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 project is being led by The Related Group, BH Group, and Pebb Enterprises, companies that have previously collaborated on other South Florida developments.
Under the state’s Live Local Act, which allows certain affordable housing projects to bypass standard public hearings if they meet specific requirements, the development group received approval to move forward with their plans. The law enables cities to approve greater residential density without city commission consent when at least 40 percent of the homes are designated as affordable.
The developers intend to transform the seven-acre site at 1515 17th Street into a 33-story complex named The Quay. Plans include 521 apartments ranging from studios to three-bedroom units, with 217 reserved for affordable and workforce housing. The proposal also features 5,000 square feet of commercial space and more than 750 parking spaces. In addition to new construction, the developers plan to retain the existing shopping center and two office buildings while creating a waterfront public plaza.
Currently, zoning regulations permit up to 361 residential units and as much as 12,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space on the property. However, because of provisions in the Live Local Act regarding affordable housing allocation, this redevelopment will exceed those limits.
Last year, the partnership acquired The Quay property for $48.5 million. They also own Ocean Walk in Riviera Beach and the former Office Depot headquarters campus in Boca Raton—sites where additional mixed-use projects are planned.
Related Group’s portfolio of Live Local developments continues to expand across South Florida. Its affordable and workforce housing division recently submitted plans for a multifamily and hotel project at Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Miami campus. That proposal includes two residential towers—one with 460 apartments and another with 382 units—a third tower featuring an 18-story hotel with 128 rooms, along with retail space and parking garages.
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