August 4, 2005:
Downtown Coral Springs Redevelopment Gets Underway with Groundbreaking of One Charter Place

On Tuesday, August 2nd, Officials of Amera Urban Developers, Inc. and the City of Coral Springs Community Redevelopment Agency broke ground to begin construction of One Charter Place. The $25 million office and retail center, the first phase of Downtown Coral Springs, is set on a 3.9-acre site at the southeast corner of Sample Road and University Drive. The site represents the first of four quadrants at the intersection, which will be transformed into a pedestrian-friendly downtown over the next decade through a public/private partnership.

One Charter Place will encompass 210,000 square feet in total. Construction of the dramatic, curving 4-story office building, financial and retail space and adjacent parking garage is anticipated for completion in fall 2006.

“One Charter Place is an important addition to the City. It is a magnet to attract companies with a new generation office space, and a demonstration project of Downtown Coral Springs,� said Rahael. He noted that Amera had already completed $450,000 in improvements to the adjacent Charter School site in preparation for construction of One Charter Place. “It is fitting that the first phase of the downtown includes benefits for our children, who like this project, represent the community’s future.�

“The CRA board has worked diligently on this project for the last two years. We are excited to join the city and other agencies to move it forward as a cornerstone of Downtown Coral Springs,� said John Ruffin, Jr., CRA chairman.

Overall, the Downtown Coral Springs project calls for the Sample Road and University Drive intersection to become the revitalized hub of the city. Broad walkways through a central multi-level plaza will link components of the 3.3 million-square-foot project in a walk-able and inviting mixed-use environment.

“This project is a product of the vision and leadership of the CRA and Coral Springs officials,� Rahael said. “Redevelopment on this scale is a once in a lifetime opportunity to realize the true potential for the area. As master developer in partnership with the City, we have to get it right.�

The One Charter Place development team includes Charlie Ladd, president of Barron Commercial Real Estate, Inc., Coral Springs, development manager of the project, and Solomon Cordwell Buenz & Associates Inc. of Chicago, as the architectural firm. The general contractor is _J. Raymond & Associates and the project is being financed by Wachovia Bank.

For more information, contact Amera at The Walk, 2900 University Drive, Coral Springs or call 954 753-9500.