Port Everglades receives three additional Super Post-Panamax gantry cranes
From David Volz
Port Everglades received three additional Super Post-Panamax container gantry cranes as part of the port’s historic $471 million project to expand its deepwater turn-around area for cargo ships. The ship-to-shore container gantry cranes are among the world’s largest low-profile cranes, bringing the Florida port’s total crane count to six Super Post-Panamax, seven Post-Panamax, one Paceco and one mobile harbor crane.
The three 175-foot (53 meters) high Super Post-Panamax container gantry cranes, valued at $15.1 million each, can handle containers stacked eight high from a ship’s deck and reach 22 containers across the ship’s deck. Port Everglades’ original seven gantry cranes in the Southport area where most of the containerized cargo operations takes place, are 151-feet high and limited to containers stacked six high and can reach across 16 containers.
“The port has already seen a massive jump in The World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index 2022 ratings after the installation of the last cranes and completion of additional berth capacity and is now classified as a top 5 port in North America. The additional cranes will serve as a catalyst for even greater port efficiency,” said Port Everglades CEO and Port Director Jonathan Daniels.
In the largest expansion project in Port Everglades’ history, the Southport Turning Notch berth area where the new cranes will be located was recently lengthened from about 900 feet to 2,400 feet to accommodate more and larger cargo ships. The new cranes are expected to be fully operational in 60 – 90 days.
Fort Lauderdale Commission approves major projects
From David Volz
The Fort Lauderdale Commission approved some major developments during a recent meeting.
The Fort Lauderdale Commission adopted a resolution authorizing the issuance of a Site Plan Level II development permit for a 47-story mixed-use building containing two towers with 936 residential units and more than 5,500 square feet of commercial use proposed at 201 N. Federal Highway. The resolution, which was amended to include architectural landscaping and lighting design elements, also authorized design deviation requests for maximum building length and maximum floorplate size.
The Unified Land Development Regulations (ULDR) require an applicant who seeks to deviate from the Downtown Master Plan (DMP) Standards to submit the design of the proposed development for review and determination by the City Commission. The applicant proposes a 1,514,160-square-foot mixed-use building, containing two towers with 936 residential units and ground floor commercial space. The developer proposes to access dwelling units through the City’s affordable housing policy and make a payment in lieu of constructing affordable units. The payment in lieu of affordable units will result in $9.36 million, paid during the building permitting stage, and allocated equally to the City’s affordable housing trust fund and Broward County’s affordable housing trust fund.
The Commission enacted an ordinance on second reading to establish a Bahia Mar Community Development District (CDD) and authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary and incidental instruments to establish the CDD. A CDD possesses the essential powers to plan, finance, construct, operate, and maintain community-wide public infrastructure and services, all tailored to enhance the residents’ quality of life.
With a democratically elected Board of Supervisors and transparent operations, CDDs ensure accountability and compliance with ethical and financial standards. CDDs work in harmony with homeowner’s associations, enhancing the overall management of community development facilities. The benefits to residents are multifaceted, ranging from high-quality services and facilities financed through special assessments to the safeguarding of property values and efficient financial management. Moreover, CDDs provide lasting value to communities, securing residents’ control over quality and value for years to come. Once established the proposed CDD intends to finance a certain public infrastructure, including a parking garage, park, promenade, roadway improvements, bridge improvements, lighting improvements, stormwater management system, water distribution, sanitary sewer improvements, and public recreation off-site improvements.
The Commission approved an amendment to the piggyback agreement between the City of Fort Lauderdale and Circuit Transit Inc. to use the remaining initial contract period and two options to renew for additional one-year periods under the City of Pompano Beach’s Agreement. The amendment expands service hours and adds additional vehicles to service. The City has sufficient funding to continue operating the free micro-transit service through the end of fiscal year 2024. Meanwhile, staff will continue to explore the opportunities to expand service and implement zones and fares for these services.The Commission approved an agreement with HBC Engineering Company for the Riverwalk North Seawall Replacement Consultant Services for approximately $680,000. Following an inspection, the City determined the section of the seawall on the New River between the FEC Railway and Andrews Avenue requires immediate replacement. Replacing this section of seawall, which measures approximately 510 feet, includes the construction of a new seawall along the waterfront of the existing seawall, the removal of existing piles, the pile-supported walkway, the existing seawall, and the installation of a floating dock. The project also includes replacing the seawall cap top slab underneath the South Andrews Avenue Bridge, improvements to the utilities on the dock, new electrical and water utility connections, new electrical shore-ties pedestals, and new water and salt-resistant pier lighting.
Miami-Dade School Board member joins PIANO SLAM
From David Volz
The Office of School Board Member Luisa Santos, District 9, announced that Board Member Santos has joined the PIANO SLAM Advisory Council. PIANO SLAM is a Spoken Word competition and education program created in 2004 by the Dranoff 2 Piano Foundation in partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
PIANO SLAM is a highly successful classical performance and education program that brings live classical and jazz piano performances and spoken word artists to students in Title 1 middle and high schools. Using music as a tool to learn core subjects, students can develop and enhance their language skills in arts-integrated learning models and acquire academic concepts through creative writing.
“I’m excited to be part of this effort to fuse arts and education, helping students compose their own narratives and unlock their potential,” said Board Member Santos.
Thanks to the work of the Dranoff 2 Piano Foundation, over 80,000 middle and high school students in Miami-Dade have enjoyed live classical music performances and many of them have participated in PIANO SLAM.
