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Plantation,FloridaG r e e n a n d G r o w i n g

City of PlantationPopulation: 85,157

Area: 22.8 square miles

County: Broward

Government: Strong Mayor and five elected Council Members,incorporated in April, 1953

Location: Just west of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; 20 miles north of Miami/DadeCounty; 15 minutes from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood InternationalAirport and Port Everglades

Housing: Mixture of single and multi-family dwellings ranging in cost from$72,000 to over $2 million

Business Retail, office, light industrial and general business;Environment: 5,400 registered businesses; 44,433 persons employed;

Bachelor’s Degree or higher: 40.2%

Medical Two general hospitals, four nursing homes, various clinics, rehabServices: services and professional offices

Utilities: City-owned water and sewer; electric – Florida Power & Light;telephone – BellSouth, various long distance, cellular and fiber opticservice providers; television – Comcast Cable and various satellite TV providers; Internet providers – AT&T FastAccess DSL, ComcastHigh Speed Internet and more

Climate: Subtropical; average rainfall: 62 inches; average temperature: 75.4°;winter mean temperature: 66.5°; summer mean temperature: 84.2°

Parks & 42 parks and playgrounds; 6 golf courses, extensive recreationRecreation: programs for all ages, including tennis, swimming, baseball, football,

soccer, track and jogging

Protection: City Police Department and Emergency Medical Services,VolunteerFire Department

Schools: 7 public elementary, 2 public middle, 2 public high schools &numerous private schools (PreK – 12)

Transportation: County and community bus service, close proximity to majorhighways, including access to I-595 and Florida’s Turnpike, internationalairport, Amtrak train,Tri-Rail commuter service, and a major deep-water port (passengers and freight), and Foreign Trade Zone

Median Household Plantation: $53,700 • Broward County: $41,700Income:Median Age: Plantation: 39 • Broward County: 41

at a glance

2 Plantation – The Grass is Greener

PUBLISHED BY:

Jim Phillips, [email protected]

150 Third Street, SW Winter Haven, FL 33880

800.274.2812 www.frej.net

ournaFlorida Real EstateJ I

City of Plantation400 NW 73 Avenue

Plantation, Florida 33317954.797.2622

www.plantation.org

DESIGNED BY:

Ron PalfreyDirector of Creative [email protected]

Mami Li, [email protected]

PROMOTION MAGAZINE

a division of RENI Publishing

SPONSORED BY:

PlantationCity at a Glance, Demographics 2

Community Profile 4

Midtown 6-7, 10

Gateway Redevelopment District 11

Technology Park 12

City Government 13

Top Reasons to Live in Plantation 14-15Table

ofCo

ntents


Businesses call Plantation homefor its unique location andlifestyle. Situated in the heartof the South Florida region,Plantation and its businessdistricts – Plantation Midtown,Plantation Gateway, andPlantation Technology Park –offer an alternative to atraditional “urban downtown.” Here you will find tree-lined streets,prominent, professional office buildings in a park setting, and signaturedetails such as brick bus shelters and pavers, identification signs,landscaping and other decorative elements that provide a “sense ofplace,” and let you know you are someplace special.

Everything a business would need to be successful can be found withinthe City limits: Class A office space, one of the lowest millage rates inBroward County, a highly educated labor force and an environmentallyfriendly local government committed to quality redevelopment,neighborhood improvement and enhanced government services.

Customers and employees enjoy easy access to Plantation via Interstate75, Interstate 595, and Florida’s Turnpike. It is only 15 minutes from FortLauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Broward County’s ForeignTrade Zone, and Port Everglades, one of the western hemispheres mostaccessible deep-water seaports for cargo, cruises and trade. JamesInklebarger, President of Brinwo Development Corporation, states,“Forover 30 years, I’ve enjoyed working and having my office located inPlantation. The central location to our commercial real estateproperties, and those outside of Plantation, are easily accessible with themain highway systems nearby.”

Plantation’s office market comprises more than 6.8 million squarefeet of space and is one of the largest and strongest office sub-markets in the County, with a 95 percent occupancy rate. The areaincludes over 5,400 registered businesses that range from small retail

and service companiesto national andinternational corporateheadquarters.

Plantation Midtown, theCity’s central businessdistrict, is challengingthe conventional

wisdom of what a suburban commercial district should be. With a 25-year Master Plan in place to guide growth, Plantation Midtown isbecoming a true town center, encouraging mixed used developmentwith residential, commercial and office space.

