209 replies to this topic

[Urban_Legend]

I'm ok with the tower portion of this building, but the base looks kinda weird...  At first glance it reminded me of Brutalist architecture...

[larrysofla]

As you may know the King Tut Exhibit is now open in Fort Lauderdale. Here is a picture posted on the Sun-Sentinel from the opening night of the event. This picture showcases how nicely our city's skyline has developed now that many of the new condos are now up and occupied.

[tombarnes]

Great picture!  Fort Lauderdale has definitely reinvented itself.  As a part-time resident, I can certainly say the city has a lot to offer both residents and visitors.  Please post more pics....

[tombarnes]

From the Sun Sentinel....

  http://www.sun-senti...-home-headlines


The population of Fort Lauderdale is expected to double in the next twenty years.  This is certainly no surprise.  I'd even say it could happen in ten years at the rate things are going.

Edited by tombarnes, 21 December 2005 - 08:52 AM.

[Urban_Legend]

^And since land is scarce in South Florida this booming population will be housed in an URBAN environment!  Development must go UP, not OUT!

Now we just have to hope that downtown Ft. Laud can get the ball rolling on their infrastructure, especially transit, if they want to be able to house all these people!

[larrysofla]

The new building being put up on the site of the old hyde price market site is called Icon Las Olas. I really love the way it looks. It will be 42 stories and about 10 feet taller than Riverhouse making it the tallest in Fort Lauderdale.



for more pictures and info you can go to

http://www.andyweise..._lauderdale.htm

and also http://www.hansenhom...Icon-Condo.html

[Urban_Legend]

^Thanks for posting!

I like the landscaped plaza, and that there'll be restaurants and retail on the ground floor.  My only concern is the side of the building that faces Las Olas Blvd.  One would think that that would be the more dynamic side of the building, but it seems to ignore Las Olas Blvd.

Hmmm, maybe it's just the rendering....

[SoFLA954]

Wow another new tower for Fort Lauderdale, that's great!..........one thing I've gotta say though is that last time I was in Fort Lauderdale I noticed that most of towers were empty and dark which really doesn't help with the city wanting to create a 24/7 urban environment. Hopefully this tower will be successful and not full of a bunch of investors just planning on flipping.

[larrysofla]

SoFLA954, on Jan 16 2006, 10:00 PM, said:

Wow another new tower for Fort Lauderdale, that's great!..........one thing I've gotta say though is that last time I was in Fort Lauderdale I noticed that most of towers were empty and dark which really doesn't help with the city wanting to create a 24/7 urban environment. Hopefully this tower will be successful and not full of a bunch of investors just planning on flipping.

You are right about the buildings being empty. It is sad, but the only time these buildings are even 60% lit up is in the winter season. The reason is the prices. An 850 square foot unit in Icon will sell for $400,000. Most people who actually live in South Florida can't afford the new developments going up here. The problem is the city. The city won't allow for the really high density needed to allow the developers to offer more units at affordable prices. We have huge buildings going up, but Riverhouse for instance has many floors with only a handfull of units on each floor! Most buildings going up in Fort Lauderdale should have twice the density.
I think you'll see fewer investors this time around... many of them who have bought up 90% of the units in the other buildings aren't having much luck in selling their units for the prices they thought they would be able to get.

[Dale]

I suppose the best part about this project is that it's a Related project. And whereas Related is struggling in Vegas, everything it touches in South florida turns to gold.

[tombarnes]

The owners of the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Marina may possibly be preparing to sell the property.  From Hotel-Online...

   http://www.hotel-onl...1137608253.html

I have stayed here.  While the place is well run, it's not especially memorable.  Its best asset is its location near Port Everglades, thus assuring it of a steady stream of cruise passengers.   The re-branding of the former DoubleTree Oceanfront into a Marriott Courtyard seems about right for the aging property.

[dave8721]

Dale, on Jan 16 2006, 10:47 PM, said:

I suppose the best part about this project is that it's a Related project. And whereas Related is struggling in Vegas, everything it touches in South florida turns to gold.

Plus Related projects tend to be a little cheaper than most other developers. They build in bulk (with at least 20 to 30 projects going on at any one time) so they can afford to make less profit on each individual building.

[larrysofla]

The city of Fort Lauderdale has voted to add 3,000 more units to the downtown urban core. Now the proposal goes to the State of Florida where it will likely sail through, and then to the county. One important note, a new law agreed to mandates that 15% of the new units be affordable. This is a move in the right direction if you ask me.
A new wave of highrise condos is coming soon!

You can go here to read about it in the Sun-Sentinel http://www.sun-senti...-home-headlines

[Urban_Legend]

^This is great news!  Especially the affordable housing part!

[tombarnes]

This is a page from the website of the

Broward Trust for Historic Preservation

    

Old post card views of Fort Lauderdale.  A few of these places are still standing, like the Yankee Clipper and the Lauderdale Beach Hotel (now becoming part of the Beach Club). One wonders how much longer the Jolly Roger (now known as the Sea Club) will survive.  It would be interesting if at least part of it could be incorporated into something new- like they are doing with the Lauderdale Beach Hotel.

Edited by tombarnes, 25 January 2006 - 10:47 PM.

[southernyank]

Check out this improved site showing "Tao condominiums." I hate how its so far away from the majority of the action, but if you like being somewhat isolated. meh.

http://www.florida-r...ao_sawgrass.php

[Urban_Legend]

^Yeah, Tao is way out by the Sawgrass mall.  It's just a suburban tower....  But it looks sweet.

[tombarnes]

Weird location, but it looks like a nice project.  For the money I'm sure they'll ask for these, I'd much rather be near the ocean, hurricanes or no.

[southernyank]

Here goes the site for the "Icon" Las Olas.

http://www.iconlasolas.com/

Edited by southernyank, 14 February 2006 - 07:32 PM.

[southernyank]

just a little bit of development. the fins have begun construction on  their practice stadium that should be complete by training camp. interesting read.

http://www.miamidolp...?contentID=4353