Delray Beach rejects six-acre property sale to Irish developer

Atlantic Uptown LLC, led by John Flynn, offered $2 million for property on West Atlantic Avenue valued at $15 million

Uptown Atlantic project rendering
Uptown Atlantic project rendering

UPDATED, Nov. 26, 9:19 a.m.: The Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) rejected a proposal to sell six acres on West Atlantic Avenue to an Irish developer who planned to build a mixed-use project there.

The CRA board decided in a 4-3 vote against selling the land to Uptown Atlantic LLC, owned by developer John Flynn.

Mayor Shelly Petrolia, who voted for the sale of the six-acre property to Flynn, said the CRA’s decision means a redevelopment of the property won’t start for at least three years.

Flynn offered to pay the city $2 million for the land in the 600, 700 and 800 blocks of West Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach and to develop residential units and commercial space for offices, retail stores and a grocery store.

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The land is valued at $15 million, and opponents of a $2 million deal with Flynn attended the CRA meeting Wednesday wearing T-shirts that read, “Say No to Delray’s $13 million giveaway.”

The CRA had higher offers to buy the six-acre property from other developers but negotiated with Flynn to accelerate development of the property, a historically African-American neighborhood.

Flynn and his wife own a Dublin-based real estate development company with projects in Ireland and England.  [Sun-Sentinel] – Mike Seemuth

An earlier version of this story misidentified the developer.