Florida developer hopes to transform failing mall to mixed-use magnet

Local private equity investor U.S. Capital Holdings Group has submitted its final plans to redevelop the former Fashion Mall property in Plantation, Fla., into a $350 million mixed-used center with residential, office, shopping, dining, culture, and entertainment components.

ADD Inc., Cambridge, Mass., is designing the 321 North development, which will incorporate indoor and outdoor mixed-use space. ADD's design will fit seamlessly into the city's master plan to build an urban town center, called Plantation Midtown.

The project will involve the demolition and reconstruction of significant portions of the enclosed mall with new retail that will face outward and open up onto a new main street. It will also include the construction of new open-air retail and restaurants. When completed, the 33-acre development will yield approximately 550,000 sf of retail, 400,000 sf of Class A office space in two new office buildings, and 600 residential units.