FBI agents are investigating the redevelopment of Marina Village in Riviera Beach, as city officials on March 26 continued to support new development plans for the area. Despite the ongoing inquiry, officials endorsed Related Urban’s proposal to build two 20-story apartment buildings on public land at Broadway and East 12th Street.
The investigation comes after FBI subpoenas were issued to Mayor Doug Lawson, City Council Chair Shirley Lanier, and Councilmember Bruce Guyton. The subpoenas, delivered on Feb. 24, reportedly requested records from phones, computers, and electronic devices related to the marina redevelopment. The FBI has not disclosed details about the focus of its inquiry or announced any criminal charges. Related Urban has not been mentioned in connection with the investigation.
Related Urban and its partners BH Group and Tezral Partners received preliminary approval for their plan to construct 418 market-rate apartments with over 6,000 square feet of commercial space on a city-owned parcel. This project is part of a larger vision for mixed-use development at Marina Village that could include hotels and possibly a convention center.
A previous glitch in the bidding process led to only Related Urban being considered an acceptable bidder last July after three other proposals were disqualified by the city’s purchasing department due to incomplete submissions. During discussions about whether to reopen bidding at that time, Guyton said, “When there is no competition, it gives us less leverage. When we have more than one to consider, it puts us in a better negotiation posture.” Lanier added during that meeting: “I still have some heartburn about moving forward with this after there is a process, and the process was not completed. And that is just what it is.” Bidding was later reopened; now Related Urban competes alongside Forest Development and Sonnenblick Development.
The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), made up of all council members, met one day after receiving the subpoena when Lanier postponed voting on Related Urban’s apartment project citing “important information regarding the marina redevelopment project has come to our attention.” Guyton did not attend Wednesday’s CRA meeting.
Adjacent affordable housing developments are also underway by Related Urban and Tezral Partners using $100 million in grants and loans; these will be reserved for households earning between 30 percent and 110 percent of Palm Beach County’s median income under long-term leases from the city lasting up to ninety-nine years.
