Moderno Wins Approval for 26-Story ArtHaus Tower in Fort Lauderdale

Key Points

• 265-unit tower approved for Fort Lauderdale, including 43 workforce housing units.

• Moderno spent $6.7M assembling the six-parcel site near the New River and Brightline.

• Project scaled down from a 290-unit plan pitched under Florida’s Live Local Act.

Moderno Development Group just scored site plan approval for ArtHaus, a 26-story apartment tower set to rise in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Located just south of the New River and west of the Brightline rail line, the project will bring 265 new rental units, with a portion reserved for workforce housing.

What’s Being Built

ArtHaus is designed by Dorsky + Yue Architecture and includes:

• 265 total units, with 43 workforce housing units for tenants earning up to 120% of AMI (approximately $100,000 per year).

• A seven-story podium parking garage with 315 spaces.

• An eighth-floor amenity deck with a pool, lounge, and co-working space.

• Nearly 4,700 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.

This development targets a strategic location at:

• 500–514 SW Third Avenue and 501–503 SW Second Avenue

• One block south of the New River, close to Fort Lauderdale’s transit and nightlife corridors

The Backstory: Smaller Scope, Same Ambition

Moderno had originally teamed up with 75Invest Group in 2024 to propose a larger version of the project:

• That iteration was a 27-story, 290-unit tower called 500 Art Lofts.

• It included 71 workforce units and was expected to advance under the Live Local Act, which allows city commission bypass for qualifying affordable projects.

However, the scaled-down ArtHaus now moves forward solo—it’s unclear whether 75Invest Group is still involved.

Key context:

• Site acquisition cost: $6.7 million between 2018 and 2021

• The current approval came through a unanimous City Commission vote on September 17, 2025

Why It Matters

This approval keeps Fort Lauderdale’s multifamily momentum alive, especially as developers tap into Florida’s Live Local Act to streamline approvals while addressing middle-income housing needs.

Key insights:

• The reduction in workforce units from 71 to 43 may reflect economic balancing acts tied to construction costs and return thresholds.

• Workforce housing eligibility tied to 120% AMI reflects the market reality—developers must still attract upper-middle renters to make projects viable.

• Moderno is also active in Miami, where it's jointly managing a $300 million fund (MILAS) with Gaia Real Estate to acquire and redevelop over 400 single-family homes.

Fort Lauderdale Continues Hot Streak

Moderno’s ArtHaus is a signal that Fort Lauderdale’s core remains a hotbed for multifamily development—especially when developers can layer in public policy advantages like the Live Local Act. While this version is leaner than originally planned, it’s a win for housing supply near transit and urban amenities.