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After lawsuit end, CRA board prioritizes grocery-store option and kicks off RFP planning for West Atlantic blocks
Summary
With the BH3 lawsuit resolved, CRA staff said they will pursue requests for proposals for redevelopment of the 600, 700 and 800 blocks of West Atlantic Avenue, prioritizing the pursuit of a full-service grocery store while considering parking, retail activation and whether to parcel by block or issue one master solicitation.
Following the recent conclusion of litigation tied to the BH3 development, Delray Beach CRA staff and the board agreed to resume active planning for the redevelopment of the 600-, 700- and 800-blocks of West Atlantic Avenue and to prioritize securing a full-service grocery store as part of an initial solicitation.
Nate Jaddison, CRA executive director, said staff plans to issue an RFP for redevelopment in summer 2025 and requested board guidance on priority elements. Commissioners emphasized that a grocery store is a high priority for the corridor's activation and said staff should pursue store developers while protecting the CRA's control over outcomes so the agency can influence project design, parking and retail frontage.
The nut graf: Commissioners debated whether to issue a single, master RFP covering all three blocks or pursue block-by-block solicitations to preserve greater CRA control and invite multiple developers. Board members noted grocery retailers often prefer surface parking and single-story footprints, but commissioners asked staff to explore mixed approaches that could include structured parking, retail frontages, and minimum retail-liner requirements so the corridor activates street life rather than defaulting to a freestanding surface-lot store.
Randy Houlihan, a developer who contacted staff, acknowledged there could be interest from grocers but said developers and retailers will need clear site-control terms and realistic program parameters. Commissioners instructed staff to prepare schematic site options, parking scenarios (including structured parking behind storefronts), and an RFP approach that either allows bidders to propose for one or multiple blocks or parcels the sites to encourage competition. The board asked staff to return with draft RFP language and concept sketches at a future meeting.
No binding agreement with any particular retailer was made; board members said the agency must balance attracting a grocer with design standards that support walkable retail and housing options on adjacent blocks.
