December 17, 2024
With DowntownFTL continuing to grow, new destinations like FAT Village and the TREDD District emerge. These vibrant districts promise to bring fresh energy and distinct identities, offering a uniquely Fort Lauderdale experience.
With their own sense of place and character, they complement the city’s more established neighborhoods, adding to the diverse tapestry that makes DowntownFTL such an exciting place to live, work, and explore.
This trend first kicked off with the transformation of the old Las Olas Riverfront shopping mall to an attractive mixed-use destination that brought new energy and a wave of young professionals to Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Anchored by residential high-rises like Flow Fort Lauderdale and 10X Riverwalk, this waterfront node continues to evolve due to the success of spots like Velvet Taco, Vicky Bakery, Pura Vida, Bodega Taqueria, and the soon-to-open TIMBR.
Breakwater Hospitality Group is doubling down on the success of this area having recently transformed The Wharf from a temporary pop-up venue to a permanent entertainment destination with a refreshed look.
While the existing retail tenant mix at Flow is in transition as the neighborhood grows, all the elements are in place for its continued activation: access to the Riverwalk, world-class public art, a growing residential population, great nightlife, and the corporate headquarters of AutoNation.
FAT Village
In 2010, Flagler Village emerged as Downtown’s first urban neighborhood with 2,000 residential units. Today, there are more than 6,000 units with a pipeline of another 8,000 planned. One project currently under construction is FAT Village, anchored by the 350,000 square feet “T3” campus referencing Timber, Transit, and Technology. Developed by Hines and Urban Street Development, this new destination is located just steps from the Brightline station and will introduce a new mix of amenities to the Flagler Village neighborhood, which has been underserved by retailers despite its rapidly growing population.
“FAT Village will emerge as a place that feels like a found gem with its ground floor experience looking and feeling different than any other street in Downtown Fort Lauderdale,” said Urban Street Development’s Alan Hooper
Hooper, alongside his business partner Tim Petrillo, is working to procure first-to-market concepts that he has seen succeed elsewhere and believes will resonate with locals here.
Art will be at the heart of the new experience in FAT Village with local artist studios carefully integrated into the ground floor experience in a curated mid-block alley. In celebration of the neighborhood’s history as an up-and-coming arts district, monthly art walks will return, public art is set to be integrated into the project, and local artists will return to the district.
This new destination will complement all the new options that have emerged in recent years in Flagler Village and along Federal Highway.
From spots across the street from where FAT Village is rising like Livia Bar and Grill and Mitch’s Downtown Bagel Café to neighborhood favorites closer to Federal Highway like Top Hat Deli, Mister O1 Pizza, North Italia, Tacocraft, Foxy Brown, and Hatch, there is an increasing range of options to serve Fort Lauderdale’s fastest growing neighborhood.
With a residential density exceeding some of the most popular urban destinations in South Florida and more than 20 new development projects in the pipeline, the ingredients are in place for the continued evolution of Flagler Village’s retail scene.
What does it all mean? The building blocks for Downtown Fort Lauderdale’s creative neighborhood are in place and a one-of-a-kind destination is on the way.