Boca Raton's Old IBM Campus to Become Mixed-Use 'Micro City'

One of South Florida's most talked-about redevelopment opportunities is moving forward. Billionaire developer Steve Ross — the force behind Hudson Yards in Manhattan — is acquiring the sprawling former IBM campus in Boca Raton, locally known as BRIC, with ambitions to build what he's describing as a self-contained mixed-use community.

The site, which spans hundreds of acres in western Boca Raton, previously served as a major IBM research and development hub before the tech giant vacated. Since then, it has drawn interest from developers looking to capitalize on Palm Beach County's explosive population growth and its emergence as a magnet for finance, tech, and professional services firms relocating from the Northeast.

Ross's vision reportedly includes a blend of residential units, office space, retail, hospitality, and public amenities — the kind of live-work-play environment that has become increasingly attractive to remote workers and young professionals scouting Florida relocation options. While full project details and timelines are still taking shape, the sheer scale and the pedigree of the developer involved make this one to watch closely.

Boca Raton already ranks among the most desirable destinations in South Florida for relocating professionals, offering top-rated schools, proximity to both Miami and Palm Beach, and a more suburban feel than Miami proper. A development of this magnitude could add meaningful housing inventory to a market that has struggled with supply constraints, while also attracting employers that further fuel relocation demand.

You can read more about the acquisition and early plans in the original report.

What this means if you're moving to Florida: A large mixed-use development of this profile in Boca Raton could eventually expand housing options and employment opportunities in one of Palm Beach County's most sought-after communities — worth keeping on your radar as plans firm up.