Sneak peek: Inside Fort Lauderdale's FAT Village development

Naomi Feinstein

Construction site between modern high-rises: red-brick left, dark-brick right. Workers in hard hats on a cherry-picker, with machinery, scaffolding, palm trees, and a blue sky. — FAT Village Photo: Naomi Feinstein/Axios

On a recent tour of the $512 million FAT Village development, I saw what sets this project apart from the urban design that Fort Lauderdale is used to.

Why it matters: The 5.6-acre project by Hines and Urban Street Development will transform Flagler Village with a new office building, two towers with 600 apartments, retail and restaurants.

Modern glass-front office building under construction with wooden balconies on the right, workers in hard hats, orange and white barriers along the street, blue sky and trees in foreground. — Trees have been planted all throughout the project. Photo: Naomi Feinstein/Axios

Step inside: Alan Hooper, cofounder of Urban Street Development, walked me through the site, highlighting Hines' signature T3 (timber, transit and technology) building style.

The six-story office building features large glass windows, wood ceilings, exposed timber columns and steel design elements. It'll include a gym, conference room and a shared lobby workspace.

Indoor construction site with tall wooden beams, a wood-paneled ceiling, and large left-side windows. Exposed pipes overhead and a distant worker near orange cones. — Inside the T3 building, which will face a mural on that white wall. Photo: Naomi Feinstein/Axios

Hooper tells Axios that the developers want to appeal to creative and technology companies.
He said they also wanted to "keep the fabric of the arts district" by working with local artists to decorate some of the exterior walls and also offering artist residencies.

Interior of a large unfinished building with exposed wooden beams and columns, black pipes along the ceiling, a concrete floor, and scattered construction materials and yellow bins. — The office space Photo: Naomi Feinstein/Axios

The tour continued through one of the apartment buildings, where I saw amenity spaces, several apartment layouts and the pool.

Modern kitchen with light wood cabinets, black tile backsplash, stainless fridge and microwave, and range. White ceiling fan overhead. Large white cylindrical pillar near center; dark wood floors. — The apartment finishings incorporate wood elements. Photo: Naomi Feinstein/Axios

The project features tall oak trees and wide sidewalks, so pedestrians can come and go to explore the retail spaces, cafés and restaurants.

While tenants haven't been announced, Hooper mentioned that a state-of-the-art gym will occupy one of the retail spaces.

Low-angle shot of a tall apartment building with red brick and gray panels, many balconies and glass windows. Sky above; a palm tree on a terrace and workers on a construction lift at bottom left. — The apartment building features are not what you typically see in Fort Lauderdale. Photo: Naomi Feinstein/Axios

He said the team has been very selective, wanting original restaurants that represent a range of cuisines.

What's next: The T3 building and the apartment buildings are expected to open later this year, with the rest of the project completed by 2027.

Pre-leasing for the apartments begins this month.

Sunny city construction scene with a glass-front building under construction on the right and tall palm trees on the left. An orange aerial lift and other construction equipment occupy the street. — Photo: Naomi Feinstein/Axios

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Sneak peek: Inside Fort Lauderdale's FAT Village development

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