College OKs building deal

Broward College is improving its downtown Fort Lauderdale campus by getting rid of its two decaying buildings.

And students will benefit the most, officials say.

Under an agreement announced Tuesday, a private developer later this year will lease and then raze the facilities at 225 E. Las Olas Blvd. In their place will be a 14-story office building that includes shops and restaurants on the ground floor and an outdoor covered courtyard space for students.

The 2,000 students taking classes on the campus will be moved to the building on Las Olas that the college shares with Florida Atlantic University. Officials say there is plenty of classroom space available and the move will mostly affect administrative employees. FAU vacated several floors of the building when it moved some of its programs to its Davie campus during a period of downsizing in 2012.

College officials say students will benefit from the new project through upgrades that include a pavilion for outdoor events and classes, and affordable restaurants and shops near campus.

College officials said the project incorporates many of the requests they’ve received from students downtown, including more food options, sheltered walkways and connections to public transportation. The planned Wave streetcars will have a stop at the site. The plans also include a new pedestrian bridge between the east and west portions of Las Olas Boulevard.

“Revitalizing our downtown campus will improve the academic experience while providing the college with an alternative revenue source that lessens its reliance on tuition and state

BOCA RATON POLICE/COURTESY The 2016 Maserati GranTurismo stolen during a test drive from Fort Lauderdale to Boca Raton.