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The Boca Raton Begins a New Chapter

by | Jun 1, 2022 | Blog

Less than 2 miles from the condominiums of Boca Bayou stands one of South Florida’s most historic – and one of Boca Raton’s most iconic – landmarks. The property, known to generations of guests as the Boca Raton Resort & Club, has been undergoing a $200 million renovation. The resort officially reopens this month with a new name and a new look. 

“It’s been nearly a century since the Roaring ’20s, but the owners of Boca Raton’s fabled resort, now dubbed The Boca Raton, are close to capping a $200 million renovation that pays homage to the life, times and Mediterranean style of architect Addison Mizner, who designed the original circa-1926 resort, but also plays to the city’s upswing,” the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

In many ways, the story of the resort is the story of Boca Raton. Designed by Mizner, the legendary architect who made the Mediterranean Revival style a symbol of luxury first in Palm Beach, the resort was intended to be the jewel in the crown of a luxurious community Mizner had planned out in detail. 

“Unfortunately,” as the Boca Raton Historical Society reports, “the Mizner Development Corporation had entered the real estate market just as it began to collapse. When Mizner realized that sales of Boca Raton lots were not supplying the money to continue his development plans, he encouraged sales by promising to complete the project in his company’s advertisements. Many of his backers, including T. Coleman du Pont, feared they might have to assume financial liabilities for these company promises and resigned their positions and board memberships. By the time the lake side hotel, now known as the Ritz-Carlton Cloister Inn, formally opened in February 1926, the corporation had serious problems.”  

“While construction continued on the houses of Floresta and Spanish Village, no one started construction on the great ocean and lake front mansion that Mizner had designed for his exclusive Distrito de Boca Raton subdivision. The hurricane of September 1926 sealed the fate of the Florida land boom and of Mizner’s dream for Boca Raton.” 

As we begin a new year, Florida’s real estate market is as red hot as it must have been when Mizner began dreaming of Boca Raton almost 100 years ago. 

If you are interested in being part of the history and of the excitement building in Boca Raton as 2022 begins, Boca Bayou offers a front row seat! For information about Boca Bayou condos for sale or rent, please contact local real estate expert Lynn Johnsen.

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