Once a sprawling icon of retail, the Galleria Mall is an afterthought for many shoppers these days. Several anchor stores and restaurants closed their doors years ago.
A group of developers and investors bought the mall in September. Miami Beach developer Russell Galbut is taking the lead on the project. His team submitted a proposal to build nine 30-story towers offering about 3,000 housing units, a hotel and room for retail, restaurants and office space.
“It certainly took our breath away. It’s far in excess of anything anyone has before proposed for the Galleria,” said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis.
The proposal is turning heads for many who live nearby.
“We’re not NIMBY’s (Not In My Backyard) here, we’re not anti-development, we want to see that property redeveloped,” said Tim Hernandez, the president of Coral Ridge Country Club Estates Community Association.
He’s worried about congestion.
“You’re providing over 4,000 parking spaces, which says to me this is an auto-defendant type of development. There’s no alternative means for people to get around,” Hernandez said.
Russell Galbut, founder of GFO Investments, shared this statement with NBC6: “We’re community-minded developers who believe The Galleria can once again be a source of pride for all of Fort Lauderdale. Every square foot of retail will remain, and we’re investing more than $100 million to make a vibrant again. The vision is a true mixed-use community where people can live, work, and enjoy the same neighborhood, reducing traffic and creating new energy for the area. Our focus now is to continue working with the city and the community to restore The Galleria as an icon and a beacon for Fort Lauderdale’s future.”
The proposal was initially submitted under the Live Local Act, a state law that can fast-track a project when it meets certain requirements, like offering affordable housing. But the law also says the project does not need public input or city leaders to sign off on it.
“It’s not just about height and density,” Trantalis said. “It’s about what the impact on the area is, we have to make sure people’s quality of life isn’t diminished because a new proposal comes forward.”
The initial proposal didn’t match the live local requirements; it was deemed “insufficient” by city staff. Now developers are resubmitting it.
There is a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 28 at the Coral Ridge Yacht Club at 6 p.m. for those who want to learn more about the proposal and the Live Local Act.