Boca Raton o”cials will negotiate a plan for a nonpro$t to redevelop Mizner Park Amphitheater.
The city is looking to improve the performance venue on city-owned land on the north side of the mixed-use Mizner Park shopping and entertainment center at 590 Plaza Real.
The venue has hosted many concerts over the years, but Boca Raton o”cials say the 3,500-seat venue is outdated, which has caused the city to miss out on big shows. A better venue could bring more performances, generate more foot tra”c to local restaurants and drum up additional hotel stays in the area.
The Boca Raton Arts District Exploratory Corp., led by President Andrea Virgin, was formed to find a place for localcultural organizations to perform in the city instead of the high school auditoriums often used now. It has its sights set on Mizner Park Amphitheater.
The Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency agreed on Monday that city sta% should negotiate a deal with BRADEC.
BRADEC’s plan includes a 1,100-seat performance hall; a 99-seat performance, rehearsal and private event space on the northeast corner of Mizner Park; and a 294-space parking garage. When combined with the current amphitheater, which would be renovated, the site could have up to 6,000 spectators. It would be renamed the Boca Raton Center for Arts & Innovation.
There would also be an overhead canopy, so hot or rainy weather wouldn’t limit the number of days performances can take place.
The design would also be more flexible for the types of event. It could have a commercial concert, a local dance group, a $lm screening, orchestral music, musical theater or TedX-style events, according to the plan.
According to BRADEC’s letter to the city, the organization has raised about $2 million for its project so far, helping it complete a feasibility study, a tra”c study, a parking analysis and cost estimates. It has estimated the capital cost of the development at $107 million, and it would have $12 million in operating costs in the $rst year. It also wants to raise $12 million for an endowment.
BRADEC intends to depend on donations for the project. Mayor Scott Singer made it a point that the organization hasn’t requested
funding from the city and they won’t break ground until all of the funding for construction has been secured. Details of the lease will be worked out during negotiations with the city.
The groups working with BRADEC include Gunster, Walter Duke, OGK Creative, IBI Group, DS Boca, and JMD Engineering. It has already attracted $nancial support from companies such as the Boca Raton Resort & Club, PEBB Enterprises, and Goldman Sachs.
The CRA also heard competing proposals from AEG, which currently operates the venue, for a private concert and event hall, as well as from Naftali Group for a mixed-use development with a performing arts component.