Introduction to FAT Village
FAT Village is not dead. Far from it. The long-awaited project — expected to make downtown Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village even more hip and trendy — is on the rise in the same spot where spirited and cocktailed crowds once strolled through a muraled warehouse district lit up with funky art galleries, good food and live music.
Once built, the new FAT (Food Art Technology) Village will transform the former FAT Village Arts District into a dynamic destination teeming with apartments, bars, restaurants, shops, offices, art studios and galleries.
Project Details
Here’s what’s coming:
More than 600 apartments will be split between two towers, one with 24 floors standing 270 feet high and the other with 13 floors standing 161 feet high.
A third tower with office space catering to modern young professionals will have six floors and stand 83 feet high.
A fourth tower with 257 apartments and 25 floors would be the tallest tower at 305 feet. The last tower would be built as part of the second phase, but could become a hotel or even a second office tower, depending on the market.
The apartment towers are expected to open by the middle of 2026. The office tower, shops and restaurants would open toward the end of next year.
Developer’s Vision
Developer Tim Petrillo stops by the FAT Village project on the rise in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday. The 5.6-acre construction site will transform a two-block section on the west end of Flagler Village.
‘Nucleus of the neighborhood’
Tim Petrillo, one of the developers behind the $500 million project, donned a hard hat on a sweltering Tuesday and peered out at the dusty construction site at Northwest First Avenue, just north of Northwest Fifth Street.
First Avenue, the main street for those lively Fat Village Art Walks, will serve as a walkable main street for the new FAT Village, he said.
“We’re going to stay true to the roots of Flagler Village,” Petrillo told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “Great public art, great street art. We’re going to relaunch the monthly Art Walks. There’s going to be everything from coffee shops and cafes to full-service, high-energy restaurants. FAT Village will become a nucleus of the neighborhood and provide a sense of place for Flagler Village.”
Project Progress
‘A village within a village’
The project has gone up quickly since breaking ground in March 2024.
The 13-story tower was topped off this year on March 19. The 24-story tower was next, with a topping off ceremony on May 20 to mark the placement of the tower’s final beam.
The office building isn’t far behind. The topping-off celebration is expected as soon as late August or early September.
“Everyone remarks how fast it’s coming out of the ground,” said Commissioner Steve Glassman, whose district includes the Flagler Village neighborhood. “It’s really taking shape rather quickly.”
Unique Features
A timber high-rise
Original plans called for one of the towers to be a hotel. But when Houston-based Hines joined the team, the hotel was scrapped for an office building with Class AA space — top-of-the-line amenities that exceed the standards of Class A. The building will be the region’s first mass-timber office tower, Petrillo says.
It makes perfect sense for the Fort Lauderdale market, according to Ladd.
Here’s why: High-end office space is an amenity Fort Lauderdale is short on.
Preserving FAT Village DNA
‘That FAT Village DNA’
Petrillo and Hooper have already built four residential projects in Flagler Village: Avenue Lofts, The Foundry Lofts, The Mill Lofts and The Forge Lofts.
FAT Village is their fifth. But of all five projects, Petrillo says FAT Village is the biggest and most prominent — a legacy project.
“This is going to have our fingerprints on it,” he said. “We really want to create something South Florida has not seen. We’re trying to curate our retail to get unique operators that you don’t find in every community. We really want to create a special experience.”
Community Reaction
‘We’ll be back’
McCraw remembers the controversy that bubbled up when the art district’s warehouses had to close down to make way for the new FAT Village project.
What did he tell all the artists and shop owners who were upset about being displaced?
“We’ll be back,” he said with a soft chuckle. “And I’m still here. We’re still partners in the project. And I meant what I said. Art will be a part of the continuing DNA of FAT Village.”
Conclusion
The FAT Village project is a significant development in downtown Fort Lauderdale, offering a unique blend of apartments, offices, restaurants, and art studios. With its focus on community and public art, the project is expected to become a hub of activity in the neighborhood. As the project nears completion, residents and visitors can look forward to experiencing the vibrant atmosphere of FAT Village.
FAQs
Q: What is the expected completion date of the FAT Village project?
A: The apartment towers are expected to open by the middle of 2026, while the office tower, shops, and restaurants are expected to open toward the end of next year.
Q: How many apartments will be available in the project?
A: More than 600 apartments will be split between two towers.
Q: What type of office space will be available in the project?
A: The project will feature a six-floor office building with Class AA space, including the region’s first mass-timber office tower.
Q: Will the project include any public art?
A: Yes, the project will feature great public art and street art, and will relaunch the monthly Art Walks.
Q: Who are the developers behind the project?
A: The project is being developed by Tim Petrillo and Alan Hooper, who head Urban Street Development, in partnership with global real-estate giant Hines.
