Officials examine the scene where a tree trimmer died in a Jan. 28 incident involving a wood chipper at Ocean Ridge Town Hall. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

A worker was killed Jan. 28 in a wood-chipper while doing tree-trimming work at Ocean Ridge Town Hall.

The man was part of a crew trimming coconut palm trees on the north side of the building when the incident occurred. His identification is being withheld pending notification of next of kin in Mexico, police said.

Ocean Ridge police officers arrived at the scene and determined the man had been pulled into the machine and was killed.

In a statement, Town Manager Lynne Ladner said the tragedy happened at about 9:30 a.m. The crew, from contracted vendor Carlton Tree Service, started the work about 8 a.m.

“I’m devastated. This is a horrible loss of life,” Ladner said. She added that Boynton Beach Fire Rescue is providing grief counselors for town employees and the vendor’s staff.

Ladner also said representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration had been contacted and were headed to the scene.

Boynton Beach police are assisting Ocean Ridge police in the investigation. OSHA and the Medical Examiner’s Office are also investigating, police said.

— Henry Fitzgerald

The crossing gates where the Brightline train and Delray Beach fire truck collided do not entirely block the traffic lanes, as they do at many other intersections. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

I didn’t think I would be using my first editorial for The Coastal Star to advocate for something that should be totally unnecessary.

Totally unnecessary, that is, if only you could trust people to use common sense.

But then a fire truck being driven by a professional plays a game of rushin’ roulette on Delray Beach’s downtown railroad tracks — tracks that just happened to be loaded with an oncoming express train — and trust gets tossed aside just as easily as that Brightline passenger train blasted apart the city’s aerial ladder truck.

Fortunately, no one died in the Dec. 28 crash.

We can shake our heads at someone thinking it’s a good idea to maneuver a vehicle around lowered railroad crossing arms, but when a fire truck is the thing taking that chance it becomes obvious something more is needed.

It’s still not clear what the city’s policy is when an in-service emergency vehicle comes upon lowered crossing gates. Is the driver supposed to wait for the gates to go up or is the driver given the option to proceed with caution depending on the situation?

And absent those gate arms rising, just how do you proceed with caution — how do you get yourself close enough to see if the tracks are clear without being far enough out onto the tracks to put yourself in danger if a train is barreling toward you?

If only Florida East Coast Railway had crossing-arm gates that could block all lanes of traffic on both sides of the tracks, to prevent drivers from making the potentially disastrous mistake of crossing the tracks too early.

Oh, that’s right, the FEC does have such crossing protections and there are many crossings with them right here in southern Palm Beach County. But the crossing at Southeast First Street where the crash occurred included a partial gate arm that only served to stop pedestrians. That arm was not long enough to block a vehicle that intentionally moves into the wrong lane so that it can get on the tracks and try to cross despite the lowered gates and the flashing, red warning lights.

Given what we’ve all seen — the Brightline video of the actual crash went viral and clearly showed the fire truck circumventing the lowered gate arms — it’s time for the FEC to eliminate that driver option and install gate arms at local crossings that block all lanes of traffic on both sides of the tracks when a train is coming.

Seconds matter in saving lives. But so do lowered railroad crossing arms.

— Larry Barszewski,
Editor

Tanise Cox (right) has worked at the Achievement Centers for Children & Families in Delray Beach since 1991. Her daughter Trenyce Cox, 21, now works there along with her mother. Photo provided

By Ron Hayes

Since 1969, the Achievement Centers for Children & Families in Delray Beach has given kids from low-income homes an education.

For 33 years, it has given Tanise Cox a living, and a life.

“My two boys, Denard and Denyveaux, were enrolled at the center in 1990, so I began volunteering,” she recalls, “and then, after I’d volunteered perhaps a year, Nancy Hurd, the CEO at the time, asked me if I wanted to work there.”

Cox was employed by a temp agency then, with unstable hours, no benefits, little future — and two small boys.

“I always wanted to work with kids,” she says, “so this was a blessing.”

On May 1, 1991, she arrived as a preschool teacher, helping children ages 3-5 learn to name colors and shapes, maybe even tie their shoes.

She shone, and soon advanced to curriculum specialist, helping to develop lesson plans and to ensure supplies were on hand to implement those plans.

She shone again, and was named a director, with a role in hiring.

In time, her success at the center was becoming a bit expensive. Her family had been living in a subsidized housing development, and as her salary grew, so did her rent.

Then Nancy Hurd arrived with another blessing.

“She told me about Habitat for Humanity,” Cox says.

