Fort Lauderdale’s Downtown Skyline Has More Changes on the Horizon

More development for Fort Lauderdale’s downtown district is on the horizon. Earlier this month the City’s staff had signed off on the project known as “Riverparc Square” yet Commissioner Steve Glassman has requested that the project be discussed publicly first before any work begins.

“It’s significant in its size and scope,” Glassman said. “The public deserves the right to express their opinions about the project.” So, now that it’s going to the City Commission, officials can decide “if we want to have a hearing on this project,” he said.

The development’s team, Southside River LLC from Miami has plans to on the land at 501 S. Andrews across from Publix supermarket. There would be three towers with one building being comprised of 790 apartments and 279 hotel rooms.

“It’s a housing opportunity for folks to live close to where they work,” such as the state and federal courthouses and Broward Health Medical Center, said Robert Lochrie III, project attorney for developer Southside River LLC.

More details of the plan included 44,698 square feet of retail space on the ground floor as well as nearly 300,000 square feet of office space. An existing office building located at the site would be removed. One tower would reach 43 stories, the second at 42 and third at 36. One would think this would be the highest building for the downtown area although that is still held by 100 Las Olas coming in at 46 stories.

We shall see how the development progresses and if any public backlash will come about. Glassman states that they are scrutinizing more of these projects as they are proposed. There certainly has been a strong demand for housing options as well as retail and restaurant spaces to accommodate the residents. The proposed Riverparc Square caters to all of these needs.