Commission approves plan for 4-acre site
FORT LAUDERDALE - The market might not be ripe for a mega-development, but a landowner on a major corner downtown is ready for the next wave of construction.
City commissioners Tuesday evening unanimously approved conceptual plans for a hotel, condo and office complex to be built on the southeast corner of Broward Boulevard and Southeast Third Avenue.
The 3.9-acre site is home to the old Landmark Bank tower and a parking garage, which would not be torn down under the proposal. "They just finished putting millions and millions of dollars into renovating it," said Robert Lochrie, attorney for landowner One Financial Center Ltd.
It was here at 100 SE Third Ave. that downtown's vertical rise began. Landmark Bank was the first downtown high-rise — at 28 stories — when it opened in 1972.
For years the bank was the tallest building in the county, but has since been overshadowed by new residential and office towers.
"Everybody was pretty excited when it got built," Lochrie recalled "It was a skyscraper."
City commissioners Tuesday approved a "plat" for the property, which spells out what types of development could be built there. Before any construction, the developer must get site plans approved in public hearings.
Approved conceptually were plans for 215 hotel rooms, 300 residential units, 35,000 square feet of general commercial space, 218,550 square feet of office, and 15,500 square feet of bank.
The high-density plans would require high-rise buildings, but Lochrie said he doesn't expect them to be taller than the existing tower.
The landowner paid $65 million for the property in 2007, according to county records. Lochrie said building designs will be drawn up now, but there is no timetable for construction.
Brittany Wallman can be reached at bwallman@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4541.
The proposal
215 Hotel rooms 300 Residential units 35,000 Square feet of general commercial spacesource: sun-sentinel.com
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