PLANTATION, Fla. – Christmas came early for residents in Plantation after the unfinished construction attached to the Broward Mall was bought by buyers who are eager to beautify it.
Midtown Group, a company based in South Florida, acquired the site for $28 million, according to Plantation Mayor Nick Sortal.
Over the last five years, the structure at the north end of the mall has slowly turned into a literal concrete jungle after plans to transform it were abandoned by the previous owners.
“We’re excited as heck,” said Sortal about the buy. “This is the highlight of my year. Merry Christmas to me!”
The 17-acre site, formerly a Sears, was owned by Seritage Growth Properties. The city had approved a plan in 2019 to turn the massive site into an entertainment complex, however Seritage quit work at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mayor said.
“People would come by and they would see this half construction for five years and wonder if Broward Mall was even open,” said Sortal. “So this killed Broward Mall’s business.”
To make matters more complicated, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a statewide executive order, effectively freezing all work permits in September 2022 after Hurricane Ian, ultimately tying the city’s hands when it came to fining builders for non-completion.
“It’s an eyesore,” one Plantation resident told Local 10 News. “It’s actually very sad to see.”
Midtown Group has already built projects in Plantation and is invested in the city, according to Sortal.
He said the new owners are already securing demo proposals, but cautioned residents against speculating how long it would take to see movement on the property.
Proposals for the site will have to play out in public first and appear before city government officials.
Sortal said he would like to see something similar to Mizner Park in Boca Raton.