The dispute over the proposed redevelopment of Boca Raton’s government campus, known as One Boca, has intensified following legal action and ongoing public debate. The project, led by Terra and the Frisbie Group, aims to transform city-owned land in downtown Boca Raton into a mixed-use development featuring city offices, apartments, condominiums, and retail spaces. A key component involves redeveloping the current city hall at 201 West Palmetto Road and entering into a 99-year lease with the developers.
Earlier this week, attorney Ned Kimmelman filed a lawsuit in Palm Beach County Circuit Court against Save Boca—the group spearheading opposition to the project—and its founder Jon Pearlman. The suit seeks an emergency injunction to invalidate petitions that Save Boca collected as part of its efforts to bring the issue to a voter referendum. According to court filings, Save Boca gathered 7,000 signed petitions opposing the redevelopment.
In his lawsuit, Kimmelman accuses Save Boca and Pearlman of misleading residents to obtain signatures. “Save Boca and Pearlman are conducting an audacious scheme to evade Florida law and abuse our electoral process in Palm Beach County and the City,” the suit alleges. He further claims that their proposed amendment to Boca Raton’s city charter—which would prevent the council from selling or leasing land larger than half an acre—could result in an “unworkable, very expensive” crisis for local government.
Neither Kimmelman nor Pearlman could be reached for immediate comment.
The controversy follows a September 9 decision by the Boca Raton City Council to postpone approval of the 99-year lease until after a voter referendum scheduled for March 10, 2026. Terra and Frisbie were selected for the project in February after competing against other bidders including Related Ross, Namdar Group from New York, and Atlanta-based RocaPoint Partners.
During a recent city council workshop focused on One Boca, Rob Frisbie Jr., a partner at Frisbie Group, announced that new plans would be presented at upcoming meetings on October 27 and 28. He noted that the scope of the project is being reduced from its original plan covering 30 acres.
Supporters of Save Boca who attended the meeting criticized the proposal as a breach of public trust and expressed concerns about potential impacts on local wildlife habitats. Some compared their opposition to historic advocacy campaigns.
Frisbie responded by highlighting ongoing efforts to engage with residents: “We’re just in the design phase where we’re listening and incorporating additional feedback from the community,” he said. He also mentioned that future plans will focus on enhancing Memorial Park.
After the October meetings where revised plans are expected to be unveiled, voters will have their say on the proposal during next year’s referendum.
