Boca Raton CRA Regular Meeting – February 9, 2026

The Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) held a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 1:30 PM in the Auditorium at 6500 N. Congress Avenue. The meeting was called to order by Chair Marc Wigder, with all five commissioners present. The primary agenda item was a resolution consenting to the assignment of four commercial leases at Mizner Park. The meeting lasted approximately 31 minutes, adjourning at 2:01 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The minutes of the Regular Meetings of January 5, 2026, and January 20, 2026, were approved unanimously by a voice vote (motion by Commissioner Drucker, second by Commissioner Nachlas).

Public Comments & Testimony

Three members of the public spoke during the public hearing on Resolution No. 2026-02-CRA:

• Mr. Perlman (representing Save Boca) opposed the assignment, asserting that Mizner Park was originally marketed as a cultural center and park but became a commercial development. He argued that the current leaseholders (Brookfield) had previously sued the city to reduce the fair market value of the land, and he warned that the new assignment could lead to similar litigation, characterizing the original deal as a “scam” that cost the CRA millions.
• Mr. Richard Warner (1322 Southwest Ninth Terrace) agreed with Mr. Perlman, calling Mizner Park a “sacred cow” that was never a success. He criticized the CRA’s historic decision to “crush the tracks” downtown and suggested the lease assignment should serve as a cautionary tale for the proposed P3 project on the east side of Second Avenue.
• Mr. Jonathan Runjun (6501 Congress Avenue) expressed strong support for Mizner Park, describing it as a “great thing” for the city and its residents, particularly those east of the tracks who can walk there. He disagreed with claims of conflict of interest and urged the city to provide similar benefits to the west side of downtown.

Discussion Items

Resolution No. 2026-02-CRA – Assignment of Mizner Park Leases

• Deputy City Manager Camejo presented the resolution, explaining that the CRA’s discretion was limited under the lease agreements to evaluating whether the proposed assignees have financial wherewithal equal to or greater than the current lessees, and whether any criminal convictions exist. He noted that the new management includes individuals involved in the original creation of Mizner Park, such as Angela Bianco, and that the financial wherewithal standard had been met.
• Commissioners questioned the financial backing of the new special purpose entities (SPEs) and their parent companies. Staff confirmed that financial statements (a 10-Q for Stepstone Group Inc. and a consolidated statement for Acre) were reviewed, but no parent guarantees were provided or required under the existing leases—a condition consistent with Brookfield’s current tenancy. City Attorney Kaler clarified that the CRA would have recourse (default) if obligations were not met.
• Commissioner Thomson asked about the relationship between the SPEs and their parent companies; the applicant’s attorney, Bonnie Miskel, stated that the assignees step into the existing lease terms with no changes.
• Chair Wigder and Commissioner Nachlas offered historical context, noting that Mizner Park was created by voter referendum and that property values in the surrounding area have increased dramatically. They defended Mizner Park as a cultural and economic asset.

Key Outcomes

• Vote: The board unanimously approved Resolution No. 2026-02-CRA, consenting to the assignment of the retail, Phase II, Office I, and Office II leases at Mizner Park. The roll call vote was 5–0 (Chair Wigder, Vice Chair Thomson, Commissioners Drucker, Nachlas, and Singer all voting yes).
• Next Steps: The resolution authorizes execution of the assignment documents. The CRA then adjourned to a workshop meeting, where the Director’s report indicated a mobility update would be presented.

Other Business & Reports

• Director’s Report: No formal report was given, but a mobility update was noted for the upcoming workshop.
• Attorney’s Report: No report.
• Commissioners’ Reports: Commissioner Drucker reminded residents to download the Circuit app for downtown transportation and use Boca Connect. Commissioner Nachlas encouraged residents to use the Clicks Fix app to report issues like broken street signs. Chair Wigder highlighted events at Mizner Park and directed residents to MyBoca.us for information.