Sunrise, Florida

SUNRISE, FLORIDA in 1971, and experienced significant growth during the ensuing decade. As Broward County began pushing west, Sunrise annexed more and more land, eventually encompassing more than 18 square miles. Since that time, the City of Sunrise has become one of South Florida’s economic powerhouses, built on a foundation of business, tourism, and entertain- ment. It’s a diverse suburban/urban community with an estimated population of more than 93,000–a number that’s expected to increase substantially over the next 20 years.This growth is due to Sun- rise’s convenient South Florida location, as well as City leaders’ commitment to creating a vibrant economic climate that continues to attract new businesses and upscale housing to the area. Last year, Business ViewMagazine spoke with Richard Salamon, Sunrise’s CityManager, about its strategic location as the center of the region, its business-friendly approach to high-quality develop- ment, and its huge draw as a tourism and business destination because of the 600+-acre Sawgrass In- ternational Corporate Park, the Sawgrass Mills mall, and the BB&T Center arena. We also talked about planned future development and the City’s own re-investment in the community. Recently,we caught up with Salamon to find out what has occurred in the city since that time.Here’s his report on what he described as “a very busy year!” DEVELOPMENT American Express has moved 3,500 employees into its new 400,000-square-foot, regional head- quarters, located in the Sawgrass Business and Entertainment District. Sawgrass Mills has continued its multi-phased ex- pansion, adding a 1,700-space parking garage and new restaurants such as Yardhouse,Texas de Brazil, and Matchbox.They are working on the next phase of expansion,which includes another 1,400-space parking garage, a 173-roomACHotel byMarriott, a Seasons 52 restaurant, and other improvements. Even without the upcoming expansion,with more than 2.4 million square feet and 40 million visitors annually (including 25 million visitors from out of the area), Sawgrass Mills already holds several distinctions: The largest outlet retail center in the world, the largest single-floor retail center in the world, and Simon Property Group’s No. 1 retail center in the world. The $1.5 billion Metropica mixed-use develop- ment is well under way. The first residential tower is nearing completion later this year with 293 con- dominium units, constructed at a cost of $72 million. Site work has started on the 20-acre commercial phase of the project,which will include 400,000 square feet of restaurants, retail and entertainment, 350 luxury rental units, and 300 hotel rooms.The developer is actively engaged in discussions with potential tenants for the remaining 10 acres,which is planned for 450,000 square feet of office. The 32-acre Westerra mixed-use development has received City approval for its master plan and development agreement,which include 750,000 square feet of office, 750 luxury rental units, and 50,000 square feet of retail space within a $500 million development. Broward County,which owns the 140-acre BB&T Center Arena site (home to the NHL’s Florida Pan- thers Hockey club), has initiated its development plans for approximately 100 acres of surface park-