Jimmy Carter did not help build her three-bedroom home off Swinton Avenue, but Cox does live in the city’s first Habitat house.

“To qualify, you have to put in 500 hours helping build Habitat homes,” she explains. “They call it sweat equity, so my house was ready for months before I could move in. I was working at ACCF during the week and then putting in long hours on Saturdays to make my 500 hours.”

She laughs at the memory. “I was on the roof, I was in the yard, I was doing everything.”

The Achievement Centers for Children & Families gave her a job, and then it helped her get a house.

By 2000, she was directing the agency’s after-school program, and three years later, another child arrived.

“When I was pregnant with Trenyce, I’d already been working at ACCF for 12 years,” she says.

Trenyce Cox is 21 now, and both mother and daughter joke that she was attending the center even before she was born. She kept right on, leaving when she was 18 after benefiting from the center’s entire curriculum.

“When Trenyce first went to public school, the kindergarten teacher said she was way ahead in her colors and numbers,” her mother says. “I made sure they knew she’d been to ACCF.”

Now Trenyce works there along with her mother. When she was a child, the center taught her to play drums, banging on painted plastic buckets.

Today, the kids have real drums, thanks to a generous donor, and Trenyce Cox is teaching a new generation to find the beat.

“The center really is a family,” she says. “Some of the counselors treat you like you’re their own children, and then you bond with other children, and that bond goes on for years.”

On May 1, Tanise Cox will have worked at the Achievement Centers for Children & Families for 34 years. She was 23 when she arrived; she is 57 now. Her boys are grown men, and her daughter is a student at Florida Atlantic University. She has grown and so has the center.

In 1969, it was a small child care service for working mothers, meeting in spaces donated by churches.

Today, it has a main campus and multiple programs at three sites in Delray Beach.

Four years ago, Cox moved from the after-school program to become director of facilities and fleet, overseeing maintenance and making sure the employees have had their physicals, and that drivers of ACCF’s four buses have their current chauffeur’s licenses.

One day, a child she had known while directing the after-school program returned as an adult and working for Island Air, the local firm that maintains the center’s air conditioning.

“And he remembered me,” Cox says. “They come back and hug me, and some have children here and tell me, ‘My baby’s here. Make sure you watch over my baby.’

“The Achievement Center has meant the world to me,” she says. “It’s meant homeowner help, a career, and an education for my kids. I’m not going anywhere. I’m done.

“I’m where I’m supposed to be.”

For more information about Achievement Centers for Children & Families, call 561-276-0520 or visit achievementcentersfl.org.

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Send a note to news@thecoastalstar.com or call 561-337-1553.

Aviation enthusiasts watch air traffic at the Boca Raton Airport from the new observation area. ABOVE (l-r): Jordan Cohen, his father, Cliff Cohen, and FAU student Victoria Czyszczon watch a Global 7500 take off to the north. With a 104-foot wingspan, it is the largest jet the airport can accommodate. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Rich Pollack

The crackling voices coming over two loudspeakers at Boca Raton Airport’s new observation area hint at what is soon to come from out of the sky.

An air traffic controller sitting in the nearby tower gives a far-off pilot the green light to land a private jet, and soon the eyes of those gathered on the deck are focused upward searching for the plane weaving through the clouds.

Within minutes the large aircraft approaching from the north appears to be coming straight toward the small group of spectators as it touches down about a football field away.

The collective “wow” is muffled by the thundering jet engines.

“Just being able to come to something like this is pretty cool,” said Scott Goldstein, one of the first to visit the long-awaited observation area, which opened in January.

The deck is a magnet for people who find witnessing planes come and go magical but who have had to peer through fences or hide from security to do so. It offers a clear vantage point to see everything from large Gulfstream 650s with 100-foot wingspans to single-engine propeller planes and even a gyrocopter.

“This is a great spot,” said Lander Talbott. He and his fiancée, Aelin Shea, have come to the airport regularly to watch planes but have had to watch from a distant parking lot.

“Being able to listen to the air traffic controller talking to the pilots is cool, too.”

The observation area was dedicated on Jan. 28.

During a ribbon-cutting ceremony Jan. 28, airport Executive Director Clara Bennett said the observation deck was built with the community in mind.

“This is an opportunity for us to give back to the community that has supported the airport for 75 years,” she said.

Built on a 4-foot-high elevated mound, with ramps on either side forming a circle, the observation deck is unique in its design, according to the airport’s deputy director, Scott Kohut.

