While other projects face opposition from residents, this City Center plan may see the light at the end of the tunnel. Here is everything you need to know about the three towers coming to this South Florida pocket.
- Deerfield Beach City Center proposes three 14-story towers with 150 units, a 120-room hotel, and 132,500 SF of office.
- Voters approved the $6.5 million city land sale by referendum in 2023.
- The Planning and Zoning Board votes on rezoning and unit allocation on September 3, 2026.
Deerfield Beach voters already said yes to this one. In 2023, residents approved the $6.5 million sale of a city-owned parcel by referendum. Now the developer has filed plans for what goes on it: three 14-story buildings connected by a parking podium, with a 120-room hotel, 150 residential units (20% affordable), 132,500 square feet of office space, and ground-floor retail. According to the South Florida Business Journal, the project goes before the Planning and Zoning Board on September 3. This scale of mixed-use development is not common in Deerfield Beach, and it could set a precedent for how the city approaches density going forward.
What is being proposed?
Deerfield Beach City Center would total 690,155 square feet across three 14-story buildings connected by a parking podium with 533 spaces. The project includes a 120-room hotel with restaurants and event space, 150 residential units (67 one-bedroom, 75 two-bedroom, and 8 three-bedroom), 132,500 square feet of office space, 1,050 square feet of retail, a public park, and a public green roof.
Twenty percent of the residential units (30 total) would be designated affordable housing. The developer is MBA Development Partners of Florida LLC, led by Mario Caprini of Boca Raton-based Capital Group Enterprises. Juan Carlos Ayala serves as VP of Development. Deerfield Beach-based Gallo Herbert Architects designed the project.
The traffic study estimates 10,290 daily vehicle trips. The project would be constructed in phases but planned as a cohesive, integrated development.
Why did voters approve the land sale?
The City Commission sent the proposed land sale to voters in late 2022, and the referendum passed in 2023. The logic is straightforward: the city owns the 3.75-acre site, it is vacant, and it generates no tax revenue. Selling it for $6.5 million puts cash in the city's hands now and creates a future tax base once the project is built.
The property remains under contract while the developer works with the city to finalize the closing date.
What does the approval process look like?
The Planning and Zoning Board will consider a small-scale land-use plan, rezoning from "community facilities" to "planned development district," allocation of 150 flex units, and platting on September 3, 2026. City Commission approval would follow at a later date.
The voter-approved land sale gives the project a layer of legitimacy that most developments lack, but it does not guarantee approval of the full proposal. The city can still require changes based on traffic, infrastructure, or density concerns. The board could approve the project with conditions, reduce the unit count, or send the developer back to revise the plans. The city actively prepared for this type of development: in 2023, Deerfield Beach hired Colliers International for a comprehensive retail market study for the Central City Area, and in 2024, the Urban Land Institute conducted a Technical Assistance Panel study specifically for downtown redevelopment.
Traffic remains the wildcard. The project's own study shows over 10,000 daily trips on a 3.75-acre site, and traffic concerns have killed South Florida developments before.
Watching the Deerfield Beach market? Talk to a Pompano Beach area real estate agent who tracks new development and its impact on surrounding property values. Reach out to The Mastropieri Group or call (954) 388-7738.
What are the trade-offs of this location?
The site sits at 1045 SW 11th Way, right off I-95. That creates obvious trade-offs.
As Larry put it: "It is interesting to put residential there because it is right next to the highway. That is not necessarily a deal killer, but it is part of the trade-off. You get access, visibility, and convenience, but you are also sitting right by I-95."
Compared with the beach density fights that have divided Deerfield Beach for years, this feels like a more logical place for the city to test a mixed-use concept. The site is inland, already zoned for community use, and was put to a public vote.
How does this compare to other city center projects?
Deerfield Beach is not the only South Florida city trying to build a downtown from scratch. Boca Raton selected Terra and Frisbie Group to redevelop 30 acres around City Hall into a 2.5 million-square-foot district with over 1,100 units, a hotel, and 250,000 square feet of office space. Mainstreet Coconut Creek is a $1 billion project on the former Johns Family Farm with over 3,000 planned units. Margate City Center has 950 apartments in the works on 36 acres.
Deerfield Beach City Center is smaller than all of these, but it has something the others do not: a voter mandate. That makes the political path easier, even if the planning and zoning process still requires scrutiny. The city approved a 237-unit apartment project at US-1 and NE 2nd Street in December 2024 despite resident opposition, signaling the commission is willing to approve density when the case is strong.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Deerfield Beach City Center
What is Deerfield Beach City Center?
Deerfield Beach City Center is a proposed mixed-use development on a 3.75-acre city-owned parcel at 1045 SW 11th Way. The project includes three 14-story buildings with 150 residential units, a 120-room hotel, 132,500 square feet of office space, retail, a public park, and a public green roof.
Does Deerfield Beach have affordable housing requirements for new developments?
Deerfield Beach does not mandate affordable housing in all developments, but developers often include it voluntarily to strengthen their approval case. Deerfield Beach City Center proposes 20% affordable units (30 of 150 total), which adds public benefit and can help with rezoning requests.
How does voter approval affect development projects in Florida?
When voters approve a city land sale by referendum, it gives the project democratic legitimacy that most developments lack. However, voter approval of a land sale does not automatically approve the development plans. The project still requires Planning and Zoning Board review, City Commission approval, and can be modified or downsized based on traffic, infrastructure, or other concerns.
What is the rezoning process for mixed-use developments in Broward County?
Mixed-use projects typically require a land-use plan amendment, rezoning (often to a "planned development district"), and site plan approval. The Planning and Zoning Board reviews first and makes recommendations. The City Commission gives final approval. Traffic studies, infrastructure capacity, and community input all factor into the decision.
Who is developing Deerfield Beach City Center?
MBA Development Partners of Florida LLC is developing the project. Mario Caprini of Boca Raton-based Capital Group Enterprises leads the development team, with Juan Carlos Ayala serving as VP of Development. Gallo Herbert Architects of Deerfield Beach designed the project.
Local help for buyers and investors in Deerfield Beach
If you are buying, selling, or investing in Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, or Lighthouse Point, understanding how new mixed-use development affects surrounding property values matters. Reach out to The Mastropieri Group, Realtors®.
For practical, hands-on support across southern Broward County, call (954) 388-7738.
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