This Overlooked Boynton Site Could Quietly Reshape Downtown
Boynton Residents Have Spoken But Will City Leaders Listen?
Boynton Beach residents have spoken clearly about what they want built on a major city-owned site near Boynton Beach Boulevard and Interstate 95. The Community Redevelopment Agency spent nearly $16 million assembling 5.65 acres at the western gateway to downtown and received more than 1,000 survey responses about its future. Residents strongly favored walkable sidewalks, local restaurants and cafés, landscaping, shade, green space, family-friendly dining, arts, and small businesses. Most also preferred buildings no taller than five stories.
Their biggest concerns were traffic, congestion, and parking. This matters because the property sits at one of the most visible entrances to downtown Boynton Beach. Whatever is built there could shape the city’s image, affect nearby neighborhoods, create jobs, and influence traffic for years. The survey does not guarantee the final project will include everything residents requested, but it gives city leaders a clear message: build something attractive, useful, and welcoming without overwhelming the surrounding community.
Will Boynton Residents Pay More To Keep Emergency Services Ready?
Boynton Beach commissioners will meet today, Tuesday, July 14th, to reconsider the city’s proposed Fire Rescue assessment for the 2026–27 budget year. The special meeting begins at 5:30 pm at City Hall, located at 100 E. Ocean Avenue. Commissioners are expected to revise the estimated cost of providing fire rescue services and the preliminary rates that could be charged to affected properties. The assessment helps pay for fire rescue programs, facilities, and emergency response services throughout the city.
For residents and property owners, the important point is that no final charge will be approved Tuesday. The meeting only updates the city’s early estimates. Final rates and the assessment roll are scheduled for a public hearing on September 8th, after affected property owners receive mailed notice. Any change could ultimately affect how much some owners pay, so residents should watch the revised figures and the final September decision closely.
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🎉This Week’s Featured Events
The Delray CRA will host the Delray Summer GreenMarket on Saturday, July 18th, from 9:00 am–1:00 pm. It’s located at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach, 33444. The open-air market features more than 50 vendors offering locally grown produce, fresh seafood, baked goods, flowers, plants, farm-fresh eggs, specialty foods, and other unique finds. Visitors can also enjoy live music while browsing the market and exploring downtown Delray Beach. Admission is FREE. For more information, click here.
A FREE Sunset Concert featuring the music of Boston and Foreigner will be held on Friday, July 24th, from 5:00–9:00 pm at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach, 33444. The Flyers will open the concert at 6:00 pm, followed by Smokin’ Renegade performing classic 1970s and 1980s rock hits with powerful vocals, soaring harmonies, and electric guitar solos. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, arrive early, and enjoy dinner or shopping in downtown Delray before the music begins. For more information, click here.
Art & Jazz on the Avenue will take place on Wednesday, July 22nd, from 6:00–9:30 pm along Pineapple Grove and NE 2nd Avenue in downtown Delray Beach. The popular outdoor event will feature live music, mural artists, local vendors, children’s activities, dancing, and dining in the street. Restaurants, galleries, and businesses throughout Pineapple Grove will also remain open, giving visitors a chance to explore one of Delray Beach’s most creative neighborhoods. For more information, click here.
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Boynton’s Tap Water May Smell Strange This Month - Here’s Why
If Boynton Beach tap water smells a little like a swimming pool this month, don’t panic. The city is temporarily switching from chloramine to free chlorine from July 9th through July 30th as part of routine water-system maintenance. The stronger disinfectant helps clean pipes and keep the distribution system in good condition. Some residents may notice a different taste or smell, but the city says the water remains safe for drinking, cooking, bathing, and laundry. If the chlorine taste bothers you, place an open container of water in the refrigerator for a few hours and let the smell fade. Aquarium owners, dialysis patients, and anyone with special health concerns should take extra precautions. You may also notice hydrants being flushed around town as part of the process.
🤔 Did You Know?
Ocean Avenue was once Boynton Beach’s main route to its waterfront business district, but planners chose not to extend it across Interstate 95 because of the cost. When I-95 was built in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Ocean Avenue was effectively split in two. The Florida Turnpike had already pulled traffic away from downtown, and the interstate’s completion left the city without a direct route to its original commercial center. Historians widely believe that this loss of traffic played a major role in downtown Boynton’s decline.