Along with the speakers that make it possible to eavesdrop on chatter between pilots and the tower, the deck has a covered area and four educational signs with information about the history of the airport, the native species that inhabit the surrounding area, aviation features of the airport, and descriptions of the types of aircraft that visitors will see.

Located on the east side of the airport next to the Boca Raton Airport Authority offices on Northwest 35th Street, the observation area is easily accessible from FAU Boulevard and includes ample parking. There is seating for up to 12 people and it is ADA accessible.

“The observation area is meant to provide additional ways of engaging with the community, telling the story of the airport, and inspiring interest in the field of aviation,” Kohut said. “It is also a great way for students interested in aviation and airports to learn more about the field.”

The area is also designed for people who just enjoy watching planes take flight, whether they are 5-year-olds waving to pilots or those who aspire to be in the cockpit.

“There is something awe-inspiring watching aircraft as they come and go,” Kohut said. “Airplanes are cool.”

The observation deck is a real draw for student pilots like Kyle Peterson, a high school junior who has been flying since before he could drive a car, and Jordan Cohen, who is also taking flying lessons and was at the airport along with his fiancée, Stephanie Kruchko, and two dogs one Sunday, and with his dad, Cliff, the next weekend.

“I love to watch airplanes and here you can hear the control tower. It’s awesome,” said Cohen, who got pointers from Jared Kulp, a flight instructor from Lynn University who had come to the deck to see the airport from a different vantage point and to witness the variety of aircraft on the runway.

Air traffic on the Sunday afternoon that Cohen and Kruchko visited was robust, with jets of different sizes, including those that can carry as many as 15 people, coming in or taking off about every five to 10 minutes.

Traffic is likely to almost double over the next few years — whenever President Donald Trump is at Mar-a-Lago, flight restrictions will mean that many non-commercial flights will have to land at airports other than those in West Palm Beach and Lantana.

The observation area was built at a cost of about $1 million and funded largely with federal grants.

“We hope that anyone with an interest in aviation stops by and learns more about the airport and general aviation, the history of the airport, and some of the unique aspects of the airport including some of the native species we share the field with,” Kohut said.

Main city center proposal story: Proposals present four visions for redeveloped city center

Other city center proposals: Namdar Group, Related Ross, RocaPoint Partners

Boca Raton City Center, Joint venture of Coconut Grove-based Terra and Frisbie Group of Palm Beach real estate developers

Boca Raton City Center was one of four firms that submitted a proposal to redevelop 30 acres of city-owned land around City Hall. The developer proposes a 99-year ground lease for the project, paying the city a total of nearly $1.5 billion, with three options for structuring rent payments. Developer states that the city would receive at least fair market value for the property. This chart is based on information provided to the city in advance of the City Council’s Jan. 27 meeting and may not include all later changes to the original submission.

Construction: To be built in three phases; first phase to include City Hall and community center

City Hall: Up to 100,000 square feet

Community center: 12,000 square feet

Police substation: 10,000 square feet

Retail: 84,790 square feet

Food and beverage: 71,800 square feet

Residential: 1,129 units, including workforce housing

Parking: Garage and surface parking; 265,758 square feet

Hotel: 150 rooms

Commercial: Office building, 250,000 square feet

Recreation and open space: A racket sports center, dog park, and many green spaces

Main city center proposal story: Proposals present four visions for redeveloped city center

Other city center proposals: Related Ross, RocaPoint Partners, Boca Raton City Center

Namdar Group, Great Neck, New York, with a Miami office, Real estate investment and development firm

Namdar Group was one of four firms that submitted a proposal to redevelop 30 acres of city-owned land around City Hall. The developer proposes a high-density project with the highest number of apartments, and is the only submission that includes a performing arts center. This chart is based on information provided to the city in advance of the City Council’s Jan. 27 meeting and may not include all later changes to the original submission.

City Hall: 170,000 square feet

Community center: 50,000 square feet

Police headquarters: (on-site): 235,000 square feet

Performing arts center: 50,000 square feet

Retail, restaurants and office: 250,000 square feet

Hotel: 180 rooms

Public parking: 1 million square feet

Residential: 8,015 units (total)

Affordable/workforce apartments: 3,206 units

Gathering space: Accommodates 300 people

Open, green space, and art: Amount unspecified

Synagogue (donated to community): 10,000 square feet

Main city center proposal story: Proposals present four visions for redeveloped city center

Other city center proposals: RocaPoint Partners, Namdar Group, Boca Raton City Center

Related Ross, West Palm Beach, Real estate developer

Related Ross was one of four firms that submitted a proposal to redevelop 30 acres of city-owned land around City Hall. The developer proposes leasing the 30-acre city-owned land for 99 years to develop and construct the project. City will retain ownership of the land and buildings on it when the ground lease expires. Developer states that the ground lease will be at fair market value, net of the cost of improvements to the property. This chart is based on information provided to the city in advance of the City Council’s Jan. 27 meeting and may not include all later changes to the original submission.

Civic space: 75,000 square feet

City Hall and community center: 75,000 square feet, subject to change

Police substation: Undetermined size

Retail, dining, entertainment: 235,000 square feet

Multifamily residential and townhouses: 650 units

Hotel: 400 rooms

Commercial: Three office buildings, 975,000 square feet

Open space: 5.8 acres, including for recreation and tennis courts

Editor’s note: No one can say our readers aren’t creative, as can be seen in this double tribute to The Coastal Star and retired Editor Mary Kate Leming. It’s to be read all the way across, top to bottom.— Bob Schwartz
Delray Beach

Main city center proposal story: Proposals present four visions for redeveloped city center

Other city center proposals: Boca Raton City Center, Namdar Group, Related Ross

RocaPoint Partners, Atlanta, Real estate investment and development firm

RocaPoint Partners was one of four firms that submitted a proposal to redevelop 30 acres of city-owned land around City Hall. The developer proposes building the government and civic buildings, but unlike other proposals, leaves open the possibility that one or more other developers would build other items included in its master plan. This chart is based on information provided to the city in advance of the City Council’s Jan. 27 meeting and may not include all later changes to the original submission.

Civic buildings and uses: Includes City Hall, community center, off-site police headquarters, on-site police substation, parking, and recreational and open space; 432,000 square feet

Apartments: Three buildings, 960 units

Condos: One building, 90 units

Retail: 145,000 square feet

Hotel: 155 rooms

Office: 115,000 square feet

Recreation and open space: 110,000 square feet

I am writing to emphasize the urgent need for blinking lights at pedestrian crossings along A1A in Ocean Ridge. This busy stretch of road, with its limited visibility, presents a significant danger to pedestrians.

Whether residents are out walking their dogs, jogging, or simply enjoying a stroll, the risk of accidents is far too high, especially during low-light hours or inclement weather.

Blinking lights at crossings would offer a crucial warning to drivers, making pedestrians more visible and helping to prevent avoidable collisions.

This simple yet effective solution has been successfully implemented in other communities with similar traffic concerns. It’s time for Ocean Ridge to prioritize pedestrian safety by adopting these lights at key crossing points.

With increasing vehicle and foot traffic in the area, this proactive measure would go a long way toward reducing risks and ensuring a safer environment for everyone.

— Victor Martel
Ocean Ridge

While I can appreciate the artistic and educational value in the recycling of the bottle caps picked up along the beach (Coastal Star, January 2025: Beach walker turns bottle caps into art), it should not escape acknowledgment that these are the result of a multitude of careless polluters of our beautiful beaches.

I, too, pick up trash not only on the beach but along the old road and A1A. It is disheartening to see how much trash pollutes our environment to the detriment of our water, flora and fauna.

— Martha Lowther,
Ocean Ridge

By Mary Hladky

Brightline soon will “reintroduce” a commuter pass after it discontinued one in June, a move that angered South Floridians who used that monthly pass to get reduced fares.

In a Jan. 10 announcement, the rail service said it expects to launch the new pass in March, but offered no cost specifics, saying only that it is “designed for the frequent traveler” and is “expected to save daily commuters money.”

Brightline, which has a station in Boca Raton, said that more information would be posted to its website, but did not say when that would happen.

The company eliminated three types of passes in June, including one aimed at commuters that offered 40 trips per month for $399, which worked out to $10 for a one-way trip and $20 for a round-trip.

Instead, it offered passengers a new 10-ride pass for $350 at the regular Smart fare or $550 at the Premium fare. So, the cost of a Smart fare one-way trip went up to $35, or $55 for Premium.

The announcement came after Brightline was awarded a $33.8 million Federal Railroad Administration Restoration and Enhancement grant that will allow it to increase the number of coaches on each train from five to seven to carry more passengers.

In canceling the initial commuter pass, Brightline de-prioritized riders who use the train as a commuter service in South Florida in favor of those making long-haul, and more profitable, trips to Orlando.

Once it has more coaches, Brightline will be able to accommodate at least some more commuters.

Brightline characterized its new commuter pass as a way to bridge the gap until a true commuter service can be offered on the Florida East Coast Railway tracks. Efforts to create such a service have been underway for many years but remain a distant dream.

