17 Nov CRA Board Approves the Aldridge and the Laramore Projects
On November 16, 2021, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission, acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board of Commissioners, held a public hearing and approved a resolution accepting the proposal of Sistrunk Apartments, LLC for the development of “The Aldridge” and “The Laramore” mixed-use affordable housing development projects.
The two projects will be located on CRA owned property at 1204 Sistrunk Boulevard and 1620 NW 6 Court. Each building will contain 36 apartments with ground floor retail and a parking garage. The Aldridge and the Laramore are named in tribute of two African American Fort Lauderdale pioneers. “The Aldridge” is named after Sylvia H. Aldridge, one of the City’s first African American entrepreneurs, Sistrunk business owner, and first president of Dillard High School PTA. “The Laramore” is named after David N. Laramore, a Bahamian seminarian who was instrumental in starting the Elks Lodge No 652 and who founded St Christopher’s Episcopal Church, that was constructed in 1916 and is the oldest building in Broward County continuously used for religious purposes.
The mixed income multi-generational development will provide quality housing for working and retired residents. The Aldridge is projected to consist of 12 two-bedroom/ two- bath units, 16 one-bedroom/ one-bath units and eight studio units. The Laramore will have 20 two-bedroom/ tw0 bath units, and 16 one-bedroom/one bath units. In addition, each unit will allow for pets and have Energy Star appliances including a refrigerator, washer and dryer, professionally designed kitchens and common areas with designer tile in the kitchen and granite countertops, designer lighting and other features.
The Aldridge and the Laramore will also both have significant ground floor commercial/retail space. The Aldridge will have approximately 4,950 square feet of commercial space and The Laramore will have approximately 2,840 square feet of commercial space. In addition to ground floor retail, the ground floor of both developments will have parking garages with state-of-the-art camera security systems with carded access into the garage and building for enhanced security. The attractive contemporary designed developments will also have a Green Certification incorporating environmentally responsible “best practice” green strategies in construction, operation and maintenance. A variety of resident educational, health and occupational programs will be provided free of charge by the management including literacy training, computer training, employment assistance programs and others.
The project was awarded a $8,000,000 CRA Development Incentive Program (DIP) loan and the donation of CRA property. The total development cost for the Aldridge and the Laramore is $18,570,000. For more information on CRA incentives, visit www.fortlauderdalecra.com.
