Fort Lauderdale’s iconic Las Olas Boulevard is poised for a major transformation, with new plans submitted to the city for a six-story mixed-use building. The project, led by Coombes Property Group, would replace two existing low-rise retail buildings with a contemporary structure planned with retail and office space. Designed by the acclaimed Morris Adjmi Architects in collaboration with Cube 3, the development is planned for 811 E Las Olas Boulevard on a 0.25-acre site at the heart of the corridor.
Called 811 Las Olas and totaling almost 50,000 SF in size, the proposal represents one of the largest new developments currently planned along this strip of Las Olas. Just up the street, The Whitfield is poised to introduce luxury condominiums and multiple hotel rooms to the boulevard. Construction of the development began a while ago, but progress on its vertical ascent is unknown.
Coombes Property Group acquired the site assemblage for $2,282,100 in late 2022. The firm maintains deep ties to Australia, where it has developed and owns multiple properties across major cities including Sydney and Brisbane.
Plans submitted to the city’s Urban Development Review Board were taken up today. According to public documents, the building will feature a two-story podium with 16,167 SF of retail, divided into two equal storefronts at the ground level and a larger, continuous space on the second floor. Plans for the second floor originally included a terrace for a proposed restaurant, but that feature has since been removed in favor of a continuous glass facade.
From floors 3 to 6, the new building will offer 27,256 SF of office space, enhanced by terraces on both the third and sixth floors. The office space will come online just as demand for high-quality workspace in Fort Lauderdale is rising, driven by recent construction in office such as FAT Village. As much of the region’s older office stock becomes less competitive, projects that provide accessible, high-quality space have become higher in demand.
According to elevations, the building will measure 103 FT at its highest point. Its exterior finishes will include green glazed tile, a wood-look trellis, storefront glazing, warm white stucco, and aluminum grid-style windows.
Uniquely, 811 E Las Olas will include no on-site parking, instead relying on 122 off-site spaces. Although zoning would normally require about 137 spaces, a recently prepared traffic study shows that only 122 are needed during peak operating hours.
A construction timeline has not yet been announced. Before work can begin, the developer must demolish the low-rise buildings at 811, 813, and 815 East Las Olas Boulevard, all of which date back to the 1960s.