FTL DDA: STATE OF THE MARKET 2019 DD Report2 | Page 3

A MESSAGE FROM THE DDA
CHAIR AND PRESIDENT & CEO.
The Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is pleased to present
our inaugural State of the Market 2019 report. This publication presents a compilation
of the development trends and major projects shaping the city’s urban core.
Jim Ellis
DDA Board Chair
Fort Lauderdale is a city on the rise and the geographic center of a booming
Southeast Florida region. A desirable location for investment, commerce, relocation
and startups, Fort Lauderdale was ranked #17 in the Emerging Trends in Real Estate®
2019 report, published by the Urban Land Institute and PwC.
Long planned and anticipated, DowntownFTL is changing before our very eyes.
More than 400 hotel rooms are under construction, 500,000 square feet of new Class
A office space is on the horizon, and 5,000 new residential units are being built, with
thousands more in the works.
Jenni Morejon
DDA President & CEO
Our urban core is surrounded by a world-class beach, an international airport, a
cargo and cruise port, interstate roadways, and now, high-speed rail connecting our
neighboring cities to the north and south.
Downtown Fort Lauderdale is a walkable, livable city, with iconic public spaces,
dynamic cultural and civic institutions, and neighborhoods that create community.
We enjoy a relaxed vibe and at the same time, celebrate in a city full of life and
excitement.
The DDA is committed to facilitating investment, improving mobility, enhancing the
public realm, and engaging with our stakeholders. Our vision looks to the future. Our
perspective is regional. Our foundation is strong and sets the stage for continued
growth.
Downtown Fort Lauderdale a city on the rise, and the city you never want to leave.