By Alexandra Seltzer - Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

BOYNTON BEACH —
Views of the Intracoastal Waterway near Woolbright Road in Boynton Beach are blocked by a nearly 60,000-square-foot Winn-Dixie. For years, the store’s dumpsters had the best views of the calm waters, boats and luxurious Ocean Ridge homes.
But the Winn-Dixie is vacant now and the plaza’s owner wants to tear it down. In its place could be a 10-story, 328-unit apartment building with pedestrian walkways, a pool overlooking the water, and a complete update of the Riverwalk Plaza, about 116,669 square feet in all, according to plans obtained by The Palm Beach Post.
A “major redevelopment” is how Andrew Mack, the city’s interim director of development, described it.
It’s common for shopping centers in Boynton to undergo changes — Meadows Square, Boynton Plaza, Sunshine Square, Yachtsman’s Plaza — but the Woolbright Road and Federal Highway plaza would be the first commercial one to be redeveloped into a mixed-use center of residential and retail, Mack said.
“We’re very excited to see the project come in,” he added.
Rumors have swirled for a while. The Winn-Dixie store closed in January and residents and nearby business owners wondered what the space would become. A restaurant? A Whole Foods?
Plaza owner Isram Realty met with Boynton officials in August and left plans and renderings. They’ll submit final plans later this month or in October for a site plan review, Mack said.
An Isram representative didn’t return a request for comment Friday.
Under the plans submitted so far, several of the plaza’s current businesses would have to be moved. The building that houses Walgreens and Joann’s Fabrics would stay and be updated, but there’s a chance the stores would move. Joann’s lease is up, or is soon to be up, and there’s a possibility of Walgreens moving to an outparcel in the plaza, Mack said.
In addition to the former Winn-Dixie, the building that is to become the residential area also houses businesses and restaurants such as Josie’s Pizza, Rice Fine Thai and Sushi Simon. Their new locations are not outlined in the plans. City officials asked that a retail component be incorporated in that building.
The Wendy’s and the Wells Fargo at the far north corner of the plaza would remain. However, Wendy’s will undergo construction to get a more modern look. And the Prime Catch restaurant that shares the Intracoastal view with Winn-Dixie would stay as is, also.
Mack said it’s a good time for the changes because the residential market is “hot” at the moment. If approved, the building is just one of Boynton’s several incoming residential projects. Cortina is a $215 million residential project that will finish off the Boynton Village and Town Center area. Casa Del Mar will bring townhomes and three single-family homes to Federal and Gateway Boulevard. 500 Ocean will bring six stories of 341 apartments and commercial space to Federal and Ocean Avenue.
It’s all good news for Boynton, Mack said.
“I think it’s Boynton’s time. You’re seeing the redevelopment of downtown and the coastal areas,” he said.