Ocean Breeze East proposal hits snag

CRA, developer can’t agree on how much each side is going to give for project.

About six months ago it seemed there was finally a clear plan for the Heart of Boynton’s Ocean Breeze East: a 202-unit rental complex with units priced between $800 and $1,200; retail space to line Seacrest Boulevard; and a medical center.

Now the Boynton Community Redevelopment Agency board, who chose that plan over another in August, seems to be confused as to what is being proposed for the 4.32-acre site. And, the CRA and the developer — HH Boynton — can’t agree on how much money each side is going to give to build the project.

“This has all been twisted and turned. Why are we even dealing with it now?” Vice Mayor Joe Casello asked at the Tuesday CRA board meeting.

Vivian Brooks, the agency’s executive director, said the developer recently asked for certain terms: They’d buy the land from the CRA for $500,000 in 2030; the CRA will pay $600,000 for site improvements that include landscaping and streetlights, and the two sides will engage in a direct incentive funding agreement that would give the company 50 percent of the project’s tax revenue for 15 years.

“I don’t agree to any of the three terms,” Mayor Jerry Taylor said.

The CRA will go back to the developer and hash out the differences, and then bring it back to the board.

Ocean Breeze East sits vacant on Seacrest Boulevard across from its sister property Ocean Breeze West, a community of 21 singlefamily, low-income houses. The CRA board tossed HH Boynton’s proposal in December after hearing the plan had changed into something different than what was chosen. They were also told the groups involved in the project had changed.

But after receiving a letter from HH Boynton’s attorney in January that said the developer was “formally contesting” the cancellation of the contract, the board decided to give the company another try.

None of the board members seemed interested in the latest proposal.

“I think it’s a wonderful dream he’s asking for,” Commissioner David Merker said.

One of the problems the CRA board has is the request for proposal that was issued outlined required site improvements and that the developer picked would be responsible for them. Also, the board members said they’d rather have a 10-year financing agreement, and they want to be paid for the land at closing.

“This doesn’t look anything like the original (request for proposal) we put out there,” Casello said.

Brooks responded: “It’s not that bad, I have to say. It is all a matter of negotiation.”