The History of Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton Real Estate
Boca Raton was originally listed as Boca Ratones in the early maps of the area and was the center of a Florida land boom in 1925. Addison Mizner, an American architect, became fascinated with Mediterranean Revival style architecture, and upon moving to Florida (for his health) formed the Mizner Development Company. This company, with its cast of investors, were to buy the city of Boca Raton, FL and change it from a small unincorporated area to an upscale resort. It was referred to as the “Venice of the Atlantic”.
Over 1,500 acres were purchased and plans to build a hotel with 1,000 rooms, a park, golf courses, and an impressive boulevard measuring 160 feet wide. The success of the venture started out good as sales went to $26 million in a very short period of time. The hotel, called the Cloister Inn, was built (although it had 100 rooms instead of 1,000). Some houses were built, but in 1926 land sales began to decline and later that year, when a hurricane struck the coast, the project died a resounding death. Addison Mizner declared bankruptcy and the “Venice of the Atlantic” never materialized.
The 1960s were a boon to Boca Raton as it became the new home of the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). The company purchased hundreds of acres to begin construction of their main buildings. The project was finished in 1970 and this was the place where IBM PC was born. Later IBM moved to a new location and in 1987, the facilities were turned into offices and laboratories which are still in place today.
An interesting regulation in effect within Boca Raton is due to the development code in place where the size of commercial buildings and signs are strictly enforced. No billboards at all are allowed in the city and even McDonalds had to scale their arches back due to this code.
This is just a glimpse into the great history behind this wonderful city. To learn more about the Boca Raton area, please visit my website or call me anytime – I love to talk about the place with which I am proud to call my home!
Date: Friday, September, 5th 2008 @ 06:07:40 PM
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