The City of Fort Lauderdale has given administrative approval for a major redevelopment project at The Quay at 17th Street, a waterfront retail and office plaza. The initiative is being led by a partnership between The Related Group, BH Group, and Pebb Enterprises. The three companies have previously collaborated on several projects in South Florida.
The redevelopment is proceeding under the Live Local Act, a state law that allows qualifying affordable housing projects to bypass standard public hearings. This legislation enables the city to approve greater density without requiring city commission approval if at least 40 percent of the homes are designated as affordable.
Plans for The Quay call for transforming the existing mixed-use complex and six-yacht marina into a 33-story building with 521 apartments, approximately 5,000 square feet of commercial space, and more than 750 parking spaces. Of the residential units, 217 will be reserved for affordable and workforce housing. The development will offer apartments ranging from studios to three-bedroom units. Developers also plan to create a waterfront public plaza while retaining the current shopping center and two office buildings on the site.
Currently, zoning regulations permit up to 361 residential units and 12,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space on the property. However, the Live Local Act allows this new project to exceed those limits due to its affordable housing component.
Last year, the joint venture acquired The Quay property for $48.5 million. In addition to this project, the group owns Ocean Walk in Riviera Beach and the former Office Depot headquarters campus in Boca Raton. At these sites, they are planning further mixed-use developments that include residential units as well as retail amenities.
The Quay joins other Live Local developments by Related Group across South Florida. Recently, Related’s affordable and workforce housing division submitted plans for a multifamily and hotel project at Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Miami campus. That proposal includes two towers—one with 460 apartments and another with 382 units—as well as an 18-story hotel with 128 rooms, retail space totaling about 4,200 square feet, and parking facilities with over 700 spaces.
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