Boca Raton trails rerouted during construction of new I-95 interchange

Two popular trails in Boca Raton are being affected by the construction of the new Interstate 95 interchange near Spanish River Boulevard in Boca Raton.

Both the El Rio Trail and the T-Rex Trail run through work zones for the massive project, which will take traffic directly from I-95 to Florida Atlantic University and include an intricate ramp network connecting I-95, Spanish River Boulevard and Yamato Road.

The El Rio Trail, a bike and pedestrian path, connects the Tri-Rail station on Yamato Road to FAU and runs underneath I-95. With construction going on in that area, the trail was diverted around the work zone, said Andrea Pacini, a Florida Department of Transportation spokeswoman.

"They built a temporary pathway for pedestrians" around the tall columns that form the foundation for the ramps being built, she said.

The T-Rex Trail, another off-road path for pedestrians and cyclists, runs from the Tri-Rail station along the west side of the railroad tracks to the Spanish River Library. The trail runs under the Spanish River bridge that goes over I-95 and the railroad tracks. Read more here: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-interstate-95-spanish-river-20141103-story.html

RealFin Boca Raton to Feature American Homeowner Preservation CEO as Panelist.. Nice

On February 15, 2015, American Homeowner Preservation (“AHP”) founder and CEO Jorge Newbery will be a panel member at RealFin Boca Raton: Introducing Online Realty Financing for Investors. RealFin Boca Raton aims to educate real estate professionals on ways to get projects funded online such as fix and flips and ground up development. In addition to Newbery, other leaders from the real estate crowdfunding industry will lend their expertise to those interested in learning about online funding for real estate projects.

Newbery started in real estate in the early 1990s in the mortgage industry, then moved onto purchasing and renovating distressed properties. Today, Newbery’s company AHP purchases distressed mortgages and executes a strategy to generate high yields and keep borrowers at risk of foreclosure in their homes.

Title II of the JOBS Act went into effect in September 2013 and allowed for public advertising of private investments. This prompted AHP to launch an online investment platform. Since launching its platform, AHP has funded three pools of distressed mortgages and is ready to launch its fourth offering. Read more here: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/12/prweb12360616.htm

Self-Storage Developer Proposes Warehouse Conversion in Boca Raton, FL... Sayyy whaaat?

Real estate developer Tom Head has submitted a proposal to convert a Boca Raton, Fla., warehouse into a self-storage facility, but the city is considering height restrictions that could delay the project. A principal with Mission Bay Self Storage in West Boca, Fla., Head plans to build two levels of storage units inside the existing 64,000-square-foot structure, but the project has some city officials concerned about the height of future multi-story facilities, according to the source.

Head’s proposed project would include roughly 200 units covering about 70 percent of the building at 1900 N.W. First Court, the source reported. Representatives from development firm Head Properties and the law firm GrayRobinson PA addressed city council members on Nov. 10. The council first discussed the proposal on Aug. 11.

Charles Siemon, director at GrayRobinson, showed the council images of modern, aesthetically pleasing self-storage designs as examples of what could be possible in redeveloping the warehouse, according to the source. "We would not propose to change the physical height or the setbacks, but use performance standards to ensure the facility’s aesthetic qualities, its attractiveness,” Siemon told the council. “The big issue is access doors visible from the street." Read more here: http://www.insideselfstorage.com/news/2014/11/self-storage-developer-head-properties-proposes-warehouse-conversion-in-boca-raton-fl.aspx

Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s new $47M neuroscience institute... INSIDE LOOK.

Boca Raton Regional Hospital has opened the doors to its Marcus Neuroscience Institute, one of the most advanced medical facilities in South Florida.

The $47 million project was funded by a gift of $25 million from the Billi and Bernie Marcus Foundation, run by the former CEO of Home Depot, and other donations to the nonprofit hospital. The 55,000-square-foot facility has 20 beds, including eight for intensive care for neurological problems.

See the slideshows for photographs taken during a tour of the facility. The institute has four operating rooms. One of them has an intraoperative MRI and two have intraoperative CT scanners so surgeons can view real-time images of the brain. Read more here: http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2014/11/06/inside-look-boca-raton-regional-hospital-s-new-47m.html

New proposal would add to Boca's downtown skyline.. wait till you see how tall it is.

A downtown Boca Raton residential complex that languished for 10 years in the planning stages has been revived — now with bigger proportions.

Royal Palm Place was approved in 2003 as a 149-unit, downtown apartment complex, part of the mixed-use development on Federal Highway. It received several extensions on its approval until time ran out in March.

But now, one of Boca's biggest landowners, Investments Limited, is bringing Royal Palm Place back to life. And now it's 200 units, instead of 149, and 13 stories high, instead of 10. It will also reach at least 40 feet higher the city's official 100-foot limit. Read more here: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-boca-apartment-building-revived-20141117-story.html

Boca Raton Realtor Stephanie Fleishman Back In Jail

BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) – Boca Raton Realtor Stephanie Fleishman apparently blew her chance to make a DUI arrest go away.

 The 40 year old Fleishman, whose DUI arrest we first reported back in 2013, was sentenced to probation, alcohol education and community service.

But something happened in late September or early October that led to a judge signing a warrant for her arrest. That arrest happened late Tuesday. Fleishman was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail and released Wednesday on her own recognizance. The official charge: probation violation. Read more here: http://bocanewsnow.com/2014/10/29/boca-raton-realtor-stephanie-fleishman-back-in-jail/