High-rise development grows in importance

South Florida CEO, August, 2004 by Toni Pacelli-Hinkley

Our members know that it always pays to build on success. And their success is pretty evident in what they are building! All you have to do is look at all the cranes dotting South Florida's skyline to observe the building boom in our urban core areas--from downtown Fort Lauderdale and Miami to downtown Dadeland. High-rise buildings are finding their niche all over South Florida.

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This is an exciting time for our industry, and the interest in high-rise development is fueling demand for development-specific information. Which brings me to the purpose of this column; to focus on one of the many forward-thinking councils at the Builders Association of South Florida (BASF): the High-Rise Council (HRC) co-chaired by Chad Oppenheim, AIA, of Oppenheim Architecture, and Jason Robertson of Urban Habitats.

In May, the BASF provided a forum for the top high-rise builders in the Tri-County area. That forum, an HRC breakfast, attracted a dynamic group of builders, professionals related to the industry, and associated firms. I received many compliments on the session, and others shared their positive comments with Chad and Jason, too.

Whether the housing product is a multifamily high-rise development or a community of single-family homes, the issues facing construction today are common to many growing communities in America. South Florida construction, however, adds its own unique challenges. Our area is a growing corner of a growing state, wedged between an ocean and a sea of grass.

To provide proper housing for future families, and related facilities for shopping and working, we must look up.

A bird's eye glance at the South Florida geography reveals such successful high-rise areas as: Brickell Avenue and Coconut Grove; recent new construction and conversion to condos on portions of Miami Beach, properties near the reborn Diplomat Hotel and its neighbors in Hollywood and Hallandale; the hot spots in Fort Lauderdale near the New River and on Las Olas Boulevard, as well as the new "downtown" being built at Dadeland in south Miami-Dade County. These developments seek to address urban demands. But they did not develop without our members properly addressing the concerns of community associations and moratoriums, tackling complex financial and engineering problems, and answering other questions that arise from increased vertical building challenges.

The need for high-rise developments to make the best use of Florida's limited land and house its growing population is becoming crystal clear as developers meet and discuss common concerns.

Participants in our High-Rise Council forums are discovering how important it is to maintain a focus on future density and available land. We're finding out that BASF members and associates can help deliver solutions for the problems presented by the demands of an increasing number of South Florida residents. BASF members and their colleagues benefit from the kind of solutions that emerge from these workshops. Are you interested in becoming involved with the HRC? The next meeting is Sept. 8. For details, contact Truly Burton at (305) 556-6300, ext. 209.

As long as you're pulling out your calendar, make sure to circle Sept. 22. BASF continues to celebrate its 60th anniversary in style, this time at South Florida's most talked about party place: the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on the Seminole Reservation in Hollywood. BASF will host a Meet the Builders event and distribute the new membership directory at that time. Plan on joining us for the fun and the festivities. It's a great way to build on the success of BASF for the last 60 years.