FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Carlisle Development Group and the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale (HACFL) have broken ground on Northwest Gardens, Phases II and IV, a $58 million project that will cap off a master plan to redevelop and revitalize the Northwest Neighborhood.
“Northwest Gardens has been a catalytic force in revitalizing the neighborhood, replacing outdated public housing with hundreds of new affordable homes,” said Matthew Greer, CEO of Carlisle Development Group.
“When complete, it will have transformed more than 14 city blocks, while creating hundreds of local jobs. More importantly, the development has been successful because of the strong network of local partnerships that are helping plant the seeds for sustainable change.”
Located on 14.42 acres – bounded by Northwest Eighth Street on the north, Northwest 10th Avenue on the east, Northwest Fifth Street on the south and Northwest 15th Avenue on the west – the two developments will have 13 one-, two- and three-story residential buildings and 266 affordable apartments, ranging from one to five bedrooms and 650 to 1,500 square feet, officials said ten percent of the apartments in Phases II and IV will be designated for residents at 25 percent or less than the Area Median Income (AMI) of $62,600. Ninety percent of the dwellings will be designated for residents at 60 percent or less of AMI. Many of the residents will be elderly and children.
Officials noted that community amenities include clubhouses, fitness centers, library/computer rooms, playgrounds, community rooms, laundry facilities and on-site leasing/management offices. Residential amenities include ceiling fans, dishwashers, microwave ovens, ceramic tiles, dual flush toilets, impact-resistant glass and window treatments.
Additionally, all phases of Northwest Gardens are supported by the Fort Lauderdale Transportation Management Association’s shuttle system, which provides daily public transportation for residents.
The first two phases of Northwest Gardens won numerous green building awards, and were designated as the first Gold-Certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes (Multi-Family) Community in Florida and the first LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND) Certified Community in Florida (the fifth in the nation). The City of Fort Lauderdale honored Northwest Gardens I and III as Project of the Year in 2012.
When completed in mid-2014, officials said, Northwest Gardens II and IV will be the culmination of an ambitious plan by Carlisle and HACFL to redevelop an entire neighborhood of aging housing stock in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
“Guiding the four phase development was a progressive goal of creating a sustainable neighborhood that promoted urban self-sufficiency,” said Tam English, executive director/CEO of HACFL. “This new community has been designed as a transit village featuring more than 550 LEED-certified homes and a powerful network of social programs that promote food, education, occupation, physical wellness, and emotional wellness.”
Completed in 2011-2012, the first two phases of Northwest Gardens have become a national model for social, environmental and economic sustainability. Community partnerships have enabled opportunities for residents and nearby neighbors, with initiatives such as a robust urban farm; community gardens; a social entrepreneurship program; direct support for grandparents taking care of grandchildren; and on-site vocational training.
Northwest Gardens is part of a larger redevelopment in the Northwest Neighborhood section of Fort Lauderdale by Carlisle and HACFL. Four additional properties – Dixie Court Apartments, Dr. Kennedy Homes, Sailboat Bend Apartments and Sunnyreach Acres – are part of the transformational mix, adding more than $200 million and 600-plus jobs to the local economy and more than 1,100 new affordable housing units to the community, officials said.
“Northwest Gardens serves as a beacon for the city,” said Greer. “It is setting the tone for members of the community to look at this as a fresh start and a bright future.”
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