Boca Raton council adopts Master Partnership Agreement for downtown redevelopment; deal sent to March 10 referendum

Boca Raton’s City Council voted 4–1 on Jan. 20 to adopt ordinance 57‑69, approving a Master Partnership Agreement (MPA), a 99‑year ground lease and related development and construction management agreements with Boca Raton Center LLC (the proposed private partner) for redevelopment of the downtown government campus. Mayor Singer cast the deciding vote after extended staff presentations and a lengthy public hearing; the adoption sends the finalized deal to a March 10 referendum for voter ratification.

The MPA, staff and consultants told the council, creates a framework that preserves city ownership of the land while setting performance milestones, financing and regulatory conditions that must be met before any lease commencement or vertical construction. “There cannot be any lease commencement, no construction, until all required approvals are secured,” City Attorney Mr. Koehler said, summarizing the legal protections embedded in the contracts.

City presentations focused on design, public space and fiscal analysis. Deputy City Manager Andy Lukasic walked the council through conceptual renderings and master‑plan goals—transit‑oriented design near the rail station, pedestrian‑first streets, and an expanded Memorial Park developed with veterans’ input. Kevin Plensler of PFM, the city’s fiscal…