Plans move forward for a six story mixed use development at 811 East Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – A new development proposal is beginning to take shape along one of Fort Lauderdale’s most recognizable corridors, as plans for a six-story mixed-use project have been submitted for 811 East Las Olas Boulevard. The project, titled 811 Las Olas, aims to introduce a new blend of retail and office space in the heart of the city’s busy commercial district, replacing a cluster of aging low-rise storefronts dating back to the 1960s. The developer, Coombes Property Group, is moving ahead with a design that seeks to modernize the site while complementing the surrounding streetscape.

The proposed structure will rise 103 feet and occupy roughly a quarter-acre lot on the south side of the boulevard. Its development team includes several well-known firms: Morris Adjmi Architects as the design architect, Cube 3 as the architect of record, Architectural Alliance Landscape overseeing landscaping features, and Flynn Engineering providing civil engineering work. The plans were recently reviewed by Fort Lauderdale’s Development Review Committee, signaling an early but important step toward possible approval.

According to the plans submitted to the city, the project will contain 43,423 square feet of retail and office space arranged across six occupied levels and a mechanical penthouse. The ground floor is designed to be highly transparent, with tall glass storefronts framed in aluminum grids. These retail sections will bookend a recessed lobby on the east side of the building, which will serve as the primary entrance for office tenants heading to the upper floors. Behind the storefronts, several back-of-house rooms—including a trash vestibule, electrical room, fire pump room, switchboard area, and storage—will occupy space toward the rear.

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The second level continues the retail component, forming a two-story podium wrapped in glazed green tile. Designers originally planned for this level to include a terrace facing the boulevard, but updated drawings remove that outdoor feature and replace it with a continuous glass façade. This choice gives the lower portion of the building a more uniform look while maintaining the transparency that city planners often seek along Las Olas.

Beginning on the third floor, the building transitions entirely to office use. The third level is also where the massing steps back from the podium, softening the visual impact on the street. This floor includes the first set of office suites and a landscaped terrace running along the west and south edges of the structure. The plans indicate that the terrace will feature shrubs and Silver Mediterranean Fan Palms, strategically positioned to provide shade and privacy while masking the aluminum picket railing along the perimeter. Some areas of the terrace will receive fabric awnings, adding texture and depth to the outdoor spaces.

Levels four and five mirror one another with consistent office layouts, while the sixth floor marks the final occupied level. This uppermost section includes additional office suites and a covered terrace designed under a rhythm of arched loggias. A trellis pergola will frame the rooftop edges, creating what designers describe as a signature architectural element. Above the sixth floor, the mechanical penthouse will sit fully screened, with materials intended to match the rest of the office façade for visual continuity.

The exterior of the upper office portion is planned to be finished in smooth white stucco, creating a contrast with the tile-wrapped podium below. Designers also opted for another visual technique: extending the same stucco materials downward into the recessed lobby at ground level, linking the project’s street presence with the upper structure.

Public improvements along East Las Olas Boulevard are included in the proposal, aiming to enhance pedestrian comfort and visual appeal. Plans call for three live oak trees, new shrub plantings, and decorative streetlights selected to match existing fixtures along the corridor. These additions are intended to reinforce Las Olas Boulevard’s identity as a walkable, vibrant avenue.

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One of the more notable features of the proposal is what it does not include: on-site parking. Instead, Coombes Property Group plans to rely on 122 off-site parking spaces, based on a recent traffic assessment that determined this number would adequately accommodate peak demand. While city zoning rules typically require around 137 spaces for a project of this scale, the study suggests that the reduced figure would still meet practical needs due to the surrounding area’s strong walkability and alternative transportation options.

Coombes Property Group, an Australia-based firm known for holding commercial properties in cities such as Brisbane and Sydney, assembled the Fort Lauderdale site in late 2022 for $2,282,100. The company has been quietly expanding its footprint in the United States, and the 811 Las Olas proposal appears to be a step toward further investment in Broward County’s rapidly evolving real estate landscape.

As for next steps, the project still requires additional review, public input, and formal city approvals before construction could begin. However, the submission signals clear momentum, and early responses from design boards suggest that the project aligns with the long-term vision for East Las Olas Boulevard: a corridor that welcomes modern architecture while preserving its character as a lively destination for dining, shopping, and business.

If approved, the development would replace older structures with a contemporary presence, adding new retail offerings at street level and bringing fresh office space to an area where demand continues to grow. And with the blend of green façades, terraces, palms, and shaded outdoor pockets, the design aims to strike a balance between sophistication and approachability—qualities that define much of Las Olas Boulevard today.