Publix in Fort Lauderdale Beach moves forward

Project expected to be completed in two years

Publix CEO Todd Jones and a rendering of the project
Publix CEO Todd Jones and a rendering of the project

A Publix supermarket planned for Fort Lauderdale’s Lauderdale Beach neighborhood passed a rezoning hearing last week, keeping it on track to open at the end of 2022.

Fort Lauderdale commissioners unanimously passed a rezoning ordinance for the project at 2985 North Ocean Boulevard. The rezoning turns half an acre of land from “Residential Multifamily High Rise/High Density” to “Community Business District.”

The 29,000-square-foot Publix will have rooftop parking. Other supermarkets near the Publix site include a Winn-Dixie to the north and another Publix across the bridge.

Heidi Davis Knapik, a shareholder with the Gunster law firm representing the applicants, said the commission will hold a second reading of the rezoning later this month before the permitting process starts.

The landowners are companies associated with Dr. Paul G. Preste, an internist at Preste Medical in Fort Lauderdale who ran for Boca Raton city council in 2018; the family of the Karam Brothers development and architectural firm; and Tolga Adak, general manager of Florida Quality Truss.

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The Karam family bought its piece of the development site in 2014 for $600,000, according to records. The family sold some of the site to Adak’s company in a 2016 deal for $750,000.

Randy Holihan of Brandon Partners said the Publix project should be completed by the end of 2022, but he did not have a groundbreaking date for the commissioners.

Many locals support the project. Central Beach Alliance President William Brown told the commissioners a July vote resulted in 135 votes of approval, with seven dissenters concerned about the impact on traffic.

Lakeland-based Publix has been expanding in South Florida. In October, the Hollywood Planning & Development Board approved plans and modifications for a 30,000-square-foot supermarket with a boat dock at 3100 South Ocean Drive.

In April, The Publix-anchored Village Square Shopping Center in Pembroke Pines scored a $14M refinancing. And in April, Publix Super Markets paid $23 million for the site of its new store in Coral Gables.