County Leaders Chart Port Everglades’ Future

By Ina Paiva Cordle, The Miami Herald

Feb. 21–Port Everglades’ growth hinges on its ability to add longer berths for cruise and cargo ships, deepen and widen its channel and boost noncontainer business, consultants told Broward County commissioners Tuesday during a workshop on the facility’s master plan update.

The goal of the port’s master plan is to create a five-year capital development program within the framework of a 20-year vision — all aimed at maximizing the port’s market share and revenue.

Commissioners also listened to consultants present a feasibility analysis on developing a $300 million, 1,000-room Broward Convention Center Hotel within Port Everglades.

CONVENTION ENVY

The hotel is key to the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau’s ability to capture more conventioneers, said bureau President Nicki Grossman.

"Thirty percent of the business we’ve gone after is unavailable to us now — over 200,000 room nights — because we can’t say we have a hotel on site," Grossman said after the workshop held at Port Everglades.

The proposed hotel could be financed in a public/private partnership structure called an ‘IRS 6320,’ which could allow it to issue tax-exempt bonds without taxpayer expense, consultants said.

"Our goal is to put heads in beds at the least cost possible," said Commissioner John Rodstrom, emphasizing the need to act quickly while market conditions remain good.

HOTEL EXPECTATIONS

A well-known, branded hotel company would develop and operate the hotel, which would be located on one of three potential sites. It would have at least 50,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 25,000-square-foot ballroom.

Several hoteliers have already expressed interest, Commissioner Sue Gunzberger said.

Key to the plan is also to provide public access to the convention center and hotel by reconfiguring roadways and entrances. Expansion of the convention center itself is not currently under consideration, but it may be necessary in a few years, Grossman said.

As the next step for the proposed hotel, commissioners will vote March 20 to draft a request for letters of interest, which could be approved at the commissioners’ April 17 meeting, she said.

Nearly a decade ago, the county struck a deal with developer R. Donahue Peebles, but it fell apart in 2001 amid financing difficulties.

FULL SPEED AHEAD

For Port Everglades, expanding into longer berths will allow it to accommodate larger cruise and cargo vessels. The port can also expect to see increases in shipments of cement, steel and lumber, as well as yacht imports, said Richard Heidrich, vice president of DMJM Harris, primary consultants on the port’s master plan.

The updated port workshop was just one step in a lengthy process that will culminate in the approval of a plan.

"I don’t think we’re at a stage to really make any decision," Rodstrom said. "Now we’ll put this in the context of financial feasibility and a business plan."

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Miami Herald

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