Hundreds of new condos, apartments planned in Boynton Beach
The city of Boynton Beach has approved three major developments this year that will change the face of some of the city's most popular streets within the next two years.

By Attiyya Anthony Sun Sentinel
3.19.15
Boynton approves three major developments this year
New developments coming to Boynton's Ocean Avenue, Federal Highway and Congress Avenue
Hundreds of new condos, apartments, townhouses and houses will change the face of some of the city's most popular streets in just the next two years.
Since the start of 2015, the city of Boynton Beach has approved three major developments that officials say will increase the city's downtown appeal and lure more taxpayers to the city.
"You're either growing or you're standing still and doing nothing," said Boynton Beach Mayor Jerry Taylor. "This is growth and I can't wait for it all to happen."
The projects are:
•500 Ocean, a $4.4 million multi-use complex with 341 luxury rentals, 13,300 square feet of retail and 6,600 square feet of office space at 101 S. Federal Highway, on the corner of Ocean Avenue and Federal Highway.
Casa Del Mar, a gated waterfront community with 69 luxury townhomes and three multimillion-dollar single-family homes on the Intracoastal, at 2632 N. Federal Highway.
Cortina at Boynton Village and Town Center, a complex with 643 condos, 350 apartments, 115 single-family homes and a 1-acre dog park at the northeast corner of Congress Avenue and Old Boynton Road.
City officials say that 500 Ocean will serve as an anchor for the city's downtown and bring much-needed foot traffic to businesses on Ocean Avenue. The downtown development was approved last month and is expected to be complete by August 2016.
As part of the project, Altamonte Springs-based LeCesse Development Corp. will construct a six-story building with apartments; another building with offices, restaurants and retail businesses; and a seven-story parking garage with more than 600 parking spaces on the 4.7-acre site.
"It's pivotal to Ocean Avenue because it starts the development process," said Vivian Brooks, executive director for the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency.
City officials anticipate that with more than 300 rental units, the development could bring close to 600 new residents.
"This is the first large urban project out of the ground since the recession. It's a good sign for the city — it's evidence that things are coming back to life," Brooks said.
500 Ocean may be the first major project to break ground since 2009, but there are more to come.
Earlier this month, the city approved two major housing developments that city officials expect will bring hundreds of people to some of the city's major streets, including Federal Highway and Congress Avenue.
Right now, Federal Highway is a desolate road, dotted with empty lots and storefronts. But with two developments expected to be completed by 2016, city officials expect significant improvements.
"Federal Highway from Ocean Avenue to Gateway Boulevard is a portion of Federal Highway that really needs to be redone and have major improvements made," said James Brake, a member of the city's Planning and Development board.
Brake said Boynton Beach's downtown should thrive with both the 500 Ocean project and Casa Del Mar coming to Federal Highway.
Casa Del Mar, a K. Hovnanian luxury community, is four miles south of the 500 Ocean project. K. Hovnanian is a national developer specializing in high-priced homes. The project was approved at a meeting this month and is expected to be completed by fall of 2016.
Townhomes in Casa Del Mar are expected to be three and four stories and start at $300,000. The development will include a marina, boat slips, cabana and 14 docks.
"Casa Del Mar shows that Boynton Beach has growth potential and is moving forward," said Boynton Beach Commissioner David Merker. "It represents a new refinement in Boynton Beach — it's elegant and it's positive."
Positive things also are happening on Congress Avenue, the city's busiest street, filled with residences, restaurants, bars and other businesses.
Officials are looking forward to the avenue's newest addition — Cortina at Boynton Village and Town Center, a residential complex with more than 1,000 apartments, condos, single-family homes and a dog park. Construction is expected to start in the fall and be completed by 2019.
Mayor Taylor said, "It's going to be a tremendous thing for our tax base and it's going to bring a lot more businesses and a lot more jobs."
The development also may help draw customers to nearby businesses. Cortina at Boynton Village and Town Center will be situated behind a shopping plaza that has a Target and Best Buy. It also will be near Renaissance Commons, where many of the city's bars and restaurants are situated.
Cortina "would be a great boost for Target and all the other stores that have been waiting for that tract to be developed," said Dave Poist of Compson Associates, the developer of Renaissance Commons.