Boca Raton City Council members will soon vote on a proposed 12-story, extended-stay hotel at Royal Palm Place. It would be located on property that previously housed the Black Rose Irish Pub and 4th Generation Organic Market and Cafe. Rendering provided
By Mary Hladky
Three years after Investments Limited first proposed building an extended-stay hotel in Royal Palm Place, the project is heading to a City Council vote with support from two key city boards.
The Planning and Zoning Board recommended the council approve the project by a 6-0 vote on July 7, just two days after the Community Appearance Board green-lighted the proposed 144-room hotel and restaurants on land that has been occupied by the Black Rose Irish Pub and 4th Generation Organic Market and Cafe.
Investments Limited, the largest commercial property owner in the downtown whose holdings include Royal Palm Place, anticipates the hotel will meet the needs of visitors seeking accommodations for two- or three-month stays. The company has not yet inked a deal with a specific hotel company.
The 12-story project would include two parking garages within the hotel with a total of 408 spaces. It would also feature a fast-food eatery and two fine or casual dining restaurants with bars that would offer outdoor seating areas. A pool with deck and amenities for guests would be on the 10th floor.
The main hotel entrance would be on Southeast First Avenue. A valet parking station to serve hotel patrons would be added to the four existing stations within the 13.9-acre Royal Palm Place.
Investments Limited has proposed expanded sidewalks around the hotel and extensive landscaping.
The existing Garden of Humanity, just southeast of the 4th Generation market, would be expanded and include large shade trees and water features.
Architect Doug Mummaw has redesigned the building several times since it was first presented to the city after CAB members criticized its design for using too many precedents from Spanish, Italian and Moorish architecture. The new design is simplified and was praised by the city’s urban design consultant.
Royal Palm Place has a shortage of parking, which Investments Limited has partially addressed by reducing the deficit by 54 spaces. City staff calculates that still leaves the property short 680 spaces. But project attorney Ele Zachariades disputed that, contending it reduces the deficit by 290 spaces.
Three residents who commented on the project at the planning board meeting did not oppose the hotel but criticized the project for not having enough parking.
“This is going to be a big problem going forward,” said Eddie Weinstein, a resident of the Townsend Place condominium located across Southeast Mizner Boulevard from Royal Palm Place.
In other business, the planning board voted 6-0 to recommend the City Council approve five luxury townhomes on the southeast corner of East Boca Raton Road and Northeast Mizner Boulevard.
The Reve Del Mizner project would be located across Mizner Boulevard from the proposed Aletto at Sanborn Square, a 12-story luxury apartment tower, seven-story office and retail building and eight-story fully automated parking garage.
The property previously was the site of a single-family home but now is vacant.
The townhomes are being developed by Reve Del Mizner LLC, headed by Scott Brenner. Each will be approximately 6,000 square feet with four bedrooms, six and one-half baths and four garaged parking spaces. They will have rooftop terraces and summer kitchens.
“It’s a good-looking project,” said planning board Chair Arnold Sevell.
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