Developers press Broward Boulevard project

Developers Charlie Ladd and George Rahael want to keep going with plans to reshape nearly 100 acres along Broward Boulevard, just west of Interstate 95 in Riverbend, Fort Lauderdale, despite a dire regional economy. A 67,000-square-foot office building is the only sign of progress now, but the developers says the Riverbend project could one day span both sides of the road and include 3.3 million square feet of offices, 500 hotel rooms, 800,000 square feet of retail and 1,200 apartment units. Rahael said the project could take 10 to 25 years. The site is across from a Tri-Rail station; Riverbend is also expected to have a trolley system.