Fort Lauderdale has terminated the Arts Park deal that would have turned over a prime piece of taxpayer-owned land to a developer for anywhere from 50 to 100 years.<\/p>\n
Tuesday\u2019s unanimous commission vote frees up the 3.3-acre parcel in Flagler Village that has been fenced off by the developer for the past few years.<\/p>\n
Nightlife entrepreneur Jeff John got approval for his $140 million project in late 2022 but never broke ground<\/a>. His plans for the land at 301 N. Andrews Ave.<\/a> called for a concert venue and towering food hall with a park in between.<\/p>\n The city recently declared John and his development team in default after he was unable to show proof he had the financing to build the project.<\/p>\n John, CEO of Damn Good Hospitality Group, declined to comment on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was an unfortunate set of circumstances,\u201d said Commissioner Steve Glassman, an early champion<\/a> of the project who had a change of heart. <\/p>\n \u201cThe reason I suggested we pull the plug was because I lost trust,\u201d Glassman said. \u201cI still think it was a good project. I\u2019ve known Jeff John for a long time and believed him when he said he had the money together. I think everyone had good intentions.\u201d<\/p>\n Known as the One Stop Shop site, the site was once home to Fort Lauderdale\u2019s One Stop Shop permitting office. The building was torn down six years ago after sitting empty for more than a decade.<\/p>\n