Construction Begins on 754-Unit Ombelle Condo Towers in Fort Lauderdale
Crews have officially begun construction on Ombelle, a two-tower condominium development that is taking shape in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. Proposed by New York City-based Dependable Equities, the project has been in the works since its initial proposal in 2022, and after months of permitting and sales activity, construction has now reached the foundation piling phase. On-site documentation shows crews actively preparing the foundation, marking the first major step toward the project’s eventual rise above downtown Fort Lauderdale. Located at 316 NE 4th Street, Ombelle is being built on a nearly two-acre parcel that Dependable Equities acquired for $27 million in late 2021. The project has also recently secured $50 million in pre-construction financing from Dwight Mortgage Trust, with the developer expected to obtain additional financing as construction progresses. Current activity on the site indicates that foundation work is well underway. Photos from the property show a piling rig, multiple rebar cages, concrete mixer trucks, and other equipment needed for the early stages of construction. Crews have been drilling deep holes into the ground, filling them with concrete, and placing rebar into the concrete to form the structural foundation that will support the towers above. Dependable Equities is handling the construction through its own in-house contracting operation. Once complete, Ombelle will bring 754 condominium residences to the site, ranging from studios to three-bedroom units. Residences will feature 10-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, custom finishes, and other high-end interior details, while residents will have access to approximately 100,000 square feet of amenities spread throughout the development. Those amenities will include a pool, two indoor pickleball courts, a business center with coworking space, fitness facilities, a game room, and additional recreational and social spaces. The development will also introduce new commercial space at street level, including more than 11,000 square feet reserved for retail and dining uses. In addition, approximately 35,000 square feet will be dedicated to a new Equinox gym, adding a major fitness component to the project. To accommodate residents, guests, and the anticipated demand generated by the development’s commercial uses, Ombelle will include 895 parking spaces. That figure represents a recent reduction from the 932 spaces previously planned, with the developer removing 37 spaces just two months ago. When completed, Ombelle’s two towers will rise approximately 525 feet across 43 floors, placing them among the tallest buildings in Fort Lauderdale. The towers are expected to reach their full height around the middle of next year, with completion currently anticipated in 2028. For the moment, however, Ombelle is still firmly in its earliest stage of construction. Once the foundation work is completed and vertical construction begins, the project will rapidly change the skyline around NE 4th Street. Both towers are currently positioned to become the tallest completed buildings in Fort Lauderdale, although they will not hold the distinction for long. Andare Residences, which is already under construction, is expected to top out before Ombelle at 542 feet, making it slightly taller than the 525-foot Ombelle towers.
Beitel Group Moves Closer to Breaking Ground on 3333 Biscayne After Key Permit Filings
Beitel Group’s long-awaited plans for 3333 Biscayne appear to be gaining momentum, as the developer moves closer to construction on the three-tower mixed-use project after filing multiple crane permits with the FAA and advancing several key construction permits. The development, which will occupy an entire city block in Edgewater, has spent years in planning and redesign, but recent filings suggest the project may finally be approaching groundbreaking. Originally unveiled in 2022, the Stantec-designed proposal called for three towers rising 12, 40, and 41 stories, delivering 635 residential units, approximately 150,000 square feet of office space, and an active ground floor lined with retail. Beitel Group assembled the site for $45 million before advancing the original concept. Earlier this year, however, Floridian Development first reported that the project had shifted toward a new residential-focused vision, replacing the original proposal with three taller towers and likely eliminating the office component altogether. That shift is now becoming clearer through recently filed construction permits. Several permits have already advanced through the approval process. Tree removal and demolition permits have been approved, with demolition work already underway across portions of the site. Before vertical construction can begin, however, the developer must still receive approval for three critical applications: a master construction permit, a site preparation and foundation piling permit, and a phased vertical construction permit. Of those filings, the master construction permit provides the clearest look yet at the project’s revised plans. According to the application, the first tower will rise 45 stories and include 667 residential units, structured parking, and 7,408 square feet of ground-floor retail. While an official height is not listed, a building of that scale would likely rise to around or above 500 feet. Although the permit references only a single tower, the overall development is still planned to consist of three buildings, meaning the filing represents only the project’s first phase. Current renderings show the towers stepping up in height from west to east, with the shortest tower positioned in the center. Based on that arrangement, the 45-story building identified in the permit is likely the westernmost tower, which appears poised to become the project’s first phase. Permit activity also suggests construction could begin sooner rather than later. In addition to the primary construction applications, Beitel Group has filed four crane permits with the FAA, including two temporary crane permits requesting a maximum height of 603 feet and two traditional tower crane permits requesting a maximum height of 644 feet. According to those filings, the cranes are expected to operate between December 1, 2026, and July 31, 2028. While the developer has not announced a groundbreaking date, the crane applications indicate confidence that the remaining site preparation and foundation permits will move through the approval process in time to support that construction schedule. If those approvals are secured in the coming months, work can begin, spearheaded by the project’s general contractor: John Moriarty & Associates.