master plan update - City of Boca Raton

SECTION EINITIATIVESINITIATIVE 3:CITY HALL QUARTERThe City Hall Quarter is not currentlyperceived to be an integral partof Downtown. The combined barriersof the FEC Railroad line, Dixie Highway,Federal Highway, and the types ofbuildings and uses along the tracks makeit difficult to perceive this area as part ofDowntown.However, the area has great potentialas an important quarter. Currentproposals include a new library andDowntown parking facility, as illustratedin the Phase 1 diagram. The plan suggestsrelocating NW First Avenue to thewest to provide a landscaped buffer andpotential parking area along the FECTracks.The anticipated commuter rail stationwill be located in this area. It shouldbe conceived as an inter-modal facilityand be located south of the new librarysite along the relocated street. This areawill then be an ideal location for intenseTransit-Oriented Development. Furthermore,there is a large amount ofCity-owned land, which means thatdevelopment can be accomplished in amore cost-effective way than elsewherein Downtown. This could be an opportunityto provide a wide range of moreaffordable housing since land cost is oneof the obstacles to such development.The long-term goal is to have afull range of uses in the area includingmixed-income residential, office, civic,retail, and recreational uses. The scaleof the tracks and Dixie Highway couldbe improved with large-scale buildings.Investment in the area could bringmuch-needed street improvements.There are two key initiatives to beginthis process: The first is to improvepedestrian crossings at Federal andboth Second Street and Palmetto ParkRoad. The second is the new library andPhase 1 Phase 2NW Boca Raton RoadPalmetto Park RoadDixie HighwayIllustrative plan showing the phasing and final plans of the City Hall QuarterFederal Highway60