Historic Boca Raton Building to be Relocated to Cemetery Property

Ricketts House (Photo: City of Boca Raton)

A historic building in Boca Raton will be moved from its current home at 498 Crawford Boulevard – adjacent to the Huxhold Skate Park – to the city’s cemetery and mausoleum on SW 3th Avenue.

Constructed in 1939 as a real estate office, the house was originally located at 490 E. Palmetto Park Road. In 1989, it was relocated to 498 Crawford Boulevard within a city park. Known as “R

icketts House,” the building has been used as office space for employees of the Recreation Services department.

Ricketts House has sometimes been confused with another historic building on the same property that has housed the Boca Raton Children’s Museum. The museum building is distinct, but is also due to be moved – in this case, to Meadows Park at 1300 NW 8th Street. The Crawford Boulevard location has been identified as a future site for a city administration building.

The new location planned for Ricketts House at the Boca Raton ceemtery and mausoleum. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The new location planned for Ricketts House at the Boca Raton ceemtery and mausoleum. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The new location planned for Ricketts House at the Boca Raton ceemtery and mausoleum. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

“The relocation will preserve the historic structure in lieu of demolition,” said Jacob German, a planner with the city. “The Ricketts House will continue to be used as an office building for employees of the cemetery and Recreation Services.”

The building, once moved, will be located in the southeast corner of the cemetery property in an area that is vacant and has not been reserved for future grave sites. The plan was presented to the city’s Planning and Zoning Board this week due to the fact that one variance is required prior to the relocation – namely, a side setback variance. Normally, 100-feet would be required, but this would have moved the building into an area reserved for future plots. A 25-foot buffer from the street would place the building fully within a vacant area and adjacent to an entrance gate for staff.

The board voted unanimously to recommend approval.

“I just hope this is the final resting place of this house,” board chair Arnold Sevell said, a bit tongue-in-cheek. “It’s been moved before.”