BOCA RATON, FL (October 20, 2022) – The Center for Arts and Innovation, Inc. announced today the approval of a ground lease and construction and development agreement by the City Council and Community Redevelopment Agency of Boca Raton that paves the way for the next-century Center in the city’s center of gravity – the historic Mizner Park. The new center will be situated on the north end next to the Boca Raton Museum of Art, and across the street from a new and nearly completed Brightline station.
The Center for Arts & Innovation Inc., the nonprofit organization that has pursued the project for the last five years, will now concentrate its efforts in advancing its capital campaign, and evolving its initial conceptual design that reimagines and integrates the legacy Mizner Park Amphitheater with new technology-forward and versatile cultural infrastructure to be built on the vacant property.
The lease agreement, which commences with groundbreaking, expected in 2025, runs for a term of 74 years, with two, 10-year renewals at the Center’s option, yielding a maximum term of 94 years. The agreement encompasses the land where the cherished Mizner Park Amphitheater resides as well as an adjoining 3.5-acre parcel.
“I am thrilled to have reached this watershed moment in the development of The Center,” said Andrea Virgin, President and Chairman of the Center for Arts & Innovation. “Our mission is to create a center of gravity for the arts, innovation and education in Boca Raton, enabling state-of-the-art venues that showcase the talents of great artists, inspire the ideas of tomorrow, unlock the potential of our young people, instill greater vibrancy into our Downtown, entertain the audiences of the future, and provide Boca residents and cultural and business tourists with the caliber of cultural facilities enjoyed by our neighbors to the north and south. It is especially gratifying to be able to proceed with our vision in Mizner Park, which has waited for more than thirty years to realize its founding purpose to be a cultural beacon in Boca Raton. I’m grateful to members of City Council and City Staff for their spirit of partnership in this endeavor, honored by the belief and commitment of our founding donors, and am incredibly energized for the work that lies ahead.”
As conceived, The Center will consist of a number of flexible and multi-purpose performance, event and educational spaces within the renovated and renewed Amphitheater and new performing arts center, capable of operating jointly or separately for up to 6,000 attendees. The conceptual site plan also provides for a new parking garage to support the new infrastructure.
“Art, culture, innovation, education and collaboration are the lifeblood of a community,” said Boca Raton Deputy Mayor Andrea O’Rourke. “For Boca Raton, the path to the future is clearly marked and very bright, thanks to the vision, determination and fortitude demonstrated by the founders and supporters of I Center. I’m thrilled to be a part of this game-changing opportunity for our city, which is especially timely as we experience this renaissance in South Florida.”
A limited number of naming opportunities were recently released and commitments for those opportunities by those who wish to put their name and mark on this legacy project have already begun. For additional background on the Center, and to remain abreast of project updates, please visit www.bocaratonartscenter.org.