12-Story Condo Proposal, Mr. C Residences, Advances in Downtown Boca Raton
A new luxury condominium development is taking shape in Downtown Boca Raton, where a familiar development site is now slated for Mr. C Residences, a branded project that would bring the hospitality group’s signature amenities and Bellini Restaurant to the city. The 12-story proposal is scheduled to go before the city’s Planning and Zoning Board on October 15th, with staff recommending approval subject to conditions. The project, planned by Wexford REI and Key International represents a significant departure from the original proposal for the site. The same joint venture had previously planned a 190-unit residential development, but the subsequent pivot to Mr. C Residences has brought substantial changes to the project’s design and programming, requiring revisions to its previously approved site plan. The latest proposal calls for 133 condominiums, a reduction of 57 units from the original plan, even as the development’s overall square footage increases by nearly 20,000 square feet. The revised project would occupy a 2.1-acre assemblage spanning 14 Southeast 4th Street, 33 Southeast 4th Street, 36 Southeast 3rd Street, and 41 Southeast 4th Street. To accommodate the development, portions of a street and an alley would be vacated, expanding the property from 1.64 acres to its proposed 2.1-acre footprint. The developers paid $25.5 million for the private parcels within the assemblage, which would rank among the largest development sites in Downtown Boca Raton. According to plans, the 12-story tower would contain 133 residences ranging from 1,674 to 2,319 square feet, with two- and three-bedroom layouts. The units would occupy the upper end of the South Florida condominium market, positioning the project as a luxury residential offering rather than the higher-density development initially envisioned for the site. Despite the reduction in unit count, the larger overall building area would allow for an expanded program of residential amenities and shared spaces. Residents would have access to a rooftop resort deck featuring an infinity-edge pool, private cabanas, an open-air cinema, grilling areas, and the exclusive Mr. C Bar & Lounge. Wellness facilities would include a signature spa with a traditional hammam, an infrared sauna, a steam room, and additional amenities distributed throughout the building. The ground floor would introduce another major change from the earlier proposal: 5,977 square feet of dining space anchored by a Bellini Restaurant on the northern side of the property. The previous development plan did not include retail space. To serve both residents and restaurant patrons, the revised project would provide 322 parking spaces, down from the 335 spaces proposed previously despite the substantial reduction in residential units. Designed by Arquitectonica, the 12-story tower would rise 150 feet, with a facade defined by warm tan and brown tones, sweeping curves, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and expansive balconies. The Planning and Zoning Board has yet to review the revised plans, but the city’s staff has already recommended approval subject to conditions. If the proposal moves forward and construction begins, Mr. C Residences would rise alongside Modera Boca Raton, the neighboring development already under construction and in the vertical construction phase.
ACRE Communities Plans 391-Unit Mixed-Income Tower in Downtown Miami
As Miami continues to grapple with housing affordability, a proposed mixed-income tower in Downtown would bring hundreds of new apartments to the urban core, including income-restricted and workforce housing steps away from Miami Worldcenter. Led by ACRE Communities, the development would also bring a new fire station to a long-underutilized, city-owned site. Planned for 604 NW 1st Avenue and 25 NW 6th Street, the development would occupy a nearly 0.8-acre site that has sat abandoned and underutilized for years. Redevelopment plans began to take shape in 2025, when the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (SEOPW CRA) opened the two-parcel property to redevelopment proposals. After receiving three submissions, a selection committee chose ACRE Communities, which has experience delivering mixed-income housing and other types of developments, as its preferred developer. The project is now moving through the next stage of the process, with the SEOPW CRA working to establish a development agreement with ACRE Communities. If the process proceeds as planned, the agreement would bring the project closer to securing development rights and advancing toward construction. According to plans submitted to the city, the proposed tower would contain 391 residential units, with an average unit size of 782 square feet. One-bedroom apartments would make up the largest share of the development, followed by two-bedroom units, studios, and three-bedroom apartments. The project would include a substantial affordable housing component, with 156 units, or 40% of the total, reserved for households earning up to 60% of the area median income (AMI). Another 47 units, representing 12% of the development, would be designated as workforce housing for households earning up to 120% of AMI. The remaining apartments would be offered at market rates. Beyond its residential component, the development would also bring a new public safety facility to the neighborhood. Although the plans do not call for any retail space, the project would encompass approximately 630,000 gross square feet, including 13,000 square feet on the ground floor dedicated to a new fire station. The facility would serve Downtown Miami and surrounding communities as the area’s population continues to grow. ACRE Communities has also said it intends to improve the pedestrian environment around the property through wider sidewalks, additional greenery, and other streetscape improvements. Above the ground floor, the building would include 432 parking spaces, with one level dedicated to public parking. The proposed design, however, is not yet final. Although renderings have already been produced, ACRE Communities is looking to incorporate input from local artists, including potential murals on the parking garage and other architectural elements that draw from Overtown’s historic architectural character. Those ideas are expected to inform subsequent design revisions, with updated elevations yet to be released. Financing would rely on a layered capital structure typical of large-scale mixed-income developments in Miami, according to ACRE Communities. The proposed package would combine tax-exempt debt, tax credit equity, public soft loans, and sponsor equity. The developer said the structure is intended to minimize risk, support long-term affordability, and remain consistent with the project’s proposed budget. If the project advances on its current schedule, construction could begin in January 2028, with completion targeted for the summer of 2030.