Developers present ‘The Hill’ entertainment district; commission gives consensus to pursue a phased activation

Developers of “The Hill,” a planned mixed‑use project on the 14‑acre corner of Sunrise Boulevard and U.S. 441, briefed the Lauderhill City Commission on March 17 and won broad, informal support to proceed with a phased activation beginning with a 60‑foot immersive “dome” and adjacent commercial kiosks.

The Hill’s developer team — including Greg Brutes, Mike Julian and Marco Manzi — told commissioners the concept is meant to activate the site near the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC) with food, entertainment and a future hotel and parking garage. “We have a 60 foot dome project, that will house about 300 people,” said Greg Brutes, one of the developers. He said the dome’s steel frame and rubberized fabric cover have been built in hurricane‑prone areas and are engineered to meet building codes.

Why it matters: The site has been largely vacant for decades; proponents say the phased approach will provide near‑term activity — kiosks and the dome — while the larger master plan, including a hotel and parking structure, moves through permitting. Commissioners asked for firm timelines, community engagement with homeowners associations and assurances about security and local contracting.

What the developers proposed: The team described a multi‑phase build. Phase 1 would occupy roughly 2 acres in the northeast…