better use that serves the community more effectively or expands the housing options.

Resistance Versus Reality

Boca Raton has only undergone transformation with an edge toward luxury as well as middle and upper income values and amenities over the years. The resistance seen by some local business owners, as well as residents, is not surprising but may not be justified. The affordable housing aspect would best serve those who also work in the area and serve many of the existing residents.

Lower paid workers such as wait staff, retail store employees, secretaries, and many others whose salaries fall within these levels could benefit from living and working in Boca Raton and nearby. This practical consideration addresses a genuine need without dramatically altering the character of the community.

Since Boca Raton has an abundance of retail establishments along with restaurants, health clubs, spas, houses of worship and other services that cater to its residents, I don't believe that this development will really make a great change to the lifestyle of those who live and work here. The primary benefit would be for workers who service this community. If they can live in this workforce housing, that would benefit those employees along with their employers and those that they service in the establishments where they work.

Sustainable Development Approaches

Building from scratch eliminates the need for specific permits to be pulled, the demolition of an existing building, and then rebuilding with possible delays in obtaining necessary building materials due to supply chain issues that could come up in the future. Repurposing a building, indeed, may be a good approach in my opinion, especially when land and time is limited.

This adaptive reuse strategy represents a practical solution that acknowledges the finite nature of available space in Boca Raton while making efficient use of existing structures. The environmental benefits come as a secondary advantage to the practical considerations of time, resources, and space.

It is true that there are many gated communities in Boca Raton and neighboring cities, but not all communities are gated or private. This mix of open and closed developments is nothing new, especially for someone who comes from and has lived and worked both within Boca Raton and also outside of Boca Raton or its neighboring cities. The public accessibility component of this development simply continues an already established one rather than breaking new ground.  True, it may not be the direction Boca Raton has been tracking, but a project of this size should not disturb the overall feel and allure of Boca Raton.

Case-by-Case Evaluation

The city council may have bent in a certain direction and I am sure had their reasons for approving this development. It may or may not prove to be the best decision, but I don't think that one development like this will change very much the perception and the lifestyle of the majority of Boca Raton residents.

There may not have been a permanent shift in either direction and I don't foresee that decisions will be based on this one development going forward. I believe each project should be based on its own merits and how it will affect, hopefully only in positive ways, the benefits that it should bring to a community like Boca Raton, its neighbors or any other communities chosen in the future.

Boca Raton will always be Boca Raton and have a high place in my love of Southeast Florida. It will always be known as one of those special cities in Florida to visit, play, live and work in because of the diversity that it has always offered over the years with its beautiful beaches, the beautiful weather, the many amenities, along with the cultural events that it holds, and the culture it brings to its community members.

This development, while addressing certain needs like workforce housing and making use of an underutilized building, represents an evolution rather than a revolution in Boca Raton's development pattern. The city's character, shaped by decades of growth and change, will continue to accommodate diverse income levels and lifestyles while maintaining the qualities that make it quite distinctive among Florida communities.

About Ross Kuflik