Developers outline plans for immersive dome, hotel and kiosks at former Kmart site in Lauderhill

Developers and partners for the Hill District property told the Lauderhill City Commission workshop Monday they plan to rapidly activate a portion of the old Kmart site at the corner of U.S. 441 and Sunrise Boulevard with a 70‑foot immersive projection dome, food kiosks and other visitor amenities while pursuing longer‑term hotel and mixed‑use development approvals.

John Millage, presenting for the Hill team, said the activation is designed to bring immediate community benefits while approvals for the larger development proceed: "We're moving quickly, working quickly not only to activate, but to work on the development approvals for the site… staff has been working tirelessly with us, and we've produced an ordinance that we'd like to come before you within 45 days, approximately, for the zoning for the site."

Renderings and a video shown to the commission illustrated a dome intended for 360–degree projection, interior interactivity and an exterior wrapping screen for digital art. Millage said the dome would be used for daytime educational programming — the team has engaged PBS as a preferred partner for in‑school or cost‑free field trips for children — and for evening entertainment. Mike Yullian and others on the presenter team described a phased approach: initial activation with a single dome and kiosks to create immediate foot traffic, followed by hotels, a parking garage, restaurants and a commercial kitchen to support the nearby Lauderhill Performing Arts Center.

On the question of timeline, the team said they are ordering kiosks and the dome now and expect the activation to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2025 if permitting proceeds at the expected pace. The developers said they are conducting a market study on hotel demand and may add hotel capacity depending on results. They also said they are coordinating with the city's police department on security and planned to implement technology such as monitored feeds; commissioners asked the developers to be mindful of residents’ privacy concerns.

Vice Mayor Martin and commissioners pressed the applicants on local hiring, rotating kiosk space for small/businesses and landscaping; developers and a chamber representative confirmed intentions to prioritize local vendors and to create a rotating pop‑up opportunity for neighborhood businesses. The team said they had already spoken to vendors for kiosks and to property managers, and that some capital and operational partnerships were in early stages.

Developers noted the site covers roughly 14 acres directly south of the LPAC and a county park, and that prior master planning envisioned a hotel anchor and a common green. The commission and staff did not vote on any approvals Monday; presenters said they plan to return with a zoning ordinance in the coming weeks and will continue working with city staff on permits and reviews.

If the project moves forward, the team said it expects to leverage the activation — food kiosks, dome programming, and educational partnerships — to generate immediate community use of the property while larger construction is permitted and financed.