CRA advisory board recommends $2.5 million to Holy Cross for Sunrise Boulevard outpatient center; 6–4 vote

The Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) advisory board voted 6–4 to recommend $2.5 million in development assistance to Holy Cross Health for a two-phase outpatient center and freestanding emergency department at 200 East Sunrise Boulevard.

Steven Tilbrook, an attorney representing Holy Cross, told the board the project includes a 24/7 freestanding emergency department, imaging and laboratory facilities, 18 exam rooms and a planned ambulatory surgery center in phase two. He said the total private investment in the CRA would be roughly $83 million and that CRA assistance would be provided on a reimbursement basis after project milestones are met. "We're asking you to partner with us for the future," Tilbrook said.

The recommendation follows a staff presentation that described the site (a former dealership and retail center), site-plan approvals and building permits already obtained, and a phased construction schedule. Staff noted the CRA currently has about $5.9 million of unallocated 2025 funds that must be encumbered by the end of the fiscal year unless allocated; the staff recommendation earmarked $1,500,000 to be reimbursed for phase one and $1,000,000 for phase two, for a total of $2,500,000 in CRA development assistance.

Board members raised questions about whether the CRA should use scarce funds for a health-care facility rather than direct affordable-housing projects. A committee member asked why Holy Cross needed CRA support if it could raise private capital; Tilbrook said Trinity Health and other fundraising would provide most capital and that CRA funds would pay for enhanced streetscape, screening for the parking garage and other public-realm improvements the CRA requested. "That funding directly correlates to jobs and additional investment," Tilbrook said.

Members also sought clarity on tax status and long-term community impact. Holy Cross representatives said hospital-owned portions of the facility would likely be tax-exempt but that tenant doctor offices or retail components could be taxable. The project meets the City of Fort Lauderdale parking requirement (144 spaces), and the team said sidewalks, lighting and utilities within the public right-of-way would be rebuilt to modern standards.

On workforce and community benefits, Matt Cohen, a board member, asked what sorts of jobs the project would create and whether the CRA area would benefit from recruitment. Holy Cross said the approximately 200 permanent jobs are health-care roles — physicians, nurses, technicians and support staff — and committed to scholarships, training and local recruitment efforts. "Short answer is yes. We're stepping up to the plate on scholarships," Tilbrook said when asked about local hiring and training.

The board debated whether to add repayment or clawback terms to the recommendation so that any recovered funds would recycle back into CRA programs. Some members urged a repayment provision; others advised that imposing strict repayment requirements could jeopardize the broader private investment. Holy Cross said the CRA assistance is structured so that disbursements are reimbursable and dependent on completion of the work and verified job creation, which staff said reduces financial risk to the CRA.

After discussion the advisory board took a roll-call vote and approved the staff recommendation to recommend CRA development assistance for the project by a 6–4 vote. Matt Cohen seconded the motion; the transcript does not record the name of the member who made the motion. The advisory board's recommendation goes to the commission for final action; CRA staff said the board's conditions and any agreed language about scholarships or local-hire efforts can be included in the commission submittal and the eventual agreement.

Next steps: the advisory board's recommendation will be forwarded to the commission for final approval and staff indicated CRA funds would be released only after the project meets the agreed milestones and submits appropriate reimbursement requests.