Russell Galbut Blasts Fort Lauderdale Mall Project’s Critics

Russell Galbut rolled out updates for his massive Galleria Mall redevelopment, and he took a swipe at residents trying to stop it.

The co-founder and chairman of GFO Investments unveiled new renderings of the nine-tower megaproject at Fort Lauderdale’s largest mall Thursday.

The update revealed a redesigned Macy’s, glass-clad apartment towers with balconies, revamped parking areas and upgraded retail space, Bisnow reported.

But it was Galbut’s remarks about project opponents that stole the show.

“We cannot let the idiots, the minority — the very strong minority, but they’re very vocal — dictate what happens in a community,” Galbut said at a Bisnow event.

The comments targeted organizers of an online petition opposing the project, who argue the redevelopment would worsen traffic, strain infrastructure, create noise and pollution, cast shadows on neighboring properties and accelerate displacement. The petition, which launched a month after the project plans went public in October 2025, has garnered more than 1,000 signatures.

The developers plan to invest $100 million into the mall portion and redevelop the site into a mixed-use district with nine 30-story towers, more than 3,000 apartments, a 170-room hotel, office space, 30 restaurants and new parking. The proposal relies on Florida’s Live Local Act, which allows qualifying workforce housing projects to bypass local zoning restrictions.

The project has sparked fierce opposition since plans surfaced. More than 200 residents packed a city meeting last year to protest the redevelopment, and the online petition launched shortly afterward has continued to gain support.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis pushed back on Galbut’s remarks.

“It’s not the most diplomatic way to come into a new community and try to build a project such as this,” Trantalis told Bisnow. “I would hope he would take that comment back. If he calls the opponents of his projects idiots, then he called me an idiot.”

Galbut, Trantalis and the petition organizers did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Real Deal.

Galbut and his partners InSite Group, Atlas Hill Real Estate and Prime Finance paid $73 million for the 800,000-square-foot mall last year, a steep discount from the $100 million-plus price Keystone-Florida sought when it listed the property. The joint venture paid $91 per square foot.

The mall was 67 percent leased when it hit the market, and occupancy has remained below 70 percent since. Tenants include Apple, Macy’s, H&M, P.F. Chang’s, the Capital Grille, Blue Martini, Michael Kors, Aldo and Zales.

Galbut also praised Trantalis and the city commission for working with the development team.

“The people who were the strong minority were the most vocal,” Galbut said. “You don’t hear their voices anymore, because they’re being drowned out by intelligent, logical urban planners.”

Galbut has emerged as one of South Florida’s most active users of the Live Local Act, with more than a half dozen Miami Beach proposals in addition to a 410-unit Coral Way project in Miami-Dade and the planned redevelopment of The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale.

—Eman Elshahawy