The folks behind the head-turning $1 billion redesign of Pier Sixty-Six are gearing up for what they’re calling the next chapter: A bold four-tower expansion that will bring dramatic change to southeast Fort Lauderdale’s growing skyline.
The newly revamped Pier Sixty-Six was just the first phase of Tavistock Development Company’s long-planned makeover of the 32-acre luxury waterfront resort on the barrier island.
The second phase calls for four 23-story condo towers, all 270 feet high, that will be known as Pier 66 North and Pier 66 South. Three towers will sit on the south side of Southeast 17th Street and one on the north.
After unveiling the plan in late May, those behind it recently shared more details with the South Florida Sun Sentinel in an exclusive interview.
“Phase 2 for us represents the next chapter,” Jessi Blakley, vice president of Tavistock US, told the Sun Sentinel. “We’ve had a long-term vision for this property, to create a walkable vibrant property and really expand what we believe to be one of South Florida’s most iconic destinations. It is not a new vision. We’ve been working on this project for about 10 years. We’ve been planning for this since day one.”
Here’s what’s coming under the current plan: 339 luxury condos that would likely sell for $5 million and up, a boutique grocery, shops, restaurants, 37 marina slips, one of Fort Lauderdale’s largest waterfront promenades and a new community park beneath the 17th Street Causeway bridge.
Inspiration came partly from the original Pier Sixty-Six hotel known for its landmark rotating rooftop bar and lounge. According to the resort’s online marketing, the design team sought to honor that history, bringing a new sense of architectural ambition to the waterfront while acknowledging what came before.
It’s too soon to say when the project would break ground or even what it will cost to build, Blakley said. But this second phase will represent a significant investment in a market Tavistock has been “very bullish on,” she said.
“What we’re seeing is that people don’t want to just visit Fort Lauderdale,” Blakley said. “They want to live here. We want to build that environment that is still the place we all want to go to and hang out. But we’ve also introduced a product type that is attractive to a demographic that is now coming to the city of Fort Lauderdale.”
The project still requires approval from the city’s planning board and the Fort Lauderdale commission. But that is likely several months away, said Stephanie Toothaker, attorney for the developer.
An artist’s illustration showing the promenade view of buildings B and C, two of four new towers planned for the Pier Sixty-Six property. (Tavistock Development Company/Courtesy)
Under its development agreement with the city, Tavistock has the right to build a total of 575 condos altogether for both phases combined.
That means Tavistock could build 475 condos in the second phase. Instead, the plan is to build 339.
Some developers have opted to use the state’s Live Local Act to help projects break ground.
This is not in the current plan, Blakley said.
If it were, the developer would be required to make 40% of the residences available as rental apartments that qualify as affordable for 30 years.
The towers would be taller at 300 feet in height. And there would be more of them.
In addition, the shops, restaurants, grocery store, 1.43-mile waterfront promenade and other public improvements would come off the plan.
“Neighborhood compatibility is so important,” Blakley said. “Bringing people to the waterfront has been a core focus for us. And all of those shops and restaurants are open to the public. We know there is a desire and an appetite for restaurants and shops on the barrier island. We also want to offer boat dockage to people out on their boat on a Saturday afternoon.”
In an effort to improve the waterfront views, Tavistock plans to give up an acre of land to widen the canal that fronts the Harbour Inlet neighborhood.
“It is a really narrow canal today,” Blakley said. “It is not what you’d consider to be a safe navigable waterway. We’re shaving away the land on our side so it makes it more safe for boats to navigate that waterway. And we’re creating a more walkable waterfront for the retail shops and restaurants.”
To sacrifice even an acre of land is rare in the development world, Toothaker said.
“I’ve never worked on a project where the developer gave up land to give it back to Mother Nature, to create more water space,” she said.
As part of the project’s required approval process, Toothaker prepared a 32-page design narrative recently submitted to the city’s Development Review Committee for review.
“The development is intended to complement the existing hospitality, residential and marina uses in Phase I while providing neighborhood-serving commercial opportunities and enhancing Pier Sixty-Six’s role as a regional destination,” Toothaker wrote.
The design quality will mirror what Tavistock has already done in Phase 1 with the makeover of the historic Pier Sixty-Six resort, Blakley told the Sun Sentinel.
“Phase 2 for us is about completing a decadelong vision,” she said. “We’re connecting the north and south sides of the property to become a walkable destination that turns underused space under the bridge into a real community park. It’s not about building something new. It’s about making sure the surrounding community has walkability, shops and restaurants on the barrier island that don’t exist today.”
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan