BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The City of Boca Raton may be forced to halt work on the proposed downtown development project after an activist group submitted more than 5,000 signatures Tuesday night from citizens against the more than $300M development.
“Save Boca” founder John Pearlman submitted the petition which, if verified, should trigger an automatic vote by City Council. If that vote fails, the question of whether or not the project moves forward should be submitted to voters during a general election under the city’s code. The “Initiative Ordinance” calls for the City of Boca Raton to stop what it calls a public-private partnership to redevelop the City Hall area with a 30 acre private/public development.
“Tonight, I have a special delivery for the City Council, 5200 signatures from all across the city of Boca Raton for our initiative ordinance to protect our public land,” said Pearlman in delivering the petition during a city council meeting. “Thank you to the citizens who love our city and who have signed the Save Boca petition for an initiative ordinance like this. The Boca code says you need 15% of the voter turnout at the last municipal election. For some reason, the city of Boca wanted double that. Tonight, I’m giving them triple.The voice of the people is stronger than ever, and they are saying loud and clear, stop this project. The people do not want it. You the city council, have the power to stop this project right now. The agreement with the developer is non binding, and you have the discretion to terminate it. Terminate it.”
Pearlman continued: “Let’s rebuild our City Hall on the same footprint, and Boca can afford to do that without any private partner as part of this plan we’re paying to build our city hall. Anyway, let’s keep the recreation facilities in Parkland of Memorial Park untouched for the benefit and enjoyment of us, our children and all future generations of Boca Raton, if the city council does not terminate this project, it will reaffirm to us that their allegiance does not lie with their constituency. Regardless, our mission remains the same to pass the ordinance and charter amendments to protect our public land. I am submitting the ordinance tonight, and we must continue collecting signatures to achieve the charter. We will not stop until we restore protection over our public land, our parks and our ocean front property all across our beautiful city to protect these lands now for our children and all future generations of Boca Raton, nothing can stop the will of the people. We will prevail. Save Boca.”
Pearlman’s comments came among scores of others speaking out against the plans. The meeting, which started at 6 p.m., did not conclude until after midnight. We expect an update from the City of Boca Raton on Wednesday.
Pearlman and volunteers. You guys are the greatest. My family and I gathered some signatures but you all did the heavy lifting. Thank you so much. Let’s hope for a favorable outcome!!!
I live in west Boca and therefore don’t have a dog in this dispute. That being said, I am super confused on what harm is being brought by the project. Mr. Pearlman (as written in the story), brought zero claims of what negative impact the project will have on the community. Not saying there wouldn’t be any negative impact, only curious what is the actual negative impact. Pearlman sounded more like someone running for office….. He said a lot of words that added up to nothing lol My guess is, he is going to be running for public office or he has way too much time on his hands….otherwise the negative impacts would have been more clearly defined.
Matthew, you clearly don’t understand the issues and if you care to learn, check our the saveboca.org website. We are not anti-development. Pearlman did not say ‘alot of nothing’. There are multiple reasons that this is NOT good for the community and for at least 4 hours, residents voiced the problems with the project loud and clear at the meeting. Review the meeting and public comments on the website. All our organization is asking for is a VOTE by the public/citizens because this is NOT developer-owned land – it is our public land. We deserve to vote on what happens to it.
Way to go residents of east boca, raton!!
Unfortunately, I am in west boca and overdevelopment of new homes is strangling us with no real referendum.
We need to continue to hold the council’s feet to the fire. There are city ordinances and state statutes that apply to what is being done. Has the city attorney even addressed these issues? Certainly he is aware that Terra and Frisbie did not disclose litigation as was required in the RFP and by extension state law. That, in and of itself, justifies cancellation of the interim agreement. Additionally, what due diligence did the attorney, who is responsible for reviewing proposals, do before submitting proposals to the council? And finally, council members admitted that individual due diligence brought the litigation to their attention. Legally, that should have been disclosed. Why was it not?
And to top off all that new traffic? They’re closing the railroad crossing at NW 28th Street so you’ll have to use 20th Street or Spanish River Blvd. Arrrgghh!!!
If you need more signatures, please advise how my friends and I can sign!
The more signatures, the better! Please keep spreading the word and getting more names on the petitions.
Which piece of land does this pertain to?
For me, this discussion is not just about one investment project, but about the overall direction of development in Boca Raton. I have lived here for more than 10 years, and I am deeply concerned with how much the city has changed—especially after COVID.
What we are seeing is no longer careful, thoughtful growth. Instead, it feels like a profit-driven enterprise where revenue takes priority over residents’ quality of life. Week after week, Boca Raton is promoted in national press and television as a “destination,” bringing even more people here, despite the fact that population growth and housing pressures are already straining our community.
The city government appears to focus only on maximizing business and population growth, regardless of how it affects the daily lives of longtime residents. Every new development seems to follow the same formula: sell land, build more, and collect additional taxes and property revenue—while our sense of balance, peace, and community erodes.
If this continues, Boca Raton risks losing its character and livability. Just as Sunny Isles became known as “Little Moscow,” Boca Raton may soon be called “Little New York.” And that is not the Boca Raton we chose to call home.
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