Family proposes waterfront project

The Whiddon family, the owner of the Causeway Lumber Co., is looking to develop a long-vacant waterfront parcel in Fort Lauderdale.

The family is in the early stages of seeking government approvals to build 200 condominiums or apartments on 12.5 acres at the northwest corner of Davie Boulevard and Southwest Ninth Avenue.

The western edge of the property sits on the South Fork of the New River.

Steven Wherry, a real estate lawyer for the Whiddons, said developers have approached the family about building on the site in recent years. But those previous plans never materialized after encountering opposition from the surrounding neighborhood, Wherry said.

The most recent proposal two years ago had nearly 300 residential units on the site, he said. The Whiddons have seen others try and not succeed with this property,” Wherry said. “They feel like they can do a better job coming up with a more realistic plan.”

Janet Scraper, president of the Tarpon River Civic Association, said the Whiddons have discussed the project with neighborhood leaders, who are concerned about major traffic issues in the area. She said she hopes the family ultimately will make a formal presentation at a civic association meeting. The development plan is better than previous proposals, but it’s still a work in progress, Scraper said.

Causeway Lumber has been supplying lumber and other materials for the construction industry across South Florida since 1939.

President Scott Whiddon, the third generation to run the lumber business, said his family has owned the site since the 1950s. His mother, Angelyn, still lives in the neighborhood.

While the family has a vested interest in building on the property, it also wants to make sure it’s developed responsibly, Scott Whiddon said. “We have very fond memories of that location, and we still want to be part of it,” he said.