Illustration of an apartment building under construction, representing new housing in Fort Lauderdale's Uptown district.

Uptown Fort Lauderdale Rezoning Sparks 7,000-Unit Wave

Fort Lauderdale's 360-acre Uptown rezoning triggers a wave of 7,000 residential units and massive retail redevelopment, altering the local real estate market.

By Brian D'Antoni July 7, 2026 6 min read

Updated Oct. 8, 2026. Corrections: the approved 68th Street plan has 966 units and 146 workforce units, and the unit count is now attributed to the outlet that reported it.

Fort Lauderdale officials have rezoned the 360-acre Uptown industrial corridor into a transit-oriented activity center, triggering a construction wave of 7,000 residential units and a massive retail redevelopment that is reshaping the district.

Zoning Shift Unlocks the Uptown Activity Center

The City of Fort Lauderdale adopted a master plan in 2019 to rezone approximately 360 acres of commercial and industrial land into a pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use district known as the Uptown Urban Village. City officials designated the corridor as an Activity Center under Broward County land-use amendment PC 24-6. This classification eliminates the requirement for developers to secure individual land-use amendments for residential projects.

The Uptown Urban Village boundaries stretch from McNab Road south to Northwest 56th Street, and from Interstate 95 west to Powerline Road. Under the Activity Center guidelines, the city pre-approved the area for up to 4,239 residential units and 1,600 hotel rooms. The zoning rules permit maximum building heights of 150 feet, which translates to 13 to 15 stories, and require developers to provide at least seven acres of collective open space.

Local guidelines mandate that at least 15 percent of the pre-allocated units, equaling 635 homes, must serve as affordable housing. These units must remain reserved for households earning up to 120 percent of the Area Median Income for a minimum of 30 years.

Developers Launch Multi-Family Projects

Within a 1.5-mile radius of the Cypress Creek interchange, developers have planned or started construction on approximately 7,000 residential units. Fort Lauderdale boundaries contain more than 3,000 of these apartments, while neighboring Pompano Beach hosts approximately 4,000 units. The Pomp, a $2 billion, 223-acre mixed-use development by Caesars Entertainment, anchors the Pompano Beach pipeline.

Grover Corlew broke ground in June 2025 on Mayla Cypress, a seven-story luxury apartment complex located at 6261 NW 6th Way. Grover Corlew secured a $92 million construction loan in June 2025 through Berkadia, financed by Affinius Capital, to fund the 312-unit development. Rising on a 3.71-acre site that formerly housed an office building, the complex will share a 586-space parking facility with the adjacent Citrix campus. Grover Corlew's project page said leasing would open in the third quarter of 2026, with completion expected in early 2027.

Nearby, joint venture Meyers Accesso purchased a 2.2-acre site at 6210 North Andrews Avenue for $8 million in October 2025, The Real Deal reported. The site will hold Avery Cypress Creek, a midrise building of one- and two-bedroom apartments; The Real Deal described it as eight stories, while Northmarq's financing announcement lists seven. In January 2026, Northmarq arranged a $45 million senior construction loan from Goodman Capital, plus mezzanine funding, for the 200-unit project, which is scheduled for delivery in 2027. The approved plan also includes 5,000 square feet of commercial space, Connect CRE reported, citing the South Florida Business Journal.

Retail Demolition Clears the Way for Walkable Districts

Transit-oriented developments require walkable amenities, prompting a realignment of local commercial retail. Cypress Creek Associates LP, a division of Kimco Realty, is driving a retail redevelopment at 6415 North Andrews Avenue. The firm demolished the 16-screen Regal Cypress Creek Station theater, which closed on March 9, 2025. Workers began demolishing the theater, an adjacent Sola Salons, and an Office Depot in December 2025 to make room for a 121,633-square-foot Super Target store.

Waypoint Residential is building WP Aspire Cypress Creek at 20 NE 62nd Street. The five-story project includes 345 residential units and 4,519 square feet of ground-floor retail on the western half of the Florida Department of Transportation Tri-Rail park-and-ride lot. Waypoint controls the parcel through a 99-year ground lease. The developer is coordinating this construction with Cypress Crossing, a sister 286-unit mixed-use development located on the eastern half of the lot in neighboring Oakland Park. Waypoint will build a 694-space parking garage connected to Aspire to replace the surface parking lot and three Broward County Transit bus stops.

Jim Hetzel, urban design and planning manager for Fort Lauderdale, outlined the city's vision of creating an active neighborhood aesthetic. Hetzel compared the desired atmosphere to a less artsy version of the F.A.T. Village arts district or Wynwood. Local business owners support the demographic shifts. Adam Siegel, owner of Adam & Joe’s Eatery, stated he welcomes the arriving population.

Displacement Challenges Uptown Residents

The rapid growth of the Uptown district has displaced existing communities. Cypress Development LLC proposed Cypress Multifamily on a 23-acre parcel at 150 NW 68th Street. The Fort Lauderdale City Commission voted unanimously to approve plans for the project in November 2025, Urbanize reported. The approved development features 966 units across 15 buildings, Traded reported, including 10 multifamily buildings and five townhome buildings. Earlier 2025 plans called for 973 units.

The builder committed to reserving 146 workforce housing units, 15 percent of the total, for households earning 120 percent of the area median income or less for at least 30 years. Even with a parking reduction, the project will provide more than 1,500 parking spaces.

The land acquired for the development formerly housed the Pan American Estates mobile home park. The sale of the park displaced more than 200 low-income families. Park management firm The Urban Group issued a formal six-month notice to vacate in October 2023, requiring residents of the 239 mobile home sites to clear the park by April 22, 2024. The eviction caused community outcry, as many low-income residents had bought or heavily renovated their homes. This transition highlights the friction between regional real estate expansion and the preservation of affordable housing.

Sources

Key Facts for Owners and Search

What is the Uptown Urban Village?

About 360 acres of commercial and industrial land in Fort Lauderdale rezoned into a pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use district under a master plan adopted in 2019 and designated an Activity Center under Broward County land use amendment PC 24-6. Boundaries run from McNab Road south to Northwest 56th Street and from Interstate 95 west to Powerline Road.

What does the Uptown zoning allow?

The city pre-approved up to 4,239 residential units and 1,600 hotel rooms, with maximum building heights of 150 feet. At least 15 percent of the pre-allocated units, or 635 homes, must be affordable to households earning up to 120 percent of the Area Median Income for at least 30 years.

How much construction is underway?

Developers have planned or started about 7,000 residential units within 1.5 miles of the Cypress Creek interchange, more than 3,000 in Fort Lauderdale and about 4,000 in neighboring Pompano Beach, according to July 2026 reporting. Project status changes, so confirm individual developments with the city before relying on the totals for leases or bids.

What workforce housing project is planned near Cypress Creek?

Affiliated Development plans The Cypress at 400 Corporate Drive, with eight stories and 340 apartments: 204 at market rate and 136 for households earning 100 to 120 percent of area median income, per Florida YIMBY, which reported in August 2026 that the developer had requested $8.83 million through a workforce housing tax reimbursement incentive. The South Florida Business Journal reported in September 2026 that the developer had already secured incentives from the city and was seeking $5.85 million from Broward County.

What is changing for Uptown retail?

Cypress Creek Associates LP, a division of Kimco Realty, is redeveloping retail at 6415 North Andrews Avenue after demolishing the 16-screen Regal Cypress Creek Station theater. Waypoint Residential is building WP Aspire Cypress Creek at 20 NE 62nd Street, a five-story project with 345 units and 4,519 square feet of ground-floor retail.

Filed Under Local Development Broward Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Uptown Urban Village Cypress Creek Rezoning