Housing development plans originally proposed as an off-campus apartment complex were voted down by Boca Raton’s City Council. Executed by Boca Villa Owners LLC and Integra Investments, plans are set to proceed as a 120-unit Townhome community near Florida Atlantic University’s Boca Raton campus.
Located on 2600 N.W. Fifth Ave, just under three miles away and on route to FAU, eight acres of land sit ready to be developed into a villa-style residential unit after nearly five years of sales, propositions, and executions.
On May 25, 2021, the city council of Boca Raton opposed “Liv on 5th,” a student housing project proposed by Cav Core LLC, a housing development corporation that is currently listed as “inactive” on account of a revoked legal status by the Florida Division of Corporations.
Five years ago, Cav Core sought to bring to life a 182-unit apartment complex that would’ve included a pedestrian bridge connecting to the Florida Atlantic campus, addressing what their project leaders described to the City Council as a “need” for the university’s growing population.
Students seek to sort through off-campus living situations as the local housing market changes with approvals and disapprovals of projects. With current developments aimed at Boca residents, it can be difficult for students to find on-campus housing.
Angelina Desimini, a Freshman at FAU, stated, “I live far, so if it’s near FAU campus, it’d help me save on gas. If it’s cheaper than the other options, then that would also be a bonus.”
On-campus housing students also expressed dissatisfaction with dorms, as they may feel inclined to move to off-campus housing in the near future.
Layla Mcdowell, an FAU freshman from Connecticut, stated, “For the price out-of-state students pay, they could definitely put more money into the upkeep of dorms, I was going to live off campus next year to get in-state residency, but I’m probably going to stay on campus next year.” as she noted that if it was cheaper, she’d consider off-campus living.
The required number of votes for approval of the project was four, but with Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer and Deputy Mayor Andrea Levine O’Rourke in attendance, the project received only three, as they expressed that Liv on 5th would not measure up to its surrounding infrastructure and serve “no public purpose.”
Boca Villas LLC, another development company, purchased the eight acres in December 2022 from Cav Core for $12.6 million, just over a year and a half after the city’s downvote for “Liv on 5th.” The City of Boca Raton partnered with Integra Solutions of Miami to make Villas on 5th a reality when plans were approved by Boca’s City Planning Board in September 2024.
Selma Rabello, the executive vice president of development for Integra Investments, and in charge of the development of the Boca Villas, stated, “Boca Villas presented a unique opportunity due to its strong location within a well-established community in a city that has experienced steady economic and population growth over the past decades. The fundamentals, location, demand, and surrounding infrastructure made it a compelling long-term investment.”
According to Rabello, Integra Investments worked closely with the city to plan developments and assess value to neighboring communities such as Windwood. They ultimately sought to build a unit that would correspond with the city’s infrastructure as they see fit.
Boca Villas on 5th is currently undergoing a rezoning process, allowing for the 120 units as compared to the original 35 single-family homes, upon approval by the city council. This rezoning allows residential medium high, ultimately enabling broader development.
The project, set to begin housing residents in Summer 2028, sparks a variety of theories about the demographic the Villas will attract.
“Boca Villas is designed as an upscale residential community targeting the upper end of the middle-income market. Given the product type, we do not believe it is positioned as student housing,” said Rabello. “Housing affordability is a challenge, particularly for workforce residents and students. Boca Villas is positioned on the upscale side of the market. As such, rental rates will reflect that positioning.”
Florida Atlantic Alumni Nick O’Neill is a Boca Raton real estate agent whose market focuses on helping students find roommates and secure off-campus rentals. He commented on the projected costs of the Villas on 5th and what this could entail for part of his clientele.
“This project will be three-bedroom luxury-style townhouses with an estimated rent of $5,000-$6,000 per month, according to RentCafe. This will make them unaffordable for students compared to surrounding communities,” said O’Neill, while adding that this could lead to a rise in the average rent prices around campus.
As of winter 2026, the average rent for a one- to three-bedroom apartment in Boca Raton ranges from $2,000 to approximately $4,000. With growing development projects such as the Villas on 5th, experts deem possible increases in rent in the foreseeable future.
“Housing affordability remains a broader challenge, not just in Boca, but nationally, and the market continues to evolve in response to demand, demographics, and economic conditions,” said Rabello.
With this continuous growth in multiple facets of the housing market, consequences have fallen particularly on upperclassmen at FAU, a university spokesperson for on-campus housing told the University Press, “This change has led many upperclassmen, who traditionally would have wanted to move off campus, to stay on campus longer than in the past.”
Melissa Manzi is a Contributing Writer for the FAU University Press. For more information on this or other stories, contact her at [email protected].
