Another major piece of downtown Boynton Beach’s transformation is officially moving forward. The Boynton Weekly attended the September 10 groundbreaking for Octavia, where the mayor, city commissioners, architects, investors and project managers gathered to mark the occasion. The first phase will rise at 120 SE 1st Avenue in Town Square, directly south of City Hall, bringing 465 market-rate apartments to downtown. The eight-story development will also feature approximately 50,000 square feet of amenities and ground-floor retail.
Also in the plans is a large integrated parking garage, giving residents convenient covered parking within the complex. Construction is expected to ramp up this fall, with the CRA agreement requiring work to commence no later than October 1. Completion is currently estimated for late 2028 or early 2029. Octavia is only the beginning: a future northern building is planned to add hundreds more apartments, eventually creating a major residential district surrounding City Hall, Centennial Park and the Arts & Cultural Center.
Boynton Makes a $6 Million Bet On Future Development
The Boynton Beach CRA is preparing to spend more than $6.1 million to acquire six properties as it continues assembling land for future redevelopment. The properties are concentrated around Boynton Beach Boulevard near I-95 and the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard corridor, two areas targeted for long-term improvement. By combining smaller parcels into larger sites, the CRA hopes to attract projects that could bring new housing, businesses and investment to these areas.
One purchase stands out. The CRA negotiated a price of $749,000 for property at 415 NW 1st Avenue, despite an updated appraisal of $420,000. Another deal involving three properties along the MLK corridor totals $3.59 million, also above their appraised value. Paying more can sometimes be necessary when assembling strategically important land, but it also raises the stakes. For Boynton residents, the real story will be what eventually rises on these properties - and whether the investment helps transform areas the city has targeted for years.
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🎉This Week’s Featured Events
Pilates with the Mayor — Saturday, September 12 from 9:00–11:00 am at the Arts & Cultural Center, 125 E. Ocean Ave. in downtown Boynton Beach. The community wellness event features a 45-minute Pilates class led alongside Mayor Rebecca Shelton, plus yoga mats, wellness experiences and more. It’s a fun opportunity to get moving while spending the morning with neighbors in the heart of downtown. For more information, click here.
Jive Talkin’ — Tribute to The Bee Gees — Sunday, September 13 from 7:00–9:00 pm at the Boca Black Box Center for the Arts, 8221 Glades Road in Boca Raton. The live tribute show brings back the Bee Gees’ biggest hits from the 1960s through the 1990s, including favorites from Saturday Night Fever. Featuring vocalist William Cintron and a live band with no backing tracks, the show promises an energetic trip back to the height of the disco era. For more information and tickets, click here.
Boynton YMCA Open House — Saturday, September 12 from 10:00 am–1:00 pm at the DeVos-Blum Family YMCA of Boynton Beach, 9600 S. Military Trail. The FREE open house features family activities, interactive inflatables, program demonstrations, food trucks and vendors, plus an indoor yard sale and craft fair. Visitors can also tour the facility and learn about the Y’s fitness, swimming and family programs. For more information, click here.
The Good Day Market — Sunday, September 13 from 9:00 am–2:00 pm at 129 E. Ocean Ave. in downtown Boynton Beach, next to the Schoolhouse Children’s Museum. The FREE outdoor market returns with more than 50 local vendors, makers, artists, food, coffee, plants, vintage finds and a special Banana Market theme. It’s an easy Sunday outing and a good way to support local businesses while spending a few hours downtown. For more information, click here.
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Big Repairs Are Ahead for Boynton Harbor Marina
One of downtown Boynton’s most recognizable waterfront destinations is facing a major and expensive repair. The seawall at Boynton Harbor Marina is about 25 years old and has reached the end of its useful life, according to the CRA. Replacing it is expected to cost roughly $4.5 million. The project is beginning to move forward, with the CRA receiving a $132,246 FEMA award to help pay for the initial design and permitting work. There’s quite a bit depending on that seawall.
The CRA says a failure could affect 19 marine-related businesses along the wall, 11 businesses within the marina, more than 1,100 nearby residents and a waterfront destination attracting over 50,000 visitors annually. The marina has become an important part of Boynton’s downtown identity, with restaurants, fishing charters, waterfront activities and community events. Replacing a seawall may not be Boynton’s flashiest project, but protecting one of the city’s busiest waterfront areas makes it an important one.
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🤔 Did You Know?
For decades, Boynton’s Florida East Coast Railway station connected local residents with destinations up and down Florida’s east coast. But as automobiles took over, passenger rail began to fade. In 1965, the old station was demolished - erasing one of the last reminders of Boynton’s early railroad era.
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