Brightline’s long-haul ridership to and from Orlando has set records, but short-haul riders dropped from 112,423 for the month of November 2023 to 90,624 last November.

During the first 11 months of 2023, 1.6 million short-haul riders used Brightline, but that dropped to 1 million in the first 11 months of 2024, according to a Brightline passenger report.

A pair of up-and-coming Americans coming off impressive showings at the Australian Open will attempt to battle their way through qualifying to reach the main draw of the 2025 Delray Beach Open. Qualifying is Feb. 8-9 at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center.

Learner Tien, 19, won three matches in qualifying to reach the Australian Open’s main draw in January. He then won three more matches, including a five-set victory over No. 5 seed

Daniil Medvedev, to become the youngest man to reach the fourth round since Rafael Nadal in 2005.

Nishesh Basavareddy, also 19, was given a wild card into the main draw, then won the first set against 10-time Aussie champion Novak Djokovic before falling in four sets.

Two-time defending champion Taylor Fritz and Boca Raton resident Tommy Paul headline the ATP 250 event, which will be staged Feb. 10-16.

For tickets or more information, got to yellowtennisball.com.

— Brian Biggane

By John Pacenti

Delray Beach commissioners appeared to be ready to remove fluoride from the city’s drinking water, a practice that has been in place for 36 years but is now facing scrutiny amid concerns about potential health risks, such as lowering the mental acuity of children.

“I would support intelligence over fluoride teeth,” Commissioner Angela Burns said at the Jan. 7 meeting. “For those children that are underprivileged, I would prefer to have them be able to function in school and be able to function in the world that’s before them, and they can take care of their teeth some other way.”

Fluoridation for decades has been seen as a public health success, substantially reducing tooth decay. Yet, a comprehensive federal study confirmed previous findings that fluoride may be linked to lower IQ scores in children.

The study — published in JAMA Pediatrics on Jan. 6, the day before commissioners discussed the subject at their meeting — concluded there is a link between exposure levels of the additive and cognitive function.

State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo, who has made numerous statements on vaccines that have been challenged by other medical professionals, in November recommended against water fluoridation due to neuropsychiatric risk.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and who has made numerous suspect medical claims, is also opposed to the practice.

Kennedy said in November that Trump would advise municipalities to remove fluoride from public water.

The state Department of Health reports more than 70% of Floridians receive fluoridated water. Other Florida municipalities, such as Melbourne, have stopped the practice.

Commissioner Rob Long said the practice of adding fluoride to municipal water supplies may have outlived its usefulness.

“It seems a bit odd to me that the government is still in the business of tooth care through our utilities … even if there’s just a chance that that could be detrimental health-wise,” he said.

Utilities Director Hassan Hadjimiry presented a historical overview of water fluoridation, emphasizing its role in improving dental health, and noting the American Dental Association’s recommendation of putting fluoride in water.

He said the city is looking to spend $200,000 to revamp its fluoridation system and wanted guidance from the commission before taking on the task considering the new findings on IQ scores.

Fluoride is available in toothpaste and as an additive, Hadjimiry said. “It’s not like it was 67 years ago when it wasn’t available.”

Burns added that fewer people drink tap water these days anyway.

Mayor Tom Carney acknowledged the complexity of the issue, saying he wanted to make sure the commission had all the facts before making a final decision.

Neither Boynton Beach nor Boca Raton adds fluoride to the water supply, noted City Manager Terrence Moore.

“We have always taken our water quality very seriously in Delray Beach. This decision requires careful consideration of all aspects — the potential benefits and risks — to ensure we’re making the best choice for our residents’ health and well-being,” he said.

Vice Mayor Juli Casale said she knows local dentists want fluoride in the water but said she was open to learning more about the recent study. She told Carney, “It sounds like you’ve got three (votes). Take it out right now.”

“I’m not ready to take it out,” Carney responded. “I’d like to have some information.”

Moore directed Hadjimiry to find experts to come in and brief commissioners on the pros and cons of fluoridation in the modern age.

By John Pacenti

Delray Beach has launched a mobile app feature to help drivers find available parking spots downtown. The “My Delray Beach” app allows users to see a map of the city’s paid parking areas and view which spaces are currently open.

The parking feature on the app has been available since mid-December. There is a caveat: It works only for city-owned lots, not private ones. Also, the city’s lot by the railroad tracks at 25 NE Third Ave. is currently not incorporated into the system.

Public Works Director Missie Barletto called it a game-changer at the Jan. 7 City Commission meeting, saying that the feature “will help with people reducing the amount of time they drive around looking for parking spaces.”

