Developers unveil revised plan for International Swimming Hall of Fame West Building; swimmers raise sightline and safety concerns

Hall of Fame Partners presented updated renderings and a program for phase 2 of the International Swimming Hall of Fame peninsula redevelopment at the City Commission conference on March 4. The revised West Building plan reduces some upper floors and adds an aquarium, public museum/experience space, event and food-and-beverage concessions, and significant parking to serve the site.

"This has been a multi-phase project," Hall of Fame Partners' Stephanie Toothaker told the commission, tracing the project back to a 2018 pool RFP and interim and comprehensive agreements approved in 2021 and 2023. Developers said the West Building design was changed after public feedback to "shrink those top floors so that you can see the view of the Dive Tower a little bit better," and that a 20,000-square-foot aquarium on the ground floor and a museum experience above are part of the programming package.

Developers said the project will go through the city's development review committee (DRC) process and noted the comprehensive agreement requires ISHOF to remain on the site. Mario Caprini, managing partner of Hall of Fame Partners, described the proposal as a mixed-use destination intended to make the Hall of Fame self-sustaining and to generate revenue for continued museum operations.

Scores of swimmers, coaches and residents urged more direct consultation with end users before the commission approves any final plan. "We were totally caught off guard by what it seems is these massive plans now to add an aquarium, a theater, shopping, and office space," Deborah Eisinger, representing Swim Fort Lauderdale masters and local swim teams, said during public comment. Swimmers and coaches questioned whether the new buildings — particularly rooftop or glass-front features — would change poolside wind, sunlight, deck temperatures, privacy and compliance with competition and safety standards. They asked for documentation of consultations with swim/dive experts and for assurances that the facility will continue to host major national and international competitions.

Developers and tenant representatives said they have consulted multiple technical and aquatic experts and emphasized the program's focus on "water district" branding and public education features such as a lifeguard academy exhibit aimed at ocean safety. Aquarium lead Rich Walter described partnerships with research institutes and said some programming will support Ocean Rescue and local research groups.

Several nearby property owners and neighborhood association representatives raised concerns about height, parking and traffic, and asked that the promenade and pedestrian connections be preserved or improved. The Venetian Condominium president asked for the promenade to encircle the peninsula rather than be limited to the western end. Other speakers urged the developer to reduce the parking footprint and better coordinate deliveries and events with existing businesses.

City staff and the development team said the design has been modified since earlier concepts, that the project will go through regular site-plan and permitting review (DRC) with additional public outreach, and that the city and ISHOF have executed agreements that establish programmatic requirements and financing steps already completed (including a loan close in Oct 2024). Commissioners and residents agreed the DRC process is the right venue to address detailed questions about sight lines, construction sequencing, safety, and interim use of facilities during construction.