Related Group, BH Group & Pebb Receive Green Light for 33-Story Live Local Redevelopment in Fort Lauderdale

Key Points

• Fort Lauderdale approved a major Live Local Act redevelopment of The Quay at 17th Street, a seven-acre waterfront site.

• The 33-story project will include 521 apartments, with 217 units reserved for affordable and workforce housing.

• The Related–BH–Pebb partnership acquired the site for $48.5 million last year and will use the Live Local Act for density and zoning flexibility.

A powerhouse trio—The Related Group, BH Group, and Pebb Enterprises—has secured administrative approval for a transformative redevelopment on Fort Lauderdale’s waterfront. Under Florida’s Live Local Act, their plan for The Quay at 17th Street will bring new multifamily density and affordability to one of the city’s most desirable mixed-use sites.

Redevelopment Snapshot

• Location: 1515 SE 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale

• Site Size: 7 acres, including a six-yacht marina

• Planned Development:

  • 33 stories

  • 521 residential units (40% affordable/workforce)

  • 5,000 square feet of commercial space

  • More than 750 parking spaces

• Current Zoning: Allows 361 units and 12,000 square feet of retail, but the Live Local Act grants higher density

The project replaces two low-rise office buildings with a new public waterfront plaza while retaining the existing shopping center on-site.

Live Local Act Advantage

Fort Lauderdale’s approval came administratively, bypassing traditional public hearings. The Live Local Act, a 2023 state housing law, allows cities to fast-track projects that dedicate at least 40 percent of their units to affordability.

For investors, this shows how developers are increasingly using Live Local provisions to maximize density in high-demand urban areas while meeting affordable housing goals.

Developer Trio Expands Footprint

The Related–BH–Pebb alliance has quickly become one of South Florida’s most active multifamily partnerships. Other ventures include:

• Ocean Walk in Singer Island, where the group is redeveloping a retail plaza into a mixed-use property.

• The former Office Depot headquarters in Boca Raton, where a 500-unit residential project with retail and fitness components is planned.

• Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Miami campus, where Related recently proposed a series of towers including multifamily units, hotel rooms, and retail space.

Their Fort Lauderdale project adds another major Live Local venture to Related’s growing portfolio, reinforcing the firm’s strategic push into mixed-income urban redevelopment.

Why It Matters for CRE Investors

• The Live Local Act’s zoning flexibility is creating new opportunities in high-barrier-to-entry markets like Fort Lauderdale.

• Developers are using public-private frameworks to deliver both affordability and strong returns on prime waterfront land.

• Institutional players such as Related and BH are demonstrating that Live Local projects can align social policy with investor profitability.

Live Local Continues to Take Shape

The Quay redevelopment represents a clear example of how Florida’s Live Local Act is reshaping urban waterfronts. With Related, BH Group, and Pebb Enterprises leading the project, Fort Lauderdale’s next skyline addition highlights how major developers are blending density, design, and affordability in Florida’s most competitive markets.