A Stealthy New York Development Firm Is Behind One of Fort Lauderdale's Most Anticipated Buildings

In the heart of Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village, where creative energy meets urban sophistication, a transformative new development is taking shape — and it’s turning heads far beyond South Florida. The project is called Ombelle, a two-tower, 775-unit luxury condominium envisioned by Dependable Equities, the South Florida arm of New York-based Rabsky Group (a quiet development firm responsible for reshaping much of Brooklyn's skyline). For co-founder Isaac Schlesinger, the project isn’t just about building a landmark — it’s about scaling an entire lifestyle.

“We bought the site back in 2021 because of how uniquely positioned it is,” Schlesinger explains. “It’s right on Third Avenue, which connects downtown and Flagler Village — and it spans a full city block. That gave us the scale to do something really exceptional.”

Urban Scale Meets Resort Living

That scale — an unusually generous two-acre footprint — has been key to creating one of the most expansive amenity packages South Florida has seen in recent years. “When you have this much space, you can design not just a building, but an experience,” Schlesinger says. And experience is what Ombelle delivers.

A sprawling 100,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor amenity deck crowns the podium, complete with sunrise and sunset pools, a 6,500-square-foot fitness center, yoga and Pilates studios, and — in a nod to rising trends — two full-sized indoor pickleball courts.

“We’re offering things you don’t see in your everyday condo project,” Schlesinger says. “Climate-controlled pickleball courts? That’s not typical. But the demand is there, and we’re listening.”

Complementing the residential features will be 35,000 square feet of retail anchored by Broward County's first-ever Equinox gym, along with space earmarked for an upscale restaurant or café. These ground-level activations aim to integrate the building into the street-level energy of Flagler Village, a neighborhood quickly becoming known for its walkability, culture, and creative edge.

Designed with Intent — and Impact

A key differentiator behind Ombelle is its aesthetic. The Rabsky Group brought on renowned architecture firm ODA to lead design. The result? A modern, curvaceous profile that breaks from the typical “glass box” aesthetic. “We didn’t want a cereal box,” Schlesinger said. “We wanted something dramatic, something that had character.”

That character comes without cost overruns, thanks to the firm’s unique structure. With in-house general contracting capabilities, Schlesinger and his team maintain hands-on control over cost, schedule, and design feasibility — an approach he calls fundamental to their success.

“When we design, our GC is involved from the start,” he says. “That means we can be more creative without sacrificing the bottom line. It’s one of the biggest advantages we have.”

A Market Ready for Ownership

So far, the market is responding. While Miami often leans heavily on international buyers, Ombelle is drawing a broader demographic, with strong interest from New Yorkers, Californians, Chicagoans, and even Canadians and Colombians.

“We’re seeing a lot of locals moving from rentals in Flagler Village into ownership,” says Schlesinger. “It’s the first major condo launch in this area in 20 years, so there’s real excitement.”

Units will be delivered fully furnished — a turnkey approach aimed at capturing both end-users and investors seeking ease and elegance. The interiors are being staged by New York firm Stage One, with finishes designed to match the building’s sleek architectural flair.

From Brooklyn to the Boating Capital

The Rabsky Group may be best known for shaping Brooklyn — with its 1,100-unit tower at 625 Fulton nearing completion — but South Florida is no longer just a side market.

“We’re all in on Fort Lauderdale,” says Schlesinger. “We’ve got another site already approved for 830 units, also designed by ODA. We’re setting up shop here.”

It’s a move rooted in experience and timing. Schlesinger first visited South Florida as a vacationer more than a decade ago. Now, his firm is helping shape its future skyline.

And unlike some bicoastal developers dabbling in sunshine-state opportunities, Dependable Equities is committed to going deep — not wide. “We don’t want to be in 15 different places,” he says. “We want to know the neighborhood, be involved in the community, and really make an impact.”

Quiet Success, Now on Display

Despite a 25-year track record in New York real estate, the team behind Ombelle has historically shied away from the media spotlight. That’s changing now — not out of vanity, but necessity.

“We’ve always let the work speak for itself,” Schlesinger says. “But now, with condo sales, you have to be more forward-facing. It’s a different ball game.”

It’s also a new chapter. For a firm that helped pioneer North Williamsburg before it became globally known, the goal is to do the same in Flagler Village — only this time, with the confidence of a seasoned builder and the boldness of a startup mentality.

Dependable Equities: Scaling Ambition

Founded by Isaac Schlesinger and Simon Dushinsky — the latter being the leader of behind The Rabsky Group — Dependable Equities serves as the firm’s Florida arm, bringing the group’s vertically integrated development model to the Sunshine State. The Rabsky Group, based in Brooklyn, made its name developing large-scale residential and mixed-use projects across New York City. Known for its bold architectural vision and in-house construction oversight, the firm has delivered thousands of units and played a pivotal role in the transformation of neighborhoods like Williamsburg and Downtown Brooklyn.

With Ombelle, Dependable Equities is extending that legacy to Fort Lauderdale — leveraging decades of experience while tailoring its approach to a new market hungry for ownership, design, and thoughtful density.

Words of Wisdom for the Next Generation

Asked what advice he’d offer to young professionals in commercial real estate, Schlesinger is humble: “I still consider myself one,” he states. But his answer reflects years of hard-earned insight.

“Keep your eyes open. Study what’s working. Look at the projects around you, learn from them, and always be improving. That’s how we got here.”

From Brooklyn to Fort Lauderdale, that curiosity and commitment continue to define his path. And with Ombelle, it’s clear: the next skyline belongs to those who build with intention.