The system is similar to the one used by Florida Atlantic University, Barletto said, where it has met with great success.

The app uses sensors installed to detect when a car has pulled in or out. This real-time data is then displayed on the app’s map, showing green for open spots and orange for occupied ones.

“It’s so simple and so easy to use,” Barletto told commissioners.

She said for parking lots there is one sensor that tells how many cars are going in and out. On-street parking has sensors for individual spaces.

The railroad lot proved troublesome, Barletto said, because it has numerous entrances and exits. “So we will be going out there and putting the individual parking sensors in the railroad parking lot as soon as we’re able to do that,” she said.

The My Delray app also allows residents to check out beach conditions, events, and obtain permitting, as well as information on the new Creative Arts School. It also allows residents to “report an issue” on building code violations, potholes, noise and other concerns.

New Manalapan Police Chief Jeff Rasor’s wife, Kimberly, pins his new badge to his uniform. Rasor previously served with Delray Beach police. John Pacenti/The Coastal Star

By John Pacenti

Manalapan celebrated the retirement of long-serving Police Chief Carmen Mattox and welcomed the arrival of new Police Chief Jeff Rasor at the Jan. 14 Town Commission meeting.

Mattox was honored with a Distinguished Service Award for his 23 years and 7 months of dedicated service to the Manalapan community.

Mayor John Deese praised Mattox’s tireless work ethic and commitment, noting, “I’m not kidding, 24 hours a day. If you call him and he’s there and he’ll answer, he’ll assist you, even if he’s up to North Carolina with his kids.”

Stepping into the job of Police Chief is Jeff Rasor, who brings more than 22 years of law enforcement experience, most recently serving as assistant chief of police operations in Delray Beach.

According to the city of Delray Beach’s website, Rasor started his career in the Miami Police Department before coming to Delray Beach in May 2002. As an officer, he created the Criminal Justice Academy at Atlantic Community High School.

Rasor was promoted to sergeant in 2009, to lieutenant in 2019, captain in 2021 and then to assistant chief the following year. He served in about every capacity as a police officer and supervisor in Delray Beach: overseeing community patrol, serving as a high school resource officer, and as a member of the Clean & Safe Downtown unit, among other positions.

He earned his criminal justice undergrad degree at Florida International University and earned a master’s degree at Florida Atlantic University in educational leadership.

In his remarks to the commission, Rasor emphasized his core beliefs in hard work and professionalism. “That’s what I’m bringing to the town of Manalapan, and that’s where I’m going to lead this department,” he stated.

Rasor’s spouse, Kimberly, pinned his new badge to his uniform. The Commission Chambers were filled with Delray Beach police officers in attendance, including Chief Russ Mager, to witness the passing of the torch.

Town Manager Eric Marmer voiced his excitement about the new leadership, stating, “I always say Manalapan deserves the best and with your selection, I really think we got the best, and I really look forward to working with you over your career here.”

The Coastal Star asked the 61-year-old Mattox what was his most vivid memory and he said when the town got battered by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. “All the sea walls were crashing down,” he said.

Mattox will retire to McIntosh, southeast of Gainesville. He is an avid bird hunter and he said he plans to spend some of his free time hunting quail.

City center proposals: Boca Raton City Center, Namdar Group, Related Ross, RocaPoint Partners

By Mary Hladky

Four developers vying to redevelop 30 city-owned acres around City Hall presented their proposals to Boca Raton City Council members on Jan. 27, giving residents attending the meeting in person or online a first detailed look at what is envisioned for the city’s top-priority project.

Two had submitted unsolicited proposals in October for public-private partnerships to remake the area. But council members did not want to be limited to those two and approved a bidding process in November that drew two more submittals.

City officials provided general guidelines, saying they wanted a new City Hall and community center to replace the existing buildings that are old and crumbling, along with mixed-income housing, office, hotel, retail and recreational facilities. They did not give specifics so that developers could be creative.

Boca Raton City Center, a joint venture between Coconut Grove-based Terra and Frisbie Group of Palm Beach, provided a mostly low-height and low-density project with the largest amount of green space. It includes a 10-story apartment building, three-story garden homes and a 150-room hotel.

Namdar Group, of Great Neck, New York, proposed 8,015 multi-family units, far exceeding the amount the other developers proposed. It also differed from its competitors by proposing a 10,000-square-foot synagogue that it would donate to the city and a 50,000-square-foot performing arts center. The proposal includes a 180-room hotel.