Thanks to public and private investment, Plantation Gateway, the easternbusiness district located along the State Road 7 corridor, is quicklybecoming one of South Florida’s most desirable locations forredevelopment. In the Gateway district, new mixed use developments arespurring redevelopment of existing business and residential properties.

Many of those who work in Plantation also call it “home.” Plantationoffers a wide range of premier residential neighborhoods to choose from,with homes ranging from $72,000to well over $2 million. Residentsare also treated to great localshopping, delicious restaurants thataccommodate a wide range oftastes and price ranges, excellentpublic and private schools, beautifulparks and recreation facilities, andproximity to the beach anddowntown Fort Lauderdale – allwithin a stable, beautifullylandscaped, safe community.

Plantation’s quality environment is unsurpassed by other South Floridacities. It continues to be recognized year after year as one of only ahandful of communities nationwide to receive the prestigious Sterling TreeCity USA award. In addition, the City exceeds County standards forparks and recreation with 42 parks totaling over 650 acres. It has drawnnational attention for its world-class recreation facilities such as the FrankVeltri Tennis Center, Camp Everglades and the Plantation EquestrianCenter, both located within Volunteer Park, and Plantation Preserve, anationally recognized, Audubon certified 18-hole championship golfcourse, clubhouse and multi-use recreation trail – the first of its kind inthe nation.

The City of Plantation offers the best of all worlds, having the perfectenvironment to live, work and play. Rich in amenities, the City ofPlantation has a competitive business environment and a landscape notoften found in South Florida communities. For more information, pleasevisit our website, Plantation.org or contact the City’s EconomicDevelopment division at 954-585-2373.

Come see Plantation for yourself, and make it your new home.

once you visit you will want to call it home

Plantation...

Metropolitanmeets suburbiain PlantationMidtown – adistinguishedbusiness arenafor corporateAmerica, nestledin a tranquil

suburban setting and offering a sense of community forthose who work and reside within the District. TheMidtown district is home to more than 50 Fortune 500companies including DHL,American Express, CNN andTradestation.

In 2004, Plantation City Council designated 860 acres tobe a prominent central business community for the Cityof Plantation. It ultimately was branded “Plantation

Midtown,” and consists of corporate office space, retailshops, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, parks, apartments andtownhomes. It is centrally located in the City ofPlantation, Broward County and the tri-county area, and isconvenient to major interstates, Fort LauderdaleInternational Airport and Port Everglades.

The City of Plantation adopted a Central PlantationConceptual Master Plan for Plantation Midtown. The 25-year Plan is usedas a guide forboth the publicand privatesector, and willcontinue todirect economicdevelopment,urban design,transportationsystems, public improvements and real estatedevelopment for years to come.

The main objective of the Master Plan is to establish a“vision that reflects the ideas of the citizens, communityleaders and City officials.” Objectives include:

• Improve traffic circulation, reduce congestion, andprovide for alternative methods to transportation

• Create transportation links throughout the District tothe surrounding area


an urban alternativePlantation Midtown

Welcome to Plantation Midtown!Want to know more? Take a look … • Spans two miles from north to south

and comprises 860 acres

• Contains approximately 2.5million square feet of retail space,and approximately 3 millionsquare feet of office space,two-thirds of which is Class A

• Approximately 20,500 people areemployed within the District

• Home to more than fifty Fortune500 companies

• Roads carry more than 275,000 cars daily

• Approximately 34,500 households within aone mile radius

• Easy access to downtown Fort Lauderdale,Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties

• Major businesses located within the Districtinclude DHL Worldwide, American Express,Balfour Beatty, Broadspire Services, BascomPalmer Eye Institute, Cornerstone CorporateCenter, CNN,Westside Regional MedicalCenter, Publix and University of Phoenix

Over a 25 year period, the Central PlantationConceptual Master Plan predicts a demandfor 3,010 residential units, 1.8 million squarefeet of office space, 400,000 square feet ofretail space, and 550 additional hotel rooms.The Plan is divided into three phases:

Visit the City of Plantation’s website, Plantation.org, for moreinformation about Plantation Midtown.

