The 12-story, 306-unit apartment building known as Modera Boca will be built on the 1.7-acre lot at 400 S. Dixie Highway in downtown Boca Raton. Rendering provided
By Mary Hladky
A 12-story apartment building with 306 units will be constructed in the downtown after the Boca Raton City Council, sitting as Community Redevelopment Agency commissioners, unanimously approved the project on July 14.
Modera Boca, which will be located on 1.7 acres at 400 S. Dixie Highway, will be built by Mill Creek Residential and Group P6, both Boca Raton-based developers. Two well-known Boca Raton architects — Derek Vander Ploeg and Tiery Boykin — are involved in the project.
The Arbor Professional Office Park office condominium now on the property will be demolished.
The building will include studio and one-, two- and three-bedroom units, and penthouses of about 2,200 square feet.
Plans call for the developers to incorporate a small city-owned vacant lot adjacent to the property that will provide trees and green space. The developers expect to spend about $300,000 to improve that one-tenth acre parcel, which will remain under city ownership.
A new 8-foot-wide sidewalk flanked by large shade trees will be built along Dixie Highway. A meandering path up to 8 feet wide will be added along Southeast Third Street that also will have shade trees.
The Arbor Professional Office Park (site outlined in red) will be demolished to make way for the development. Google Map photo/Coastal Star graphic
Two existing banyan trees will be cut down. An arborist determined that both are in poor health and cannot be moved, said project attorney Ele Zachariades. Two mahogany trees will be relocated.
One city resident, Monique Rambo, spoke against the project, saying it was too large and its architectural style does not fit in with the city.
Both Vander Ploeg and Boykin praised it, with Boykin saying that that part of the city needs improvement and Vander Ploeg, who did not design the building, praising its appearance.
In 2021, a developer proposed building The Bristal at Boca Raton on the site, which would have included two nine-story buildings. One building was to house an assisted living facility and the other featured apartments for seniors. Engel Burman Boca LLC later withdrew its application for the project.
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