The planning and zoning/architectural review board for Pembroke Pines passed a measure last week to change the land-use designation for its city hall property. The change will not only facilitate the redevelopment of city hall, but will allow for the development of 374 apartments in what is now a city hall parking lot.
The current city hall/municipal center at 10100 Pines Boulevard is adjacent to Pembroke Pines’ City Center development, a mixed-use community which is partially completed.
The city hall will be torn down. Terra Group will be in charge of redeveloping the site, which is designated for a 350-room hotel. Nearby, Terra also plans to build 300,000 square feet of retail, entertainment and restaurant space at the southwest corner of Pines Boulevard and Palm Avenue.
Mill Creek Residential Trust, which has already built 700 apartment units near the current city hall, plans to build the additional apartments.
The developers each have contracts on the city-owned land. A new city hall is currently under construction a couple of blocks from the current site within the City Center development.
The land-use resolution is tentatively set to be considered by the Pembroke Pines City Commission in March or April of 2017.
The developers want to change the land-use designations for the property on which they plan to build to facilitate the approval process for the Mill Creek apartments, Dennis Mele, attorney for both developers, told The Real Deal. By changing the designations from “employment center” (city hall property) and “local activity center” to that of “regional activity center,” they can build more units. And by adding the 18 acres from the city hall property, and making it part of the regional activity center, the developers will have more land on which to seek approval for all 374 apartments.
Mele said that Mill Creek wants to add more apartment units because the first two phases did so well. “The apartments are fully occupied,” he said. “We’re seeing, a lot of demand from younger people and empty nesters in Pembroke Pines.” Lots of people rent by choice today, he said. “Plus, the whole idea of Pembroke Pines’ City Center [is for residents] to be able to work, shop and eat in the same place.”