Related Ross of West Palm Beach, led by Miami Dolphins owner and Palm Beach resident Stephen Ross, placed its emphasis on office buildings, and plans three totaling 975,000 square feet because its team believes the downtown is in need of them. It also proposed the largest hotel, with 400 rooms. But its 650 residential units are less than what the others want to build.

RocaPoint Partners of Atlanta separated itself from the others by proposing a different development plan. Instead of building the entire project, it would construct the government buildings, including the City Hall and community center. But it would bring in another developer to build the rest, including apartments, condos, hotel and office.

The four developers have agreed to make affordable housing units a part of their projects, although so far only Namdar has included that in its proposal. They all are touting the amount of green space in their projects.

They all also said that they are willing to make changes to their plans if the city requests that.

CBRE, the city’s consultant on the project, said all four developers are well-qualified.

The city stands to gain a huge financial benefit from the project.

Three of the developers, not including RocaPoint, propose a 99-year lease of the city land that is projected to yield the city between $1 billion and $2.4 billion.

The city would also see a big jump in the tax revenue the property will generate once it is redeveloped and added to the tax rolls, although the exact amount is still being calculated.

Density concerns

Council members did not tip their hands on which proposal they preferred, but did express concern about the high density Namdar proposes, with the large number of apartments and two 15-story buildings and one 18-story building.

“What sticks out to me is the density in terms of the number of units,” said Council member Marc Wigder.

“I almost feel like you are trying to build a city within a city,” said Deputy Mayor Yvette Drucker.

Namdar managing partner Ephraim Namdar said the number of units is high because they would be studios and one-bedrooms of no more than 700 square feet.

Drucker and Council member Fran Nachlas chastised Namdar for not meeting with them to outline his proposal.

“It is important to meet with us if you want to do business in Boca,” Drucker said.

Related Ross brought about 20 of its executives to the meeting, including Stephen Ross, who extolled his company as “really best in class” and committed to a rapidly growing Palm Beach County.

“We want to be part of that growth and lead that growth” in Boca Raton, he said.

Several council members praised Related Ross, with Andy Thomson saying it has “a very capable team” and Drucker saying its team has been readily available to speak with council members.

The four companies are proposing a public-private partnership, or P3, with the city in which the developer assumes the cost of constructing public buildings and the city leases the remainder of the land for redevelopment.

Rapid timeline likely

City officials have talked for years about redeveloping the government campus, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought planning to a halt. 

The idea was revived when the Brightline train station opened northeast of City Hall in 2022, as they eagerly anticipated that developers would want to redevelop the area around it. 

The project gained urgency last summer as word circulated that at least one developer was about to submit an unsolicited offer to remake the area.

That became reality in October when Boca Raton City Center and Related Ross submitted proposals and the City Council then cast a wider net for more.

Council members are moving quickly to get a deal done. They will rank the four developers on Feb. 11 and hope to have an interim agreement with the top-ranked firm on March 18.

Online reaction from public

Public reaction to the project is not yet clear, and it appears as if many city residents are not yet aware of it even though the city features the effort on its website and invites public comment there.

A review of about 25 initial comments showed that three residents strongly favored redevelopment. But many others opposed it, mainly citing concerns about overdevelopment and increased traffic on roadways.

“It will destroy the soul of Boca Raton and forever reduce the quality of life in the surrounding neighborhoods,” said one resident.

“The plans are trying to make it into another Brickell,” said another. “And that is just horrible.”

“Why do we need all this residential shoved down our face?” asked another. “Please reconsider this huge project and scale it down.”

The city planned to hold an open house and public forum to gather more resident input on Feb. 19 at the Studio at Mizner Park. 

By John Pacenti

A homeowner asked the Manalapan Town Commission to stop a neighbor from tunneling under State Road A1A during the height of the tourist season, but to no avail.

Mary and Ralph Gesualdo said the tunneling work for the properties at 1890 S. Ocean Blvd. and 1900 S. Ocean Blvd. violated a condition set by the commission that work on the tunnels would be completed by Nov. 15.

Tunnels are commonplace in Manalapan for people who live on the Intracoastal Waterway side of A1A and want to connect to the beach portions of their properties.

The Gesualdos said at the Jan. 14 commission meeting that doing work now with all the part-time residents in town poses a safety hazard because A1A will need to be shut down to one lane.

The homes in question are still being constructed on property owned by Jagbir and Sarla Singh. The Gesualdos’ property is next door at 1920 S. Ocean Blvd.