Midtownat a glance

Years 2003-2007 2008-2012 2013-2025

Residential units 950 1,050 1,010

Office sq ft 250,000 500,000 1,050,000

Commercial sq ft 150,000 250,000

www.Plantation.org 7

• Plan for a sustainable mix use of businesses,residences, and public services

• Define and design for plazas, streetscapes, andpublic places

• Create pedestrian-oriented environments

• Provide for the infrastructure to encouragestrategic economic development andredevelopment

Additionally, capital improvement projects shouldimprove traffic circulation, reduce road congestion,allow for connectivity of streets, offer pedestrianwalking paths and improve parks, and will includebrick pavers, crosswalks, street shade trees, widenedsidewalks, bicycle paths, benches, and more. Mallplazas will include park settings to allow for publicgatherings, landscaped pockets and an amphitheater.

Plantation Midtownoffers the idealenvironment forbusinesses anddevelopers toexperience growthand prosperity. Hereour grass is greener.And more important,it’s growing!


Plantation Midtown has one of thehottest real estate markets, not only inBroward County, but in South Florida aswell. Midtown’s Conceptual Master Planhas paved the way for future growth,and makes recommendations for capitalinvestments that will make the areaalluring to the development community.

In order to create a thoughtful mixof businesses that provide residents,businesses and visitors with theservices and goods they need, Cityofficials take into consideration allaspects of a project’s impact,including its effect on thesurrounding neighborhoods, currentand future traffic issues, parkingrequirements, landscaping andpotential economic impact.

The following is a list of businessesthat are “green and growing” inPlantation Midtown.

• 321 North, a major mixed useredevelopment, including over 500 residential units, andover one million square feet of new and reconstructedoffice space, retail shops and entertainment venues, isdesigned to be environmentally friendly, and has beenaccepted to the LEED for Neighborhood Developmentpilot program.

• Cornerstone Corporate Center, designated “BestSuburban Office Park” by the Building Owners andManagers Association, is planning for over 200,000 squarefeet of office space.

• Plans are moving forward for TheFountains two-phase redevelopment,which includes over 440,000 squarefeet of office and retail, and 478residential units.

• Royal Palm I has opened its officeplaza, offering approximately 240,000square feet of Class A office space.

• One Plantation Place mixed usedevelopment project is currently in theplanning and preconstruction phases.This complex will offer approximately500 residential units and over 110,000square feet of combined office andretail space.

• Regency Midtown is planned for theconstruction of over 80 residentialunits and 88,000 square feet of retailand offices.

• Westside Regional Hospital will beexpanding the medical complex byadding offices.

• Veranda, Midtown’s first mixed use project, currentlyoffers over 200 luxury condominiums, retail shops and agrocery store. Additional condominiums and townhousesare planned for the future.

• Broward County has expanded its facilities, located at OneUniversity Drive, to ensure County services such as theProperty Appraiser’s office, building and permitting, publicworks and more, are readily available. Additionally theBroward County West Regional Library is a new stateof the art facility.

Plantation Midtown …green and growing in prosperity

City officials take intoconsideration all aspects of aproject’s impact, including itseffect on the surroundingneighborhoods, current andfuture traffic issues, parkingrequirements, landscaping andpotential economic impact.


The Plantation Gateway Redevelopment District was once adeteriorating commercial corridor characterized by vacant lots, smallbuildings, uninvitingstorefronts, vastunderused parking lotsand desolate landscaping.

Fast forward to 2008!

Through substantialcapital investments andclose cooperationbetween the City andthe business community, Plantation Gateway is quickly becoming aneconomically vibrant business and residential district.

Gateway District DefinedThe area is generally defined as all properties fronting State Road7 from Sunrise Boulevard to Davie Boulevard. It also includescommercial property just west of State Road 7 on Peters Road,Broward Boulevard and Sunrise Boulevard. It is home to over400 retailers, professional and medical offices, national autodealerships, service oriented businesses, eating establishments,community health facilities, Plantation Elementary School andPlantation General Hospital. It also includes two newly builtresidential communities: Park Place, located on NW 8th Courtjust west of State Road 7; and Grove East, residential andretail/office mixed use community at Broward Boulevard andState Road 7.These projects will further contribute to theeconomic vibrancy and cultural diversity of the District.

Gateway ZoningRedevelopment of the Gateway District is a deliberate detailed planwith four interactive elements that provide guidance for continuallyenhancing the aesthetic appearance of the District while improvinginfrastructure and functionality. Ongoing improvements includebusiness signage and façade improvements, capital projects andpleasing landscape.

