Redevelopment of Christ Church gets approval from Planning and Zoning Board

The Planning and Zoning Board granted unanimous approval on June 28 for the site and building design plans of Old Town II in Pompano Beach. However, the final authorization for the project lies with the city commission.

The proposed development is situated at 210 NE 3 St. and 290 NE 2 St. It comprises two buildings on two parcels: a 10-story mixed-use building and a 6-story residential building. The 10-story structure will have a 415-space garage (with 32 on-street parallel spaces planned) and 3,400 square feet of ground floor commercial space. Across both buildings, there will be a total of 319 residential units, out of which 48 units are reserved for affordable housing. The development, spanning 2.34 acres, will offer various amenities such as a pool, dog park, fitness center, spa, clubhouse, and multiple lounges. The available apartments will range from one to three bedrooms, with sizes of up to 1,152 square feet.

The project also includes plans for 10-foot wide sidewalks surrounding the development, along with trees and two bridges over Northeast 2 Street, connecting the two buildings. These bridges, located on the third and sixth floors, will provide convenient access for residents in the smaller building to reach the garage and amenities in the larger building without having to go down to the street level.

The current ownership of the land belongs to Christ Church United Methodist, but they intend to sell it to Adache Group Architects. The church is no longer utilized for religious services. Adache Group Architects is currently in the process of constructing Old Town Square, a development located across the street from the church, which will consist of a 10-story building housing 280 apartments and 5,000 square feet of commercial space. During the meeting on June 28, the developer committed to donating $50,000 towards implementing measures to calm traffic in the area.

Nectaria Chakas, an attorney representing the developer, stated that the remaining parcels surrounding the church will also be acquired by Adache Group Architects. She further mentioned that the developer will likely propose another project for those parcels at a later time.

Despite the developer’s plan to provide a minimum of one parking space per residential unit, concerns were raised by Board member Derek Lewis regarding tenants parking in the surrounding neighborhood. He inquired whether tenants would be required to pay for additional parking spaces. Lewis expressed his observation that tenants often tend to park on the street, as has been observed in other buildings.

“That’s really a management decision that will happen down the road,” responded Chakas. Board member Carla Coleman also expressed concern over residential parking from developments “bleeding” into the surrounding neighborhood. “This is an issue.”

During the board meeting, the sole significant concern raised by board members came from Tundra King. She inquired about the security measures that would be implemented in response to her comment regarding a large group of “unhoused” individuals in the vicinity. In response, Chakas reiterated her previous statement, stating that the responsibility for security would lie with the management company.

The remaining comments expressed during the meeting were in favor of the project. Saracha Peterson, the only member of the public who spoke, praised the developer’s decision to allocate some units for affordable housing instead of paying a fee to the county. Peterson emphasized that having this kind of developer in the community was desirable.

Board Chair Fred Stacer also lauded the developer for discreetly integrating the garage within the building, echoing Peterson’s sentiments by stating that this is the kind of developer they wish to have. If the city commission grants approval, the project, estimated to cost $100 million, is expected to commence construction in 2024 and conclude in 2026.