Fort Lauderdale developers have secured a $54 million pre-construction loan to advance two high-rise mixed-use towers just south of the New River and Las Olas Boulevard, a financing move that will cover planning and pre-development work ahead of construction expected in early 2028.
The loan was provided by CDK Capital and arranged by Daryl Hagler and Allen Weinstein of CDK Capital. Valley National Bank is listed as a participating lender. The borrower is Dependable Equities, the South Florida division of Sky Equity Group.
What residents can expect
The projects — a 45-story tower at 101 Southeast 7th Street and a 47-story tower at 633 Southeast 3rd Avenue — are designed by New York–based ODA Architecture. Combined, the two developments are planned to total nearly 2 million square feet and deliver approximately 1,460 condominium and multifamily residences, along with roughly 14,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floors.
- Locations: South of the New River near Las Olas Boulevard and Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
- Construction start: anticipated in early 2028 (pre-development now funded by the loan).
- Scale: nearly 2 million square feet and about 1,460 residential units.
"The loan will support the planning and pre-development phase for the two high-rise communities."
The two towers each take a distinct architectural approach while emphasizing public-facing amenities. At 101 SE 7th Street, the 45-story design uses vertically staggered, fluted volumes with terraces and an undulating podium wrapped in vertical aluminum fins to shape the street frontage and shade pedestrians. The 47-story tower at 633 SE 3rd Avenue features stepped rounded volumes, curved glazed façades, wraparound balconies, setbacks and double-height voids intended to create rooftop amenity decks and reduce perceived massing.
Street-level changes and public space
Design elements described for both sites emphasize activation of the street: a large corner plaza, connected walkways and a three-dimensional parking screen façade lined with residences at street level are intended to improve the pedestrian experience. Developers say the podiums and façades are intended to provide shading, texture and more active sidewalks just blocks from Las Olas.
| Address | Stories | Primary features |
|---|---|---|
| 101 SE 7th Street | 45 | Fluted, staggered forms; terraces; undulating podium with aluminum fins |
| 633 SE 3rd Avenue | 47 | Stepped rounded volumes; wraparound balconies; rooftop amenity decks; corner plaza |
For residents, the projects signal a significant uptick in dense, high-rise residential development in the immediate downtown area. The added housing could reshape demand for nearby services and transit, while new ground-floor commercial space may bring additional retailers and restaurants within walking distance of Las Olas and the waterfront.
Officials and lenders involved have framed the financing as a confidence vote in the projects' viability during the planning stage. The loan covers pre-construction tasks, including final design work, permitting and other steps necessary before vertical construction can begin.
Construction remains subject to permits and market conditions, but the financing step taken now aims to have both projects ready to break ground in early 2028. Residents will likely see design and permitting filings in city records as the development process advances.
News Block will monitor filings with the City of Fort Lauderdale and notice timelines for public hearings and site work as the projects move through the permitting process.
