Dwellers of pristine Boca Raton, Florida are known to have an affinity for the finer things, and the city's newest luxury community does not disappoint.
photos courtesy of ALINA Residences
Myth: Boca Raton is for retirees.
Myth: Everyone in Boca Raton is old.
Myth: Everyone who lives in Boca Raton is rich and snobby.
Myth: Boca Raton is cookie-cutter.
Myth: Nothing in Boca is "cool".
Let us dispel.
When I was a kid, my parents had a condo in Boca that we'd visit on holiday and school breaks. This was not an uncommon scenario for many families in the northern NJ suburb where I grew up. For my brothers and me, these trips down to Florida were a treat, but as an awkward pre-teenage girl, it was... admittedly... anxiety-producing. I was intimidated by - and felt inferior to - all the "pretty people" hanging out at the community pool.
After college, I moved to NYC and my family relocated to Boca Raton full-time. The edgy, artsy, confident city slicker I'd become gave that idea a hell to the no. Sure, I'd visit, but there was no way I was gonna move there. That is, until my wallet and bank account were empty and I could no longer keep pace. Down to Boca I went. Tears were shed.
It's now 20 years later and let me tell you a few things about Boca.
One: Not everyone is retired. The weekday traffic is proof, and it can take just as long to get from your house in West Boca to your office in East Boca as it does to get from the Upper East Side to Midtown Manhattan. So all the people moving here should feel right at home.
Two: Not everyone is old. On the contrary, there are young parents with little kids everywhere you look. And there is no finer place to raise children as long as you keep them grounded.
Three: Not everyone is rich and snobby. I'm not... and neither are my friends. Are there folks with Bentleys and private jets? You betcha. But the majority of us are just regular.
Now as far as "cool" and "cookie-cutter"...
Is Boca the epicenter of cool? Well, I'm still gonna hand that one to Miami where, happily, my work so often takes me (and where I take myself when I'm looking for action within reasonable driving distance). And to address "cookie-cutter"... sure, there is an abundance of Spanish-Mediterranean style homes that all look alike, particularly in the gated communities. But the times they are a-changing!
Which brings me to the reason I've brought you here.
ALINA Residences is a nine-story condominium development whose recently-completed first phase includes 121 artfully designed luxury residences that range from one to four bedrooms and span from 1,400 to over 4,800-square-feet, many featuring dens and private terraces that overlook the Boca Raton Resort & Club golf course. ALINA is a shining example of modern living with seamless indoor/outdoor living spaces, curated private amenities, and an enviable downtown location where the heart of the city is just a short stroll along a lushly landscaped walking promenade away. The property includes 102 turnkey homes, 12 penthouses, and an exclusive collection of seven villas with expansive terraces and private gardens.
And there's nothing Mediterranean, Mizner-esque, or cookie-cutter about it.
ALINA Residences provides over 32,000-square feet of private outdoor amenity dedicated space for residents, including a private rooftop pool deck with lounges and cabanas.
Brought into being by Moss Construction (headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale) the architectural and design vision for ALINA is that of Garcia Stromberg/GS4 Studios, whose mind-blowing portfolio boasts many of the most stunning and sensuous locales throughout Florida, the Caribbean, and beyond. Led by Jorge Garcia and Peter Stromberg - maestros of architecture and design - the West Palm Beach firm is also gifted musically (hence the GS4 recording studios part), so when I tell you Garcia Stromberg totally rocks, I'm speaking both figuratively and literally.
Peter Stromberg and Jorge Garcia of Garcia Stromberg/GS4 Studios
The developer - Boca Raton-based El-Ad National Properties - is an Elad Group company, known for its projects in the most sought-after neighborhoods in New York and nationwide. Globally recognized for the history-making restoration of the famed Plaza Hotel, Elad’s NYC portfolio of iconic buildings includes One West End, the first and tallest condominium project to come to market in (Pritzker Prize-winning architect and urban planner) Christian de Portzamparc’s masterfully-designed Riverside Center; 22 Central Park South, an exquisite collection of full-floor luxury condominium residences overlooking Central Park; 250 West Street, a 1906 warehouse turned luxury condominium in the heart of TriBeCa; and 108 Leonard, a 19th century McKim, Meade & White Italian Renaissance Revival landmark conversion in TriBeCa.
Be still my city girl heart.
“One of the many highlights for me in this project is finally being able to see our residents living and building their home here at ALINA,” says Noam Ziv, Executive Director of Development at El-Ad National Properties. “Beyond creating a home, we aimed to create a new and refreshed lifestyle for Boca."
Plant the Future - an award-winning botanical design firm, art gallery and plant boutique based in Miami - created two distinctive preserved moss wall installations unique to ALINA. Plant the Future has worked on various high profile residential and commercial projects, including the Faena Hotel, 1 Hotel South Beach and 1 Hotel West Hollywood. This marks Plant the Future’s first project in Boca Raton.
on-site concierge services are available to ALINA residents
ALINA Residences lobby
ALINA’s modern residential units feature light-filled great rooms, soaring ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening to expansive terraces with spectacular views.
chef-inspired Scavolini kitchen, a leading luxury Italian kitchen brand
spa-inspired bathrooms with rain showers and soaking tubs
Florida's gorgeous year-round weather can be enjoyed from massive terraces with panoramic views.
Wellness is a focus at ALINA, where residents have access to a state-of-the-art fitness center, private yoga room, and outdoor meditation garden.
his/her spa with a salt room, steam room, sauna, private treatment rooms, and indoor and outdoor relaxation rooms
oasis water garden on the second floor, lined with palm trees, cascading pools and fountains, and shaded cabanas
Continuing the success of Phase One, the developer plans to launch the second phase later this year. ALINA Residences Phase two will include two additional buildings on nine acres located near the Intracoastal Waterway.
Residences are priced from just over $1M to over $6M.
For more information, visit: alinabocaraton.com