Much of the District’s success can be attributed to the City’simplementation of a new zoning ordinance that divides the area intosix zoning sub-districts: Auto Mall, Four Corners, Hybrid/Commercial,Healthcare, Professional Office and Artesian Commerce.Within each

zoning sub-district, a variety of compatible land uses are permittedallowing for opportunities for new business growth anddevelopment/redevelopment. Property improvements range fromdisabled parking spaces to sufficient customer parking, landscaping,signs and façade improvements.These standards are carefullymaintained by Code Enforcement.

In order to spur new development and redevelopment, the Citydesignated the Plantation Gateway District as a Local Activity Center(LAC), allowing for future long-term residential, mixed-use residential,commercial and office developments similar to Park Place and GroveEast. Greater densities along the State Road 7 corridor will create ahigher number of potential transit riders, bringing people in and outof the District from north and south along State Road 7, or east andwest from Fort Lauderdale and central Plantation.

Business SupportThrough its CommunityRedevelopment Office(CRO), the Citypromotes revitalizationand increased exposureto the local real estatemarket. CRO assistanceincludes real estatemarket inquiries, grants and information about current and futureconstruction projects.The CRO maintains updated market studyreports that may be used to target developers and attract specificcommercial enterprises to the area.

The Plantation Gateway street banner program promotes theDistrict to visitors and travelers. Other marketing tools includeadvertising in the Miami Herald’s Where We Live publication, thePlantation Chamber of Commerce Business and Information Guide,and articles in Plantation Quarterly.The CRO also publishes The Gate,a quarterly business newsletter distributed to over 400 businesseswithin the Gateway District.

The Gateway District is the eastern-most “Gate” to the City ofPlantation, an economically sustainable and aesthetically pleasingDistrict that is serving local community needs. For moreinformation, please contact the Community RedevelopmentOffice at 954-585-2330.

Great Successes Achievedin the Plantation Gateway Redevelopment District

PlantationTechnology Park wasPlantation’s firstbusiness district, andBroward County’sfirst industrial park.Located off SunriseBoulevard between65th and 70thavenues, the Tech

Park is readily accessible to the Florida Turnpike and othermajor interstates.

In 1999, the City worked with businesses to develop a masterplan for the Plantation Technology Park. Short-term plans callfor Park beautification and property upgrades. In the long term,additional emphasis will be placed on landscaping, roadwayimprovements and other infrastructure enhancements. SouthFlorida is a hot spot for industrial development, with a demandfor one million square feet more industrial space than iscurrently available. The City and Tech Park property ownersplan on capitalizing on this tremendous opportunity.

Plantation Technology Park is currently zoned for light and cleanindustrial development, neighborhood business, commercial andeducational-institutional. It is home to many small-to-large-sized cutting edge firms that specialize in industries such asaviation, robotics, biotechnology research, medical equipmentmanufacturing, cellular and wireless services, defense, softwaredevelopment and aerospace. It reflects some of the mostinnovative manufacturing and technology-based businesses, suchas Goodwin Biotechnology, offering bio-therapeutics forincurable cancers and other diseases, and Kenig Aerospace thatprovides aerospace metal for Boeing and others. Both havebeen tenants for over ten years.

Plantation Technology Park offers competitively priced space, ina safe, easy to access, lushly landscaped, industrial park setting.For more information, please visit the City’s website atPlantation.org.

Technology Park– Broward’s first, and still #1!


Rae Carole Armstrong,Broward County’s onlystrong Mayor, has a deep-rooted history with theCity of Plantation,spanning over 40 years, asa private citizen, aneducator, a businessowner and today, as anelected official. She wasthe first woman electedto City Council, and is

proud and honored to have been chosen for her thirdconsecutive term as Mayor.

Mayor Armstrong and members of City Council work todevelop world-class recreational facilities that draw visitorsfrom around the county and around the nation. In the pastseveral years alone, the City has seen the completion ofPlantation Preserve, an 18-hole championship golf course,clubhouse, multi-use recreation trail and wetland preserve,the multi-million dollar expansion of Plantation CentralPark and the Frank Veltri Tennis Center, and the VolunteerPark expansion, which included construction of PlantationEquestrian Center, Camp Everglades tot lot, boardwalks,and nature trails, all overlooking a beautifully landscapedwetland preserve. Future plans include the complete

renovation of the Plantation Community Center andKennedy Park, Liberty Tree expansion and ongoing additionsto our vast multi-use recreation trail (MURT) system.

