Mixed-use development proposed at Boynton Beach strip mall put on hold

By Erika Pesantes
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
January 5, 2009

Boynton Beach - The reality of the recession has sunk in. Gung-ho developers who tried to cash in on the housing boom are now either sitting idle or backpedaling in Boynton Beach. The vacant strip mall on the northwest corner of Gulfstream Boulevard and Federal Highway has remained undeveloped, despite plans for the proposed Heritage Club, with 166 residences and 19,000 square feet of commercial space, on the site. The property abuts Delray Beach and Gulf Stream."In today's economy, it's just not realistic," said Jim Knight, a partner in Thirty-Six Hundred Holdings LLC, which owns the property. "We think it's more advantageous to have a commercial zoning designation as opposed to mixed-use residential and commercial."Commissioners on Tuesday will decide whether to change the 8-acre parcel's zoning and land-use designation back to commercial, as it was before 2005.
Lisa Bright, director of the city's Community Redevelopment Agency, says the property, which falls within the redevelopment district, is better suited for businesses."There's opportunities with commercial and retail," she said. "Whereas housing would have been nice, we all know housing is not going to be happening for a couple of years." But for now, the fenced-in strip mall is likely to remain as is — there are noprospects, Knight said. The rundown strip mall once housed the notorious Club Ovation nightclub, along with a dry cleaner, thrift store, realty office and other businesses. A truck overflowing with tires now remains in the parking lot. City police are investigating who dumped the truck there about six months ago, Knight said.And next door to the strip mall sits the former Platinum Gold strip club, which was shut down by the city in May when officials purchased its liquor and adult entertainment licenses.