BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — Boca Raton City Council is scheduled to vote Jan. 20 on a package of agreements that would set the framework for the city’s long-discussed downtown government campus redevelopment.
The vote is expected to cover a Master Partnership Agreement, long-term ground leases and related documents tied to the proposed public-private partnership with One Boca — a development group led by Terra Group and Frisbie Group.
City officials are emphasizing that the Jan. 20 meeting date isn’t a last-minute add-on. It has been on the calendar for months, and the meeting is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. because of the Monday holiday and what the city describes as strong public interest.
If council approves the long-term lease, the deal would not be final until voters weigh in. Residents would be asked to approve or reject the transaction in the March 2026 election.
Under the current proposal, the city says there would be no private development west of Northwest 2nd Avenue. That portion of the site would remain city-owned and would be dedicated to public, civic and recreational uses.
The city’s description of the west side includes a larger community center, a new city hall and a formally dedicated Memorial Park. Officials say the plan would also increase green and recreational space in the area, doubling it from 7.6 acres to 15.4 acres.
Private development would be concentrated east of Northwest 2nd Avenue. The plan calls for a mixed-use district designed to be more walkable, with a focus on shade, wide sidewalks, protected bike lanes and tree-covered pedestrian paths that connect through the site and into surrounding parts of downtown.
The city’s materials outline a development program that includes residential units, offices, a hotel, and street-level retail such as restaurants and shops. The updated master plan presented to council earlier this month lists 947 total residential units, including 765 rental units on city property and 77 workforce housing units, along with 120,000 square feet of office space, 79,100 square feet of retail/commercial space, a 30,000-square-foot grocery component, and a 180-key hotel. The plan also anticipates roughly 2,100 parking spaces.
On the public side, the project’s “public realm” concept includes a 35,000-square-foot community center with meeting space and athletic facilities, a 30,000-square-foot city hall with council chambers and public-facing services, and a 10,000-square-foot police and fire rescue substation. City documents also describe outdoor features tied to the park, including a children’s playground and a large community green.
The project is structured around a long-term ground lease — described in city materials as a 99-year term — with the city retaining ownership of the land. Under that framework, the partner would pay rent and take on responsibilities related to operations, maintenance, insurance and other obligations for the leased areas, with city enforcement rights and remedies if performance or financing fails. City materials also state that improvements would revert to the city at the end of the lease term or upon termination.
Financial projections presented in city materials forecast billions of dollars in revenue to taxpayers over the life of the lease, including an estimate of $4.1 billion in non-discounted revenue streams over 99 years, with additional present value and net present value figures provided by outside consultants.
City materials also note that the redevelopment’s path forward includes additional steps beyond the January vote. A timeline shared with council lists planned comprehensive plan amendments and land development regulation work in February 2026, followed by a voter referendum on March 10, 2026.
The city also addressed another election-related question that has been circulating locally. Officials say there will not be a special election in January 2026 on proposed ballot questions submitted by a committee of residents. According to the city, a circuit court judge ruled that language unconstitutional and ordered the city not to proceed with that election.
The future of Boca Raton’s downtown — including city facilities, public land, and long-term financing — is now directly tied to the March 10 municipal election. Voters will decide two referendum questions alongside races for mayor and City Council. What’s on the ballot, who’s running, and how to vote.
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