THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
On November 8, 2011 (Item No. 35, Motion A), the Board of County Commissioners approved an Option Contract for Sale and Purchase between Broward County and Legacy Development of Broward, LLC for the County’s $6,500,000 purchase of 1.9082 acres of land located at 644 South Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The property included the historically designated “Coca-Cola Building.” The real estate transaction between Broward County and Legacy Development of Broward, LLC subsequently closed on March 22, 2012.
On November 8, 2011 (Item No. 35, Motion B) the Board of County Commissioners also approved a deliberately phased Developer's Agreement between Broward County and Stiles Corporation for the design and construction of a 1,010 car parking garage, 12,000 square foot open finished office space for the Guardian Ad Litem Program and 1,500 square foot shell space on the 644 South Andrews Avenue site for a Guaranteed Maximum Price of $23,000,000.
The construction of the new facilities was completed by the Stiles Corporation and opened for use in June, 2014. Stiles’ work on the Coca-Cola Building was limited to patching some exterior stucco, caulking and exterior painting. More substantial building repairs (such as re-roofing, structural reinforcement, replacing windows and more aggressive wall repairs) were not undertaken at that time in order for those repairs to be more economically integrated into a future interior buildout project - the configuration of which would likely also dictate the required building repairs.
Since the County’s acquisition of the Coca-Cola Building in 2012, the building’s roofing and window systems have deteriorated and are now in need of emergency repair to ensure the future viability of the structure. While staff is undertaking efforts to limit and mitigate water intrusion into the building, the proposed budget resolution seeks funding in the amount of $490,000 for the analysis and design necessary to replace the roof, windows and other failed elements of the building’s exterior envelope. Depending upon the outcome of the investigative work, an as yet undetermined amount of the funds may be utilized to provide immediately needed repairs. As the Coca-Cola building has been designated as a historic property by the City of Fort Lauderdale, special attention will be paid to ensure the necessary repairs are sensitive to the building’s history and context.
While there are no immediate plans for an interior renovation or build-out of the Coca-Cola Building, it is under consideration for future use by the County. |