“But I guess my real question is, why now? Why during the season? Why for a house that isn’t even built yet?” Ralph Gesualdo said. “Why jeopardize the safety of the residents?”
Mary Gesualdo said since two tunnels need to be built that the work would be prolonged.

The Gesualdos’ attorney — James Gavigan Jr. — said the tunnels’ construction was approved on the condition that it be completed before part-time residents returned.

Town Attorney Keith Davis said that’s not exactly the case. The condition was that the Singhs make a good-faith effort to get the tunnels completed.

“My further understanding is that there were permitting issues with the Florida Department of Transportation,” Davis said. “Otherwise what could have been forward progression, in my opinion, cannot be put on the shoulders of the applicant.”

He said the town had no authority to stop a lawful building permit. The tunnel project is estimated to take six weeks during which a one-lane bypass will be constructed. Workers with signs will permit traffic flow in each direction.

As for the safety issue, Town Manager Eric Marmer said it is his understanding that digging tunnels during the rainy season in the summer is more dangerous.

Commissioner Cindy McMackin said the commission might want to consider passing an ordinance that limits the construction of tunnels to the off season.

“This isn’t the time to have that discussion,” Marmer said.

The Gesualdos also complained they had not received proper notification from the town in its approving building plans for the next-door properties. “This project is causing us to install a retaining wall because he has lowered his grade on his property,” Mary Gesualdo said.

Marmer said that the town can only send out information; it doesn’t control if it is seen or not.

Davis reminded commissioners that the comments by the Gesualdos and others were made under public comments and that the issue of the tunnels was not on the meeting’s agenda. The Singhs were not present.

Mayor John Deese told the couple that he heard their concerns and that he planned to have a discussion with Marmer and his staff. “We’ll look at what options we may have and also look for future opportunities to improve communications,” he said.

Madson chosen for Planning Commission — Although the Planning Commission had two openings for alternate members, only one person applied. The Town Council appointed that man, Steven J. Madson, to a three-year term ending Jan. 27, 2028.

Alternate members attend meetings and are prepared to step in as full members when needed. Like all members, they are volunteers.

Madson, whose background is in telecommunications, replaces Annemarie Joyce, whose term ended on Dec. 13. She chose not to reapply.

Jorge Velazquez, whose term would have expired April 10, 2026, resigned in October. The town is seeking applications to fill that position.

— Mary Thurwachter

By Steve Plunkett

The last part of the first phase of Gulf Stream’s massive road, water main and drainage project got its first layer of asphalt on Jan. 10, and work began almost immediately — four to eight weeks ahead of schedule — on Phase 2.

Town commissioners approved the schedule change the same day and a $283,717 change order to pay for widening some road sections two more feet — an increase of $106,331 from a previous change order for the same work.

The need to do construction close to the Gulf Stream School when students are off for the summer is driving the altered schedule. Contractor Roadway Construction LLC plans to start work by the school on June 9, the Monday after classes end, and finish it on Aug. 24 before the students’ post-Labor Day return.

“That’s close,” Commissioner Joan Orthwein said.

To make it work, Roadway needed approval to begin Phase 2, the streets in the Core District east of Polo Drive, before it finished Phase 1, which covers Polo and the streets west of it.

“They have the capabilities of having separate crews; they have had separate crews here, up to three, four crews at a time,” said Rick Chipman, the construction project manager for Baxter and Woodman Consulting Engineers.

“The constraint of the school is problematic,” Chipman said, “because they need to get certain utilities and other items completed up to the boundaries of what we’re calling the school zone by the time they start working there so that they can complete that area while school is out.”

The change order pushed the date for “substantial completion” of the first phase from Feb. 18 to March 18. Roadway said it planned to restore all damaged irrigation, landscaping and mailboxes by the end of January, with other items to be finished in February and the rest by March 18.

Homes will be connected to the new water mains within 30 days of the Health Department’s inspection and approval of the project.

Roadway planned to start the second phase at the Golfview Drive end of Gulfstream Road and work north to Lakeview Drive, finishing that section by June 8.

“I’m all in to going forward,” Orthwein said.

“I’m sure the whole town is already tired of construction every place you look,” Chipman said, conceding that letting the crews work in new areas before they’re done with old areas “might be a tough pill to swallow.”

Last August commissioners approved a $177,386 change order to cover widening sections of Banyan, Lakeview and Gulfstream and all of Old School Road from 18 feet to 20 feet to match the Core’s other streets.

But Roadway had not reviewed that amount and said it should be the higher, $283,717 figure.

The original completion date for the entire project, before the change order was approved, was Dec. 13, 2025.