Concept rendering of proposed “City Center” Complex.
By Kevin Deutsch
Tamarac commissioners are scheduled to weigh approval of a feasibility study examining the benefits of a potential “City Center”—a property that could become the seat of city government and include retail, residential, and cultural sites, city records show.
If commissioners approve Colliers’ proposal to conduct the study, Colliers will delve deeply into the city’s options for a potential Tamarac Municipal Complex. One possibility for the project would be the consolidation of Tamarac City Hall and the city-owned Nob Hill Government Compound into a new complex. That complex could potentially be located on 27 acres at the current government compound site in the 6000 block of Nob Hill Road, records show.
The city commission would approve the spending of no more than $79,500 for the six-month Colliers study into the project’s feasibility and related advisory services, according to the agenda for Wednesday’s commission meeting.
“Colliers will complete a detailed market assessment and analysis of existing city assets including City Hall, BSO, and other administrative buildings (IT, Parks/Rec., etc.),” states an executive summary created by Colliers.
The new municipal complex could “have a mix of retail/residential plus cultural, community and civic spaces — a true City Center” in a “campus-like setting,” the summary states.
The current site of City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Ave., could potentially become “an extension of Tamarac Village, a ‘Downtown’ Activated waterfront with a mix of commercial, retail and hospitality/residential,” according to the Colliers materials.
The cost of constructing a new City Hall will also be examined at the building’s current location. Other possibilities could include the sale or renovation of City Hall, along with development at the Nob Hill Road site and other scenarios.
“This is a great opportunity to strategically rethink the way Tamarac works and define the type of workplace that best suits your future way of working,” the Colliers materials state.
Total price tags for the potential project scenarios were not provided. Municipalities across South Florida have approved similar, mixed-use government campuses in recent years, with some residents critical of their high construction costs.
The potential Nob Hill Road site has previously been the subject of redevelopment discussions in Tamarac.
If the commission approves the Colliers study, the company will present its findings to the city and the public “via an engaged and active community outreach program designed to build consensus and align expectations,” according to Colliers. The outreach program would include three to six community meetings, records show. Colliers would later begin the “solicitation process to engage prospective development partners,” according to company documents.
The company’s records include several comparable projects, including Miramar Town Center, Sunrise City Hall, Coral Springs’ planned City Village, and Alpharetta City Center in Alpharetta, Georgia. Several Tamarac commissioners recently traveled to Alpharetta for a tour, Colliers Vice Chair Ken Krasnow said during a commission workshop Monday.
“From its stunning skyline to the welcoming community, I was truly in awe of what this city has to offer,” Tamarac Commissioner Marlon Bolton wrote on Facebook, alongside photos from the trip. “On this exciting tour, my colleagues and I uncovered hidden gems, met with City Officials, toured city hall, and learned about the incredible initiatives shaping the future of Alpharetta.”
The Alpharetta project is a 26-acre, mixed-use project developed in partnership with the city and its Downtown Historic District. The development is home to Alpharetta City Hall, a county library, office space, 74,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, and 168 luxury apartments.
Tamarac’s version of such a campus would potentially attract tourists and workers, increase property values, add jobs, and become a destination for new residents and visitors alike, according to Colliers. The campus could also help the city become more efficient by placing government services in one location, the company’s materials state.
During his presentation to commissioners Monday, Krasnow said Colliers would present the city with all the pertinent data and facts found during its study, including its findings regarding City Hall.
“We need to understand, does this building, physically, the way it’s laid out, etcetera, meet the needs of your city staff today and into the future?” Krasnow said.
During the workshop, Mayor Michelle Gomez and Commissioner Elvin Villalobos pointed out deteriorating conditions at City Hall.
“A some know, I’ve been…asking for this since 2018, 2019,” said Gomez. She mentioned water leaks and rust issues at City Hall, which the mayor said is “at the end of its useful life.”
“Do you rebuild, or do you just keep putting good money after bad?” she asked.
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