By Steve Plunkett
The latest incarnation for the planned Via Mizner project calls for a few more residential units, much less office space and more retail square footage in the project at the corner of Camino Real and Federal Highway.
The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency approved the site revision June 24, following unanimous recommendations for approval of the project from the Planning and Zoning Board and the Community Appearance Board.
The CAB asked architect Derek Vander Ploeg to articulate the north and east sides of the building more.
“The views should be pretty spectacular from some of these units,” Vander Ploeg told CRA members.
Under the revisions, Via Mizner will have 16 more residences, for a total 366 units, while office space will drop from 27,723 to 5,499 square feet and retail space will increase from 6,542 to 13,593 square feet.
One-bedroom units will command rents of at least $1,800 a month, Vander Ploeg said. About two-thirds of the units will view the golf course to the east, while south-facing apartments will see the Royal Palm Country Club and the Boca Inlet. The agency approved the revised project 4-1, with CRA Commissioner Anthony Majhess dissenting.
Also unhappy with the plan was activist Lenore Wachtel, who complained that the open-space component was not open to the public.
“This doesn’t look like if you put up this big dense thing it’s going to help it to be a walkable city. I’m a little dismayed about what’s happening, and I know there are other people who feel the way I do,” Wachtel said.
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