No Movement on Synagogue Plan

BOCA RATON, FL — A caller to the Boca Raton News said the “for sale” sign has gone back up at the former La Vieille Maison restaurant on East Palmetto Park Road.

The restaurant that operated for some 30 years in a historic home with roots going back to the Mizner era closed in 2006 after the owner decided to retire.

Soon after, developer Greg Talbott purchased the structure for what he said, at the time, was going to be his new office.

But that never happened. And just a few months ago, the Chabad of East Boca filed a plan with the city to construct a new synagogue on the property. That would require the demolition of the structure.

Mary Csar, executive director of the Boca Raton Historical Society, sent Rabbi Ruvi New of the Chabad a letter asking for a meeting before anything is done with the building.

Csar said the home was owned by an engineer who worked for architect Addison Mizner, and has connections to that era.

But both Csar and Development Services Director Jorge Camejo said the Chabad has done nothing in the recent past to move that project along.

“They (Chabad) filed a plan and it went to the Planning Advisory Committee for review,” Camejo said. “There has been no follow up.”

Csar also said she never received a response to her letter, and does not know what the Chabad has in mind.

The Boca Raton News called and left several messages for Rabbi New, but they were also not returned.

Camejo said the building is still owned by Greg Talbott. His realty firm purchased the 6,700 square foot building on 36,000 square feet of land at 770 East Palmetto Park Road shortly after it closed. The purchase price was $3.1 million.