Congress Avenue Corridor

With its new retail stores, restaurants, offices and residential rentals, Congress Avenue is becoming a new “downtown”� for the Greater Boynton Beach region. One of the foundations for Congress Avenue's retail commerce is the Boynton Beach Mall. Anchored by Dillard's, Macy's, Sears and JC Penney, the 1.2 million-square-feet shopping center contains more than 140 retail shops and restaurants, and across the parking lot is a CiniMark theater. On Congress at Old Boynton Road is Boynton Town Center, whose “big box”� retailers include newcomer Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc. as well as Super Target, Best Buy, Michaels and Total Wine. The center has more than 240,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space and a small office space component.
Another example of the area's attractiveness to retailers: Kohl's is opening its first South Florida department store on Congress Avenue at Gateway Boulevard on the site of a former Target store. The 109,392-square-foot building opened in 2008.
On Gateway at High Ridge Road is the new Quantum Park & Village North mixed-use development, a Publix-anchored center with office, retail and restaurant space. Nearby, Quantum Park & Village South will contain office and retail space as well as 115 residential units.
However, the biggest development in the Central Business Corridor is Renaissance Commons at Congress Avenue and Gateway Boulevard. The mixed-used community being developed by Compson Associates includes retail shops, offices, and residential condominiums, townhouses and apartments. “The Boynton market continues to be very attractive to retailers and other businesses,”� said Jim Comparato, president, Compson Associates. Within Renaissance Commons is Compson Place, a three-building mixed-use development whose 100,000-square-feet of office space includes the new home of the Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce. “We offer a combination of office condominiums and rentals,”� said Comparato. “Our first section of executive suites filled up in less than a month, and we're now completing a second phase. ”�Compson Associates has also developed Renaissance Self-Storage, which has 100,000 square feet of mini-warehouse space for antiques, art, business records and other valuables. Compson Associates is preparing to launch a new phase at Compson Place in  2009, with 345 rental units and 150,000 square feet or retail space.  “We believe that our rentals will be a strong addition to the area,”� said Comparato. “Boynton Beach is attracting younger professionals who tend to be more mobile in their lifestyles.”