Downtown Fort Lauderdale – Many developments are afoot

Spend some time in downtown Fort Lauderdale and you will see many different parcels of land either currently under construction or fenced off with building plans for the near future. In particular, the south of downtown area is the next area of focus for development with many of the downtown proper parcels already being accounted for.

Recently, 955 South Federal Highway has sold. This was formerly the Broward County’s building code enforcement staff quarters and now Skyland Management has purchased the building for $3 million and is planning on renovating the nearly 24,000 square feet of office space on top of the two level parking garage. The sale also includes a 22,000 square foot lot which they will eventually develop as well.

Just a few blocks away at 2100 South Miami Road developer Eli Halali is planning a 5-story building to house 12 condos along with ground floor commercial space. “We’re hoping to break ground in September,” Halali said of the unnamed project. “I love the area because it’s close to downtown, it’s close to the 17th Street Causeway, and you’re right there by the airport and Port Everglades,” he said. “I think it’s one of the best locations in Fort Lauderdale.”

Additional projects are also slated for the South Federal Highway and South Andrews Avenue corridor. Specifically, Harbor Park Apartments at 1919 Southeast 10th Avenue will house 310 rental apartments. Alliance Residential Company has also just opened their 394 unit apartment property “Broadstone Harbor Beach” at 1721 Southeast 17th Street.

Another larger development includes 501 Seventeen, a mixed-use project with a Whole Foods supermarket and nearly 250 apartments for rent. The development will sit on the 3-acre site at the corner of Southwest 17th and Federal Highway. “We’re still in the approval process,” said Hugo Pacanins, managing director of multifamily development for Ram Realty Services of Palm Beach Gardens, the company behind 501 Seventeen. “We’re hopeful it will get done later this year, so we can start construction next year.”