MEDIA CONTACT: Levy Public Relations

Full Article

Key Points:

  • $428M in Office Deals : Two Las Olas office complexes changed hands for a combined $428 million, showing strong investor confidence.
  • More Affordable Than Miami & Palm Beach : Downtown Fort Lauderdale’s office rents average $53.36 per square foot, significantly lower than Miami’s Brickell and West Palm Beach.
  • New Class A Office Space Incoming : The upcoming T3 FAT Village development will add 180,000 square feet of premium office space, boosting Fort Lauderdale’s appeal.

Big Sales on Las Olas: What Investors Need to Know

Fort Lauderdale’s office market may not be grabbing the national spotlight like Miami’s Brickell or West Palm Beach, but recent high-profile transactions on Las Olas Boulevard prove there’s still serious value in the city’s commercial real estate. In February, two major Class A office properties were sold for a combined $428 million, marking some of the largest office deals in South Florida this year. These transactions suggest that Fort Lauderdale remains an attractive and undervalued market for investors looking for stable returns.

The Properties: Who Bought What?

Las Olas Centre Towers (350 & 450 E. Las Olas Blvd.)

  • Sold for: $208 million
  • Buyer: Bradford Allen Investment Advisors (Chicago-based)
  • Occupancy: 69%
  • Planned Upgrades: $25 million in renovations

Bank of America Plaza at Las Olas City Center (401 E. Las Olas Blvd.)

  • Sold for: Over $220 million
  • Buyers: Square2 Capital, Highline Real Estate Capital, and Lone Star Funds
  • Occupancy: 94%
  • Key Feature: Recently renovated, maintaining its trophy property status

Unlike other South Florida suburban office transactions, which have seen properties sell at a loss, these sales maintained their value—a promising sign for Fort Lauderdale’s office sector."The acquisition of Bank of America Plaza at Las Olas Centre reflects our confidence in the long-term strength of the South Florida office market and the continued demand for high-quality, well-located assets. At Square2 Capital, we take a strategic, hands-on approach to repositioning officeproperties, creating environments that attract top-tier tenants and drive long-term value. 401 Las Olas Boulevard aligns perfectly with this vision, reinforcing our commitment to downtown Fort Lauderdale’s growth and evolution as a premier business hub. Our past success with 501 & 515 Las Olas demonstrated the power of thoughtful asset transformation, and we look forward to applying that same expertise to this landmark property in partnership with Highline Real Estate Capital and Lone Star Funds," said Jay Caplin, Principal at Square2 Capital.

Why Fort Lauderdale? The Market’s Unique Strengths

Despite Broward County’s drop from No. 10 to No. 21 among mid-sized U.S. office markets, investors are recognizing Fort Lauderdale’s affordability and strategic location.

  • Lower Office Rents:
    • Downtown Fort Lauderdale: $53.36 per sq. ft.
    • Hallandale (Broward’s priciest submarket): $56.53 per sq. ft.
    • Brickell (Miami’s prime office hub): Up to $100 per sq. ft.
  • Strong Infrastructure & Workforce:
    • Downtown Fort Lauderdale’s population grew 38% from 2020 to 2024.
    • The city has a large talent pool within walking distance of office hubs.
  • Central Location Advantage:
    • Positioned between Miami and West Palm Beach, making it an attractive alternative to higher-priced markets.

"Downtown Fort Lauderdale’s two major office acquisitions reflect the market’s strength and growing appeal to investors. Fueled by shifting demographics, a desirable lifestyle, and unmatched accessibility, the city has evolved into a vibrant, year-round destination with thriving neighborhoods and a strong job market. As a result, Downtown Fort Lauderdale continues to draw both office tenants and urban residents. These acquisitions send a strong signal to the market that investors recognize the city's value and long-term potential as a premier destination to live and work," said Christina Stine Jolley, Senior Vice President & Broward Market Lead at Blanca Commercial Real Estate.