Quality of Life doesn’t just mean a better life for residents andvisitors. Plantation City government understands that it’simportant for businesses to have an outstanding “quality of life,”as well. That means a City that is easy to do business with andsupports and works with a company’s growth and expansionstrategy. A City that listens to its business base, and works tocommunicate its strengths, and attract growing companies inprofitable target sectors. A City that can offer employees anarray of superior residential housing options. And a City thatprovides commercial real estate opportunities in all ranges andsizes to accommodate a start-up or small business opportunityor the well-established, larger corporate headquarters.

Together, Mayor Rae Carole Armstrong and City Councilestablish clear and consistent priorities for business districtredevelopment and neighborhood improvement plans thatensure continued quality of life and stability of home values.Improved government operations and a strong technologyinfrastructure make Plantation a great place to do business,and are key elements of a customer friendly environment.Their vision and goal is to provide a warm, hospitable placefor people to raise their families and a strong, stableenvironment in which to grow a business.

Plantation Government offers “Quality of Life” for all


Council members, L to R: Dr. Robert Levy, Rico Petrocelli, Sharon Moody Uria,Mayor Rae Carole Armstrong, Diane Veltri Bendekovic, Jerry Fadgen

Plantation’s Competitive Edge … the top reasons to be where the grass is greener!

Plantation’s Competitive Edge … the top reasons to be wherethe grass is greener!

You may know of the City of Plantation as a vibrant, growingcommunity in central Broward County, but are you truly awareof all the City has to offer? Plantation has one of the lowestmillage rates in the county, a technology savvy and well-educated work force, and world class parks and recreationfacilities. And if that is not enough, here are more reasons…

Quality of Life The City of Plantation offers everything great about SouthFlorida: a well-balanced community with available housing forall income levels, safe neighborhoods, beautiful parks andrecreation facilities, major hospitals, education opportunitiesfor all ages, shops, restaurants, and an established, stableeconomy. Just recently, Plantation has been recognized byAmerica’s Promise as one of the “100 Best Communities forYoung People.” And according to a recent Harris Poll,Florida continues to be at the top of the list of “desirableplaces to live.”

Visionary Development Thanks to the progressive vision of the Mayor and electedofficials, the City of Plantation has prospered. Plantation is a

leader in State Road 7 improvements, which continues torevitalize the business area and serves as an example for therest of the corridor. Zoning ordinances have been adoptedthat allow for mixed use properties, activity centers andrevitalization of our business districts. And City staff activelyencourage developers to use sustainability practices whendeveloping and redeveloping properties within the City.

Business Friendly Government Plantation is business friendly. Its staff recognizes the needs,desires and concerns of both new and old businesses, andunderstands that Plantation’s success stems from their success.Plantation regularly partners with local businesses and theGreater Plantation Chamber of Commerce, and has establishedvarious business support committees such as the MidtownAdvisory Board, the Gateway Advisory Board, the TechnologyPark Task Force and the Economic Development Ad HocCommittee to help guide plans and make decisions on behalfof their respective constituents.

Business Environment Plantation is home to over 5,400 large and small businesses.Some of the names you may recognize include DHLInternational, CNN, American Express,TradeStation andBroadspire Services. Class A office space is available at RoyalPalm I, and Cornerstone Corporate Center, which wasrecognized as “Best Suburban Office Park” by the BuildingOwners and Managers Association.


Beautiful Landscaping The City ofPlantation isrecognizedthroughoutthe State ofFlorida forits naturalbeauty, withtree-linedstreetsoffering great shade canopies and beautiful views from homeor office windows. City staff and community members haveformed two advocacy groups to promote tree planting andproper pruning techniques, water conservation and wildlifepreservation. For the past 28 years, the City has received theprestigious “Tree City USA” award and is one of a handful ofcities nationwide to receive the “Tree City Growth Award.”

Environmental Friendly In Plantation, not only is the grass greener, but our citizens are,as well! The City and its residents alike are diligent inpromoting energy conservation and recycling programs toprotect our natural environment for today and futuregenerations. New buildings are being constructed to beenvironmentally friendly, and existing businesses are adoptingenergy efficient measures.

Central Location The City of Plantation is ideally located in the center ofBroward County and the tri-County area. The City isadjacent to major roadways such as Broward and Sunriseboulevards, State Road 7 and Flamingo Road, and tointerstates such as I-95, I-595, I-75 and the Florida Turnpike.It is also convenient to the Fort Lauderdale-HollywoodInternational Airport and Port Everglades.

City staff and community members have formedthe “Shade Brigade” and “Operation Habitat” topreserve the natural beauty of the City.


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