By Mary Hladky
At long last, the way has been cleared for a long-sought performing arts complex to be built in the downtown.
The Boca Raton City Council cast two critical votes on Oct. 12 in favor of a resolution and an ordinance that authorizes the lease of city-owned land in Mizner Park to the Center for Arts and Innovation.
The action culminates two years of negotiations between the city and a consortium of cultural arts organizations to hammer out terms of a deal that specifies the center’s and the city’s obligations and leases the land at the north end of Mizner Park to the center for 74 years, with two 10-year renewals.
The council approved both by a 4-1 vote, with Mayor Scott Singer dissenting.
Singer said he remained concerned about the project’s cost. He had asked for updated estimates in August that took inflation into account. The revised costs that center officials provided in September boosted the price tag to $115.4 million, a 30% increase.
But he voiced his concerns again on Oct. 12, asking if city staff had analyzed the new figures. Deputy City Manager George Brown said he had done a cursory inspection which showed the increases seemed reasonable.
Singer said he would have preferred that the city hire an outside expert to conduct a detailed review.
Yet he stressed that he supported the project and would encourage donors to come forward.
“Let me be a champion and cheerleader as we all are,” he said. “I want to help you get there.”
With the votes in, the audience cheered and offered sustained applause.
The cost of building the performing arts complex and maintaining it will be borne by the center. The approval of the land lease, center officials have said, will give assurance to potential donors that the center can be built so that fundraising can begin in earnest.
If they fail to raise enough money, the deal can be terminated.
A major sticking point emerged in August when the council was first scheduled to vote. Center officials wanted the city to be liable for actual damages if it was found to be in default of agreements the two parties had reached.
Their demand arose out of concerns that a future city council might terminate the lease, as happened in Delray Beach last year when that city’s commission ended the lease of Old School Square.
Boca Raton officials refused, saying that would expose the city to great liability.
Under a compromise, if the city seeks to end the lease, it will provide center officials with a 30-day notice, giving them time to go to court and seek a preliminary injunction that would halt the action. The city would not object to a request for an expedited court hearing.
The proposed cultural complex would feature the latest features in theater design and innovation with the intention of reinvigorating Mizner Park and fulfilling its original mission to be Boca Raton’s cultural hub.
The complex could accommodate 6,000 people in all its venues. They will include a complete renovation of the city’s beloved amphitheater, construction of a new performing arts center, jewel box theater, rooftop terrace, outdoor performing arts spaces and a garage.
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