What’s Next? New Office Supply on the Horizon

T3 FAT Village (Flagler Village) – A Game Changer

  • Developer: Hines & Urban Street Development
  • Size: 180,000 square feet of new Class A office space
  • Leasing Demand: Already attracting high interest from potential tenants

With few new office projects delivered in recent years, this development could help Fort Lauderdale compete with Miami and West Palm Beach in attracting new-to-market tenants.

Final Takeaway: A Market to Watch

The $428 million in office transactions and the addition of new premium office space signal that Fort Lauderdale is still a strong and growing office market. With lower rents than its neighbors, increasing demand, and strategic investments, the city is positioning itself as a prime destination for companies and investors alike.While Fort Lauderdale’s office sector may not dominate the headlines like Miami’s Brickell, it remains one of South Florida’s most attractive undervalued opportunities. Investors who recognize this early could benefit from rising demand and future value growth.

Published: February 24, 2025

 

Recent press & media highlights.

Blog ImageBlog Image
September 4, 2026
Company News
Rare Edgewater Assemblage Trades For $17M As Similar Sites Disappear

The sale equates to roughly $281 per square foot of land. Ursus Inc., which has since merged into 22 CO, sold the property to 110 NE 23rd Street Realty LLC. The purchase adds to a run of land trades along the Edgewater-Wynwood line, where large, assemblable sites have become increasingly scarce as both neighborhoods have filled in with new development. The Edgewater Development Site is among the largest single parcels to change hands in the area this year. “This stretch between Edgewater and Wynwood is one of the last places in the urban core where you can still assemble more than an acre under one zoning designation,” said Cary Cohen, Executive Vice President at Blanca Commercial Real Estate. “When a site like that comes together, it draws real competition, and that’s exactly what we saw here.” The site sits at 50, 60, 68 and 76 NE 23rd Street and 49 and 51 NE 22nd Street, within an Opportunity Zone and zoned T6-8-O, which allows up to 300 units per acre with a density boost the Miami City Commission approved for the neighborhood. The parcels also qualify for additional height and density under Florida’s Live Local Act. The site sits between Wynwood and Biscayne Bay, a few blocks from Margaret Pace Park. “Edgewater is running out of sites this size,” said Cohen. “The neighborhood has pulled in real capital since 2020, and the parcels large enough to support a ground-up project of any scale are getting harder to find every year. Buyers who can move quickly on land like this are proving that out in real time.” Edgewater has drawn roughly $500 million in property investment since 2020, according to Blanca CRE, as projects including Aria Reserve, Missoni Baia and Cove Miami have delivered or broken ground nearby. Developers can unlock additional density through a payment into the city’s Resilience Trust Fund. Key Facts Sale price: $16.5 million Buyer: Melo Group Property type: Development assemblage Location: North Miami Avenue and Northeast 13th Street, near Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood Total land area: Approximately 35,000 square feet Zoning: T6-24a-O mixed-use zoning Development potential: Up to 24 stories, with additional height potentially available through bonuses Future plans: No development proposal was announced at the time of the sale Share this entry You might also like CBRE Arranges New HQ Lease For Crystal Cruises Risk Management Company Inks Miami’s Largest Office Lease Transaction YTD Blanca Commercial Finalizes 31,500 SF Office Lease With Auto Insurance Carrier Blanca CRE Inks Nearly 50K SF Of New Leases, Renewals At O Towers Related And Shoma To Develop Mixed-Use Project New 11-Acre Mixed-Use Development In Downtown Miami Signs Two Major Office Tenants

Read more
Icon arrow
Icon arrow
Blog ImageBlog Image
September 4, 2026
Company News
GXO Logistics, CBI Workplace Solutions sign on as first tenants in FAT Village office

GXO Logistics and CBI Workplace Solutions have signed on as the first tenants in the new office building at FAT Village in Fort Lauderdale.

Read more
Icon arrow
Icon arrow
Blog ImageBlog Image
September 4, 2026
Company News
Hines, Urban Street attract 35K sf office lease at Flagler Village development

GXO expanded with new regional office, CBI relocated from Las Olas Boulevard

Read more
Icon arrow
Icon arrow