Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Fort Lauderdale movie studio jumps first hurdle
FORT LAUDERDALE — The old Wingate incinerator site is on its way to becoming home to a $150 million movie studio — unless another investor can come up with a better plan for the city-owned land in the next few weeks.
On Tuesday night, all five Fort Lauderdale commissioners gave a developer’s unsolicited proposal to transform the 61-acre parcel into a full-service movie studio complex a thumbs up. The proposal calls for a 50-year lease with a 50-year renewal option and a rent payment of $1 a year.
But Tuesday’s 5-0 vote doesn’t mean it’s a done deal.
The city was signaling its intent to enter into a comprehensive agreement with the developer. Under state law, Fort Lauderdale is required to consider other offers. The commission is giving other investors 21 days to come forward with their own plan.
The land, 61 acres north of Sunrise Boulevard and east of Northwest 31st Avenue, was once a Superfund site with contaminated ground. The site was cleaned up two decades ago and is ready for development, city officials say.
“I just want to get this done,” Commissioner Robert McKinzie said before the vote. “This is a game changer. I’m very excited. I can’t wait.”
The development team includes D.J. Viola, a director and producer in both film and television; Christopher M. Ursitti, co-founder, co-owner and managing partner of Los Angeles Center Studios, a 20-acre film studio in the heart of downtown Los Angeles; and Michael Ullian, a developer and specialist in Brownfield redevelopment.
“This has been a real passion project,” Viola told commissioners Tuesday night. “Thank you for your interest.”
Viola touted the project as one that would bring high-paying jobs to the region and act as a job amplifier.
“The film and television industry is a real boon to any economy it comes into,” he said.
Viola ticked off the types of jobs it would bring: Set builder, set construction, set painters, hair stylists, wardrobe stylists, electricians.
The plan also calls for a film school on site. The school would offer college-level courses but also give students from local schools the chance for onsite training, mentorships and apprenticeships, Viola said.
The studio would mark a bit of a comeback for the film industry in South Florida. A statewide rebate program aimed at attracting film crews ended in 2016 after critics complained about it being a Hollywood handout that siphoned money from taxpayers. In an effort to lure the film industry, Broward County has set aside $700,000 for its own rebate program.
Any studio that films in Broward and spends from $500,000 to $1 million will get a $50,000 rebate check. If they spend more than $1 million, they’ll get a check for $100,000.
County officials are aiming to hike the rebate budget from $700,000 to $1 million.
“Our plan is to increase that so we will have the largest film incentive program in South Florida,” County Commissioner Steve Geller said last week. “We have the money in the budget.”
If no competing bids come through in the next few weeks, the commission can move forward with approving the comprehensive agreement.
John Milledge, attorney for the developer, told the commission he already has a draft agreement in place.
Mayor Dean Trantalis said the studio would be a win-win for both the region and the local community.
“Wingate is the last remaining open space we have in Fort Lauderdale,” he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “They will have training programs for carpenters and people in the movie industry. It will bring hundreds of new jobs to our community, especially those in the trades. And they can draw from local talent.”
Fort Lauderdale has been waiting nearly two decades for someone to show interest in developing Wingate, one of the largest cityowned parcels in South Florida.
“They need a large site,” Trantalis said. “It’s 61 acres. They don’t need the whole site right now but they’re looking to grow into it.”